Stampaway

Hi Ya tonight, from one very tired blogger. Stampaway and meeting Brenda W. of http://inkspiredtostamp.blogspot.com/  was worth every minute of the long drive up to Cincinnati. There were lots of vendors (and I didn't even get to _all_ of them, can you imagine?). Did get to all the ones I meant to though (and especially Northwoods Stamps..lots of luscious bird images there - oh my). Brenda & her SIL arrived about an hour or so after we had gone into the show, but we had talked on the phone so were able to find each other. I knew her at first glance! What a real sweet lady. I know that some of you who have met your blog buddies, know that exciting and heartwarming feeling you get, to finally meet in person. Then to find out that this person is just as lovely as you expected her to be. Ditto for her SIL who is not really a stamper (a quilter!) and came along to keep Brenda company. Bless her heart, she wasn't feeling all that well, and also has a foot brace which I'm sure didn't make walking around all that fun. We shopped a couple places together, but did our own 'thing' too. We did have lunch together at the convention center, and Brenda had to leave to drive back home. We stayed another hour (well, Mr. sat down and waited on me to try to go to some places I had missed). The hotel is just next door, so we didn't have to drive very far. (actually we could have walked it, but we knew we'd be tired. Yes he knows me well so he's the one who said "we'll drive over"). We even ordered a pizza to be delivered to the hotel, because we were just too tired to venture out for a meal.

Yes, to Carol L. that pickup bed will hold lots of 'schtuff'' and also has a nice lockable hard roll top cover to keep it safe!! Truthfully, it's all in the backseat. I did do a lot of craft sinning though. But how could I not, when I was saving all those shipping costs for those stamps that I would eventually buy, and have to get mailed? Make sense?! Of course it does!!! And for Darnell, I did indeed pass along your big hug to Brenda. And got one from Miz Pixie for myself. What excitement. Brenda has posted some pictures, but I can't download mine until we get home. (we tried using the Smartphone for a camera after I kept bumping into customers with my Nikon hanging around my neck, and a big stuffed bag over my shoulder. It was CROWDED with stampers looking for a deal).

We DID see Tim Holtz. However there was always a big crowd around his booth, standing room only and hard to see over those in front. We saw him when we were eating, as he came out to get lunch at the food court. I hesitated to intrude on his lunch (and he looked tired as well), but I finally did go apologetically ask if I could take a picture - apologizing for interrupting his break. He was very gracious & what a nice man. He had been talking & demo-ing from 9am to 5pm, and I know he had to be really tired. I'm so pleased to say, he seemed so pleasant to all those folks who were bombarding him with questions as he worked. I was able to watch some of it, and pick up a few new tips. Also was able to get the new August DI color (Espresso) - probably paid more for it at the show, but - hey, now I don't have to pay shipping, right? While we were taking pics with Tim Holtz, I asked if I could give him a big hug from one of his biggest fans in the UK, Anne Redfern. And he gave me one to send right back to Anne too! So meeting Brenda, her SIL and Tim were the highlights of this show for me. Sadly, didn't see Jennifer McGuire. One of the vendors said Jennifer had some family commitments this weekend, so probably would not be able to be there. Oh well, maybe next time!

I'll share the pictures when we get back home. Please accept my apologies for not getting back to those who have left comments yesterday & today. The Wi-Fi at the hotel keeps cutting out on me (and this dang laptop is a pain to type on.) I'm just trying to keep my mailbox cleaned out using a webmail which doesn't work like the Outlook I use at home;  will try to catch up with everyone later next week. I think we're headed down to Virginia tomorrow, with plans to visit Monticello, the home of President Thomas Jefferson. We've never been there.

The Christmas Card Club scheduled post will be up tomorrow also. In the meantime, thanks for stopping in, and catch you later. Blessings & Hugs.