I finally have a chance to upload my photos and talk about my experience going to London. I am always asked..."Do you get a chance to sightsee on your trips?" Well, this trip was so fast. I flew out on Monday night and got home on Friday night. Yes, with my 14 hours EACH way traveling and in the airport...that is a full day of travel to consider. So this time, I was constantly at the studio or at Photocentric's (TC Stampmaker) headquarters. I arrived at London Heathrow airport and went to Petersborough where IdealWorld and Create and Craft is TV studios is located. It was a 1.5 hour drive from the airport. I actually was so tired and slept the entire way. (Yes, I had a car pick me up and take me there!)
I go straight to the studio and tour the live sets and go over all the details. I had done British TV before- QVC UK but this was a FIRST for IdealWorld. I was very impressed with the operation. This is the green room that we stay in between filming.
So thankful that Amanda Jones (from my design team) and Sally Butcher (TC Stampmaker/ Photocentric) came to the studio each day and helped me out so much. It was so nice to have company and they helped me with show set up. I am so thankful.
Each evening, Sally took me to dinner so that I could see "a bit" of Petersborough. (this is downtown shops) I simply love the buildings and the feel here.
We had dinner here on Tuesday and it was delicious!
I was going back and forth from the studio to my hotel for three days. I was only sleeping MAYBE 3 hours each night. My internal clock was going crazy!!!!
Photocentric is located down the street from IdealWorld. I mean maybe two blocks so I spent time doing videos and having meetings with them during the times I was not on live tv. It was a very productive three days. I worked the entire time and in my hotel room worked on upcoming design deadlines.
This is the building where the TV studio is located. The weather was much colder during my visit and I had wished I had brought a warmer jacket.
I love making new friends. This is Sue Wilson www.particraft.blogspot.com. She is amazing and goes on air for Spellbinders. Loved seeing her projects, products and how sweet she is. She has the #1 Craft Blog in the UK. She went on air and SPELLBINDERS was selling out like crazy!!! It is hugely popular there. Loved watching her and Dawn Bibby live.
We are both waiting and talking as we are waiting in the greenroom to do our hour long segments here.
Here are the tables set up prior to filming- as I was trying to get it ready. I was showing a lot of kits for TCD and then I did some shows for My Mind's Eye. It was the BEST experience ever for me with live TV. I really loved the hosts and enjoyed having a full hour to demo, talk and share the products. *American Crafts is FILMING behind my table. I try to do it quietly so we are not disturbing the ON AIR shows.
All the production assistants are super efficient and make it so easy for me. I had so much help and they are super organized. (American Crafts is filming right then and I was going live next!) I was not nervous and it just felt comfortable to do these shows. I did a total of seven hour long segments.
I was able to go to the mall (my first time ever to an International Mall) and shop. It was Thursday evening and I was so tired but I wanted to see how it compared to the US malls. Oh my... British products were everywhere due to the Olympics and the Queens Jubilee. I loved it! I loved the stationery in the mall and the card shops. It is always fun for me to watch and see upcoming trends. That is why I always shop where ever I am visiting. It was inspiring!
Then we walked outside of the mall and you see this beautiful town center...
The Cathedral was beautiful... and so big. I was so tired from filming and traveling that at this point we just walked around it and back to the mall but I did not go in.
This is the TC Set all ready to film...
I even sold the TC Stampmaker but due to time...was not able to demo it on the show's live. It did really well and the card makers love it!
This is the set for My Mind's Eye. They have a fabulous design team too and worked hard on these samples for the show.
Visuals from one of my shows....
More visuals from the TC Stampmaker line. I wish you could see them in person. It takes so much effort to get all the projects done for these shows.
****THANK YOU to my fabulous design team!!!! I could never do it without them!
Create and Craft has their own magazine too. I love how crafting is truly growing bigger and bigger in Europe. The UK crafters in general are more geared to making cards.
In between filming one day, we went to lunch and the store also was a big shopping center. I had to get my photo taken. This was a fun experience. I purchased notebooks, and some postcards while I was in this store. I had a "jacket potato" for lunch. That is a baked potato for us American's.
Oh yes, these crowns CAUGHT my eye... so pretty!
So loved it... it was crazy fast and I was beyond fatigued when I got home. It took me THREE full days to feel normal again. ha! I loved that I got to visit the mall and eat at some of the cute restaurant in the city center. The show went amazingly well and I can't wait to go again!
