England trip!

A long planned post about Stitches and my trip to England is finally here! I had been meaning to post as soon as I got back but wound up with a last minute illustration job for the Saturday Evening Post that I needed to get on almost as soon as my plane touched the ground. Then jet lag kicked in and now finally I am blogging!

I had an amazing trip to England and even got to see one of my cousins for a super dinner in Birmingham. Hi James!!

I started off flying into Manchester then the hilarious and amazing Dyan whisked me away with her daughter Emmi to Harrogate so I could set up to teach in Dyan's store Art from the Heart. We had a blast at her store! And I loved getting to spend time with Ben, Emmi and Jay as well.

Setting up for class at Art From the Heart.

Me and Dyan at her store!

I stayed at a sweet B&B in Harrogate called The Alexa House. I can't wait to come back. It was so cozy! Immediately upon arriving I had a hot chocolate and shortbread cookies in my room. I love English hotels and B&Bs because all have tea kettles in the rooms so I can make hot chocolate.

I taught Thursday and Friday and then Friday evening we darted off to Birmingham to meet up with the Ranger gang at the Bulls Head in Meriden.


The Bulls Head has a fun kooky atmosphere and as you can see here low beams in the rooms give it lots of character. I was sure it was haunted so I slept with my light on - I watch too much Haunted Travels on the Travel Channel.

Then it was a whirlwind of teaching and demoing at the Stitches show!

Tim, Suze and me ready to teach at Stitches!

Here I am demoing at the Personal Impressions booth.

We had a fun dinner at a Chinese place called Wing Wa and they told the staff it was my birthday (which it wasn't) and so they brought out this crazy flaming swan ice sculpture. It has become a Ranger tradition at Wing Wa.... every year it is another person's "Birthday".

And on Monday evening we were off to London to get ready for QVC UK. I was on for a short segment right after Suze. Tim was on every hour for almost a full 24 hours. I don't know how he was still standing at the end!

On the set of QVC UK with host Dawn Bibby

Getting ready for air time on QVC UK!

It was a great trip and fun to be back in England again! Thanks to Tim & Mario and Suze's blog and Dyan's blog for the photos!!


PS I must have one of these Henry Hoover vacuum cleaners. I was told they also make them for US electricity. It's officially on my wish list.