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A very warm welcome to my teeny, tiny part of the huge world of blogging. This is where I share my passion for making hand made greeting cards. So - why "Always with a Heart"? Well this is for two reasons. Firstly, it is because every card I produce carries a heart on it somewhere. This can be big and bold or small and almost hidden - the fun sometimes is just trying to find it! Secondly it is because I put my heart into everything I produce. I hope that any visitors enjoy seeing what I post. If you drop by then please leave me a comment so that I know you called. It would be nice to know that you have found my heart in what I do.

Monday 22 February 2016

HAPPY NEWS AND THANK YOU!

Hi Everyone

Happy Monday!!!  I hope you all had a good weekend and the week has started off well for you.

I wanted to pop by and share some super happy news from this end!!

Mr Heart and I went to the CHSI Stitches Exhibition at the NEC on Sunday to source some suppliers for goodies for my little wedding stationery business. I found quite a few people who were more than happy to work with me .. .. ..  despite me not needing to purchase hundreds and hundreds of everything .. .. .. and one that has even offered to open up their warehouse out of hours so I can have a rummage through their Aladdin's Cave of goodies!!  I will definitely be taking them up on that wonderful offer on the back of their fabulous supplies at the exhibition!   How lovely to find so many company owners that are as excited about their ventures as I am.

My brain is buzzing even more than ever.. .... who would have thought that was possible??

Then after the exhibition had closed for the day we went along to the craft awards, which anyone at the exhibition was allowed to attend .. .. .. and surprise of all surprises, look what I gained .. .. ..

FAVOURITE CARD DESIGNER CATEGORY

To say that I was totally amazed and dumbfounded is the understatement of the year .. .. . especially when you take into consideration that I was in the presence of some of my crafting heroes.  To be honest it felt like a dream.

But I woke up in the hotel this morning to find it really was true (and the champagne bottle still full) .. .. proceeded to eat a huge breakfast .. .. and then headed back to the exhibition as we had only touched the surface of all the amazing stands yesterday.

On Sunday we also went into one of the many seminars that were on offer to listen to the amazing Sara Naumann lecturing on "Filming DIY Craft Videos".. .. OMG there is a lot more to that than meets the eye so that is on a very low back burner .. .. perhaps never to reach a front burner .. .. but having instilled in me huge respect for all those that do it so professionally. 

But we are home again now and I have mountains of leaflets and booklets to read and a lovely stash of business cards to wade through and websites to investigate, as a lot of suppliers had been unable to take their complete ranges with them.

Tomorrow it is going to be a case of falling back to earth with a bang as I lift down from the notice board that huge "must do" crafty "do list" but until then I am trying to put it out of my mind.

But I want to leave you by saying a huge

THANK YOU

to anyone who kindly voted for me in the awards

and also share a very rare picture of the lovely Mr Heart and myself in the awards suite .. .. .. where the lighting was VERY PINK .. .. but at least it makes us look like we might have a bit of a tan (we wish!!). LOL!!


Hopefully there will be some official photographs to share or link to later .. .. but for now this is a wonderful reminder of a very special moment in my life.

Thanks again to anyone who backed me and made this happen.

Edited to say:  Sheila in Cyprus .. .. I have sent you a message on an old email address I had for you .. .. but just in case that doesn't work, and in the hope that you call by here again, the exhibition we attended was a trade one .. .. not the Hobbycraft and Sewing for Pleasure one that will be taking place in March.  I would hate you to miss out on some crafty retail therapy .. .. the details are linked here for you. 

Thanks everyone for your lovely comments .. .. Mr Heart is enjoying his claim to fame in the blogging world LOL!!!

Love and hugs

34 comments:

Sharon said...

Congratulations on your well deserved win
Sharon x

Lynn said...

Hello Jules - what a lovely surprise for you, and please accept my hearty congratulations. Very deserving. It was nice to see Mr. Heart for a change too! Lynn

Patricia said...

Wow! Oh! Wow! Jules, I go missing for months, I return to find this FANTASTIC news.
Well done you, you deserve every drop of that Champagne and your commemorative plaque.
Patricia x

Gibmiss said...

Hi Jules
Fabulous news.... You deserved to win... I am so pleased and excited for you....
Congrats....
Hugs Sylvie xx

Little K Smith said...

Well done Jules! Well deserved, you're such an inspiration! Enjoy the champers!
Kelly.x

Kathleen said...

Oh, how wonderful, huge, huge congratulations, very well deserved, more so as you are a lovely person too, great photo, bet Mr Heart was well proud.

Kath x

Lorraine said...

Huge Congratulations Jules, this is so very well deserved.
Your cards are always an inspiration and you have a wonderful style.
Lorraine x

Sarah said...

I couldn't be happier for you Jules, you have been such an inspiration to me (and helped me spend my pocket money too, I might add!!) and it couldn't happen to nicer lady! Looking good Mr Heart!! xx

Di said...

Oh Jules - I'm absolutely delighted for you! How wonderful, and of course I was one of your voters.

Now get that bottle of bubbly over to the tree house double quick pronto - Sarn is waiting in the snippets playground with a load of excited little playmates for you!

HOORAY!! A really worthy winner.

Love and hugs

Di xxx

Unknown said...

Congratulations !!! Woohoo I'm so pleased for you Jules and very well deserved it is too, your blog was one of the first I ever came across when I first started on my cardmaking journey (or should I say addiction lol) and you continue to inspire me with every post. Lovely pic of you and Mr Heart too :)
Big hugs, Kaz xx

Amanda said...

Sounds like a lovely weekend and a very well deserved prize too. Hugs, Amanda x

Sheila in Cyprus said...

BIG Congratulations Jules.

You deserve it, your cards are always a big inspiration for me, and believe you me I very often need it!

Am returning to UK for week and was hoping the Nec show would be on whilst I am back...Oh well I will see what else is on.

Lovely piccie of Mr and Mrs Heart.

Sheila

cotnob said...

Huge congratulations Jules, so well deserved - I hope you had a wonderful evening, I can't believe that bottle is unopened!
Pauline
x

Kath said...

This is great news Jules - well done on your award, it's well deserved (and you had my vote too!).
Kath x

Crafting Queen said...

Congratulations!

Stamps and Paper said...

Congratulations Jukes and so very well deserved

Anne

Hazel said...

Jules I am so pleased for you. You deserved your award. Hazel X

cuilliesocks said...

Congratulations!! and so well done you. heartily deserved and lovely to meet Mr. Heart, fab photo of you both, Kate x

Debs said...

Whoop whoop - that is just fantastic news Jules - so proud of you and it could not have gone to a better person for sure.
Totally deserved.
Debs xx

Linda said...

Well done Jules...well deserved
Linda x

Tracey T said...

Congratulations, Jules. A thoroughly well deserved win! x

Eve said...

CONGRATULATIONS JULES!!!!
The award is TOTALLY deserved as you are a very talented and super lovely lady!
You have helped me immensely with advice and it is so nice for you to be awarded - well done you!

Enjoy your champagne!

Love Eve xx
P.S it is so lovely to see Mr Heart!

Lynsey said...

Hi Jules what lovely news about your award! Well deserved!
Hugs Lynsey x

Linby said...

Fantastic news Jules and so very well deserved - congratulations.
Lynn x

Sue said...

WOW!! BIG congratulations to your Jules. I really is so well deserved, your designs are always wonderful and your give so much inspiration to everyone.
Thank you for your kind wishes, it means so much.
hugs, Sue xx

Brawny x said...

Hi Jules I am absolutely thrilled for you. It is well deserved well done. Xxx

Debbie said...

Congratulations lovely lady, you so deserve that award. You never fail to inspire us. So glad you made some good contacts at the trade show. Big hugs X xxxx

An Occasional Genius said...

Aww Jules, what a well deserved award! You really are an inspiration and your designs always delight. Huge congratulations to you and to Mr Heart for his patience and support, we appreciate him too! Crafty hugs xxx

Barb said...

Congratulations Jules on your very special award. Certainly well deserved. What a happy photo of you and Mr. Heart. Barbxx

Bonnie said...

Congratulations, Jules! Hurrah! A well deserved honor!

Darnell said...

I just saw the happy and well-deserved news over at the Playground, Jules! Congratulations!! I'm so thrilled for you! And it's a wonderful photo of you and handsome Mr. Heart!! Hugs, Darnell

Quirky Shepherd said...

Congratulations xx

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Hi Jules,
I just had to pop over from the playground to offer a big congrats on such a wodnerful and well deserved achievement.
.. it is s incredibly special to think you were voted in but am thrilled for you,
every blessing, Shaz in Oz.x

{Shaz in Oz – Calligraphy Cards}

Carole said...

Congratulations well deserved, so pleased for you xx