NEC Update

Well, we're on our way home, all a little tired, spent out but very happy.  There were a few bargains to be had, I got quite a few of the Tattered Lace dies I had wanted, including the recent Art Deco one's they had bought out, and at three dies for the price of two, they were a very good buy.
Create and Craft were also offering a goody bag for £20 with the contents worth £150. I didn't get one but a couple of ladies on the coach did, but haven't opened them yet. So I was wondering, if you got one, what was in the bag, and do you think it was a bargain I should have gone for?
The number of exhibitors have definitely diminished over the years and, speaking to one of them today, I can understand why.  With the cost of having a stand, travel for your stock and staff, and overnight accommodation for four nights for yourself and your staff, you have to sell quite a lot to make it worth your while.  Some were of the opinion that they will just break even and may not do it again next year.
Sadly, that's bad news for us shoppers, but you can understand where they are coming from. Everybody is feeling a little less well off and probably being more careful with how they spend their money - although when you saw the activity on some of the stalls, this didn't always seem to be the case!
There were a few things I had on my wish list I didn't get, and lots of things that made it into my bag which weren't on my list! The good news is I still have some money left, so I can order the stuff I didn't get online and eagerly await the postman to bring them to me!

NEC Birmingham - Christmas Crafts Show

So we are on our way to the Hobbycraft's Christmas Crafts Show at the NEC in Birmingham, and I cannot wait to get there!

Like many people, I save the money I have made from cards I have sold to spend on replenishing stocks, but for this show I am also lucky enough for my Mum and my husband to give me my Christmas and birthday money early (that's when having a birthday two days after Christmas comes in handy!) to have a really good, guilt free spending spree on whatever I need, or just plain want!

I am travelling up in a coach from the Island with other, like minded crafters, and we will no doubt be comparing things bought on the trip back later this evening.  The nice thing is to see the diversity of goodies people buy as we are not all into the same crafts, and it can be interesting to talk to people about other crafts and perhaps vow 'to give that a go one day'.

I tend to do this trip alone as I find the show is so large, I selfishly just want to wander around and look at things I want to without worrying about boring, or holding up, somebody else. I would never ask my husband to come with me, and he wouldn't want to go! If he came, I would be whisked around the entire venue in about an hour and, if I stopped to look at anything, would be asked if I really needed that? To which, like many of you I know, is usually 'no, but I want it!'

I will update you later as to what I bought and the new and interesting goodies that were on offer, and for those that have already been, or are still to go, please tell me what you bought and what you thought of the show.