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Sunday 10 July 2016

Getting Totally Muddy!

So this week we wanted to celebrate one of our team members doing something selfless for charity. Last weekend Victoria ditched her glad rags, threw on some old clothes and got covered head to toe in mud! Yep that's right in her hair, in her ears, not to mention where else...

And why we hear you ask? Well all to raise money for Cancer Research UK in their Pretty Muddy 5k. As many of you know BellaCrafts really embraces being part of the community and all of us love to see how arts and crafts can be a real therapeutic experience for those who may be having a tough time due to their own illness, supporting others at home or having lost someone dear to them. It's amazing to see how quickly people get lost focusing on the tiny flick of their paintbrush or obsessed by placing their sparkly crystals in exactly the right order, suddenly we forget all those issues and worries! And we know we'd definelty prefer to be crafting rather than getting covered in mud!

We met Victoria at the finish line, keeping our distance, as she ran towards us with arms wide for an embrace! Here's what she had to say:
"I had a great time running around getting totally splattered! I've never been much of a runner (or anything remotely sporty to be honest!) but knowing that you are running for a good cause and to make those who have supported you proud, there could be no better motivation. I personally have watched 6 family members and friends go through battles with cancer, some winnng, some sadly defeated and some on-going so it's something that I do feel really strongly about. I'm glad I can do something to give back... Next year 10k!!!"

Take a look and have a giggle as these totally flattering  pictures of our Victoria in her running gear. And for anyone who is having a hard time, whether it be due to illness or anything else, please do feel free to pop into us and just spend an afternoon in good company, with a cuppa wiling away the hours arts and crafts projects.

Check out those legs!

If you entered the Race for Life or Pretty Muddy we'd love to see your photo's too. Leave us a comment below :)

Friday 1 July 2016

The Big Weekend!


This weekend the BellaCrafts team were busy visiting the Ricoh Arena attending the Craft and Hobby Association’s Big Weekend. We had a fantastic time rubbing shoulders with some of the industry’s biggest and best! Such a wealth of experiences, knowledge and every level of business. The three day show was packed with seminars, talks, networking and even a chance at a screen test with Create and Craft! We of course threw ourselves in! There's a list of people and companies who made the event for us and we'll be making sure we take up every opportunity.

We especially loved catching up with Sara Naumann again, we love, love, love her stamps and she is always such a friendly face with fantastic ideas about marketing and craft projects alike. We are already looking forward to the next event so we can have a good old gossip! If you haven’t seen her stamps (part of the Paper Artsy range) you really do need to check them out. Here’s a few of our favourites:


We met Debbie Moore, and hear her inspiring business journey. We heard her story of how she began as well as the hurdles and triumphs along the way. It was really interesting and gave us something to really aspire to, her creativity and business acumen were very impressive and her products are, as you all know, beautiful and bang on trend.


And as many of you know, we at BellaCrafts, couldn’t help getting stuck in and making our own contribution. Victoria taught a sewing workshop creating a collapsible storage box with just one fat quarter. Our much loved Jenniffer Taylor  even took part and it was great to have a good old chat with her again. Jenniffer herself is excelling and business is great for our old friend.
Belinda led a seminar and even featured on the “Ask the Experts” panel with people firing questions about all sorts of different aspects of the craft industry.
All in all it was an incredible weekend with lots of fantastic contacts in the room including Create and Craft TV, Crafter’s Companion, Bert and Gert’s Events, Circut  and more. As always we’ve come away with lots more ideas, big plans and exciting projects that we can’t wait to get under way... Watch this space J