Thursday 15 May 2014

PaperArtsy on tour {Downunder} ...too cool !!!

Hi guys, Leandra here, helloooooo

Well it has been secret squirrel city here at HQ the last week or so, the excitement just bubbling under the surface....what is she on about this time??? ...well read on...

...sometimes in life when bad things happen, good things follow...well this is one of those things !!

A few weeks back our house in New Zealand suffered some water damage in a storm that dumped an extraordinary amount of rain in a very short time. Thankfully the insurance has got it all under control. However, we have been non stop in touch with builders, roofers and so on trying to decide the best plan of action and make the right decisions. Our lovely tenants have moved out today to relocate their business further north (this was already happening pre-storm anyway), and we have a new set moving in next week. With all the to and fro-ing...eventually one thing led to another and Mark decided that perhaps it would be so much easier if he went back and had a good look at the house overall, and have a bit of a catch up while there with friends and family.

So I told him go for it, have fun, say hi to everyone for me and see you when you get back....however, he was pretty keen for me to go with him so we could both decide what to do. He prefers to do things with me, rather than on his own (awwww), but I'm thinking of 20 reasons NOT to go (call me weird)...but life is so much easier if one of us stays here at HQ! 

I said I would go if we could organise demo days in a few shops, next thing we were planning a Melbourne stop off prior to NZ, and then a blink later and the whole trip was booked! Well I guess that's a yes then! We're off.

I've been up late most nights this week talking to a zillion kiwi people, booking appointments with them, planning accommodation with friends and family up and down the country, organising shop demos and classes, as well as keeping up with the normal demands of PAHQ. It's not been easy, we are an elf down, as the lovely Emma is on holibobs in Portugal at the mo! I think this is why Mark wanted me there now - his personal assistant is on board to manage the 'PA on-tour' diary/ itinerary !

For those of you who don't know our story, I was born in England, but raised in NZ since I was 5. Went to school and uni, got married, had kids in NZ and then with the kids aged 1,3,5 and 7, we left New Zealand 13 years ago (this week actually) to go to England for a 3-5 year working holiday. Mark has been back to NZ once to sort out some business issues, and I have never been back so I'm feeling quite emotional about the whole thing! Well if I'm honest, I'm trying not to think about it yet. Once I'm on the plane it will hit!

If you are down under and wondering which shops I might pop up in, below is all the info you need, it would be lovely to see you, all the shops concerned can provide you with more details, so contact them direct.

Shop 1: Crafter's Cupboard, Melbourne, AU
 
Friday May 23rd : Crafters Cupboard, Berwick (am class, afternoon/evening demo)
  • Book online or 
  • call Jennifer on 03 8790 5287 or 
  • email customerservice@CraftersCupboard.com.au


Shop 2: Art of Craft, Mt Maunganui, NZ

Thursday 29th May: Art of Craft, 4 Aranui Drive, Papamoa (demos all afternoon/ early evening)
  • call Dianne or Jason  on 07 5720595 or
  • email admin@artofcraft.co.nz

Shop 3: Craftables, Auckland, NZ


Saturday 31st May: Craftables, 9/ 36 William Pickering Drive, Albany, Auckland (demos from mid afternoon)
  • call Paula on 09 414 4100 
  • email paula@craftables.co.nz
 
A huge thankyou to these retailers for agreeing to have me in store at short notice. I can't wait to meet you and share PaperArtsy products and techniques with you all.

If you are coming to the demos, what will you see? I will be working with a wide variety of our stamps, stencils, paints, Grunge Paste, Treasure Gold showing many ideas and techniques and you might even get to be hands on and have a go yourself!

While we are away, Emma will be here looking after PA HQ while we are away, so all orders, Wholesale and Retail will still be shipping as normal.

33 comments:

Deborah Wainwright said...

Hope you have a really fab time even if it is a working hol. Try to have some rest time x

Helen said...

Crumbs! I thought for one awful moment you were going back for good!

Lin said...

Oh my Leandra..soooo pleased for you (not the flood) lol!! It must be very emotional for you but go spread the Paper Artsy word and we'll be here when you get back!! you lucky lucky pair xxxxx

Unknown said...

So you're an ex-pat ex-pat! How confusing! Have a fab time

Craftyfield said...

13 years... high time you went back and right that you should go back together. The business you will do there is just the cherry on top!
Love the squirrel pic, so funny!

Liesbeth Fidder said...

Wishing you a great time !! Take care of yourselves , have fun and succes and enjoy ! X

margaret said...

Wow have a fab time!!!! I love NZ had a fab holiday there a few years ago. Enjoy yourselves!!

Kathi said...

Oh how fun!

Travel safely, have a great time, and good luck with the house issues.

Unknown said...

Have the best time and enjoy catching up with everyone. Make sure you come back!! Xx

Ruth said...

Hope you have a fantastic time, you deserve it.

sam21ski said...

How long you going for, when do you get back?

Anonymous said...

How exciting for you! And for all the Down Under PaperArtsy fans too, they are in for the biggest treat. Obviously, we'll 'see' you on Twitter to wish you bon voyage before you go, but I hope you have a WONDERFUL time.

Keren Baker said...

How exciting. Hope it's not too emotional- but how great for Australia and NZ. Have an amazing time and hope you get some down time too!

craftimamma said...

OMG, my stomach dropped a little then 'cos like Helen I thought you were going to say you were going back 'home', lol! Wow, I can imagine your mixed emotions but it will be wonderful for you to catch up with everyone. Those PaperArtsy fans are definitely in for a special treaT but make sure they know WE WANT YOU BACK PLEASE!

Have a fabulous time Leandra and Mark, you deserve it.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

craftytrog said...

Wow! Lucky you! Have a fabulous time! If you get to the South Island, say hi to my friend Meg! Lol! xxx

Linda Jones said...

How totally FABULOUS darling! Lol. Have fun, but, don't forget to come back to us #patwits

massofhair said...

A very fortunate set of events. Hope you all have a fantastic time wherever you go and whoever you meet. Hope we get lots of tweets to keep up with your adventures.

Safe trip, enjoy:-) xxx

ionabunny said...

Have a great time. It looks amazing

Steven said...

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!!! Nothing like home!!

Karin said...

Have aq wonderful time. x

Lucy Edmondson said...

Have a wonderful time, glad you are going together! See you at the craft barn,

Lucy x

Jo said...

Have a great time and relax!

Scrumplescrunch said...

Hello Leandra,
I hope I will manage attend at 'Craftables' North Shore Auckland. I would love to meet you. Bring your winter woollies it is very cold here at the moment, but not wet. Have a safe trip.
Smiles:)
Sue

Sarah B said...

Have a fantantastic time - I've only been to NZ once and loved every minute xx

Julie Lee said...

Have a wonderful time and don't work too hard! Enjoy! Julie Ann xxx

ellen vargo designs said...

Have a fabulous and safe trip back to NZ - hope everything works out perfect and you enjoy your time at "home".

Etsuko said...

Have a good time and enjoy!! Etsuko xxx

Redanne said...

Ah, I know how emotional it can be visiting 'home' after such a long time - a bit like a rollercoaster but in a very good way! Have fun and enjoy your demos/classes and don't forget to take some time out just for you!

Trish said...

Oh wow - have a fab time!

finnella03 said...

Have a great time and enjoy!

Kezzy said...

Oh wow wow wow I bet your so excited, what a fabulous time you will have, and how lucky Australia is to have you both. Pretty please make sure you come back to us in the uk lol :-) Kezzy xxx

Unknown said...

Hi Leandra - how exciting for you!! We had a lovely holiday touring all over the North Island (drove over 2000 km) and enjoyed every minute of it despite the weather being very mixed at times. I managed to find The Art of Craft in Papamoa and was just in awe of all their stock!! I told them about Mr and Mrs PA and how I thought they would very much like all your products!!!! Have a lovely working holiday but make sure and come back to this hemisphere!!! Having said that I can't believe you left Tauranga and Mt Maunganui and the beautiful Bay of Plenty to come to this wee corner of the world to live - anyway glad you did!! Take care love Roberta :) x

Carol Q said...

have a fab trip, don't wear yourself out x