Saturday 30 April 2011

An Awfully Big Adventure... Day 2... Freckles On Tour...

...in America! Tis a fair few years since Freckles went on Tour... but he is back in his starring role as adventurer extraordinaire and joined us at Ranger U today. Freckles has been on tour with me all over the world for the past 15 years... he has been quite the explorer from sampling cocktails in Mexico (he got sloshed), kayaking in Antigua (he got wet) right through to riding a sheep in North Yorkshire (he tried to eat it)... so today was his debut at Ranger... and here is a photo of him looking very cute being cuddled by lovely Claudine Hellmuth (yes, I was fizzing with excitement at actually being in a class with Claudine, she is a brilliant teacher and a right good laugh!)




Freckles decided that I wasn't safe with a paintbrush loaded with Multi Medium (and hey, this time I didn't turn my top into an embellishment lol)... so he took over guarding it...





And he wanted his photo taken with his favourite new drink...




Oh and of course, he wanted a reminder of his time at Ranger so had a photo with THE file! **yes, I have gone completely tonto... blame the excitement**




Today (tis still Saturday here) was amazing... we spent the morning with Claudine and did loads of cool techniques that I have never tried before... image transfer being my new favourite... oh and stamping with Claudine's fab stamps... I haven't tried these before and now.. erm... I need them all lol We had the legendary square pizza for lunch... corrrrr... it is the best pizza I have ever had... and I just want to say a maaahhhooooosive thank you to Mario... that guy is a true star... bringing Dunkin' Donuts and coffee for breakfast... I had never tried a Dunkin' Donut til yesterday and corrrrrr.. they is lush... bringing fresh coffee through the day... and generally making sure we are all fed and watered... here he is with some dim blonde bird...




This afternoon was Distress with Tim... wall to wall tags and Distress products and very inky paws... I was in my element just sitting there getting inky and soaking up all the tips and "how to's" that Tim was showing us... oh and... here's a pic of Candy, Tim and Linda (and me)... check out the t-shirts we are wearing... Candy made them!!! Wow, they are fabulous, seriously cool and an amazing keepsake... I feel very honoured and incredibly chuffed that Candy went to all this trouble to make one of these unique and very special gifts for me... so, a maaahoooosive thank you to Candy too!




So... I didn't really get chance to talk about the start to my adventure because I was bone tired last night... I don't want to waffle on alarmingly so will keep it brief... the flight here was great, we set off early, landed early... thank heavens because there was an almighty storm brewing and tornado warnings for New Jersey. As we were coming into land we flew past the iconic New York skyline... I was awestruck... and then ever so slightly worried because there were huge forks of lightning bashing down around the skyscrapers. The landing was... erm... bumpy... like tummy flipping turbulance... but... we made it. The plan was that I was arriving first, followed an hour later by Candy, then Yvonne and Cheryl and Lisa were due in and finally Linda was due in at 16.30. We had a shuttle booked to take us to Tinton Falls but as the saying goes... best laid plans... because of the horrendous weather all flights were severely delayed or cancelled. So, the plans we made kind of went a bit pear shaped... and I ended up hanging around Newark airport for...erm... 10 hours. I did have a moment after about 2 hours of frustratingly trying to find out information and being sent from one place to another... but then I stumbled across a little shop that was selling Diet Coke and Cheesy Chester Cheeto's and everything just got a whole lot more bearable lol ... Finally the girls arrived during the evening - poor Candy's case went AWOL but thankfully she has been reunited with it - and we made it to the hotel at about 1.30am. The thing is, a few delays and hanging about at an airport are nothing compared to what some of the poor peeps who have been affected by the tornado's have been experiencing - it kind of put things into perspective when I saw the news and the size of some of those twisters...

Anyways... I have the Sunday Stamper post ready to write up and publish so I will stop waffling now and say... thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

20 comments:

Sally Morgan said...

Awwww Hels! So glad you got there safe and well...if not a tad later than planned! What a fabulous time you must be having out there, am loving the piccies :) freckles looks like he's getting stuck right in and deserves his very own certificate! lols. I hope you're gunna show us this new fantabulous image transfer that ya lovin soooo much....pwetty pwease. Just realised the time, oops, am all covered in glitter and wide awake so will crack on rofl. Carry on bouncing and havin a blast girl, I can't think of anyone who deserves it more! *hugs* Sal x

wwilloww said...

Thanks so much for sharing yours and Freckles great adventure!!! I know that you know how lucky you are but just in case... YOU ARE SO DARN LUCKY!!! I just can't wait to see what you create from all these tips and techniques your are learining!! You know we are just going to expect more and more from you... LOL... Can't wait to hear more!!

ellen vargo designs said...

I'm positively *bursting* with excitement for you! Looks like you are having THE BEST time - those shirts are drop dead gorgeous! She better prepare to take orders! Good to meet Freckles - he's so cute! and those poses had me in hysterics! We'll have to stock up on Wild Cherry Diet Pepsi... you know... to go with the Diet Coke.... and the coffee... and the Cheetos... See you tomorrow!!! OMG! BIG HUGS! Els xx

Laura Spano said...

Welcome to America! love reading about your adventures. I will never take Donkin Donuts for granted again and I'm glad you made it through your ordeal in Newark. (geez, you could have taken the train into Manhattan for a bit of sightseeing and a cupcake and back in that time) Can't wait to hear about the rest of your adventure!

Jennie -The Artistic Stamper said...

ooh a whole day almost at the airport :((. I did think of you Thursday..but glad that it all was ok..Looks like you having a great time!

Helen said...

Keep seeing you in pics that Mario is tweeting!! So glad you got there safely, the news from the affected areas is just awful.
Enjoy your last day at Ranger U - I can't wait to see you to hear all about it and see your fab new tricks - where are you demoing next that I can get to?!

Andrea said...

just brilliant pics Hels and sorry there was problems at the beginning but you look like you have well made up for it, you must be in your element there and its wonderful to share your journey, please keep the pics coming even when your with Ellen, what a fantastic time your having and look forward to hearing about it all when your home,lots love xx

Gillian .... said...

Glad you had a safe flight and arrived safely despite the awful weather storms. Amazing pics, you all look like your having a blast. Wonder if Claudine worked out you had a love affair with Trad Tan & Matte Medium lol. Loving the tops from Candy .. what a gem she is.Can't wait to see & hear about all these new techniques you have learned. Freckles looks well at home at Ranger U :) xx

Ann said...

Loving all the updates on you & Freckles adventures at Ranger U ....THANKS FOR SHARING hELS :d XXX

Melody (lacyquilter) said...

I want one of those t-shirts! Or a tutorial would work. Think you can convince Candy to do a tut?

Joanne said...

I was worried when I read Claudine's tweet or facebook post saying the weather was terrible, but you made it and the photos show you making wonderful examples. Can't wait to see you make projects with all this new found knowledge. Enjoy your time with Ellen next. Hugs Joanne xx

Hettie said...

Aw Hels. Sounds like you have had a rough time of it but never mind, you are safe and having a great time by the seems of it. Fergus says "Hi" to Freckles!! Looks like he has been with you far tooo long with all those spots of tan paint?!!!

Enjoy the rest of your trip and have a Ball girl!

Ferdy will be happy to see his Mummy back but it will be soon enuff! Like your t-shirt too!!

Hugs and kisses Sam xxxxx

Hettie said...

P.S. I am soooooo envious about the Dunkin Donuts - I had just about got over missing those from 1996 when I was in USA! And the Strawberry Philadelphia soft cheese with bagels!!! If you have room...
xxx

Shazza said...

great pics Hels hunny, it all sounds wonderful x

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a blast, I think you need to come over for a whole day of fappacinio's when you get back so we can catch up.

Val said...

Looks like you are having a blast - you deserve it. Those T-shirts are just fab!

Hope to see you again soon.

Hugs
Valxx

Art By Wanda said...

Hels, I love reading about your time at Ranger U!!! Freckles is very cute!! You can tell him I said so unless of course you think his head will get too big :-)) Way cool shirts!!!!!!!!!

Dragon said...

You DO tell it gudd, Hels
Frankie
xx

Kirsten Alicia said...

I LOVE the photos of Freckles! So glad you & he had such a wonderful time at Ranger U.

whyducks said...

Or you more devil, 10 hours to wait you must have been on your knees. Love your T.shirt. Everything looks so exciting, thanks for sharing it all xx

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