Top craft designer Anna Griffin

We chatted to Anna Griffin, one of our most popular US craft designers. She shared her top craft secrets, told us about the mistake that almost spelt disaster for her first Today's Special Value and divulged which new products we will be seeing later on this year...

How did you start as a crafter?

My family were all artists and so I used to do a lot of crafting when I was younger with my mother and I learnt all the basics from a really young age - needlework, papercrafting and such. I studied Graphic Design at college and I guess it seemed to fit really. You know when it just feels right. I've been doing it for about 20 years now and I love it!

What's your favourite craft tool?

I'm not a gadget girl. I don't even have a Blackberry. So I just have really basic craft materials that I always use.

Now magazine competition: win a set of beautiful bracelets

We've teamed up with Now magazine to offer ten lucky winners a fabulous Mother's Day prize. Winning entrants will receive this collection of five bracelets boasting beautiful cultured freshwater pearls.

Enter the Now magazine bracelet competition

For more jewellery visit qvcuk.com

Craig Rowe: My first four months as a QVC presenter

QGossip caught up with Craig Rowe, the winner of QVC's Search for a Presenter competition and the channel's newest presenter, to find out how his first four months have been.

What's been your high point so far?

I think the high point for me so far at QVC was definitely the Christmas Carols Breast Cancer Care event. That was the first customer event that I had gone to and I met loads of QVC customers and it was good to hear people saying 'I voted for you' and 'I watched the competition'. It was just a really good night, I really felt like a proper presenter then because I was there with Dale and Julia and meeting customers. So that's been a definite highlight.

Have you had any embarrassing moments?

I still look at the wrong camera quite a lot! For some reason, even though I've worked in TV for four years, I still get cameras wrong. I try not to hide it, I just make a joke of it, 'Oh there you are, hello'. But no, I haven't gone on-air with my flies undone or fallen off a treadmill - yet!

Julia Roberts' recipe: My family's favourite dinner!

Hi everyone,

I must have been making this lasagne dish for about 15 years - it pre-dated the move to the house I live in now, and we've been there 13 and a half years! I made it Saturday night after the footie (which we lost!) and the comments were: Sophie - yummy, Daniel - delicious and Chris - very nice!

Incidentally, if you're making it for three people, or two with very large appetites, you can leave out the middle layer of pasta.

So try it yourself and I hope you enjoy it!

Love,

Julia

xx

Julia's vegetarian lasagne recipe

Best magazine: celeb-style macs with Centigrade

Celebrities like Kate Moss and Billie Piper love their macs and so do we! A trendy mac helps you keep away the inevitable spring rain while still making a serious style statement.

Best magazine have hand-picked ten of the best including this flattering mac from Centigrade. Don't miss your chance to try this fashionable everyday look.

Visit QVCUK.com

Julia Roberts: I'm a monkey!

Happy Chinese New Year!

Do you know which Chinese zodiac sign you are? We've just gone into the year of the Rat which is a great time for Monkeys like me. Each sign has a different focus for the year and for Monkeys it's time to realise your goals - the world is our oyster!

Julia xx

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woman&home fashion show update

It's not too late to get tickets for the woman&home fashion show and now there's even more reason to step out at this glam event. Nails Inc and MOP have just confirmed that they will be doing the models hair and nails, joining Prescriptives beauty on the day.

You'll also have the chance to meet beauty expert Alison Young, who will be on hand to offer advice and help you try out the ranges.

So join us for a fantastic event filled with new-season fashion and lots of champagne!

Find tickets

Go to QVCUK.com

Kathy Tayler: I must see more of Alison Keenan

Hi everyone,

Another one of my resolutions is to see more of Alison Keenan! We share a dressing room and we do occasionally see each other but unfortunately we do alternate slots on air. It's very frustrating!

It's nice though because I'd not met her at all before I came to QVC, but we started at the same time and did our training together. We've helped each other through various personal traumas and things. And it's a really positive thing to have a good friend out of your work.

If I'm at home and I'm on my own then I often turn on QVC for a bit of company, if you like, as whoever is on, I'll know them! I'll turn on the TV and hear Alison saying, 'Kathy bought me a lovely pair of smoky quartz earrings for Christmas...'

Hopefully I can meet up with Alison soon!

Kathy

x

Go to QVCUK.com

Discount tickets available for Dawn Bibby at Stitch & Craft 2008

Calling all Dawn Bibby fans - tickets are now available for Stitch & Craft 2008, an event run by twistedthread.com - and QGossip readers can get a £1 discount on any advanced tickets they buy (normal prices: £8 for Adult/ £7 Senior). Just quote the code 'QVC02'.

Dawn Bibby will be at the event doing live craft demonstrations and an advice clinic. She'll also be signing autographs. To find out more or to buy tickets, go to the twistedthread.com website.

Go to QVC Craft

Julian Ballantyne's Valentine's Day tips

Hi. I usually go for a nice romantic meal, but this year it's going to be all about having fun. We decided that we would go out with lots of other couples and go dancing and have a good time - get that '80s groove thing going again!

My Valentine's Day tips? Well, remember it for a start! But you don't just have to wait for Valentine's Day to be romantic, you can do something nice any time of the year. I love giving presents, but I get embarrassed receiving them.

Love,

Julian

x

Kathy Tayler: looking after my nails

Hi everyone. Just thought I'd let you know how I'm getting on with my new year's resolution to take better care of my nails. I had a manicure last week!

Obviously the state of my hands and nails is important when the camera goes really close up. I'm dreading when we start transmitting in HD! It's not just going to be my nails then, it's going to be everything all in glorious Technicolor for everyone to see!

My top nailcare tips at the moment? If you haven't tried it, OPI Nail Envy is a brilliant clear nail varnish. For me it's great - I don't need to identify what the problem is because it works for all my nail problems.

I'm also going to be good and spend a minute every evening putting OPI cuticle oil on.

It's funny because all these beauty products can be really good but you do have to remember use them!

It will be an ongoing project so wish me luck,

Love

Kathy x

Catherine Huntley's Paul McKenna training

Hi, me again! I've just been on a tough seven-day intensive training course learning some of the same techniques Paul McKenna uses in breakthrough systems like I Can Make You Thin and I Can Make You Confident. It's called NLP (neuro-linguistic programming) and it teaches you how to help people overcome obstacles in their lives.

The training was intensive with a lot of ten-hour days, but it was worth it - I am now a licensed NLP practitioner! So now I'll be much better qualified to give advice to people who need it. Plus, it will help with the book I'm writing about having a positive outlook to life and coping with difficulties - if I ever get time to finish it!

I'll keep you posted!

Love,

Catherine

x

Goodbye Pippa Gordon, hello Pipa Vanderburg!

Pipa has changed her name from Pippa Gordon to Pipa Vanderburg. For those viewers wondering why, we quizzed her yesterday...

Why have you changed your name to Vanderburg now?

I just get too confused being Vanderburg everywhere other than at QVC - I've ummed and ahhed about the change for 7 years (since getting married) and after trying to sign my name with Gordon just recently, and not being able to do it, decided that now is the time!

And why have you dropped one 'p' from Pippa?

Again I've used Pipa for yonks, purely because I've always been called Pip, I just added the 'a' for professional reasons - I was finding that when I introduced myself as Pip, because it comes and goes so quickly, the usual response was "Uhh?". For me Pippa doesn't feel quite right - but Pip with an 'a' does! I'm not sure why I have put it off for so long...

Catherine Huntley: I love my new cats!

Hi all. Anyone who knows my shows (especially crafting ones with all those cute cat cards) will know how cat mad I am... and how I've wanted one forever! Well, now I've got two British short-haired silver tabbies called Pixie and Popsie, and both are gorgeous. Sometimes I call Popsie "Poopsie" because of the aroma that seems follow her! Pixie enjoys lying on her back with legs akimbo in a purely unladylike, but chilled, manner and Popsie has developed a love of nature programmes and sits right in front of the telly when 'Big Cats Diary' is on!!

Thanks to all you viewers and fellow cat fanatics who've sent me cards of congratulations on getting my new feline friends - it was lovely to read through them all!

Love,

Catherine x

P.S. I've added more piccies below - just follow the link

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Carson Kressley's back at QVC

Fans of Carson, star of hit US series Queer Eye for the Straight Guy might have seen him presenting his Perfect fashion range for the second time in the UK last week. We love him - not only is he a style guru, but he's hilarious! Take a look at this clip to see what we mean...

Spring gardening advice from Sarah Price, QVC's Chelsea Flower Show designer

Hi, with spring just around the corner, here are a few tips to get your garden ready to bloom...

Move shrubs

For shrubs that are growing in the wrong place or that have outgrown their position, I recommend moving them now. Here's my step-by-step guide:

1. Prepare the soil in the new planting hole by adding in lots of compost

2. Try and lift the established shrub with as large a rootball as possible

3. Re-planted the shrub, don't forget to firm-in the soil around the plant

4. Make sure that it is well watered

Charlie Lapson brings Hollywood glamour to QVC

Charlie Lapson is well-known among Hollywood A-list celebs, who love his fabulous high-end handbag and jewellery designs. He's worked with the casts of Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy and Brothers & Sisters, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Eva Longoria Parker, Felicity Huffman, Ellen Pompeo and Calista Flockhart.

We caught up with Charlie before his show to ask him about the latest Hollywood gossip, his jewellery range on QVC, and his tips for looking great this season...

Which celebrities have been the most fun to work with?

All the ladies from Desperate Housewives are fantastic! I've known Eva for over 10 years, and she's just the most fun person to be around, she's always so happy and smiling. And Felicity Huffman is a real sweetheart, very caring and quiet, but lovely to be with. And I love America Ferrera, the star of Ugly Betty.