Crafts Beautiful editor speaks to QGossip

Sarah Crosland, editor of Crafts Beautiful magazine, appeared on QVC on Tuesday 10th February to officially present us with our 2008 Craft Awards.

QGossip caught up with Sarah to ask her a few questions about the awards and about the world of craft in general.

What would you say is QVC's most important strength as an award-winning shopping channel?

Quality, value for money and excellent customer service.
 
What do you think sets Dawn Bibby apart from other card designers?

Dawn has a great eye for design and colour. She knows her target audience and which cards and papercraft ranges will work well - the designs always look stylish, yet are easy to achieve. Often it's the making and giving of the card that is the pleasurable part and Dawn gives people the confidence to have a go, whatever their skill level.

Join Susie Adams during Sleep Week

Hello everyone, I'm Susie Adams from Northern Nights,
 
Tomorrow is the beginning of Sleep Week and we'll be showcasing duvets, bedding, featherbeds and more to help add comfort and luxury to your bedroom.

I'll be kicking off with Northern Nights Winter Warmth on Sunday at 9pm and also launching a luxurious collection of bed linen on Thursday 5th February.

So, don't forget to tune in to our daily shows and stay warm and sleep in luxury.

See you soon.

Learn to... DIY

In the last part of our 'Learn to…' series we teach you some basic DIY decorating techniques. Here to offer you their tips and advice are experts Paul Langdon and John Brook.

Before you start…

Plan what you want to do: Have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and how you're going to do it.

Have the right tools: Jobs get bodged when people use the wrong tools. The correct tools for the job will make life easier and ensure a professional-looking finish.

Dale's favourite room

Hi all!

Everyone has a favourite room in their home, and mine is my living room. We've lived in our house for over 16 years and have talked of moving many times - but we've been so happy here as a family. It's the room that holds so many memories for me, some wonderful some not so.

The decor relaxes me - in the winter months we have an open coal and log fire, it's so cosy and warm. I love relaxing in there after a long shift at work, as well as just chilling with my family.

It's the room where we open presents on birthdays and at Christmas. We also have lots of family photos in there, which is lovely. My children respect it as a 'grown up' room, so thankfully, it stays relatively tidy.

What's your favourite room in your home? Let me know by leaving a comment.

Love
Dale x

New Sinfonia home range launches on QVC

If you're looking to add a touch of luxury to your bedroom, be sure to catch the new Sinfonia home range at 7pm on Monday 1st September.

Sinfonia, meaning 'a harmonious combination of elements' in Italian, brings you a range of premium bedding, furniture and lighting that will instantly give your bedroom a lavish and sophisticated look. It's inspired by European styles, so expect to see luxurious pieces full of elegant embroidery, ornate lace, decorative trimmings and timeless jacquard fabrics.

Emma Lamport tells us what's new from Tiffany Style Lighting

Emma Lamport is the face of Tiffany Style Lighting and yesterday she celebrated her eighth year at QVC. Here she tells us about the trends in interior design, what's new for Tiffany Style Lighting, and shows us what her own home is like.

What's new for Tiffany Style Lighting?

We have three great new pieces and all of are very different. There's the Amber Mosaic Fireplace Screen which features original mosaic panels accented with black, cast iron detailing. The rich autumnal colours make it ideal for updating your living space with next season's trends without having to redecorate.

Next up is the Pearlised Lit Base Table Lamp. I love the blues, creams and azure shades in this piece which is reminiscent of the ocean. The base almost reminds me of the Greek goddess of the sea, Aphrodite - rising from the ocean and bringing a magical touch to your lighting.

And finally, there's the Rose Designed Table Lamp. The forest greens and burnt reds are gorgeous autumnal shades which, again, are prefect as we enter the autumn season. The dark rich shades will look fantastic when lit - the reflections against a neutral background will create a focal point in itself.

Craig Rowe: My top 10 home buys

Hi everyone,

My home is my castle and I've helped make it my own with a little help from QVC's home products. Here are my top 10 favourite home buys - see if you agree...

1. 1. Bose iPod Sound Dock: I love my music and couldn't live without my favourite sounds, whether to lift my mood or soothe me into a deep sleep. With this portable sound dock I can have my whole music collection in any room I want and with the quality of Bose - it's the best!

Orlando answers your DIY questions

Hello there! This weekend was Home Day at QVC and, with the focus on all things homely, hopefully you picked up some ideas on things you could do to your own homes.

So while you're still inspired, I think it's the perfect time to answer some of your most common DIY questions.

If you've got any DIY questions for me, you can post them in the comments section below and I'll do my best to answer them.

I'm having problems decorating my bathroom. Do you have any tips?

Decorating your bathroom can be tricky, but you'll make the job much easier if you consider these key points:

1. Be methodical
2. Have the right tools to hand, including a tile cutter, an angle grinder, and a damp sponge to wipe off any excess adhesive.

Here are my steps for doing a professional-looking job on your bathroom.

Check out Catherine Huntley's new crafting blog

Are you crazy for craft, do-lally for DIY or passionate about your pets? If so then QVC's own Catherine Huntley wants to hear from you.

Catherine Huntley's Craft Etc. is a brand new blog set up to give you the latest crafting news, stories and expert tips while also giving you a chance to tell us all about your craft experiences.

As well as craft we'll be chatting about recipes, DIY, pets, make-up and all manner of home styling activities.

We're keen to hear from you and find out about your experiences, questions and what you think of our new blog.

Check out the Craft Etc. blog.

Orlando's celeb DIY experiences and other DIY advice

I've decorated the homes of a few celebrities over the years, and one who's great to work with is the chef Ainsley Harriot. He makes a fantastic bacon sandwich for the boys and always brings up a couple of beers at the end of the day. A thoroughly nice guy!

Talking of decorating, you may have seen the Bedroom Makeover Show recently which hopefully gave you some inspiration for your own homes!

To keep your DIY enthusiasm going, I've put together some more tips and adivce so you can tackle DIY jobs with confidence.

Keep your eyes peeled for more tips over the coming weeks.