Claudia Sylvester

Butler & Wilson 40th Anniversary party preparations

2009-11-12T16:24:41+00:00

Hi everyone.

Well, Julia Roberts and I are off to the Butler & Wilson 40th anniversary party this evening and it promises to be a wild affair.

Simon Wilson has gone totally OTT on every single detail - everything from the invitations to the models on the catwalk are totally blinged to the nines. The theme is Studio 54 which, if you remember, was the very outrageous nightclub back in the day where the theme was 'anything goes'! It should be quite a night (not a quiet night)!

Julia will be doing interviews with the celebrities on the red carpet and I will be catching all the backstage gossip for you, probably after everyone (apart from Julia and I) have had a few glasses of champagne. Together we will find enough flamboyant coverage to share it all with you during the Butler and Wilson weekend extravaganza on Friday 27th November.

What shall I wear to the ball?

I'm not sure what to wear just yet. I've got two choices hanging up in my closet - both sparkly and sequined of course and one short and one long. I'm tempted by the long number as it looks 'safe', but if I'm rushing around up and down the very narrow staircase at Kokos (which is where the party is) the shorter one might me more practical. Having said that, I'll be wearing the obligatory high heels anyway so whatever happens I'll be a health and safety nightmare tonight. (Hope our crew are not reading this.)

I wish you were all attending tonight. If I could, I'd have a big party where you would all come along and we could dance the night away wearing as much bling as possible. Actually that would be brilliant wouldn't it? How about having a HUGE marquee in, say, Regents Park or one of the big venues and having one massive QVC party where everyone and anyone who loved QVC could come.

We would invite all our guests and they would all give everyone huge goodie bags full of all their favourite products. Oh I can just imagine management reading this and saying 'What is she doing? what on earth is she suggesting?'. Would be good though wouldn't it?

Keep your eyes peeled for all the gossip

Well I'll tell you what, how about I go round the whole event tonight and find out the gossip from everyone and share it with you on the website? I'll take hundreds of pictures both backstage and on the red carpet and that way it will feel a bit like you've been there.

It's all for Breast Cancer Care too so I'm hoping tonight will be really successful. Off to get the 'barnet' done now and decide on which dress, then prepare the children's tea for Grandma to give to them later and I'll catch you tomorrow.

Lots of love

Clouds
xxxx

I'm back after a happy but unhealthy holiday

2009-11-04T14:43:34+00:00

Well if you’ve wondered where I’ve been for the last three weeks I’m back! We had a little business to attend to in the States and managed to combine it with a family vacation to Disneyworld in Orlando, Florida.

Zak, Bella and Blake were amazed by the wondrous world of Walt Disney. Zak who is 11 loved the roller coasters; Isabella who is nine loved everything Princess-inspired like Cinderella’s Castle and Blake who is three was head over heels in love with Mickey and Buzz Lightyear. Steven and I were taken back to being small again and we revelled in it all as much as the children.

So much to see, so much to take in...

The theme parks were colossal and I’m sure we didn’t cover half of them - it seemed that with each one we visited it just got bigger than the last. Thank heavens for my trusty Birkenstock sandals as my feet never ached for a second.

On a visit to Animal Kingdom we went on an African safari where we saw the most gigantic giraffe with its little baby just inches from us - totally mesmerising. As I’m pretty clumsy by nature I was so petrified I’d scare it that I stopped breathing for ages, only to take a massive breath in after what seemed an eternity. Such was the noise of my spluttering that the poor thing shot off into the distance with the gangly young one catching up and cries of ‘Awww Mum’.

My favourite day was the one spent at a water park called Typhoon Lagoon. We went there when the temperature hit 40 degrees as it proved too hot for the usual attractions. Slide after slide we skidded down them all. I wimped out in a pair of very unattractive goggles as the water was so ferocious and fast I was worried about losing my contact lenses and being rendered useless for the rest of the day.

After an entire week of Mickey and Co we decided to slow the pace down with more ‘educational’ visits to calmer places such as the poolside where I managed to read my husband's manuscript that I told him I’d read last month! I put it inside a copy of Hello magazine which looking back was funny as it took about three hours to read and Hello is all pictures, still got away with it! During this week the children got to learn about the history of mountaineering and the gold rush to name a few subjects as well as hunting for alligators and other people unfriendly creatures.

Celebrating Mum and Dad's 50th wedding anniversary

For 10 days my whole family joined us (talk about the Waltons) and we celebrated my parent's 50th wedding anniversary with 14 of us at a house on the lake where breakfast times were like a conveyor belt of carbs… pancakes and cinnamon swirls, toast and croissants. Boy, I missed my juicer!

My brother changed the pace one morning with a good old fry up complete with ketchup brought over from England and then the children (all seven of them) experimented with American cereals. They were all heavily doused with sugar and enough energy ammunition to take them through the day's activities and long into the nights.

We visited Hollywood Studios where we all took turns to be a director for the day and shoot our own Wild West movie - hilarious! Blake had the clapper board and just kept walking round the set smacking it together and shouting ‘action’ every two seconds. In fact I have a picture of him with the clapperboard to show you.

A highlight of this time was a visit to a horse show in the evening called Arabian Nights where a story was told about many different cultures using the horses. Seeing as my entire family are horse mad this went down a treat. Great night until my usually reserved Father decided quite unexpectedly to shout 'ye ha' (very loudly) during the Wild West display, much to the dismay of the grandchildren who were mortified. Several of the children find anything us adults do embarrassing. I discovered this early on in the holiday when I’d say ‘how y’all doing’ each morning in a distinctly dodgy Midwest accent that even our very own Laurie Wickwire would cringe at.

I'm back on the juicing detox

I must have eaten about two dozen Mickey ice cream sandwiches during the last three weeks, enough ice cream to glue me together in a lump. I’ve never felt quite so doughy and squidgy, what with that and trying out revolting corn dogs. Yuk, have you ever tried them? They're hot dogs wrapped in cake dough and put on a lolly stick! So with all this in my system, I’m now back on my juicing detox and I feel a little more balanced again, apart from the chronic jetlag I’m experiencing.

Have you ever returned from a holiday or trip feeling heavier or unhealthier than when you left? Tell me about your experience so I don’t feel quite so bad! Hope you enjoy the photos.

See you on air again Tuesday the 10th November at 5pm and 8pm for Carole Hochman's TSV.

Claudia
xxx

P.S. Here are a few more of my holidays snaps...

Don't miss Sunday's exciting Honora TSV

2009-10-12T16:48:39+01:00

Hi everyone.

I just had to pop by to tell you about this coming Saturday night! Yes there’s X Factor and dinner to be eaten and kids to be put to bed etc, etc. BUT at Midnight there is only one thing to do - midnight Saturday night will see the launch of the most exciting Honora TSV EVER!

I am so in love with Honora and there’s Ralph too so plenty of reason to be staying up to join me. Not only will this TSV promise to be truly amazing but Ralph will be fresh from being auctioned off this Thursday night in aid of Breast Cancer Care.

Do you remember me asking him on air if he’d do it? He went really flushed didn’t he, but said yes? How lovely that man is. So I’ll be asking him all about the bidding and the eventual winner. The lucky lady will be escorted by Ralph to the Ivy in London along with our very own Charlie Brook for a wonderful lunch. That lady could be you… watch out on Thursday night at 7pm to make your bid on Ralph.

Back to the TSV though...

It's forming part of our ‘Get Gorgeous for Winter’ event which is all weekend and the necklace is so beautiful. It’s a strand necklace made-up of rondel pearls and sits so perfectly on the neckline.

I’ll warn you now though and that’s why I’m giving you a heads up on it, it won't last long as the price is just outrageous for what you are getting. I’m buying one for me (it's the perfect colour to wear at Christmas) and one for my XXX as a Christmas present. Can’t say who XXX is because she is a big QVC fan and regularly reads the blogs.

Seriously if you love pearls then you will love this Today's Special Value - I can’t wait! See you first at the QVC Be Aware Show You Care Breast Cancer Care show on Thursday night at 7pm, and then again for our very special girlie night on Saturday at Midnight. It’s a date!

Lots of love
Claudia
X

P.S. Get your text messages ready for Ralph. I want to see if we can break the record for the most amount ever. Wait until midnight though, I’ll give you a count down. xxx

My Christmas blooper

2009-10-12T12:11:39+01:00

Putting the star on top of the Christmas tree is a great family tradition for us and each year the children take turns. Steven puts up the tree, I do the lights and then they are lifted (normally by Steven) to put on the star.

But last year when it was time to put the tree up we were waiting for Steven to arrive back from work and the children were just so keen on getting the star up. I suggested we wait for Daddy but they just kept begging and begging.

So here is the hard evidence of what happens when you give into small young and very excited children! Actually listening back to Zak's commentary on Bella and I trying to reach the top of the tree and finally crashing is just hilarious. Check out little Blake who harmlessly gets wedged between the two sofas.

Click here to see Bella and myself in action.

If you're having trouble seeing the video, click here.

Still having issues seeing video? Read technical help guide.

No harm came to any of the participants in this short film but the presents underneath didn’t come off too well!

Enjoy

Lots of love as always
Claudia
x

Fun at the weekend playing dressing up games

2009-10-05T09:12:22+01:00

This weekend we had a fun time. Not only did we catch up with lots of old friends that we haven’t seen in ages, but we also raided our dressing up box.

Since I was little I’ve loved dressing up and have managed to keep many of the funny outfits which my children now love to play with. Along the way we’ve also collected many new ones as various characters become popular and bring out an outfit to be purchased.

Recent additions have been Spiderman, Batman, Star Wars and Cinderella. It got to the point last year that I lent the whole lot to a local school that a friend's son goes to and they managed to kit most of the children out for their Christmas Play.

When I got the outfits back, lots of them had sewn in their children's names too, I thought that was cute and so it gave me the idea to let my children's friends know about the collection so they can borrow at anytime. It's been a saviour for Mums when it comes to that last minute invitation to a fancy dress party.

A great friend Kerry who works with me in production here also gave some fabulous outfits to the children (actually they are the most popular ones, King and Queens) and these have been worn many times with real pride.

I think we all enjoyed dressing up as children and to a certain extent that enjoyment stays with us today. After all isn't it lovely when you get an invitation to go out somewhere special like a wedding or party and you have to make that extra special effort?

If you have any dressing up stories to share, I'd love to hear them. If you have any dressing up stories to share, I'd love to hear them. I've put a picture of my youngest son Blake for you to see, he found the wig box and couldn't stop laughing!!!

If I find any dodgy pictures of me in the past I'll put them up too so we can have a good old laugh. Think I've got one of my Mum and I dressed as the Avengers somewhere.

I hope you're well, look forward to hearing from you soon.

Claudia XX

Start the weekend in style with a Pink Friday

2009-09-18T16:06:21+01:00

I met up with a group of girlfriends at the weekend that I haven’t seen for ages. It can sometimes be so difficult to find a time where we can all meet up.

While discussing our next get together I suggested we try and hold a fundraising event during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October and raise some money. Sadly, in our group, we all know someone who has been affected by breast cancer so this is a cause very close to our hearts. We all agreed it was a great plan.

Last night I registered online to hold a Pink Fridays event for Breast Cancer Care. With the dark autumnal nights drawing in this is my chance to brighten up a Friday with my friends. It seems you can hold any kind of event, as long as it’s pink!

I think I’m going to hold a pink dinner party with pink food and pink party games. I’m good at pink, ask my Husband Steven who spent his last cricket game of the season in a ‘pink cricket outfit’ after a stray red sock went in the wash! I thought it looked rather fetching.

As for the pink dinner party, I’ll look to my fundraising pack for a bit more inspiration - it’s full of party tips and fundraising ideas.

It would be great to see some of you getting involved in Pink Fridays to raise funds for Breast Cancer Care, we could have a lot of fun giving each other suggestions on here.

If you’re up for this idea, you can find out more about Pink Fridays at: www.pinkfridays.org.uk.

This website is great! Once you’ve registered you can log-in, add in your event details and send out email invites to all of your friends. You’ll then be able to update people with extra info as you get closer to your Pink Friday.

I’ll keep you posted on how mine goes but in the meantime lets swap ideas on what kind of events we could do, remember anything so long as its PINK… x

Claudia x

QVC and Breast Cancer Care's 10 year partnership

2009-09-14T15:18:33+01:00

The relationship between QVC and Breast Cancer Care started 10 years ago and has grown from strength to strength.

Maybe like me, it was through QVC that you first became aware of the charity all those years ago and you’d love to know more or get involved. I know when I first got involved in the charity I knew immediately that I wanted to get involved on a more personal level and give what time I could to raising awareness and funds.

Throughout this time I have met some really inspirational people who do wonderful things. Also during the last five years I’ve had several people very close to me that have been touched by this disease. In fact, it appears to have been ever since I started volunteering (but sadly that’s not a coincidence its more the stark statistics).

Breast Cancer Care offers a front line approach to caring and supporting both men and women when they are first diagnosed. When the questions are coming thick and fast and the answers seem confusing on a medical level, Breast Cancer Care can offer a really personal and most of the times a ‘been through it’ approach to the many questions ladies and men face. Many of the volunteers have experienced the treatment themselves so can let you know what to expect.

As we do every year, we have a very special three hour show dedicated to Breast Cancer Care which will be broadcast between 7pm and 10pm on 14th October. You'll be able to purchase so many wonderful goodies with all the proceeds going directly to this wonderful charity.

Also, may I let you know that we have just a few places remaining at the Fashion Show at the Grosvenor House Hotel on the 7th October. For more details on tickets please visit the Breast Cancer Care website at http://events.breastcancercare.org.uk/server/show/nav.191

I’ll be there along with the whole organising team for what promises to be an amazing tribute to all those that have suffered and are suffering from this disease.

Well lovely to chat, let me know if you’ll be watching the show by posting below or if you have any messages for loved ones that you would like to pass on and I’ll be sure to get back to you.

Lots of love

Claudia
x

P.S This month's article in Woman & Home magazine celebrates my Auntie Jan's fight against the disease and more ways to get involved in raising awareness for the charity. http://www.womanandhome.com/articles/travelandentertainment/celebrityinterviews/394237/qvc-presenter-claudia-sylvester.html

It’s the little things that mean so much…

2009-09-11T17:07:25+01:00

Last weekend I visited a lady called Margaret who lives not far from me. She’s a lovely elderly lady that I met by chance whilst waiting for a prescription at the hospital pharmacy (not the nicest of places to sit and wait).

We sat and chatted and I learnt that she had a great love for Terrier dogs, particularly Highland Terriers. She told me that during the war she was evacuated to a farm with her son where they had several Scottie Dogs. She had always wanted to own her own but never had the opportunity as her late husband hated dogs and that now she is in an elderly home she couldn’t have one as they didn’t’ allow pets. I told her about my poorly daughter and that she has a massive love of dogs but we won’t let her have one just yet and she’s so desperate for one.

We waited an age for our prescriptions but used this time to chat away about pets and her memories or staying on the farm - eventually she was served and went on her way with her carer.

Her memory of her stay was so perfect, retelling the stories as if it were only yesterday. My meeting with her felt really special and I left the hospital feeling quite lifted and went home to share the story with my family and especially my daughter who also loves dogs.

An unexpected treat for Margaret

This was two months ago, and since then Margaret passed through my thoughts on more than a few occasions, and I wondered how she was and how she was getting on.

Last weekend a friend of my Mum visited with her Highland Terrier, Katie (very large, white and fluffy). Straight away I knew what to do. Cut a long story short, I ‘borrowed’ Katie for a few hours and went to the home to visit Margaret.

The lady in charge was ever so nice and explained that dogs were not permitted but if we kept to the lawn area we could visit. She asked if I was a relative and seemed curious of how I knew Margaret. I explained and she went off to ask if it was ok. I was thinking 'oh maybe she’s got lots of visitors and this is highly inappropriate'. Actually whilst waiting I got pretty nervous. Anyhow after a few minutes the lady came back and said that it was fine and to wait in the garden.

It was a lovely sunny day and the visit took Margaret quite by surprise, her face was an absolute picture. In fact the whole point of this story is that it took me quite by surprise too. The man that took Margaret to the hospital was a driver of the community bus and my visit with Katie was the first visit she had received since her only son passed away almost four years ago. He’d never been married and had lived quite far because of his work, so even when he was alive she never saw him much.

A promise to stay in touch

Not one single visitor and the fact that Katie was present just made her cry with such joy. That small enjoyable visit was more than I had ever imagined it would be - what a wonderful time we had. Katie the terrier lapped up the attention not to mention two of Margaret’s ginger biscuits, and Margaret stroked her first Highland Terrier for 60 odd years. I’ve promised to visit regularly, although I can’t promise to bring Katie. Margaret said it was ok if I came on my own, phew!

I wondered if you wanted to share a story with me seeing as this touched me so much.

Claudia
X

You're in for a treat with our new Platinum Jewellery show

2009-09-09T10:29:16+01:00

I wanted to let you all know about a special premiere show that I’ve got coming up on Saturday 12th September at 6pm. It's called The Platinum Jewellery Premiere. I’ve seen the collection already and it’s out of this world - sheer indulgent elegance.

Platinum is the King of metals, more precious and rare than gold (and I do love my gold). Platinum is surely a girl's best friend along with diamonds as it never changes colour, tarnishes or oxidizes, and due to its hypoallergenic properties will not irritate the skin even for the most sensitive of people. Most of all it’s the metal used by many a noble King and Queen over the centuries.

A colourful, age-old history

In fact platinum has a marvellously interesting history that I have adored learning about over the last 15 years. It was highly appreciated by ancient Egyptians and Indian tribes. It is also well known that Louis XVI announced that platinum was the single metal only worthy of kings. Such legendary jewellery companies as Cartier, Faberge and Tiffany often use it to create their gorgeous pieces.

Whether you believe in curses or not, the diamond has had a fascinating past - it was owned by King Louis XIV, stolen during the French Revolution, sold to pay gambling debts, owned and worn almost daily by an American heiress, sold and worn to raise money for charity, and finally donated to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington.

It's so precious and rare in fact that if all current mining of platinum were to stop today, the above (already mined) ground supply would completely run out within a couple of years! In comparison, world gold supplies might last ten times as long.

What platinum means to me…

I personally love platinum for its purity and brightness. I find platinum looks like pools of magical moonlight puddling around the stars made of diamonds. My engagement and wedding ring are both platinum, maybe that’s why we were together for five years before becoming engaged, so Steven could just save up!

Still, 12 years on my rings are still shining like northern stars. I blame my Mother for my exquisite taste as she herself has a platinum wedding and engagement ring from the oldest jewellers in the world Garrards, and she always said to me that when I get married to only wear platinum.

I never really knew why at the time but just remember saying to Steven one day when we were youngsters ‘When we get married I must have platinum!’ I now know why, poor Steven.

Don't miss the premiere show

This show is our very first dedicated to this precious King of jewellery and I’m so excited to be able to show each and every piece to you by trying them on and telling you all about their individual characters, after all each piece is unique and special.

I hope you can join me to experience this show and even if your just browsing, text me in or call to tell me what your all time favourite piece is. I’ve chosen mine and I’ll show you on Saturday. I'm off now to choose a nice dress to wear for the occasion.

See you at 6pm on Saturday night for a little moment of decadence

Lots of love

Claudia X

Exciting developments for the Breast Cancer Care show

2009-08-19T09:42:28+01:00

I am thrilled to say that singer/songwriter Beverley Craven has confirmed she will be performing live at The Show. Beverley has herself experienced a diagnosis of breast cancer and we are delighted that she has chosen to support The Show and the models this year.

I also can confirm that ‘Loose Women’ and GMTV presenter Andrea McLean will be hosting the afternoon tea!

As I mentioned before, I will be there on the night along with other QVC presenters and some of our special guests as we will be filming the fashion show ready for our Be Aware Show You Care programme the week after. It’s such a lovely, inspiring event with entertainment and prizes galore.

Speaking of prizes, as a hint to those of you who are considering attending the afternoon event, all guests will receive a goody bag packed full of products including treats from QVC!

So don’t miss your chance to enjoy a great event whilst supporting the models on their catwalk debut. For more information on the event and also some lovely quotes from the 2009 models visit www.breastcancercare.org.uk/theshow

I hope to see you there!

P.S. Do you have any goodies that you would be willing to donate for the evening lucky dip prizes? We’ve had some great ones already. It might be that you know of a company that might supply some goodies – it all helps to raise money on the night.

Let me know if you can and I’ll email you back.

Lots of love
Claudia
X