QGossip

Will: Gardening this Sunday!

2012-01-28T09:00:00+00:00

If you're looking to get your garden in shape for the spring, then this Sunday on QVC is for you.

We have a brand new gardening expert joining the team, and he's a good friend of our very own Richard Jackson too! Matthew Biggs will be presenting his first Gardening Solutions show at 9 o'clock this coming Sunday morning (29th January).

Matthew is well known for his contributions on BBC Radio 4's Gardener's Question Time, and now he'll be sharing his fantastic gardening tips with us.

As I mentioned Richard and Matthew have known each other for years, so we're very lucky to have two top gardening experts with us here at QVC. Matthew's first show will be at 9am on Sunday and Richard Jackson will be along with his gardening show at 1pm on Sunday too.

Richard recently caught up with Matthew to find out how his passion for all things green began...

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Stay in touch with us throughout the weekend by heading on over to our Facebook & Twitter pages, we always love to read your comments and feedback!

Have a great weekend and I'll see you soon, Will.

Visit our Garden & DIY department

Meet the experts this Beauty Day

2012-01-28T01:53:31+00:00

The first beauty Day of 2012 is finally here and it's the perfect chance for you to meet a few of our fabulous experts from your favourite brands, including Emma Hardie, Lee and SJ from bareMinerals, Alexis Murdoch from L'Occitane, Paul Percival and Adam Reed from Percy & Reed and many more.

QVC presenter Will Gowing caught up with a few of the experts during our Beauty Day location shoot…

bareMinerals

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Emma Hardie

Percy & Reed

Win a fabulous Beauty Day experience!

2012-01-27T23:55:00+00:00

The prestigious event that is Beauty Day is finally upon us, and what better way to celebrate than with a fabulous competition.

We're giving you the chance to win a pampering beauty experience with an expert of your choice. All you have to do to be in with a chance is answer this simple question:

Who is QVC's resident beauty expert?

A) Alison Steadman
B) Alison Young
C) Alison Moyet

Email your answer to competitions_uk@qvc.com with your full name, address, contact number, preferred prize option (1, 2, 3 or 4) and subject 'Beauty Day comp' for your chance to win. The competition closes at 11.59pm on 28th January 2012 - four correct entries will be randomly selected and announced in QGossip on Monday 30th January 2012. Good luck!

The prizes are…

1. Deluxe facial with Emma Hardie
You'll be treated to a luxurious, restorative facial treatment, featuring a new brightening and hydrating Rose Geranium thermal mask exclusive to Emma Hardie. Plus, you'll walk away with a selection from the Amazing Face skincare range.

Location: Emma Hardie at Michaeljohn of Mayfair, London

2. Deluxe manicure with OPI expert Lisa Bennett or Julie Barhm
Your cuticles will be tamed, pampered and conditioned and nails filed, smoothed and finished with your favourite OPI nail lacquer. Plus, you'll walk away with a goody bag of nailcare treats.

Location: OPI Colourcopia Store, Westfield Shopping Centre, White City, London

3. Haircut with Percy & Reed
Adam or Paul will take great care of your tresses and you'll also walk away with a fabulous goody bag, which will include a limited edition Percy & Reed candle.

Location: Percy & Reed is located at 157c Great Portland Street, London

4. bareMinerals make-under with SJ and Lee
Sarah Jane Froome and Lee Etheridge will share their expert knowledge and advice, and you'll experience the magic of a bareMinerals make-under for complexion perfection. You'll also receive a goody bag so you can recreate the same look at home.

Location: bareMinerals Boutique, Covent Garden, London
Dates available: 20th February 2012 4pm – 7pm, 27th February 2012 10am – 1pm, 5th March 4pm-7pm or 12th March 4pm – 7pm.

View the full terms and conditions

Happy shopping and good luck!
Visit our beauty department

Guest Sue Baker on Imagination Crafts' anniversary!

2012-01-27T00:01:00+00:00

I am really looking forward to our first programme of the year! To celebrate our first anniversary with QVC we are bringing you a new programme full of new products alongside some old favourites. I can't wait to introduce you to this year's new must-have craft product, Sparkle Medium.

Sparkle Medium is a beautiful, soft, easily spreadable, non-shedding glitter gel which comes in a wide mouth pot, in a mouth-watering array of colours.

We are all so excited about Sparkle Medium because at last we have developed an easy-to-use iridescent medium which is so versatile and can be used on all kinds of cardstock, even acetate and glossy card.

Sparkle Medium is a perfect partner to use on stencils and I will show you just how easy it is to apply and you will be able to see some incredible samples using the brand new range of background and border stencils.

You can also use Sparkle Medium with our fabulous new range of decoupage stamps. These new spring designs will inspire you for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and upcoming anniversary events. You can also make your own glitter card from Sparkle Medium and the beauty is that because Sparkle Medium is flexible you won't be left covered in glitter!

We will also be showing you some brand new Pearlescent Stencil Paint, which is only available on QVC, so make sure you don't miss out. This is a quick drying stencil paint which contains Mica and dries to a beautifully soft, pearly glow.

I have lots of new techniques to show you and the new Mica 'lift out' technique really will transform the way you use Mica Powder and rubber stamps! We've also got lots of other crafting goodies for you and I just know you won't be disappointed so make sure you join me for a sparkling programme on Friday 27 January at 6pm!

Happy crafting,

Sue x

Guest Kim Woodburn talks about the ecoegg

2012-01-25T23:59:00+00:00

Hello my loves, it's Kim Woodburn here,

I am so looking forward to coming on QVC again this month. I always have such a lovely day when I do. As you know, I endorse the ecoegg.

I’m so proud to endorse the ecoegg that I put my name on every box. I wouldn’t be without mine now.

My husband and I went on a lovely holiday over Christmas, it was just wonderful, and of course I packed my ecoegg.

It is just so handy to have when you’re travelling, just put it in your case, doesn’t take up too much room at all, and then just bung it in the machine with your clothes. Saves on buying all those expensive little packs of laundry power when you’re away from home - it’s smashing.

This month I will be showing all of ecoegg’s brand new range of products. We have been working on the new range for a while now, so I am really excited about its launch today on Home Day. I’ll be here with you all day, so there is lots of opportunity to tune in and see me and take a peek at the new range. You’ll be thrilled.

I’ve been using the new range at home for a while now, including the new fragranced versions of the ecoegg - Fresh Linen and Spring Blossom. Same great washing power as the original ecoegg, but they add a subtle, gorgeous fragrance to your laundry, still with no nasty chemicals or irritants for your skin; and the ecoegg saves you a fortune on laundry detergent. I washed my bedding with the Spring Blossom ecoegg a few days ago and I can still smell the gorgeous fragrance now, it’s just brilliant.

I’ve decided to make an early start on my spring cleaning this year and I thought I would start with my washing machine. I know, this does sound like a very strange thing to do, but you might not know that all washing machines develop build up over time, especially if you have been using powders and liquids.

It is so important to keep your washing machine sparkling clean to keep it working well. So today we will be launching our new detox tablets; which will be including for free with every ecoegg TSV sold to help gently break down the nasty grime in your machine without using horrible harsh chemicals.

Tackles stubborn stains

My husband managed to get most of his dinner down his shirt on Christmas Day. It wasn’t a problem though, I just applied a little of the new ecoegg Eco Stain Remover to the stain and into the machine it went with my ecoegg; his shirt is now as good as new! It’s a great little product for those super tough stains that need a little bit of extra help.

It’s just so lovely to know that ecoegg are continually working hard to innovate new products that are kind to your purse, kind to the environment and also kind to your skin, but above all they clean really well.

I know that you will all love the new range as much as I do, I wouldn’t have put my name to it unless I knew it really worked, and it believe me it does. It’s smashing my loves.

Kim x

The winners of our Q Technology prize draws are...

2012-01-25T10:51:15+00:00

Last weekend saw a wealth of gizmos and gadgets on QVC as part of our Q Technology event. We hope you enjoyed it and managed to take advantage of our special offers.

Both days featured a special prize draw in which all customers who made an electronics purchase through the qvcuk.com website were automatically entered into a draw to win a very special tech prize.

We are delighted to announced that the winner of Saturday's Panasonic Blu-ray player prize (pictured above) is Lynda Barlow from Dorset.

The winner of Sunday's Archos 80 G9 tablet (pictured left) is Kavan Gilmore from Derbyshire.

Congratulations to both of our lucky winners, your prizes are on their to you.

If you weren't lucky this time check back on QGossip for plenty more competitions coming soon.

Sneak a peek at Perricone's upcoming TSV

2012-01-24T23:55:00+00:00

The first Beauty Day of 2012 is fast approaching and it's set to be another beauty bonanza. You'll get to meet the experts behind your favourite brands so you can pick up handy tips and advice. Plus, you'll also be treated to a fabulous Today's Special Value from Perricone.

Here's Will Gowing and Perricone expert Karra Beck with a little sneak preview…

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Tune in on Saturday 28th January for Beauty Day

Visit our Beauty department

The winner of our SBC beauty prize draw is...

2012-01-24T14:07:23+00:00

Last week we gave you the chance to win and a SBC beauty collection worth over £100. (image left)

All you had to do to be in with a chance was purchase a SBC product on Friday 21st January 2012 to be automatically entered into the prize draw.

We can now reveal the lucky winner is… Mrs V Davies from Exeter.

Congratulations! Your prize will be with you shortly.

Keep your eyes peeled for more competitions coming soon.

Clever cleaning with ecoegg

2012-01-24T13:45:18+00:00

Hi, Debbie here, with a quick reminder about our next exciting event coming up later this week.

First off - Home Day is on Thursday 26th January, all day long. There's free P&P all day, so what a great time to try anything from us - 'cos if you send it back you get your whole refund! Doubt you'll be returning any of the items tho' - they're so good!

The ecoegg is back in a new configuration - including a way of detoxing your washing machine too - with Kim Woodburn (of Kim and Aggie). Kim's launching it on Wednesday night at midnight with Craig, and is on through the day on Thursday, as it's our Today's Special Value for Home Day.

I was just talking to my pal Jo G about it the other day - it really will do hundreds of washes and it really does make clothes fresh and clean. I know, 'cos it's what I regularly use when I do a basic wash. So if you only need clothes to be washed, they don't need special stain treatments, and they're not really grubby whites etc, it's all you need.

Just pop it in your washing machine instead of your usual expensive brand. And it works like magic! Worth saying though, if you HAVE got stains to shift, like grass stains, mud, dirty cuffs etc - just spot-treat them first with the eco stain remover.

The Egg is seriously good for saving money - not only washing powder/liquid/tablet, but also you don't need any softener either - which means it's great for towels that just need freshening - as we all know you shouldn't use softener on towels, don't we?! Plus if anyone in your family has problems with allergies to washing powder, try the Egg, 'cos then you won't be using any detergents at all!

I even washed one of the dog's mats - it's a big cream rug type mat, heavy cotton, and it was covered with paw prints. It got most of it out without even needing anything else.

One key thing though - don't overfill your machine!

It's one of the best bargains around, the TSV, so do get the ecoegg early as it might not last the day! (Get it on Wednesday from midnight on qvcuk.com and it will appear on QVC TV at midnight as well as selected hours throughout Thursday - including the Household Helpers hour with me at 10pm, if I'm lucky!)

And secondly - the Betty Ball is here! No more damaged bras!

If you've ever ruined a bra by putting it in your washing machine, please stand by for a brilliant invention from a rather dashing Dutch chap - who invented the Betty Ball for his wife to use, so clever!

Our pal Justine Balmer will be telling you all about it in the Wednesday midnight and Thursday midday shows. I'll let you into a secret - my lovely peach bra got ruined - the straps got caught on something and ripped - so I was very pleased to see this product arrive at QVC. I'm sure you can put other things in there too, not just bras, but it's the clever cup support system that makes it so special - it means you can wave goodbye to dented bra cups and weird looking lumps and bumps under a T-shirt!

Do invest in one if you can, specially if you spend quite a lot on your bra and can't stand hand-washing! Watch at midnight Wednesday and Thursday midday - you may even spot my ruined bra! Lol.

See you all on Thursday,
Luv
Debs
x

Celebrate Chinese New Year with Silk Route jewellery

2012-01-23T23:58:00+00:00

Here at QVC we love any reason to celebrate and so have decided to usher in the year of the water dragon in style (which only comes once every 60 years!) with the traditional designs of Silk Route jewellery.

New Year, which falls on Monday 23rd January in 2012, is considered one of the most important holidays for Chinese families, all focused on bringing good luck and celebrating the coming of spring.

We caught up with our guest Yin Hu (pictured) to learn more about the traditions of Chinese New Year (also known in other Asian countries as Lunar New Year) and how they are reflected in Silk Route's designs...

Celebrating with family

Most families celebrate the New Year for about two weeks, so it takes some planning. Prior to the first day of the New Year it is customary for families to thoroughly clean their homes which is said to clear out any bad luck from the previous year and prepare to accept good luck for the coming year.

Another popular custom is to hang posters on doors and windows with the Chinese word 'fu', which translates to luck and happiness. Buying flowers for the home is also commonplace since they symbolize the coming of spring and a new beginning.

It is also traditional practice for adults to give children little red envelopes - 'hong bao' in Mandarin - filled with money in order to symbolize wealth and prosperity for the coming year.

Here is my daughter (left) in traditional Chinese costume for the celebration. She is holding a New Year wall decoration saying 'May all go well with you'.

How I spend New Year

For the past few years I have celebrated the Chinese New Year in London – at QVC. I am glad to celebrate again this year with my QVC customers.

After London I will fly back to New York to celebrate with my family. We always join the New Year Parade in China Town of Manhattan to see the lion dance, fireworks and more. This photo was taken last year. Afterwards I go to China to celebrate with my parents and sisters.

My best memory of New Year during my childhood was before my grandma passed away, my family of more than 30 people would reunite every year. We would make dumplings at home for New Years Eve dinner which took us almost the whole day.

How New Year inspires Silk Route designs

New Year is the most traditional holiday with a lot of customs. People dress themselves in traditional clothes, most likely in red, which is one of my favourite colours I like to use in my jewellery. Elements of the ancient culture I've learnt since I was a child shine through while I create samples before I even realise.

I grew up in China and studied jewellery design in New York, so you can see a theme of east meets west and old meets new in Silk Route jewellery.

The red coral chipped bead necklace is a new design for these shows. This pure red colour is known as China Red which we find fascinating for its intoxicating vibrancy and for the belief that red can bring good luck.

My favourite new item is the elephant pendant necklace and earring set in a choice of pink or black. The lovely stone elephant pendant symbolises strength, power and good luck.

I hope you have enjoyed reading my blog and I look forward to showing you our new designs on air.

Happy New Year!

Yin

See all Silk Route jewellery designs

Visit our jewellery department

Will: Day 3 of the Vicenza Jewellery Fair!

2012-01-23T12:23:33+00:00

Hi everyone, I mentioned last week that there's a brand new gold jewellery show coming to QVC next month. It's called Arte D'Oro and will be on air at 8pm on the 2nd of February.

This is a showcase of gorgeous, Italian-crafted gold jewellery, inspired by the latest looks coming out of Italy. QVC's Gold Buyer Sarah Filippardos has been in Italy, viewing the latest releases at the Vicenza Jewellery Fair. Take a look at Sarah's blog from day 3...

"So it’s our final day at the Vicenza Jewellery Fair and it’s with a real sense of purpose that we walk through the doors today. So much to do and see, and only eight hours to go!

Our first appointment is with Danny to talk about the wonderful new gold show that we have premiering in April – keep your eyes peeled for this one! Many of you will know Danny from our OrPaz shows, and now he will be bringing us something completely new and different in crafted 9ct yellow gold with gemstone accents and intricate, hand-worked details all crafted in Israel.

This is a gold jewellery collection that I’m so excited to bring to our QVC customers, and to be able to meet Danny in Vicenza, well what a wonderful and inspiring place in which to bring the collection together!

Next on the schedule is a meeting with Francesca Randazzo. Such an inspirational lady and so filled with passion about the Murano Glass that we use in our Murano Jewellery. The colours of the pieces and the skill and craftsmanship of each and every design is awe inspiring.

Every piece I see is different to the next. The meeting is a huge success and we are able to develop some simply stunning and classic Murano Glass Jewellery ideas – nothing mass produced or boring here!

Now I get the chance to spend some time wandering the Fair, looking into the glass cases as I pass each new stand. It’s lovely to come away from the office this way and meet with so many creative people. Many old faces and still so many new. The overwhelming feeling of this Fair is creativity. Colour, texture, movement and opulence in spades!

As the day comes to an end it is with mixed feeling that the QVC Jewellery Buyers walk away. We have had such a wonderful few days here,and seen so many new things that it is difficult to leave, but we really can’t wait to return to QVC HQ and get started on our new jewellery collections for our QVC customers. After all, we have one of the best jobs in the world!"

So there we have it, the final blog from Gold Buyer Sarah Filippardos. It's been really interesting hearing about the latest trends coming out of this huge jewellery exhibition.

Don't forget to catch one of our brand new gold jewellery shows coming to QVC next month. It's called Arte D'Oro and will be on air at 8pm on the 2nd of February.

Stay up to date with all that's happening here at QVC by heading on over to our Facebook & Twitter pages.

See you soon, Will x

What's your favourite Nails Inc polish?

2012-01-22T23:55:00+00:00

This year Nails Inc celebrate their 9th anniversary on QVC UK and to celebrate and give something back to all their loyal fans, they are giving you the chance to create a fabulous nine-piece collection.

All you have to do is choose your favourite nail polish from the list below, and the top nine polishes will be put into a special-priced collection which you'll be able to purchase in May.

Also on the day of the launch we'll be giving one specially created collection away, so keep checking back for details.

View our Nails Inc shop
Click below to vote...

The line-up (from left to right):
Row 1 - Brook Street, Bruton Street, Cambridge Terrace and Camden
Row 2 - Crown Court, Elizabeth Street, Grafton Street and Haymarket
Row 3 - Jermyn Street, Porchester Square, Regents Palace and South Molton Street
Row 4 - Tate, The Thames, Victoria and Westminster Abbey

Michele Young on the new craft show, My Sewing Studio

2012-01-22T23:55:00+00:00

Hello everyone!

We have a brand new stitiching show coming to QVC and I'll be presenting the first one at 2pm on Tuesday 24th January.

Included will be two adorable Tilda dolls, a number of great cross stitch kits from Bothy Threads, a must-have thread collection and scissors from Fiskars, so there's lots of things to get you inspired!

Tilda is the Norwegian brand by Tone Finnanger, the author of 'Sew Pretty Homemade'. We will have both of her Flower Garden Angel and Angel with Bird dolls on the show, and my handy step-by-step guide is available on qvcuk.com.

We also have some delightful sewing-themed stamps for you. Just perfect for making personalized gift cards and greeting cards to give with your homemade sewn projects. What a great way to top off a present! We also have a set of 36 different coloured threads on the show. These are really useful for all of your different sewing projects like the quilts in these photos.

Lastly, we have a number of cross stitch kits from Bothy Threads, including Huggles the Bear and Garden Flowers. All kits are made in England with loving hands and include threads, needles, embellishments (if applicable), instructions, and easy-to-read stitching charts. What sets these kits apart from others are the very clear, detailed instructions.

A tip from Bothy threads for starting a project is to use the loop method to secure the thread:

Start with one strand of floss. Thread both ends through the eye of the needle leaving a loop at the other end.
Pull your needle up through the Aida cloth and make your first stitch.
At the back of the cloth, thread your needle through the loop.
It's secure! No need for knots. You're now ready to make your next stitch.

For more tips, remember to tune in at 2pm on Tuesday 24th January.

See you then!

Michele

Shop online for a chance to win an Archos tablet

2012-01-22T00:01:00+00:00

How are you enjoying Q Technology so far? Don't worry, we've got plenty more hi-tech treats in store for you today plus, if you make an electronics purchase online through qvcuk.com today you could win this fantastic Archos 80 G9 tablet.

This 8" tablet features an Android 3.2 operating system, 8GB Flash data storage, Wi-Fi connectivity, a case and a software bundle to get you started.

How to enter

Every customer who makes a purchase from the Home Electronics online today (Sunday 22nd January) will be entered into a prize draw and one winner will be randomly selected. Take adavantage of our Q Technology offers and buy online for your chance to win.

Good luck, happy shopping and check back next week to find out if you won!

Take a look at our Q Technology selection

Read the full terms and conditions

Will: Learn more about the Acer TSV!

2012-01-21T23:00:00+00:00

Our Q Technology weekend continues and we have a fab Today's Special Value available from Acer.

There will be full presentations of our TSV throughout the day with technology expert Lee Hohbein.

I caught up with the man himself earlier in the week to talk through some specific areas of the TSV and what it can do for you. Take a look at the videos below...

Visit our Electricals department for Easy Pay offers, new items and more

Parental Controls

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Using clear.fi

Tips on using Windows 7

Desktop Housekeeping

Stay in touch with us by heading on over to our Facebook & Twitter pages, we always love to read your comments and feedback! You can also leave your comments on Lee Hohbein's Facebook page too.

See you soon, Will.

Buy online for a chance to win a Blu-Ray player

2012-01-21T00:01:00+00:00

It's Q Technology weekend and to celebrate we're offering you the chance to win this fantastic 3D Blu-Ray player from Panasonic worth £420.

This hi-tech prize features a built-in Freeview HD tuner with a 320GB hard drive for you to record your favourite shows to, as well as Wi-Fi connectivity for online entertainment options and Blu-Ray Live interactive features.

How to enter

Every customer who makes an online purchase from our Home Electronics department today (Saturday 21st January) will be automatically enterted into a prize draw to win this hi-tech home entertainment device.

So enjoy Q Technology, get shopping and check back next week to see if you're our lucky winner.

Take a look at our Q Technology selection

Read the full terms and conditions

Will: Q Technology Preview

2012-01-20T09:32:40+00:00

There are plenty of technology shows coming up this weekend, along with two Today's Special Value's from Xbox and Acer.

Samsung, Archos and Pioneer are some of the other big name brands featuring during selected hours on Saturday & Sunday.

Here's my roundup of the event, take a look at the links below the video for more information on the products featured...

[Having trouble viewing this video? See YouTube's Help page]

In the video we featured the Archos Media Player, the e-motion 23" TV, and the Pandigital Photo Scanner. Also of course don't miss the Xbox Today's Special Value on Saturday and the Acer TSV on Sunday.

Stay in touch with us throughout the weekend by heading on over to our Facebook & Twitter pages, we always love to read your comments and feedback!

See you soon, Will.

View our technology department

Will: Day 2 of the Vicenza Jewellery Fair!

2012-01-20T09:19:33+00:00

Hi everyone, I mentioned earlier this week that there's a brand new gold jewellery show coming to QVC next month. It's called Arte D'Oro and will be on air at 8pm on the 2nd of February.

This is a showcase of gorgeous, Italian-crafted gold jewellery, inspired by the latest looks coming out of Italy.

QVC's Gold Buyer Sarah Filippardos is currently in Italy, viewing the latest releases at the Vicenza Jewellery Fair. Take a look at Sarah's blog from day 2...

"Well, day two at the fair is certainly no disappointment! It’s freezing cold here in Vicenza, and there is a faint mist in the air as we leave our hotel this morning. Just a few flakes of snow mixing with our breath as we step off the bus and approach the front gates of the fair.

Our schedules are packed again today and our vendors are so excited to show us their new designs and ideas. One of my particular favourites, a lovely Italian company, showed me the most incredible designs in gold. Predominantly yellow gold, but with some rose, white and even black gold – which is actually gold with an oxidized layer – in the most beautiful and delicate lace designs.

These pieces have a real presence to them, with bold domed shapes and depth, but they feel wonderfully light because the designs are so intricate and detailed. They feel strong too, and my vendor explains to me how far the technology has come over the years to make this combined lightness and strength possible.

It’s a wonderful thing to witness, as the age old Italian craftsmanship marries with modern science to produce these pieces. I’m so excited and I have to place a sample order immediately to bring this concept back to our QVC customers as quickly as possible. Watch out for this new gold trend as we hit spring!

Next on the agenda is a special meeting with all of our QVC jewellery colleagues from all over the world to discuss what we have found at the fair and to share ideas. This is so exciting! To meet our fellow Jewellery Buyers from QVC USA, Japan, Italy, Germany is just so inspiring and we find that we have so much in common and so much to bring back to our respective customers.

As the day draws to a close, our team leave the fair and as we board the little gold bus to return to our hotel, we gabble excitedly about today’s jewellery finds and look forward to a huge plate of pasta this evening!"

So there we have it, a fab insight into day two of the Vicenza Jewellery Fair. If you missed it, you can still read Sarah's blog from day 1.

Don't forget to stay in touch with us by heading on over to our Facebook & Twitter pages.

See you soon, Will x

Are you Breast Cancer Care's next top model?

2012-01-20T09:00:00+00:00

Have you ever fancied being a model for a day?
Are you currently being treated for or have survived breast cancer?

If you've answered yes to the above then don't miss out on a chance to become a catwalk model for Breast Cancer Care's fashion show on Wednesday 3rd October 2012! In 2011 the event raised a fantastic £383,000 for this great cause.

If you are selected to become a model you will enjoy professional hair styling from the likes of Vidal Sassoon and make-up by Estee Lauder, before taking to the catwalk for your time to shine. You will also have the opportunity to take part in press work, fundraising and raising awareness about breast cancer in your area.

This glamorous event will take place at the plush Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London, and has been attended by numerous celebrities over the years, including Lisa Snowden, Penny Lancaster Stewart and Rod Stewart.

To apply for this truly special opportunity visit the Breast Cancer Care website and click on the 'Models' tab to download an application form. Either email it along with a full length photo of yourself to specialevents@breastcancercare.org.uk, or post your application to the following address: Lauren Smith, 5 – 13 Great Suffolk Street, London, SE1 0NS

Hurry as the closing date for all entries is Tuesday 31st January 2012!

Win a SBC beauty collection worth over £100!

2012-01-19T23:55:00+00:00

To celebrate the launch of SBC's Today's Special Value, we're offering you the chance to win a fabulous beauty collection worth over £100.

This bumper collection of beauty goodies includes SBC's bestselling Arnica Gel, Collagen Gel, Collagen Shower Crème and more.

How to enter
If you buy any SBC product online at qvcuk.com today, you'll be automatically entered into a draw to win this fabulous prize. One lucky winner will then be selected at random. The winner will be announced in QGossip on Monday 23rd January 2012.

Happy shopping!

View the full terms and conditions

Visit the SBC shop

Will: Diamonique Week Finale coming up this Friday!

2012-01-19T10:22:59+00:00

Don't miss our Diamonique Week Grand Finale on Friday (20th January) - this two hour show will be packed with lots of brand new items.

Julia Roberts will be presenting the show and she'll be in the company of Diamonique expert Tom Caporaso, who has been with us all week.

Tom has been working with the range since the beginning and I caught up with the man himself earlier to find out what's coming up in the Grand Finale show...

Having trouble viewing this video? See YouTube's Help page]

If you fancy taking a look at two of Tom's favourite pieces from the Diamonique Grand Finale show you can view the Diamonique Interlocking Heart Pendant and the Diamonique Purple Split Shank Fancy Ring right now.

As always we love to read your comments and feedback, why not head on over to our Facebook & Twitter pages and you can also follow QVC presenter Julia Roberts on twitter too.

See you soon, Will x

Will: Great value and a fab TSV on QVC this Friday!

2012-01-19T09:00:00+00:00

This Friday we'll be presenting four hours of shows at Clearance Prices AND all items will be available in 3 Easy Pay instalments.

Our Northern Nights Outlet shows will be at 11 o'clock in the morning and 3 o'clock in the afternoon. We'll also have Clearance Prices from our fashion department, with an hour of Print Fusion at 1pm.

And then at 2pm, couture fashion jewellery from Butler & Wilson, great prices and again all items will be available in 3 Easy Payments.

Obviosuly we can't forget our Today's Special Value from SBC this Friday. The kit features SBC's bestselling Collagen & Propolis Gels, 3 in 1 Cleansing Gel, Hydrating Shower Cream and a brand new Collagen Day and Night Cream.

I've said on the QVC Beauty Channel before that I use Collagen Gel pretty much every day, I love it - even though it's pink! More recently I've been using Propolis gel too and it's great if I develop a shaving rash or have irritated skin. Both products are water based, so won't clog the skin, and can be used all over the body. For me, simple but very effective!

So there we have it, a brief preview of some of the shows and bargains to look out for on QVC this Friday. Don't forget to stay in touch with us by heading on over to our Facebook & Twitter pages.

See you soon, Will x

Will: The Boy Who Bakes on QVC!

2012-01-18T14:29:18+00:00

Don't miss Edd Kimber 'The Boy Who Bakes' on the Morning Show (Thursday 19th January).

We can't wait to have the studio filled with nice baking smells, but more importantly we can't wait to eat!

Edd's book The Boy Who Bakes is full of easy to follow recipes, as the lovely Carmel Thomas found out when she followed one of them...

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Don't forget you can stay up to date with all that's happening here at QVC by joining us on Facebook and Twitter, you can also follow QVC presenter Carmel Thomas too.

See you soon, Will x

Quacker Factory guest Jenny bids farewell to QVC

2012-01-17T23:58:00+00:00

Hello fellow Quackers,

I just want to let you all know that I am going to pastures new and into another duck pond! I am off to the home of Jeanne Bice (in Florida) to follow a new opportunity and I am sure I am going to be leaving you in good 'Quackable' hands!

I have been representing Quacker for seven years now and it has become a part of my life and I am going to miss you all so much.

I have really enjoyed bringing sparkle and shine into your lives and sparkly fashion as well as - encouraging you to pull yourselves up by your bra straps, de-stress your lives and add some sparkle instead!

So to all my skinny and fluffy ducks I want you all to keep on quacking, and being fabulous - sending you all lots of love.

Jenny - quack quack

From everyone at QVC we would like to wish Jenny all the best for the future. We will continue with Quacker as before and are in the process of looking for another Quacker presenter for future shows.

Browse the full range of Quacker Factory Fashion.

Check out Jenny's video farewell below...

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Address your skincare problems with Alpha-H

2012-01-17T16:25:54+00:00

Do you have problematic skin? Spent too much time in the sun in your younger days? Or need advice on taming oily, congested skin? Well, Alpha-H skincare is here to help with all your skincare concerns.

Here, expert Tom Ogden shares his knowledge on popular skincare problems…

Sensitive skin

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Problematic skin

How to use Liquid Gold

View the full Alpha-H skincare range

Steal celeb styles from the Golden Globes 2012

2012-01-17T14:59:25+00:00

If you were looking for red carpet glitz and glamour, then this year's Golden Globes had it all! Whether celebs matched their lipstick to their clutch a la Angelina Jolie, went for lacy bridal chic like Jessica Biel or rocked midnight blue like Helen Mirren, A-listers were definitely dressed to impress.

Although we can't all pick from a rail of designer dresses (though we often wish we could!), we can still add a touch of red carpet glamour to our own outfits with a few simple accessories.

The gorgeous Nicole Richie wore this stunning silver Julien Macdonald dress to the awards. She paired it with co-ordinating sparkling jewellery - and you too can accessorise like a star with our product picks below...

The ring: Diamonique Cluster Ring
The earrings: Suarti Collection Chandelier Earrings
The bracelet: Jacqueline Kennedy Owl Bracelet

Another celeb that pulled out a show-stopper of a dress was actress Mila Kunis (starred in Black Swan) in this strapless black Dior dress. This is a Little Black Dress worthy of an awards show with its flattering silhouette, pulling in at the waist and ruching around the neckline.

Mila chose not to go over-the-top with accessories, picking subtle sparkle with a flower ring and tassel earrings. We've picked out our own red carpet lookalikes below...

The earrings: Diamonique Marquise Tassel Drop Earrings
The ring: Diamonique Pave Set Flower Ring

Will: New gold show & the Vicenza Jewellery Fair...

2012-01-17T11:22:18+00:00

There's a brand new gold jewellery show coming to QVC next month, it's called Arte D'Oro and will be on air at 8pm on the 2nd of February.

This is a showcase of gorgeous, Italian-crafted gold jewellery, inspired by the latest looks coming out of Italy.

QVC's Gold Buyer Sarah Filippardos is currently in Italy, viewing the latest releases at the Vicenza Jewellery Fair. Take a look at Sarah's blog from day 1...

"All the buyers from all of the jewellery areas are excited to come to this famous Italian Jewellery Fair, but the most important collections of all are those containing gold, and none are more special than Italian gold!

The most spectacular jewellery - gemset or simple gold - is everywhere you turn. It's easy to forget just how exciting this fair is, until we walk in the doors on our first morning and the colour of the gems and the sparkle of the fine metals just hits us.

So, the first day has been so inspiring. So much to see, and so many ideas to bring to our jewellery collections. The trends are clear - rose gold is hot, in so many styles - the most simple, sophisticated chain, or polished hoop earrings, through to the gemset cocktail rings that twinkle back at us as we walk past the windows of the designer stands. Rose gold adds a soft layer of colour and is so beautifully flattering to the skin as well.

Yellow gold is also a key trend, either on its own or mixed with rose gold and white gold to add extra glamour and to bring a simple design bang up to the minute. The gold we've seen here today is textured and layered, smoothed and polished or with a satin gleam, reflecting light. Some feature lazer cutting to add sparkle or a brushed texture to add depth. Not a single piece is left untouched, and nothing is plain boring!

Time has flown by for us today as we've walked the fair, meeting often to share ideas and tell our QVC colleagues what we've seen. We're all so excited to be returning tomorrow and simply can't wait to search out new ideas to bring to our customers."

So there we have it, a fab insight into day one of the Vicenza Jewellery Fair, there'll be more tomorrow Don't forget to stay in touch with us by heading on over to our Facebook & Twitter pages.

See you soon, Will x

Guest Julie Hickey on today's fab Craftwork Cards TSV!

2012-01-16T23:59:00+00:00

We are kicking off today with Craftwork Cards' first TSV! It is something totally different and something you have been asking me for - it's inspirational, exciting, fun, collectable. I love it and feel sure you will too!

There are many crafting hours throughout today featuring some gorgeous new luxury kits from Craftwork Cards. Tune in for our craft shows all throughout the day!

Make sure you don't miss my top picks:

I love our It's a Wrap Message bands with borders and sentiments. Use these gorgeous brand-new shaped message bands with co-ordinating shaped sentiments to add your special message to your cards.

The set of 50 8" x 8" cards features some beautiful shapes, as well the craft cupboard essential straight and scalloped edge cards.

A Pocket Full of Patterned Papers is our first CD ROM for QVC with 300 printable 8" x 8" papers featuring 30 of our favourite designs in ten different colourways. You are sure to use every design as they cover all occasions!

The brand new Retro Flower embellishments feature my all time favourite-shaped retro daisies. Soft pastel combinations foiled in white with text and dots and deeper, rich tones foiled in gold and silver giving Steampunk feel to them.

There will be some of my favourite kits to share with you again in case you missed them last time. Plus lots of hints, tips and techniques throughout the day. Inspiration is definitely the order of the day!

Make sure you tune in all day to see our fantastic shows and TSV!

Love

Julie x

Will: Diamonique Week Grand Opening...

2012-01-16T10:07:19+00:00

So it's the start of a new week, I hope you all enjoyed our What Every Woman Wants event over the weekend.

Tonight at 6pm, Alison Keenan and Charlie Brook will be presenting our Diamonique Week Grand Opening show which kicks off a week long celebration of all things Diamonique.

There'll be Diamonique shows every day this week at 6pm. Over the next few days you'll find Diamonique pieces in many different styles, you can preview some of those looks by heading to our Diamonique Week page.

Last week I caught up with Diamonique buyer Emily Gilkes, she told me that sapphires are a big trend stone for Spring/Summer and have been seen a lot recently on the catwalks.

Emily loves this Half Eternity Ring (left) as it's perfect for everyday wear as well as stacking against existing rings.

This Emerald Cut Cocktail Ring is also a personal favourite of Emily's. She said it's a great bit of sparkle to help cheer up those January blues.

The ring features an emerald-cut blue simulated diamond, as well as a border of smaller, clear, round-cut simulated stones.

So that's just a couple of the pieces that you can look forward to seeing this Diamonique Week. If you want to get ahead of the game, take a look at some more of our Diamonique Week pieces.

Also don't forget to let us know what you think by heading on over to our Facebook & Twitter pages.

See you soon, Will x

Welcome to a sparkling Diamonique Week

2012-01-15T23:59:00+00:00

Here at QVC Towers we believe that Diamonique is in fact a girl's best friend, not only does it look as good as the real thing but it also costs a fraction of the price.

So, with this in mind, you can imagine how excited we all are about Diamonique Week - the perfect pick-me-up for those post Christmas blues.

Here to give you the lowdown is our favourite Diamonique expert Tom Caporaso...

Hello everyone,

Hopefully you were able to catch me when I appeared at QVC during Diamonique Day this past October, I have to tell you a little secret, those appearances were my first ever on TV... I was just a little bit nervous!

I hope that everyone had a joyous holiday. As I sit in my office on a beautiful South Florida Sunday afternoon I’ve had a chance to reflect on the past holiday season and think about what QVC is planning for Diamonique in 2012.

The thought occurs to me that as the excitement and anticipation of the holidays start to fade to memories, and as we get back to our daily routines, the excitement for Diamonique in 2012 is only just beginning. With Diamonique it is almost like Christmas never ends because the excitement and surprises come throughout the year.

The New Year will start with a bang with Diamonique Week from Monday 16th January. I know that Emily the Diamonique buyer and her team have put together some great new pieces that you are all going to love!

I am also thrilled to be coming back to QVC for Diamonique Week to help introduce many of these new items that the team has been developing. You can see me Tuesday through Friday at 6pm. I would love to hear from all of you!

I will be traveling to London directly from the Vicenza Jewellery Fair in Italy, so if I look a little bigger since October you will know why - all of that great Italian food! The fair is the first premier jewellery show each year and is attended by the biggest designers and manufacturers in the industry. I hope to be able to share with you some of the upcoming trends for jewellery while I am on the air.

One of the many reasons that I love working with QVC is that Diamonique allows us to bring you items that sometimes you simply can't get at any price, anywhere. Since Diamonique Day in October I have been working with Emily to develop a new unique stone cut to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee later this year. This special-cut stone will only be offered in Diamonique and only at QVC so look out for it in February.

It doesn't end there, we are also working on other new Diamonique cuts so the excitement and surprises continue all year! I welcome any questions that you might have regarding Diamonique and will try to answer them in a future blog...

See you on air,

Tom

P.S. Here is a little sneak peek at what to expect during Diamonique Week...

Check out the full Diamonique range.