News & Updates from Ann Smith

I thought I would share a picture of my office with you - strangely enough when it looks like this I'm not too keen on being in it and much prefer being snuggled up in the warm working on new designs for you.

One of my favourite dive sites is underneath that crashing wave! I would like to say a HUGE, HUGE thank you to everyone who has bought designs from me.

I am rapidly approaching my second 1000 sales, which although it isn't a major milestone, means more to me than I can say. I am busy working on new designs for you and more cUp TV episodes to try to help our new cutting machine users.

If you have any suggestions for topics you would like me to include please don't hesitate to contact me on the forum.

Loabi would like to say a HUGE big thank you to everyone for all the love and support they have been sending him.

He's feeling much better at the moment and would like to wish everyone in cUpland a very Merry Christmas. Thank you all for your support, it means a lot to both of us.

The Scuba Diver Designer??!! It?s my first dive of the year, the forecast is for ?10 degrees but our customer is an ex-navy diver who has dived at the North and the South Poles.

He also dives regularly at inland quarries so to him the sea feels positively tropical.

My computer says the water temperature is 7 degrees. That?s definitely cold enough for me! Why would I want to do this? I must be crazy or at least a little bit daft? but the rewards are just so amazing.

I didn?t learn to swim until I was 26, then after a holiday snorkelling with Mantas I just knew I had to dive.

I was 43. I didn?t take to diving like a duck to water, I struggled with everything but somehow I just kept pushing myself.

Diving totally changed my life. I have a confidence in myself that I never had before.

The only regret that I have is that I didn?t start 20 years ago. I am well on my way to 600 dives and I'm an assistant instructor now. I get to meet so many wonderful people and I get to show them so many wonderful things.

I do most of my diving in Pembrokeshire, it?s often challenging but it is always rewarding......and it does get warmer in summer!

I thought you might be interested to know I just realised that I found craftsUprint through an advert in a craft magazine I bought in October last year.

I am totally addicted to cUp and I've been so busy designing that I still haven't managed to read the mag!