CHA Winter Show 2008

Well I've recently returned from the Craft and Hobby Association's 2008 winter show and I must say it was quite the adventure. I spent four days meeting with various businesses and craft experts as well as attending multiple seminars and classes. Each day began at 5:30am and ended as I passed out at midnight.

My Mission... get as much out of the show as possible and bring as much knowledge as possibible to my customers...and boy did I! I walked miles upon miles, crafted more in 4 days than I had in 4 years, took over 20 hours of educational classes, and met a few hundred new companies. In all I would say this was a sucesssful tradeshow.

While I was there I was able to see financial guru Suze Orman speak on women and money. Of course, what would the experience be without actually asking her a financial question. I mean, a once in a lifetime opportunity - was I to pass it up? Of course not. I stood in line and asked about investing in the real estate market - to which she promptly poo pooed me and told me that now is not the time. Here we are at her book signing.

And who could even think of attending a craft tradeshow without meeting the queen of one stroke painting? I was fortunate enough to take a class from Donna Dewberry herself in which I learned how to make a tiled mirror from Sculptey clay. Who knew the clay my kids use could make such a pretty mirror? The new Sculptey clay studio line is absolutely gorgeous and they've actually made tools to use with the product line...it's about time!

Some of the projects that I made while I was there actually turned out pretty cute. Here is an art journal made with cute stickers from Sandylion binded with a new cutting and binding system called (zutter). Keep an eye out for Zutter products coming to our store in March!

Provocraft had some of the cutest make and takes using their Cricut Expressions line. I created this pirate frame and Winnie the Pooh box using their die cuts.



Of course some of my projects didn't turn out so great - but just having the chance to learn a new technique was well worth the effort. The best part of the entire experience was watching both men and women sitting at various vendor booths learning, creating, and having so much fun. After all, isn't that is what crafting is all about?



Until next time - keep krafting!