Hello! Hello! Greetings from Chicago!
I'm here in lovely Rosemont and excited for CHA to begin! Due to a series of events, my schedule is the most free it has ever been at a CHA, so I'm looking forward to taking my time and walking the show floor. AND I'm proud to say that I am officially a "Designer Member" of CHA! I filled out my application, paid my dues, and now I have my very own "Julie Fei-Fan Balzer, Designer" badge! Cool, right?
In case you don't know, CHA is the Craft and Hobby Association. And I'll be attending their Summer Convention & Trade Show, starting tomorrow! Technically I should be saying "the CHA show" every time I refer to it, but plain old "CHA" is just so much easier!
Twice a year scrapbooking and craft manufacturers (and a few sewing related ones) debut their new product lines at CHA. The Summer show tends to be significantly smaller than the Winter show. Many manufacturers only attend the Winter show. So I'm hopeful that I will be able to really see the show over the next few days.
I flew in this afternoon…
…and rushed to get my badges and drop off some last minute samples to the Crafter's Workshop booth. I had never been on the show floor before it opened. It was so cool! I wanted to take photos, but I think that's kind of a no-no. Basically everyone is setting up their booths and you get to see the wiring going in, the huge wooden crates, and the music blaring as layouts go up on the walls! I meant to seek out the Prima booth to see what was shaking (getting a little sneak peek before the show officially opens), but I had such a good time talking to Jaime and Ted over at The Crafter's Workshop that I lost track of time and had to run off to my dinner date with the absolutely amazing Colleen Schaan.
I'm a complete moron and forgot to take a photo of the two of us, but we had a great time over steaks at Morton's (a legendary Chicago steakhouse). Colleen and I met years ago when we were both reporters at CraftCritique.com and then again when we were teachers at MyCreativeClassroom.com (where she still teaches). We finally met in person about two years ago when we sat across from each other at Ranger U. It was like at first sight! I don't think we've sat down to a meal since then, so it was great fun to be able to spend a few hours trading stories and hanging out!
On my walk back to the hotel, I snapped this photo of the Convention Center with my iphone:
I'm getting super excited just thinking about all the fun that's ahead! Tomorrow begins early for me: 8:15am. I have to be at the Innovations Showcase and I'm really looking forward to it! I'm off to bed!
PS: I wanted to share these beautiful backgrounds that Diane Marra created after watching my DVD, "Collage Fast and Furious."
They're so lovely! I'm very impressed! Thanks for sending them my way, Diane!
have a great time Julie, I look forward to seeing some yummy new products.
have a great time Julie, I look forward to seeing some yummy new products.
have a great time Julie, I look forward to seeing some yummy new products.
have a great time Julie, I look forward to seeing some yummy new products.
What a find. Love your work and overjoyed to find someone who revels in being a crafter. Just thrilled to find someone who makes fantastic journals full of the living rather than dead dames aka vintage.
Thanks. In time you might begin to feel I am Gessoed to you!!
What a find. Love your work and overjoyed to find someone who revels in being a crafter. Just thrilled to find someone who makes fantastic journals full of the living rather than dead dames aka vintage.
Thanks. In time you might begin to feel I am Gessoed to you!!
What a find. Love your work and overjoyed to find someone who revels in being a crafter. Just thrilled to find someone who makes fantastic journals full of the living rather than dead dames aka vintage.
Thanks. In time you might begin to feel I am Gessoed to you!!
What a find. Love your work and overjoyed to find someone who revels in being a crafter. Just thrilled to find someone who makes fantastic journals full of the living rather than dead dames aka vintage.
Thanks. In time you might begin to feel I am Gessoed to you!!
Yeah…and thus begins my journey to CHA through Julie’s eyes. Always a pleasure. Have fun looking around and snapping pics!
Yeah…and thus begins my journey to CHA through Julie’s eyes. Always a pleasure. Have fun looking around and snapping pics!
Yeah…and thus begins my journey to CHA through Julie’s eyes. Always a pleasure. Have fun looking around and snapping pics!
Yeah…and thus begins my journey to CHA through Julie’s eyes. Always a pleasure. Have fun looking around and snapping pics!
Can’t wait to see what you see Julie! And thanks for the reminder — just ordered your (my!) DVD!
Can’t wait to see what you see Julie! And thanks for the reminder — just ordered your (my!) DVD!
Can’t wait to see what you see Julie! And thanks for the reminder — just ordered your (my!) DVD!
Can’t wait to see what you see Julie! And thanks for the reminder — just ordered your (my!) DVD!
Have a great time there Julie. I will be waiting for your new post about your adventure. Use your time to relax and make yourself happy.
Have a great time there Julie. I will be waiting for your new post about your adventure. Use your time to relax and make yourself happy.
Have a great time there Julie. I will be waiting for your new post about your adventure. Use your time to relax and make yourself happy.
Have a great time there Julie. I will be waiting for your new post about your adventure. Use your time to relax and make yourself happy.