If you're going to be at the Craft & Hobby Association show (CHA) in Chicago next week, I'd love to see you!  Here's how you can find me:

Monday, July 16

11am – 12pm: Building a Better Blog (room 23)

A blog is an obligatory item for most professional artists and businesses and one of the best ways to develop a community. However, a poorly done blog can be worse than no blog at all. There is no one-size-fits-all solution – so much of building a better blog depends on your goals, the amount of time you can devote to the blog, and who your audience is.

In this seminar Julie will guide you through:

  • Determining realistic and achievable goals for your blog. 
  • The baby steps you can take to work towards larger goals. 
  • Tips & Tricks for making blogging work for your lifestyle and your business. 
  • Finding an audience for your blog (and keeping those people coming back for more). 

During the seminar Julie will share some actual blog posts, point out ways in which they could have been more effective, and discuss how to make those improvements. You will leave with practical ideas you can put into place immediately.

2 – 3pm: The How To of "How To's" (room 24)

A product is just a product until a designer creates a project to inspire the customer to purchase the product. This however, is only the beginning. A designer also has to be able to convey, in easy terms, how to make the projects so the customer can re-create them.

Join Julie McGuffee and Julie Fei-Fan Balzer to discuss tips and techniques to accomplish this in a variety of ways:

  • Written Instructions 
  • Graphic Art 
  • Step by Step Photography 
  • On-Camera TV Presentations 
  • Online videos 

The product is always the star, but it is the designer who answers the consumers' question, "What can I do with this?" and ultimately "How did you do that!"

Tuesday, July 17

10am – 1pm: Make & Takes at The Crafter's Workshop Booth 

We'll be making this super cute necklace…

CHANecklace-wm
…using canvas, monoprinting, and lots of paint and stencils!

Wednesday, July 18

3pm – 6pm: Make & Takes at The Crafter's Workshop Booth

If you miss me on day one, don't forget to stop by on day two, because I won't be there on day three!  I have to head home early from CHA in order to teach three classes at CREATE.  (I think there are still a few seats left in my classes if you'd like to come and play with me in New Jersey!)

And when I'm not in the booth, there will be some other super cool ladies there.  Here is the complete Crafter's Workshop make & take schedule:

Booth Demo sign
Lots of talent!

I hope to see you in either Chicago or New Jersey!

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

Based outside of Boston, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer is a painter, printmaker, and collage artist who constructs vibrant compositions. Her artwork investigates the interplay of identity and perception, inviting viewers to take a longer look. Julie works in layers, both physically and metaphorically, exploring what is visible and what is concealed. Passionate about connecting with and inspiring other artists, she shares her expertise through in-person workshops and her online classroom at MyArtPractice.com. Julie's achievements include high-profile clients, multiple publications - including her book, “Carve Stamp Play” - and exhibits in New York City and throughout Massachusetts. She is a graduate of Brown University.

60 thoughts on “Find Me at CHA!

  • Hi Julie
    Will you be running your Build a better Blog session again in winter 2013?
    Cheers Louise 🙂

    Reply
  • Hi Julie
    Will you be running your Build a better Blog session again in winter 2013?
    Cheers Louise 🙂

    Reply
  • Hi Julie
    Will you be running your Build a better Blog session again in winter 2013?
    Cheers Louise 🙂

    Reply
  • Hi Julie
    Will you be running your Build a better Blog session again in winter 2013?
    Cheers Louise 🙂

    Reply
  • Hi Julie
    Will you be running your Build a better Blog session again in winter 2013?
    Cheers Louise 🙂

    Reply
  • I wish I could come, but alas I’m on the other side of the US.

    Reply
  • I wish I could come, but alas I’m on the other side of the US.

    Reply
  • I wish I could come, but alas I’m on the other side of the US.

    Reply
  • I wish I could come, but alas I’m on the other side of the US.

    Reply
  • I wish I could come, but alas I’m on the other side of the US.

    Reply
  • yea! GREAT news Julie! Cant wait to see you LIVE at CHA!

    Reply
  • yea! GREAT news Julie! Cant wait to see you LIVE at CHA!

    Reply
  • yea! GREAT news Julie! Cant wait to see you LIVE at CHA!

    Reply
  • yea! GREAT news Julie! Cant wait to see you LIVE at CHA!

    Reply
  • yea! GREAT news Julie! Cant wait to see you LIVE at CHA!

    Reply
  • You are going to be just a bit too far west of Boston, Julie, but I hope you all have lots of fun!

    Reply
  • You are going to be just a bit too far west of Boston, Julie, but I hope you all have lots of fun!

    Reply
  • You are going to be just a bit too far west of Boston, Julie, but I hope you all have lots of fun!

    Reply
  • You are going to be just a bit too far west of Boston, Julie, but I hope you all have lots of fun!

    Reply
  • You are going to be just a bit too far west of Boston, Julie, but I hope you all have lots of fun!

    Reply
  • Chicago is soooo close. Too bad I’m not a CHA member, I’d love to go and see all the cool, new stuff.

    Reply
  • Chicago is soooo close. Too bad I’m not a CHA member, I’d love to go and see all the cool, new stuff.

    Reply
  • Chicago is soooo close. Too bad I’m not a CHA member, I’d love to go and see all the cool, new stuff.

    Reply
  • Chicago is soooo close. Too bad I’m not a CHA member, I’d love to go and see all the cool, new stuff.

    Reply
  • Chicago is soooo close. Too bad I’m not a CHA member, I’d love to go and see all the cool, new stuff.

    Reply
  • I’m only about 40 minutes from Rosemont. I didn’t think CHA was open to the public? I signed up on the CHA site as a visitor, but haven’t heard anything back from them. Does this mean I can come? Will I be on some sort of a list?

    Reply
  • I’m only about 40 minutes from Rosemont. I didn’t think CHA was open to the public? I signed up on the CHA site as a visitor, but haven’t heard anything back from them. Does this mean I can come? Will I be on some sort of a list?

    Reply
  • I’m only about 40 minutes from Rosemont. I didn’t think CHA was open to the public? I signed up on the CHA site as a visitor, but haven’t heard anything back from them. Does this mean I can come? Will I be on some sort of a list?

    Reply
  • I’m only about 40 minutes from Rosemont. I didn’t think CHA was open to the public? I signed up on the CHA site as a visitor, but haven’t heard anything back from them. Does this mean I can come? Will I be on some sort of a list?

    Reply
  • I’m only about 40 minutes from Rosemont. I didn’t think CHA was open to the public? I signed up on the CHA site as a visitor, but haven’t heard anything back from them. Does this mean I can come? Will I be on some sort of a list?

    Reply
  • Im sorry to say that I dont know.  You can call CHA.  Their website is terrible, but theyre very helpful over the phone.

    Reply
  • Im sorry to say that I dont know.  You can call CHA.  Their website is terrible, but theyre very helpful over the phone.

    Reply
  • Im sorry to say that I dont know.  You can call CHA.  Their website is terrible, but theyre very helpful over the phone.

    Reply
  • Im sorry to say that I dont know.  You can call CHA.  Their website is terrible, but theyre very helpful over the phone.

    Reply
  • Im sorry to say that I dont know.  You can call CHA.  Their website is terrible, but theyre very helpful over the phone.

    Reply

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