I'm back in town after almost two weeks away! Traveling without a computer (just an iPhone) means that I have also come home to 406 unread e-mails in one account and 812 in the other. So, if you're waiting for an e-mail for me, be patient. I'm working my way through them.
The first five days of my trip were dedicated to the Craft & Hobby Association's (CHA) annual winter show.
I believe that this is my seventh or eighth CHA? It hardly seems possible, but I believe this is the fourth Winter show I've attended.
If you're unfamiliar with CHA, it's an enormous trade show. There are classes, lectures, events, and all the new craft products get shown off on the show floor. While it's true that the show has changed over the years that I've been attending, it's also true that I've changed over those years. Or perhaps more specifically, my role has changed.
When I first started attending CHA it was like being allowed into Willy Wonka's factory. I was dazzled by all the new products and all the crafty celebrities. It was awesome and eye-opening all at once. You can read my thoughts about that first CHA experience here.
Nowadays, the show is work. I don't mean that it's not fun. It definitely is! I get to see so many of my favorite people and spend a lot of late nights socializing and laughing and hatching plans. I love meeting blog readers and the people whose blogs I read. I'm always shocked and surprised and delighted when people recognize me and want to take a photo with me. It's my five minutes of celebrity! :)
That said, as I was editing my photos I noticed how few product photos I had taken, how few photos with friends I took, and it got me thinking about how different this show was from my first show.
Anyway, here's a peek at my CHA bests and mosts:
Best Travel Companion:
Best Accidentally Identical Laughs:
Best Paperclips Ever:
Most Overpriced Food:
Best Chair Sharing at the Make & Take Table:
Best Stencil Designers:
Best Way to Get Pinched:
Best Life Sized Elephant:
Second Best Life-Sized Elephant:
Best Wall to Photograph Yourself Against:
Best Gift:
Project I Most Want to Try After CHA:
Best Sport (I got one of the Sakura salesmen to play along with the make & take):
Best Science Fair Designer Showcase Exhibit:
Best Hug (stole this photo from Nat's instagram feed):
Most Cold Dinner (wore my coat the whole time):
Best Designed Stamps (2 of the 4 new stamp sets I designed for Impression Obsession):
All in all it was a great five days. Thanks for letting me share!
Glad you got home eventually – good luck clearing your inbox! Love the photos, thanks for sharing them.
Glad you got home eventually – good luck clearing your inbox! Love the photos, thanks for sharing them.
Glad you got home eventually – good luck clearing your inbox! Love the photos, thanks for sharing them.
Glad you got home eventually – good luck clearing your inbox! Love the photos, thanks for sharing them.
Glad you got home eventually – good luck clearing your inbox! Love the photos, thanks for sharing them.
I can’t believe I didn’t see you one time ;( however my order is placed for all your new stencils woot~woot~
I can’t believe I didn’t see you one time ;( however my order is placed for all your new stencils woot~woot~
I can’t believe I didn’t see you one time ;( however my order is placed for all your new stencils woot~woot~
I can’t believe I didn’t see you one time ;( however my order is placed for all your new stencils woot~woot~
I can’t believe I didn’t see you one time ;( however my order is placed for all your new stencils woot~woot~
Was great to meet you Julie. Love your new stencil designs!
Was great to meet you Julie. Love your new stencil designs!
Was great to meet you Julie. Love your new stencil designs!
Was great to meet you Julie. Love your new stencil designs!
Was great to meet you Julie. Love your new stencil designs!
Best time: Mice dinner with you and the blender girls!
Best time: Mice dinner with you and the blender girls!
Best time: Mice dinner with you and the blender girls!
Best time: Mice dinner with you and the blender girls!
Best time: Mice dinner with you and the blender girls!
Good luck with your inbox Julie! I was computerless for 3.5 days last weekend, so I can only imagine what youre wading through! Love your take on CHA — so Julie!!
Good luck with your inbox Julie! I was computerless for 3.5 days last weekend, so I can only imagine what youre wading through! Love your take on CHA — so Julie!!
Good luck with your inbox Julie! I was computerless for 3.5 days last weekend, so I can only imagine what youre wading through! Love your take on CHA — so Julie!!
Good luck with your inbox Julie! I was computerless for 3.5 days last weekend, so I can only imagine what youre wading through! Love your take on CHA — so Julie!!
Good luck with your inbox Julie! I was computerless for 3.5 days last weekend, so I can only imagine what youre wading through! Love your take on CHA — so Julie!!
I want to make my own version of those paperclips using your day stamps. Gorgeous!
I want to make my own version of those paperclips using your day stamps. Gorgeous!
I want to make my own version of those paperclips using your day stamps. Gorgeous!
I want to make my own version of those paperclips using your day stamps. Gorgeous!
I want to make my own version of those paperclips using your day stamps. Gorgeous!
Love the identical laughs. Thanks for sharing about CHA.
Love the identical laughs. Thanks for sharing about CHA.
Love the identical laughs. Thanks for sharing about CHA.
Love the identical laughs. Thanks for sharing about CHA.
Love the identical laughs. Thanks for sharing about CHA.
I really wish CHA was open to the general public. Guess I need to cultivate a friendship with a craft store owner or some designer.
I really wish CHA was open to the general public. Guess I need to cultivate a friendship with a craft store owner or some designer.
I really wish CHA was open to the general public. Guess I need to cultivate a friendship with a craft store owner or some designer.
I really wish CHA was open to the general public. Guess I need to cultivate a friendship with a craft store owner or some designer.
I really wish CHA was open to the general public. Guess I need to cultivate a friendship with a craft store owner or some designer.
Thanks for sharing! I loooove your days of the week stamps. Hoepe they’ll get to France soon with your new stencils.
Thanks for sharing! I loooove your days of the week stamps. Hoepe they’ll get to France soon with your new stencils.
Thanks for sharing! I loooove your days of the week stamps. Hoepe they’ll get to France soon with your new stencils.
Thanks for sharing! I loooove your days of the week stamps. Hoepe they’ll get to France soon with your new stencils.
Thanks for sharing! I loooove your days of the week stamps. Hoepe they’ll get to France soon with your new stencils.
Best pictures from CHA
Thanks Julie
*
Best pictures from CHA
Thanks Julie
*
Best pictures from CHA
Thanks Julie
*
Best pictures from CHA
Thanks Julie
*
Best pictures from CHA
Thanks Julie
*
Great recap! Those identical laughs are priceless! Love it!
Great recap! Those identical laughs are priceless! Love it!
Great recap! Those identical laughs are priceless! Love it!
Great recap! Those identical laughs are priceless! Love it!
Great recap! Those identical laughs are priceless! Love it!
Hi, Julie,
Thanks for sharing your photos. Some day I want to go the CHA.
In the meantime, you make me feel like I was there.
I LOVE that your mom is your best friend! And, I love your new “day of the week stamps”. Will definitely be looking for them.
Hi, Julie,
Thanks for sharing your photos. Some day I want to go the CHA.
In the meantime, you make me feel like I was there.
I LOVE that your mom is your best friend! And, I love your new “day of the week stamps”. Will definitely be looking for them.
Hi, Julie,
Thanks for sharing your photos. Some day I want to go the CHA.
In the meantime, you make me feel like I was there.
I LOVE that your mom is your best friend! And, I love your new “day of the week stamps”. Will definitely be looking for them.
Hi, Julie,
Thanks for sharing your photos. Some day I want to go the CHA.
In the meantime, you make me feel like I was there.
I LOVE that your mom is your best friend! And, I love your new “day of the week stamps”. Will definitely be looking for them.
Hi, Julie,
Thanks for sharing your photos. Some day I want to go the CHA.
In the meantime, you make me feel like I was there.
I LOVE that your mom is your best friend! And, I love your new “day of the week stamps”. Will definitely be looking for them.
Thanks for the CHA run down! Love those stamps! Where will they be available?
Thanks for the CHA run down! Love those stamps! Where will they be available?
Thanks for the CHA run down! Love those stamps! Where will they be available?
Thanks for the CHA run down! Love those stamps! Where will they be available?
Thanks for the CHA run down! Love those stamps! Where will they be available?
Loved your best of…. the new day of week stamps are yummy.
Loved your best of…. the new day of week stamps are yummy.
Loved your best of…. the new day of week stamps are yummy.
Loved your best of…. the new day of week stamps are yummy.
Loved your best of…. the new day of week stamps are yummy.
You must be exhausted…what a great time you had. Your products are all fab!…and so’s your travelling companion.
You must be exhausted…what a great time you had. Your products are all fab!…and so’s your travelling companion.
You must be exhausted…what a great time you had. Your products are all fab!…and so’s your travelling companion.
You must be exhausted…what a great time you had. Your products are all fab!…and so’s your travelling companion.
You must be exhausted…what a great time you had. Your products are all fab!…and so’s your travelling companion.
Thank you so much for sharing this experience since most of us never get to go even close to CHA! We live vicariously through your eyes! This was the best read I’ve seen from CHA! Trippy to see our Tracy here 😀
~Vanessa W
Thank you so much for sharing this experience since most of us never get to go even close to CHA! We live vicariously through your eyes! This was the best read I’ve seen from CHA! Trippy to see our Tracy here 😀
~Vanessa W
Thank you so much for sharing this experience since most of us never get to go even close to CHA! We live vicariously through your eyes! This was the best read I’ve seen from CHA! Trippy to see our Tracy here 😀
~Vanessa W
Thank you so much for sharing this experience since most of us never get to go even close to CHA! We live vicariously through your eyes! This was the best read I’ve seen from CHA! Trippy to see our Tracy here 😀
~Vanessa W
Thank you so much for sharing this experience since most of us never get to go even close to CHA! We live vicariously through your eyes! This was the best read I’ve seen from CHA! Trippy to see our Tracy here 😀
~Vanessa W
Such wonderful photos! Looks like a lot of fun!
Such wonderful photos! Looks like a lot of fun!
Such wonderful photos! Looks like a lot of fun!
Such wonderful photos! Looks like a lot of fun!
Such wonderful photos! Looks like a lot of fun!
Thanks for sharing your pictures Julie, looks like great fun, maybe someday I’ll get to go to a CHA! Love that necklace you want to create!!!
Thanks for sharing your pictures Julie, looks like great fun, maybe someday I’ll get to go to a CHA! Love that necklace you want to create!!!
Thanks for sharing your pictures Julie, looks like great fun, maybe someday I’ll get to go to a CHA! Love that necklace you want to create!!!
Thanks for sharing your pictures Julie, looks like great fun, maybe someday I’ll get to go to a CHA! Love that necklace you want to create!!!
Thanks for sharing your pictures Julie, looks like great fun, maybe someday I’ll get to go to a CHA! Love that necklace you want to create!!!
it must be such an AMAZING experience, despite being exhausted. Thanks for sharing your trip to CHA!
it must be such an AMAZING experience, despite being exhausted. Thanks for sharing your trip to CHA!
it must be such an AMAZING experience, despite being exhausted. Thanks for sharing your trip to CHA!
it must be such an AMAZING experience, despite being exhausted. Thanks for sharing your trip to CHA!
it must be such an AMAZING experience, despite being exhausted. Thanks for sharing your trip to CHA!
Love the way you shared your CHA experience. I’m off to read your thoughts about your first one. Love the identical laughs – crack up!
Love the way you shared your CHA experience. I’m off to read your thoughts about your first one. Love the identical laughs – crack up!
Love the way you shared your CHA experience. I’m off to read your thoughts about your first one. Love the identical laughs – crack up!
Love the way you shared your CHA experience. I’m off to read your thoughts about your first one. Love the identical laughs – crack up!
Love the way you shared your CHA experience. I’m off to read your thoughts about your first one. Love the identical laughs – crack up!
Best CHA recap! 🙂
Oh and by the way, I was thinking about you last week as I made a LO that was going nowhere….your voice came in my head and said: paint over it! So I did…..
My voice then came in my head and said: throw that away!
I truely believe that paint can arrange everything, BUT I also truely believe that there’s a certain way of using it. Mine didn’t work. I’m still wondering if I’ll ever try it again…..Maybe, next time you come to my head. 😉
Best CHA recap! 🙂
Oh and by the way, I was thinking about you last week as I made a LO that was going nowhere….your voice came in my head and said: paint over it! So I did…..
My voice then came in my head and said: throw that away!
I truely believe that paint can arrange everything, BUT I also truely believe that there’s a certain way of using it. Mine didn’t work. I’m still wondering if I’ll ever try it again…..Maybe, next time you come to my head. 😉
Best CHA recap! 🙂
Oh and by the way, I was thinking about you last week as I made a LO that was going nowhere….your voice came in my head and said: paint over it! So I did…..
My voice then came in my head and said: throw that away!
I truely believe that paint can arrange everything, BUT I also truely believe that there’s a certain way of using it. Mine didn’t work. I’m still wondering if I’ll ever try it again…..Maybe, next time you come to my head. 😉
Best CHA recap! 🙂
Oh and by the way, I was thinking about you last week as I made a LO that was going nowhere….your voice came in my head and said: paint over it! So I did…..
My voice then came in my head and said: throw that away!
I truely believe that paint can arrange everything, BUT I also truely believe that there’s a certain way of using it. Mine didn’t work. I’m still wondering if I’ll ever try it again…..Maybe, next time you come to my head. 😉
Best CHA recap! 🙂
Oh and by the way, I was thinking about you last week as I made a LO that was going nowhere….your voice came in my head and said: paint over it! So I did…..
My voice then came in my head and said: throw that away!
I truely believe that paint can arrange everything, BUT I also truely believe that there’s a certain way of using it. Mine didn’t work. I’m still wondering if I’ll ever try it again…..Maybe, next time you come to my head. 😉
Hi again Julie,
I just went and read the post you wrote about your first CHA experience – what an incredibly interesting and fascinating post. Really enjoyed reading your thoughts about it all. Loved the bit at the bottom about the biggest surprise – lol, it would be surprise!
Hi again Julie,
I just went and read the post you wrote about your first CHA experience – what an incredibly interesting and fascinating post. Really enjoyed reading your thoughts about it all. Loved the bit at the bottom about the biggest surprise – lol, it would be surprise!
Hi again Julie,
I just went and read the post you wrote about your first CHA experience – what an incredibly interesting and fascinating post. Really enjoyed reading your thoughts about it all. Loved the bit at the bottom about the biggest surprise – lol, it would be surprise!
Hi again Julie,
I just went and read the post you wrote about your first CHA experience – what an incredibly interesting and fascinating post. Really enjoyed reading your thoughts about it all. Loved the bit at the bottom about the biggest surprise – lol, it would be surprise!
Hi again Julie,
I just went and read the post you wrote about your first CHA experience – what an incredibly interesting and fascinating post. Really enjoyed reading your thoughts about it all. Loved the bit at the bottom about the biggest surprise – lol, it would be surprise!
Hello Julie,
Your showcase of the CHA is so creative. Probably very hard weeding your moments down to just a few. So nice that your mother goes with you.
Thanks
Hello Julie,
Your showcase of the CHA is so creative. Probably very hard weeding your moments down to just a few. So nice that your mother goes with you.
Thanks
Hello Julie,
Your showcase of the CHA is so creative. Probably very hard weeding your moments down to just a few. So nice that your mother goes with you.
Thanks
Hello Julie,
Your showcase of the CHA is so creative. Probably very hard weeding your moments down to just a few. So nice that your mother goes with you.
Thanks
Hello Julie,
Your showcase of the CHA is so creative. Probably very hard weeding your moments down to just a few. So nice that your mother goes with you.
Thanks
I dito that- and your best hug sentiment, Julie 🙂
I dito that- and your best hug sentiment, Julie 🙂
I dito that- and your best hug sentiment, Julie 🙂
I dito that- and your best hug sentiment, Julie 🙂
I dito that- and your best hug sentiment, Julie 🙂
It looks like you all had a great time! I would love to know where Julie #1 got her bracelets
It looks like you all had a great time! I would love to know where Julie #1 got her bracelets
It looks like you all had a great time! I would love to know where Julie #1 got her bracelets
It looks like you all had a great time! I would love to know where Julie #1 got her bracelets
It looks like you all had a great time! I would love to know where Julie #1 got her bracelets
Donna & the Kraut do look identical in their photos 🙂
Donna & the Kraut do look identical in their photos 🙂
Donna & the Kraut do look identical in their photos 🙂
Donna & the Kraut do look identical in their photos 🙂
Donna & the Kraut do look identical in their photos 🙂