So…I'm about a month late on my CHA report. I have a good excuse. In the month of January I flew on NINE airplane trips — four of them into California. I'm a bit road weary as you can imagine. But, I've been home for a few days and I've had time to edit photos and gather my thoughts.
Every January the Craft & Hobby Association hosts their CHA show. It's a giant trade show for craft and hobby manufacturers, retailers, and designers. There are classes — the how-to topics are varied, from instagram to glue. There are parties — public, private, work-related, and purely social. There are manufacturer's booths — displaying product, offering demos, taking sales from retailers.
I took a peek through my blog archives (you can too, either using the "archive" button on the top right or the search box at the bottom of the right column) and I discovered that I've been attending CHA since January 2009. That kind of blew me away. If I'm counting correctly that makes this the SEVENTH Winter CHA show I've attended. Whoa. I've played a variety of roles at the show in that time: buyer, demo artist, teacher, licensed designer, booth haver (is that a term?), presenter, walker…. Every show is a different show for me.
This year, I helped set up the Brother ScanNCut booth. Set-up day is a crazy event. Lots of forklifts and huge shipping containers. Everyone is dressed in their very worst because it's all about manual labor.
This may be the worst group photo ever. I think at least three of us have our eyes closed. But, this was an awesome set-up crew! We made it happen.
We did run into one little problem….
It wasn't in the plans, but when we saw that huge electrical cord, we didn't have a choice. We had ScanNCuts, adhesive and cardstock. So, we made flowers! Crafters can always solve a problem, right!?
I love how the flowers turned out!
I spent most of the show in the Brother ScanNCut booth…
…doing demos and answering questions. I also taught a ScanNCut class:
50 students, each with their own ScanNCut, and 20 Japanese engineers watching from the back. It was pure craziness!
I (of course) made it over to the Crafter's Workshop Booth to hang out with my new stencils and all the samples I made…
While I was there I recorded a few quick videos…
As soon as I see stencils hitting the internet shelves, I will begin sharing some images and ideas! Promise!!
I went by the Impression Obsession booth…
…to see my new stamps! Yay! (Lots of info and tutorials coming your way soon! They're all based on hand carved stamps of mine!)
I also stopped by the Ranger booth to see my contribution to their designer challenge (more on that on Monday):
As always, my Mom came with me to CHA.
She and I managed to pose with lots of the cool displays…
…lots of the cool people…
…and each other…
It was a great trip! Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello! Now I need to sleep for a million years.
Thanks for stopping by!
Love the giant flowers. Your mom is so cute.
Love the giant flowers. Your mom is so cute.
Love the giant flowers. Your mom is so cute.
Love the giant flowers. Your mom is so cute.
Love the giant flowers. Your mom is so cute.
I love how creative you were in covering up the electric cord. I have recently signed up for your blog, so if I missed it can you point me back to where you showed it? OK showed what? Your apron you have on, I love it, I’m sure you made it. What paint did you use?
I love how creative you were in covering up the electric cord. I have recently signed up for your blog, so if I missed it can you point me back to where you showed it? OK showed what? Your apron you have on, I love it, I’m sure you made it. What paint did you use?
I love how creative you were in covering up the electric cord. I have recently signed up for your blog, so if I missed it can you point me back to where you showed it? OK showed what? Your apron you have on, I love it, I’m sure you made it. What paint did you use?
I love how creative you were in covering up the electric cord. I have recently signed up for your blog, so if I missed it can you point me back to where you showed it? OK showed what? Your apron you have on, I love it, I’m sure you made it. What paint did you use?
I love how creative you were in covering up the electric cord. I have recently signed up for your blog, so if I missed it can you point me back to where you showed it? OK showed what? Your apron you have on, I love it, I’m sure you made it. What paint did you use?
I always enjoy reading your posts about CHA. How exciting to walk through the show and see products that you have created…your “babies”: stamps, stencils and samples that you’ve made!
Your Mom is so cool and I think that it’s great that she travels so much with you. I’m looking forward to finding your new stencils at AE or online. Thanks for the post Julie. Now get some rest.
I always enjoy reading your posts about CHA. How exciting to walk through the show and see products that you have created…your “babies”: stamps, stencils and samples that you’ve made!
Your Mom is so cool and I think that it’s great that she travels so much with you. I’m looking forward to finding your new stencils at AE or online. Thanks for the post Julie. Now get some rest.
I always enjoy reading your posts about CHA. How exciting to walk through the show and see products that you have created…your “babies”: stamps, stencils and samples that you’ve made!
Your Mom is so cool and I think that it’s great that she travels so much with you. I’m looking forward to finding your new stencils at AE or online. Thanks for the post Julie. Now get some rest.
I always enjoy reading your posts about CHA. How exciting to walk through the show and see products that you have created…your “babies”: stamps, stencils and samples that you’ve made!
Your Mom is so cool and I think that it’s great that she travels so much with you. I’m looking forward to finding your new stencils at AE or online. Thanks for the post Julie. Now get some rest.
I always enjoy reading your posts about CHA. How exciting to walk through the show and see products that you have created…your “babies”: stamps, stencils and samples that you’ve made!
Your Mom is so cool and I think that it’s great that she travels so much with you. I’m looking forward to finding your new stencils at AE or online. Thanks for the post Julie. Now get some rest.
Julie, I like the Art/Life canvas that you created!
Julie, I like the Art/Life canvas that you created!
Julie, I like the Art/Life canvas that you created!
Julie, I like the Art/Life canvas that you created!
Julie, I like the Art/Life canvas that you created!
Rest up! LOVE the fancy apron in some of the shots.
Rest up! LOVE the fancy apron in some of the shots.
Rest up! LOVE the fancy apron in some of the shots.
Rest up! LOVE the fancy apron in some of the shots.
Rest up! LOVE the fancy apron in some of the shots.
Oh, Julie, I want a Scan-N-Cut sooo much! On my wish list! Wonderful about the stencils! Can’t wait! The thing I love most about your stencils is the way they play together and with other crafting supplies! They are fantastic to create with! No “one use only” thing! They inspire me! Thanks! Your mom is the best! Every young girl needs to be raised with such a supportive parent! Hugs to you both!
Oh, Julie, I want a Scan-N-Cut sooo much! On my wish list! Wonderful about the stencils! Can’t wait! The thing I love most about your stencils is the way they play together and with other crafting supplies! They are fantastic to create with! No “one use only” thing! They inspire me! Thanks! Your mom is the best! Every young girl needs to be raised with such a supportive parent! Hugs to you both!
Oh, Julie, I want a Scan-N-Cut sooo much! On my wish list! Wonderful about the stencils! Can’t wait! The thing I love most about your stencils is the way they play together and with other crafting supplies! They are fantastic to create with! No “one use only” thing! They inspire me! Thanks! Your mom is the best! Every young girl needs to be raised with such a supportive parent! Hugs to you both!
Oh, Julie, I want a Scan-N-Cut sooo much! On my wish list! Wonderful about the stencils! Can’t wait! The thing I love most about your stencils is the way they play together and with other crafting supplies! They are fantastic to create with! No “one use only” thing! They inspire me! Thanks! Your mom is the best! Every young girl needs to be raised with such a supportive parent! Hugs to you both!
Oh, Julie, I want a Scan-N-Cut sooo much! On my wish list! Wonderful about the stencils! Can’t wait! The thing I love most about your stencils is the way they play together and with other crafting supplies! They are fantastic to create with! No “one use only” thing! They inspire me! Thanks! Your mom is the best! Every young girl needs to be raised with such a supportive parent! Hugs to you both!
You and your mom are such beautiful women!
You and your mom are such beautiful women!
You and your mom are such beautiful women!
You and your mom are such beautiful women!
You and your mom are such beautiful women!
Wow! Woe! Thanks Julie for sharing the cheerful lovely flowers and pictures….haHa….lots of cool people, but you’re the most cool!
Thanks for all the smiles and fun…..
*
Wow! Woe! Thanks Julie for sharing the cheerful lovely flowers and pictures….haHa….lots of cool people, but you’re the most cool!
Thanks for all the smiles and fun…..
*
Wow! Woe! Thanks Julie for sharing the cheerful lovely flowers and pictures….haHa….lots of cool people, but you’re the most cool!
Thanks for all the smiles and fun…..
*
Wow! Woe! Thanks Julie for sharing the cheerful lovely flowers and pictures….haHa….lots of cool people, but you’re the most cool!
Thanks for all the smiles and fun…..
*
Wow! Woe! Thanks Julie for sharing the cheerful lovely flowers and pictures….haHa….lots of cool people, but you’re the most cool!
Thanks for all the smiles and fun…..
*
Clever and beautiful, all those flowers on that ugly cord. Don’t know how the fire marshal would feel about them, but since everyone made it through we’ll just keep it a secret. 😉
Clever and beautiful, all those flowers on that ugly cord. Don’t know how the fire marshal would feel about them, but since everyone made it through we’ll just keep it a secret. 😉
Clever and beautiful, all those flowers on that ugly cord. Don’t know how the fire marshal would feel about them, but since everyone made it through we’ll just keep it a secret. 😉
Clever and beautiful, all those flowers on that ugly cord. Don’t know how the fire marshal would feel about them, but since everyone made it through we’ll just keep it a secret. 😉
Clever and beautiful, all those flowers on that ugly cord. Don’t know how the fire marshal would feel about them, but since everyone made it through we’ll just keep it a secret. 😉
Looks like you (and Mom) had a great time! Lots of hard work but fun, too. 🙂 Can’t wait to get some of your new stencils and check out the stamps, too. Looking very forward to the upcoming videos. Hope you can hibernate for a while so you and your body can recover. Hee. 😀
Looks like you (and Mom) had a great time! Lots of hard work but fun, too. 🙂 Can’t wait to get some of your new stencils and check out the stamps, too. Looking very forward to the upcoming videos. Hope you can hibernate for a while so you and your body can recover. Hee. 😀
Looks like you (and Mom) had a great time! Lots of hard work but fun, too. 🙂 Can’t wait to get some of your new stencils and check out the stamps, too. Looking very forward to the upcoming videos. Hope you can hibernate for a while so you and your body can recover. Hee. 😀
Looks like you (and Mom) had a great time! Lots of hard work but fun, too. 🙂 Can’t wait to get some of your new stencils and check out the stamps, too. Looking very forward to the upcoming videos. Hope you can hibernate for a while so you and your body can recover. Hee. 😀
Looks like you (and Mom) had a great time! Lots of hard work but fun, too. 🙂 Can’t wait to get some of your new stencils and check out the stamps, too. Looking very forward to the upcoming videos. Hope you can hibernate for a while so you and your body can recover. Hee. 😀
just watched one of your videos- change owl jpg to cutting files. I’ll look for more videos! Definitely gotta learn more to use my scan-n-cut. Looks like you had a great time at the conference!
just watched one of your videos- change owl jpg to cutting files. I’ll look for more videos! Definitely gotta learn more to use my scan-n-cut. Looks like you had a great time at the conference!
just watched one of your videos- change owl jpg to cutting files. I’ll look for more videos! Definitely gotta learn more to use my scan-n-cut. Looks like you had a great time at the conference!
just watched one of your videos- change owl jpg to cutting files. I’ll look for more videos! Definitely gotta learn more to use my scan-n-cut. Looks like you had a great time at the conference!
just watched one of your videos- change owl jpg to cutting files. I’ll look for more videos! Definitely gotta learn more to use my scan-n-cut. Looks like you had a great time at the conference!