CHA + Valentines.
CHA Experience 2008
The Craft + Hobby Association trade show is a BIG show. It literally takes days to walk through and it is completely possible to not see everything + everyone. Very simply: this is the place that craft manufacturers showcase their goods and stores place their orders.
One of the best things for me this year was traveling with my friend Tricia. She was shopping for her kit club and I was looking and chatting and checking things out. We travel well together (a great little friendship test). She's a gem.
Product-wise there were lots of interesting things to see. Here's a couple of my favorite things this year:
Jenni Bowlin:
Jenni and I are friends from way back and I was so excited for her to be debuting her line of goods - lots of vintage inspired papers + stickers + things with lines. I have been subscribing to her kit club in order to get my hands on all her wonderful creations (and cool add-ins) for the last couple of years and am so glad to see her expanding her lines as a manufacturer.
Loved her displays.
+++
Making Memories Travel Line: Passport
I fall easily for a good travel themed product line. I like products that can be used in different ways - travel can be literally a vacation or it can reflect the thoughts related to traveling through life, our everyday journey, etc. I loved the colors in this line and the great use of type.
+++
K&Company: Donna Ingemanson
Recognize this? K&Company has liscensed artist Donna Ingemanson to create scrapbooking products based on her fabulous illustrations. You may know her art from the great children's catalog + store Land of Nod. Happy stuff especially if you are documenting the life of a little boy.
Another thing I thought was cool from K&Company was this package of spinner accents. I am not sure which line this goes along with (checking on that) but it was definitely something I jotted down as looking forward to using.
One of the things I always like to see at shows are clever spins on products. I love how Sassafrass Lass is adding a little strip along the bottom of its papers (great patterns too):
Another thing I saw were lots of great minibooks - they were everywhere and many of them were incorporating the idea of including lots of different papers and textures. Loved this one from Danelle Johnson's Creative Lifestyle line for Creative Imaginations:
And this super cute Peek-A-Boo mini from Tinkering Ink that includes chipboard + acrylic: 
Those were some of the basic highlights for me - there is no way to remember them all even when I try to write them down as I go - I am sure I will think of more as time goes on and things begin to be available in the stores. If you want to check out some videos of new product check out Monique's Scrap Etc. site or this photo album on Flickr.
Also, have to say that I was so excited to finally meet Linda Woods, co-author of Visual Chronicles and Journal Revolution (missed meeting her sister Karen - one of these days). I love their message and energy and revolutionary spirit. We will hook up again for sure.
One of my favorite parts of these shows will always simply be the chance to see so many people I have met over the last few years. Lots of hugs and catching up and laughter and "what are you seeing?" I tend to come home reminded once again how lucky I am to be a part of such an amazing creative culture with so many kind, caring, wonderful people involved in all aspects of the industry.
And here's a little Valentine's treat:
Gotta love the beauty of technology: Simon wrote "Love Simon"
and I scanned it in, added a bit more text, printed them out, and
attached inside folded red cardstock. Hope you and yours have a very
nice Valentine's Day!
I loved all of those previews, thanks! I loved simon's handwriting... my 7 year old detests writing, so i had him write out one time Happy Valentine's Day from your friend Jalen and scanned it in and made photo valentine's tags for his 30 goodie boxes for school... ahhh gotta love technology... :)
http://www.cutchens.com/2008/02/nope-i-havent-fallen-off-end-of-earth.html
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love SImon's Valentine and the highlights from CHA. Books should go out in the mail soon - a little set back in life stuff this week.
M
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I am in love with the K&Co stuff! Thanks for sharing. Thanks for the weekend creative ideas. I want to make a butterfly collage this weekend. :)
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so great to see you at CHA!! happy Valentine's day!!
xxxoxoxox
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Lovely choices on some of your favorite eye catching products. I have yet to quite make it to that post on my blog... so much information and inspiration to digest. It was so nice to meet you at CHA, I know you probably met 1,000 people or more, took 5,000 photographs with random people, etc, but I wanted you to know just the same that I enjoyed meeting you and getting an extra glimpse into your imaginative spirit, thanks!
Oh, and I posted the photo of us on my blog, of course, as any good scrapbooker would do.
live life, love it!
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HI Ali
It was such a treat to meet you (and your fabulous orange pumps--so cool!) this past Sunday at CHA. Thanks for being so gracious and "real". I agree with you on your favs and loved Providence from Scenic Route and Teresa Collins' new stuff too--so much cool stuff in every exhibit hall it's hard to narrow it down.
I posted some pics here but wish I'd had my camera the day I got to see you!
Happy V-day!
Kelly from Keep In Touch
http://www.KITcardshop.com/blog
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HI Ali
It was such a treat to meet you (and your fabulous orange pumps--so cool!) this past Sunday at CHA. Thanks for being so gracious and "real". I agree with you on your favs and loved Providence from Scenic Route and Teresa Collins' new stuff too--so much cool stuff in every exhibit hall it's hard to narrow it down.
I posted some pics here but wish I'd had my camera the day I got to see you!
Happy V-day!
Kelly from Keep In Touch
http://www.KITcardshop.com/blog
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Happy Valentine's Day to you too Simon!XOXO
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Best Valentine I received all day! Same to you Simon!!
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thanks for the sneak peak - you would have had a ball and exhausted at the same time.
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Wowsa! There are just so many great things coming out all the time. Thank you for sharing the photos.
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OOH! I love the travel stuff! Very nice!
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Ali
thanks for the lookie lue .looks like you had fun hope the men in your home are feeling better,
Love the little note from Simon,
Happy day to you.
Lisa Hall
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Hi,
They have the owl K&Co. spinner thing at Michaels already... I almost bought it. Figured I'd get it next week with my Sunday coupon! ;-)
Great CHA stuff, can't wait to see it in stores.
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Yup- CHA had some great suff and that MM Travel line had me all excited too :-)
Thanks for not mentioning the total dork who stopped you in the airport to gawk and trip all over herself *blush*
It was neat meeting someone who had inspired me for so many years. I should have told you then how much of a difference you made with my son. Because of your progress with Simon with his diet I started looking much more closely at my son's diet in relation to his behavior issues and found a few things to eliminate that have made a world of difference. He's a much happier kid, and you had a hand in that.
:-)
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Ohhh....just looked at all of the CHA pics on flickr!! Yummmm!!!!!!
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i LOVED jenni bowlin's stuff too!! wish i could have run into you at the show.
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There is only one thing that can compare to the sweet innocense of a childs writing and that's the sound of their voice singing. Cindy
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Thanks for the preview. some wonderful stuff coming out. Love Simon's valentine day message.
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Very cool stuff!
Best Valentine ever!!!!
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Oooooh. SO pretty! Too bad my hubby has put me on a budget or I'd buy it all! Thanks for sharing!
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Love your choice in products, especially the bright children's products. They are perfect.
Hope you had a wonderful Valentine's. Simon's note is perfect.
Can't wait for the weekend creative project. It has added some interest to my normal craft routine's.
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What fun! and so much safer for my wallet than wandering around a store to see all these goodies, in person. They're all so fresh and inspiring; and inspiration, you can't buy. Thanks for posting these - looks like lots of fun!
Happy Valentine's day, too!
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I can't wait to make something with the travel series or Jenni B's stuff. Inspiring! CHA must be a creative boost/overload!
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I knew I could count on you to sneak peek all my faves. Yeah!
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