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.

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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.

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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!