More from the CHA Show Floor

Here are some pictures from the show floor at CHA.  I think they pretty much speak for themselves...so I will forego the chitter chatter and let you see for yourselves.  Enjoy!!!

The bride to the right isn't there for her reception!  Many of the manufacturers had some type of clothing at the show made from all sorts of products.  Laura Bray and I were trying to figure out which booth she was representing. 

May Arts

I forgot which yarn company this was!  Yikes...but the display was very cool.

Graphic 75....I love their products.  It's so delicious.

Me & My Big Ideas

Xyron

View down one of the show aisles.

Provo Craft

Hands on demos at Provo Craft.

EK Success

Plaid

Plaid had this gentleman painting right there on the show floor.

Plaid was also streaming their Craft TV.

iLovetoCreate has tons of make & takes going on.

Sizzix

CHA....The Show Floor Opens

Hey all!

I got an extra early start this morning...beginning with a Keynote address at 8:30am given by Nick Bilton, the lead technology writer at the New York Times.  The address was all about how Social Media will impact retail in the future.  It was a very interesting and informative speech.  

The floor officially opened at 10am and I went right to work.  My day began at the Elmer's booth with Ana & Megan Araujo of When Creativity Knocks.  Not only did Elmer's donate all the product for the project and for a great raffle, but they are taking care of getting all the cards to our troops.  This was my first opportunity to work up close with the Elmer's staff...what a lovely group of people.

Before we got started, Ana and Megan taped an episode that features how to make the cards.  They are a riot, those two...lemme tell ya!  

When I finished up at Elmers, it was time to head off to ScraPerfect for my demo.  You can see my project on the right  of me there...

This was the project I made for the Completing the Puzzle Event.  I really enjoyed working with all the participating manufacturer's products.

Then it was time to head to the Craftwell booth to meet back up with the crew of When Creativity Knocks.  The theme was The Big Top and we made these adorable, but giant "circus pops".  There's Laura Bray, instructing a retailer with her project.  We had a really busy hour.

Here I am with Ana.  She is one of the most creative women I know.  If I ever need someone to brainstorm with...she's my girl!

After I was done there, it was time to walk the show floor and check in on some of my favorite manufacturers.  I even got to see some of my colleagues in action!

Here's Sue Kelsey at Makin's Clay!

And I found Rebekah Meier at Simplicity.

You know who else I found at Simplicity signing copies of his new patterns for everyone?  Yep....my buddy Suede!  We now know the new hair color.......

I like the blue on him!  I did get scolded for not coordinating my hair color with his so we could match again like last show.  He had actual samples of his new line at the booth...and as always....was very gracious signing patterns and answering everyone's questions.  He's a real living doll!

More pictures from the show floor will post in the morning....and I'm sure that there will be more to tell tomorrow.  The Designer Showcase is tomorrow.  I'm both nervous and excited.  Wish me luck!

Artfully yours,
Theresa

CHA kicks off in Los Angeles, CA

Hi all....The time is really flying by here in LA.  Thursday morning I took a little walking tour of the surrounding area here.  I found FIDM, Wilshire Boulevard, tons of restaurants and markets and the Contemporary Art Museum.  Very cool indeed.

On my way back to the hotel, I stumbled across this crew below!  Some of my very favorite colleagues were getting out of their cab.  I spent the rest of the day with them, which was very nice.  We got them checked into the hotel and headed out for lunch.

Barbara, Roni, Roxi and Candice.

After lunch we took a run down to the Convention Center so that they could register. I was lucky that Candice was with me.  She is running the Craft Studio and she got me my display ribbon, which got me onto the show floor before it even opened.  Watching set up is always amazing.  You would not believe how fast everything gets set up.  It goes from looking like one hot mess to a fully set up and organized show floor in what seems like a flash.  I swear it's magic!

Then Thursday evening I went to dinner with 9 other designers.  That was a lot of fun! It was also probably the last good meal I will have while I'm here!  lol

Friday was a very exciting day.  It was the official kick off of festivities at the show.  I spent the day in seminars, organizing the Press Room and dropping projects off to display cases at the show.  My face is all over the place...on all sorts of signage for events I am participating in.  It is fantastic exposure.

One of those events was the Designer Round Table Discussions.  There I moderated a table on Confidentiality Agreements.  The event went well (and really fast) and was very well attended.  After that it was off to the Welcome Reception in South Hall.   I caught up with even more friends and was really pleased to see that, indeed, the canvas that I donated to the silent auction was prominently on display.

Here are some of the canvases and the story behind them.

There were about 16 of us who participated in this round robin, but only 10 of us who decided to donate our canvases.

Here is the signage that is being displayed with our canvases.  It explains them and each of our pictures are on it.

Even though I added an element to each canvas, this one I started.  I love how it came out and I may very well bid on it!

Here I am with Marisa Pawelko.  She was gracious enough to organize getting these pieces into the auction as well as all the publicity.

I also got to hang out with a few of the designers, some of whom I was meeting for the first time and others who I look forward to seeing twice a year!

Me and Laura Bray.

Here I am with Suzann Sladick Wilson.

Roxi Phillips, Beth Watson, Suzann Sladick Wilson, Vicki O'Dell and Laura Bray.

I joined the crew this time!

Once they took away the food, it was off to our designer section meeting.  It is a formal meeting to go over all the official happenings in our section.  I believe it is important to step up and volunteer, so I always try to help the council out when I can.

Of course, I ran into a few of my favorite friends there.  Here I am with Cindi Bisson.  She is a dear friend.  We have worked together for years.  As a matter of fact, she and I will be working together most of the weekend with When Creativity Knocks where she is Associate Producer.

We will be doing make and takes at Elmers and Craftwell.  Make and takes are always fun to do because you meet so many people.

Of course, I have to introduce you to Keri Cunningham....she is our rock over at CHA.  Keri is nothing short of amazing and is our direct contact at CHA.  She helps out with organizing events for designers like Craft Studio and the Designer Showcase.  I know she has been a great help to me personally as she is always there to answer a question.
Plus whenever I see her, she has a smile on her face.

Which leads me to today!  Today is Saturday...and the show floor officially opens.  I'm getting myself together shortly for what will surely be an exciting and long day.  I will be able to get some pictures and walk around the show floor somewhat this afternoon. My first stop, however, will be to the Keynote address where Nick Bilton, lead technology writer at the New York Times, will be speaking.  Then....the show floor opens.....

Artfully yours,

Theresa

Oh, No Snow Will Stop Me!

Whew!  In spite of the weather...and with a little help from above....I was able to get out of New York on Wednesday morning.  I'm grateful because the word at home is they are getting another foot of snow.  OUCH!!  Sigh...at least I won't have to shovel it.  Is that bad?

The flight was actually very pleasant.  Surprisingly it wasn't full, so I was able to move my seat and have no one next to me.  We even landed about 40 minutes early.  How cool is that??  

I immediately felt the sense of calm the minute the wheels of the plane left the ground.  Now it is just a steady hum of excitement, which was heightened the minute the HOLLYWOOD sign came into view!  It is absolutely gorgeous here....it was 75 and sunny today.  Who would want to be inside?  So after I unpacked, I took a walk over to the convention center to check in and took a walk around to see what's here.  Here are some pictures I took along the way.  

This is the view up S. Figueroa Street.  My hotel is up on the left. 

My hotel is right around the corner from the Staples Center. 

 The Staples Center has display windows with all these vintage games.  Anyone who knows me well, knows I have a thing for vintage.  It is so awesome to see...

I am also right around the corner from LA Live.  Lots of cool restaurants and shops.

The Los Angeles Convention Center is right on S. Figueroa just a couple of blocks up from my hotel.  The convention center is HUGE!

This is the other side of the Staples Center.  From this view, the Convention Center is to the left  and behind it.

I just can't ever get enough palm tree pics.  LOL

The outside of the South Hall of the LA Convention Center.  What a nice welcome!!

The main entrance hall inside the Convention Center.

Yes.....Thank You to our show sponsors!  

The main lobby of the Convention Center...the calm before the storm!

How cool is this?  Right outside the main convention hall is this sign for the Designer Showcase!  I'm really excited about showcasing this year.

Here is the signage to the lower convention hall.  I had heard that the show was going to be huge this winter...and it sure seems it.  We are spread across two separate halls!

I had dinner outside at Wolfgang Puck's.  Delish!!

That's it for now!  I'm going to go count some sheep.  It's 1 am here, which means I've been up for 24 hours!  LOL

Artfully yours,
Theresa