My Monday at CHA

Hello crafty ones!

Just when you thought it was all over....there's more!  There is just way too much to share!  

Monday began with more time spent doing make and takes with When Creativity Knocks!  I even guest appeared on one episode with Ana.  That was a nice surprise!  I'm always amazed at what Ana Araujo creates with foam board.  Sometimes I wish I could spend a couple of hours in her head so that I can wrap my head around it!!  Just amazingly incredible!  All the videos of these awesome cards will be up on the WCK website soon.  

At the show, Ana and Megan interviewed some of CHA's top crafters.  The segments are titled Great Crafter's Viewpoints and you can see segments from some of the industry greats like Brenda Pinnick, Suede, Mark Montano and Drew Emborsky, "The Crochet Dude"...just to name a few.  Plus, Laura Bray taped at fantastic segment called Valentine Votives at Art Glitter.  You don't want to miss that!!

Ana Araujo and Cindi Bisson...two of my favorite designers whom I am proud to call friends!

This smiley fella is Scott Pfeiffer, the Producer of When Creativity Knocks.  He is always behind the cameras and I think he needed to get his props!!  Thank you, Scott!

Next, it was time to stop at Charity Wings, formerly known as Scrapbook Royalty...where I got to speak a little bit with, always gracious, Elena Etcheverry.  They are a very generous organization.  They had the warmest, most inviting booth with all this great, new signage.  Just beautiful.  Plus, they were streaming live during the entire show.

After my visit and short walk of the show floor, it was time to head down to Craft Studio for my demo.  Here is the display case of projects from all the designers who contributed to this event.

Designers were asked to choose between four different material:  yarn, paper, wire and canvas.  We were challenged to do something innovative with those materials.  We were allowed to incorporate other medium into our projects but the focus had to be on the material we chose.  I chose yarn.  Since I don't crochet or knit, I thought it would be challenging and fun.  It really was too!  Once I figured out what I was going to do with cream colored, acrylic yarn!  I used yarn, ribbon, Sizzix die cuts and Ranger's Color Wash to create my piece.  I thought it was pretty innovative!

That's it for today.  There's more to come.....

Sunday at CHA...Part One

Hi all!  I have finally made it back east.  What a trip!!  I left a day early to beat the snow and then got stuck out in LA.  Honestly, I wasn't complaining either...I'd rather be stranded in a warm, sunny place than in the middle of a blizzard.  The weather effected many of my designer friends, too!  While we all wanted to get home, we were all kinda happy that we were able to spend a little more time together.  

Now that I am somewhat settled (and awake this morning, as my body is still on Pacific time), I have lots more to share with you.  It'll be coming in dribs and drabs over the next couple of weeks.  I also have a surprise coming....so keep look out!

CHA Winter was a wonderful show for me.  I participated in a lot and was also working part of the show.  As I mentioned before, I was working for Ana Araujo from When Creativity Knocks.  Ana and her team taped four episodes at Elmer's and two at Craftwell.  After each episode at Craftwell, we did make and takes.    At Elmer's, we did make and gives! 

Elmer's and When Creativity Knocks came up with the concept of Cards for Our Troops.  We made 4 different, interactive cards with show attendees and then Elmer's is shipping them off to our Troops overseas.  Blumenthal Lansing, Clear Bags, TaDa and Elmer's all donated product for the cards.  The generosity of these manufacturers is amazing!

This is one of the cards that is being sent to our Troops.  We also made a Magic Card that is based on the Magic Wallet, a Checker Board card that comes with buttons so that you can play and another that has a door that opens.  I guest appeared in an episode where Ana shows you how to make a game card with foam board and photos...you can slide the pieces around and mix them up and then try to put the picture back together again.  It's ridiculous!!!!  I want to spend just one day in Ana's head so I can understand how she comes up with all these concepts.  It's truly astounding to me.

People seemed to be having a great time making these cards.  They really got into it and some even wrote personal messages.  We met a lot of really great people.

Even Megan, Ana's daughter and the host of WCK made some cards to send.

My colleagues and friends....Laura Bray and Cindi Bisson....kept me entertained.  Ana gave each of us a new Mimi bag at the show.  Laura was so excited as I was showing her all the really neat compartments I was finding.  ;)

The time flew right by on Sunday.  We even had a very special visitor...but that'll have to wait until next post!

Artfully yours,

Theresa