CHA 2010

I just got home from CHA. What a show! Our Craft Critique reporters are still hard at work covering this amazing trade show. There is a ton of patterned paper and cutting systems at CHA, but we spotted lots of other kinds of crafting too. Read our coverage HERE.

I spotted a few craft celebrities at the show. Last year, amusingly, Paris Hilton was hawking some stamp designs and paper. I don't think that worked out too well for her with stores looking for crafts to buy, but she was a bit of a sensation.

We didn't have that level of "celebrity" this year, but I totally got butterflies when I saw Carol Duval. Some of you may remember her show on HGTV. Did you know that they used to show crafting on HGTV and DIY networks? I learned to quilt from television and I learned that I could do pretty much any craft from Carol Duvall. Sadly, although there are a few great shows, it is hard to find well produced craft programming on television these days.



I took like 50 bad pictures of her. I think I might make a bad picture flip book and reenact her talk.. Later on, I missed her book signing, but at an event that evening my friend, Sarah Moore, made sure I got to meet her. Click HERE to see Sarah with her Carol Duvall signature on her arm. I'll take Carol Duvall doing crafts any day over Martha Stewart...

Also spotted at CHA was letter turning yarn diva Vanna White. I missed her talk, but she has nice yarn at Lion Brand!

Deborah Norville also has some soft and squishy yarns for Premiere Yarns. We used some of her samples at our consumer booth and it makes nice squishy pom poms. Her sweater is really soft, although she admitted that she didn't knit it herself.

Read our coverage of what's new in yarn HERE.

I saw The Crafty Chica several times, but I didn't take her picture. Everyone agrees that she is so nice!

TV Hosts Cathy Fillian and Steve Piacenza have new products they are showing and as I was listening to them a woman came by to ask me to photograph them all together. While I was having trouble with her camera, I looked at her badge and it is Donna Dewberry of One Stroke Painting. Y'all, Donna Dewberry has a crappy camera. This is the pic I took of those three notable personalities with my camera:

Finally, Craftster was there at the consumer portion of the show with their parent company Namemedia. That's Leah, Me, Jungrrl, and KittyKill, underneath the felt banner expertly handmade by Jungrrl herself.

Uh.. trade show food makes me bloated and I learned that I am totally allergic to California... I forgot to tell you that I got a Best of Craftster award again this year! More on that another time...

Still making things, but slowly

I like winter, but I do get kinda lazy during these darkest days. It is clear that I have been neglecting my blog. My son, husband and I have been retreating into our XBox. We do play together and talk about all the gaming strategies and game plots, so it is sort of a family "activity" for us. I did make some cute things for Christmas, but I never photographed them! They were a cute apron and two sets of very cool potholders for my Mom. I'll try to get a photo sometime later when I'm at her house..

Yesterday my kids were home for MLK Day and fighting over control of the television. (They are deeply divided over the watchability of Supernanny.) I decided we had to turn off all media and do something else. My son is not crafty so he found other stuff to do, but daughter and I decided to do the Craft of the Day that came as an email from Martha Stewart. It's called a Heart Felt Bag and it was easy to make, although it is more decorative than anything because that cute little handle isn't very sturdy.



See? Cute! We need to reglue with hot glue because the hearts are slipping off. The handle and top of bag also form these cute hearts:



In other news, I am super excited to finally get to attend the Craft and Hobby Association trade show in Anaheim, California! CHA is a big deal in the crafting industry. I'm going as a reporter with my friends from Craft Critique. Prior to the show, on Friday and Saturday, January 22-23 is a big Craft Supershow for anyone and everyone who is crafty. Read about what Craft Critique is planning for the Supershow HERE. We even have a discount coupon if you are planning to attend!

Come and find me at the Supershow! We are in booth 1101. If you can't attend, be sure to follow Craft Critique for the latest news about products and trends in crafting. I will make it my mission to find the cool fabric and fiber craft products!

Glowing Stitching

I stitched a glowing snowflake for Craft Critique to review Glow in the Dark Embroidery Floss by DMC. I liked it and it really glows a lot!

Check it out HERE.