I think the
2014 Winter CHA Mega Show was the best yet...at least that I've been to! CHA posted that the numbers were even up 10% from last year, and there seemed to be more rows of vendors, but I have to say it didn't seem that crowded. Personally, I like less crowding...I think they just stretched it out more. I really don't know though for sure. Some people I saw a lot, and some people I never saw, and really wanted to, and I stayed at the show opening to closing all four days. This place was really really big. I think I walked 10 miles every day, no kidding. Anytime we saw someone limping around, it was assumed they had the CHA walk...sore legs and feet, nursing blisters as well. There was even a CHA Flu going around! Regardless, it was awesome to see people, take classes, see fabulous Art work, and just talk! The people are what makes this show so fabulous for me.
 |
| This was my walk to my hotel! Gorgeous trees! |
 |
| I loved this large sculpture right outside of the doors leading into the show. Then when you walked in, it was crazy busy. People were talking, ordering, and demoing. |
 |
| The awesome Wendy Vecchi was demoing her new Crackle Paste! Love this stuff and her! |
 |
| The amazing Tim Holtz was demoing his new Marker Spritzer! A must have! |
 |
| Dyan again posing with the nicest person ever, Eileen Hull. |
|
Speaking of Eileen...I had the pleasure of helping out in one of her classes with
Amy Bowerman, my roomie for the week. They have joined forces and started the
Artist Trading Blocks movement.
Marjie Kemper even helped out. It was quite interesting and fun!
 |
| Marjie and I were hiding behind boxes. |
 |
| I ran into Jim, the Gentleman Crafter, and he showed me around to where some of his samples were in the Graphic 45 booth. FABULOUS is what they were. This one is a tea box with kinds of hidden gems. He made a trophy, a lighthouse, and a violin...all complete with hidden albums! |
The first night of the show, CHA put on a Block Party! The band was absolutely fantastic! They played songs from the 60's to the hits of today! Yes, I danced...a lot! But everyone I knew was out there too!!!
 |
| There was even a crazy hat photo booth, so a few of us posed...Carolyn and Gina from The Crafty Scrapper, Johnna and Darcie from Scrappy Camper Sisters, and Jim and I...we had too much fun! They even used this photo for the daily digest online! |
The next night, several of us attended the
Prime Publishing &
Fave Crafts Blogger Event! It was fun meeting new people and learning about new opportunities, and they ended the night with four bags...yes four...of loot to use! What awesome companies to give us so much stuff!
 |
| All of those companies gave us products to use for future projects! AWESOME! |
 |
| My four bags of loot! |
 |
| Johnnie of Saved By Love Creations (My other roomie and new bestie!), me, Marjie (Old bestie!), France Pappilon (Just met her and now love her!), and Amy (Old bestie!)...we all had a grand time! |
 |
| We shared dessert after Paula Cheney posted it on FaceBook, and just had to have it! YUMMY! |
I took a couple of classes, sat in on Make n Takes, and went to book signings too! There was so much to do, and so many to see!
 |
| The Make n Take at the Idea-ology booth! LOVED LOVED LOVED all the new papers, ephemera, and embellies! |
 |
| Pam Carriker signed her new book "Creating Art at the Speed of Life" for me. |
 |
| This is one of the cards I made during the Sizzix class, and Tim taught us to use his new Shadow Press Embossing Folders, which actually deboss. Very COOL! |
Of course, I walked round and round my favorite area, the
Ranger,
Sizzix, Idea-ology, and
Stamper's Anonymous booths, and I talked and talked and talked to everyone! I even saw a few of my samples...what a THRILL!!!
 |
| Also at Ranger, I used every color of Archival Ink to make several tags also using the Stamper's Anonymous Tiny Things mini images. One is used here, but I'll be showing you the rest of the tags in another post. |
 |
| At Sizzix, Eileen Hull, had my Industrial Dice hanging up at the Artist Trading Block display. |
|
It was great to see
my banner up for
Charity Wings Banner's of Hope as well! All of the banners were stunning, and there were so many! I was honored to be participating in this, and hope these small pieces of Art, cheer some people up!
And then, where I talked to more people than I can even remember, was the Designer Showcase at Booth 14...my booth.
 |
| Johnnie took this collage of photos of my Showcase! |
You cannot even imagine how nervous I was about the Showcase...a real wreck. I felt like the junkyard dog amongst clean, professional, and beautiful displays from the other artists, but I think sticking out worked in my favor. I talked to many manufacturers and gave out almost 300 business cards. I highly recommend
joining CHA as a Designer Member and showing your work in the Designer Showcase, if you want to further your Art business. It was well worth my hysteria and hard work! Thank you to all the people who left notes and gave me words of encouragement! I could not have done this without you!
Tuesday, I will show you some of the gorgeous booths and their products. Then on Wednesday, I'll share my top 10 Must Haves, trends that I saw, plus I have TWO FABULOUS GIVE-AWAYS, so stay tuned to see the rest of my 2014 CHA highlights!!!
I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!
