Creativation Inspiration!

Hi everyone!

I got back from the Creativation trade show last Tuesday, and I finally have a chance to unpack and sort through my experiences and new goodies.  As usual, the show always brings about some unexpected connections and opportunities.

I did not take very many photos, unfortunately.  So, if you are looking for an overview of the show, I highly recommend Julie McGuffee's posts.  They are on her website but are also posted on the Designer Crafts Connection site, where you can see posts of the show by other designers.

Some of the highlights of my show experience were:

I helped out in the etchall class taught by Joe Rotella and Barbee Bosler.  Joe has been on Make It Artsy demonstrating etchall®.  It was fun to see a whole class learning about etching.

I connected with a company new to me - Spellbinders - and got to see all their amazing new products up close at their Media and Blogger breakfast.  If you like scrapbooking and card making, stay tuned in the next few months for some new dies and new ways to use them.
Here's some of the new products I received:

Spellbinders

I worked for a new vendor in the craft industry:  Kit xChange.  I got to show the amazing new organizational pocketbooks and binders developed by Alicia Klein.  Everyone loved them at the show and they were easy to promote because they work so well for organizing on the go.  Try them for scrapbooking, beads, embroidery floss, or any small craft supplies.  Alicia is now off to Tuscon to show beaders and jewelry makers her wares.

Here is one of the travel organizer folders from kit xchange:

And, here it is open:

Now, I can fill baggies with my beads, attach them to the hook-and-loop surface, stick my tools in the bottom pouch, and I'm ready to go!

One of my new connections was an artist that I am sure will be a friend for many years:  Carol Foldvary-Anderson.  She was a contestant in the "Shark Tank"-style competition sponsored by Michaels.  She made it into the top ten!

I also had the chance to take another class from Seth Apter.  This one was "Radiant Rust" and we got to play with a lot of his new materials.  See his post on The Altered Page about his show experience and new products.  Here's what I produced in his class.  I had a lot of fun playing with new paint colors, stamps, sprays and ink.

In a quick tour of the show floor, I happened upon a new section by Tim Holtz.  He's got a new line of jewelry components that I love already.  They're in that vintage style that I love to add to my designs.  Here's a board with some of his new items:

Tim Holtz's new line of jewelry components

And, of course, I got to connect with all the designers from our section in AFCI (formerly CHA).  What a warm, sharing and talented group!  I am so blessed to be a part of them!

So there's a bit of what I saw at the show.  Come back for more inspiration!

Craft and Hobby Show Recap

Hi Crafters!

Earlier this month, I spent a week in Anaheim.  No, not at Disneyland - at the crafty version of Disneyland - the Craft and Hobby Show.  It's a great time to see the latest craft products, connect with colleagues, and learn some new techniques.

This year I worked with one of the new exhibitors, Eye Connect Crafts.  Erin, the owner and designer of the Totem Poppets and Lace-Ups, took photos of the booth from set-up to tear-down.  You can see those on her blog.

I wasn't able to walk the show as thoroughly as I have in previous years, but I caught a few booths in photos.  Here's the Beadalon booth for us jewelry makers.  They had displays featuring trends on each corner of their booth.

Beadalon - Animal Prints

Beadalon - Tassels

Beadalon - Shades of Gray

Beadalon - Geometry

One of the most popular was the booth created by Spinrite Yarns.  They created their version of Narnia in yarn - Yarnia!  You could walk through the wardrobe and into the snow scene with the battle scene along side.  It featured many different yarns used in everything from animal fur to chainmail!  My favorites were the animals! 

Through the Wardrobe

Beavers

A Wolf

An Owl

The Fox

Yarnia in the Snow

Ready for Battle

 
And, I was able to take one class on layering using mixed media.  I had a great time and actually finished the project!  Seth Apter was a great teacher and kept us moving along as we used paint, stamps, stencils and masking to create our artwork.  Since I had never worked in this way and didn't have a clue on how to start, this was a great introduction to layering one technique over the other.

Here's how mine turned out:

My Class Project from Mixed Media Layer Conveyer with Seth Apter

Hope you enjoyed this brief tour of the show.  If you want to see more of the CHA Show in photos, check out Julie McGuffee's blog:  Life in the Craft Lane.  You'll feel like you've been there!

Happy Crafting!

Terry