Friday, January 16, 2015

CHA 2015

After a long hiatus from blogging during CHA prep, I'm back today to share our CHA story.  We started the CHA samples way back around Thanksgiving.  Lucky for me, Richele came to visit and ended up staying a week working on samples.  Just something about having a friend across the table to bring out the best in your work.
And yes, we really did have all that stuff out on the desk as one time! I can spot 4 different projects being worked on or thought about, right on that desk.
We don't usually take pictures while we are working since so much is new that cannot be shared before the show.  But I did have this one where we were trying to make a decision about whether or not to add a vintage handle onto a Configurations box?  You will have to wait for the post on samples to know what we decided!
And off we go to CHA - it was beautiful and sunny for the first few days, then we enjoyed some rain for a couple.  Either way, it was great to be in Southern California in Jan!

On the second day of set up - we have Tim's class for Ranger.  We all met up in the lobby of the hotel at 6:15 for our walk to the convention center.  Something weird about going to work in the dark!!
A huge group of us set up the classroom.  So many products to put out! 
 


During Tim's class on Friday morning, the announcement was made about the new Distress Colors that will be released this year.  Super excited about this (although you know about my space problems!)
If you haven't heard - Ranger is releasing 12 new colors of Distress this year.  One color per month throughout 2015.  The first color, Cracked Pistachio is ready for shipping, but the other 11 colors are a mystery.  Each month the color will be revealed and then you can choose to add it to your collection or not.  All products (pictured) will be released in the new color each month. 
For those of us that are huge fans of the Distress Ink Minis, they will released in sets of 4 colors (Jan - April, May - Aug and Sept - Dec) so by the end of the year you can have all the minis too.  2015 proves to be super exciting for the Ranger Distress line!!
 Also something new I don't want to forget to mention...the Minis will now be sold in open stock!
And now on to the booth itself.  Lots of stuff to work with...even more than before since we added a lot of postal props to go with the Correspondence theme.
 Thanks to Mario for a little help getting the cart into place before the lights are hung.
Would you believe this the getting towards the end?  Richele is sorting piles of faux greenery to add to the wall vignettes.  You can see the big crates are still on the show floor waiting to be picked up for storage.
Deb came to help us set up and teach the make and take (which is a lot of work!)  We are so glad she joined us for the show!  I think her make and take ladies would miss her if she didn't come!
You might notice the wall behind Deb with the drawer, boxes and paintbrushes...when you look at the final pictures of the booth, pay close attention as that wall has a major change up once we decide to hang a big hand painted sign (another treasure from Junk Bonanza).  Always in flux right down to the wire!
This year we changed it up and had papers from the new Paper Stash - Correspondence blown up and wallpapered to the sides of the booth.  One of the best decisions we made because it looked amazing! So many people on Facebook thought it was real wallpaper they could purchase.  Not a bad idea, but a dream, since it was made just for the booth. 
And the finished result!
I love the back wall with the old letter wallpaper.  It is of course also one of the papers from Correspondence. 
And seriously are the two black striped suitcases (with an original tag) not to die for?  I'd like to find another set of those in a shop!
 Our center cart with all the stacked suitcases and hanging cage lights.
 The Correspondence side of the booth with our pallet shelf that Art, Tim's neighbor, made for us.
 
Correspondence samples by Jan, Mona and Karen (all be back another day with more about the booth samples and who made them).

May Flaum stopped by the booth to photograph it before the show one day.  So happy she does this since they are the best photos of the booth taken.  Thank you May for letting me share them here.
Please click on any of the photos to see them larger!
 via May Flaum
  via May Flaum
  via May Flaum
  via May Flaum
  via May Flaum
  via May Flaum
  via May Flaum

I thought I would share some up close photos of the vignettes that I took.  I like these spots where the booth props come together to make a magical little spot.
 the wood box is full of old prescriptions

one of my favorites - the letterpress woodblocks stuck to a wood tray Tim and I found a Junk Bonanza


If you haven't read Tim's show recap yet - he has links to video tours of the booth that show a lot of the new product.  You can check that out here.

As I said previously, I will be back soon with closeups of booth samples.  You won't want to miss that!
now carry on,
paula

36 comments:

  1. Oh wow Paula it all looks amazing! Just back from Cape Town today and have missed all the CHA news so thanks for these updates. Nikki xx

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  2. Wait, you had me at "Mini's are now Open Stock"! Fabulous photo's. All the added photo's are wonderful! Can't wait to try the new Cracked color.

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  3. Great photos Paula. Can't wait to see the close ups. Karen.x

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  4. The booth(es) always looks awesome, you ALL do a fabulous job!! the samples...drool worthy!
    I love that you added the handle to the configuration...it really adds to the vintage look of it!
    TFS
    Dolly

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  5. I adore his booth - so much vintage goodness to see. I noticed the vintage handle made it onto the configuration box. Love it! The vintage truck and fan are favorites. I can't wait to get my hands on the Correspondence products! Bring on the samples....

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  6. Thanks for sharing all your photographs and Tim definitely needs to go into wallpaper production. Looks like you all worked mega hard but also had an amazing time.
    Julie x

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  7. One of my favorite posts of yours every year, so many excellent photos that make me feel like I'm right there! Thanks, Paula.

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  8. Love seeing the execution of the booth before each show. Ya'll do such an amazing job, someday I'd love to see it in person. BTW, what happens to all the insane cool stuff you dress the booth with?? Inquiring minds need to know.

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    1. Lisa, For the most part, the booth props stay with the booth. We do go through the props at the end of every show and weed out stuff we have grown tired of or feel we will not use any more. Tim and I make a big pile and then everyone who helps with he booth can take what they want. Perk of the job. This time I can home with an millinery head and an abacus. Lets pray I find a space for them.

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  9. Ditto Cheryl C, mine too! I see the handle made it to the top of the config box and looks great. The amazing display vignettes with so many unrelated items almost piled on top of each other always look so orderly and epigrammatic as if this was the way they were always meant to be. Simply magical.

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  10. Sigh... just beautiful everywhere you look! Don't you just want to move this to a room in your house and pet it all year??? I look forward to close ups of the samples and the projects that you made!!!

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  11. I would love to spend a night sleeping (haha) in the CHA building!! I would make sure all was safe and take lots of peeks into all the goodies!! What a fabulous perk of the job!! Thanks for sharing all of the amazing pictures of the before and after! Soooooo amazing!!

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  12. Seeing all this in real life and taking Tim's class was a dream come true for me. The Ranger exhibit was spectacular and all the samples were so inspiring Kudos to you and the rest of the crew for all your amazing work. Now we just have to wait for all those goodies to get our inky paws on! That's the tough part for us :)

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  13. Wow, I just love the booth and all the cool props and fabulous projects! You guys do an absolutely wonderful job. I look forward to seeing more about the samples made. Thanks for sharing it with us! =)

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  14. Oh Paula, thanks so much for this amazing post!!! I realize how much work it is, but I tell you, it is so appreciated! For us "stay at homers" it is wonderful to get glimpses into the excitement that is CHA. All the new stuff and samples (I am a huge fan of your work!!) are so amazing, I have loved seeing each and everyone and cannot wait for more detail now. I am completely in love with the new paper line and all the new ideaology. My wishlist gets longer by the minute..... Thank you for all the inspiration!!!!

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  15. Wow! Just wow! I cannot imagine the overload you must feel being there. I know I was on overload just seeing the new and fantastic things on my computer screen! Thanks for taking us along on the journey!

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  16. It is wonderful to see the booth and the set up through your eyes, it is clearly a huge amount of work but the results are incredible! I smiled at your lack of room comments - it doesn't matter how little room there is, we all seem to find room for Tim's new things - the only problem I have is that I need two of everything - one to use and one to look at! Thanks so much for sharing the wonderful photos.

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  17. So fabulous to see how this all comes together. So much work with incredibly wonderful results! Thanks for sharing all the great pictures.

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  18. Just had to come back and sigh happily again!!! So love this! I am excited to see close ups of all the beautiful art!

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  19. everything about these pictures makes me giddy! wish I could live in your booth! I want you to make to the crafty scrapper in texas...soon!!!

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  20. The booth reminds me of my favorite shops that I can poke about in for hours. Simply stunning! Noticed the handle and my heart did a flip-flop with the news that the mini's would be open stock. You need to check out InVintg when you come to Iowa.

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  21. Great BTS shots, Paula!! Everyone works so hard to get these shows & booths put together and your pictures (almost) makes me feel like I was there :) Fabulous projects, fabulous products, fabulous people--That's success happening at CHA, for sure!! Thanks for sharing, Paula!! XOXO-Shari

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  22. What a recap....THANK YOU so much for the all the info and photos! I can just smell all the old goodies found at Junk Bonanza! The booth was just outstanding!!!

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  23. Wow, every time you post about these events, the setups look so fabulous and I think to myself that when y'all get home you must sleep for at least a day from sheer exhaustion!

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  24. Wow! Just amazing how everything comes together! That's a lot of work. Thanks for sharing. Can hardly wait to see the close ups. Love ya' Patricia B

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  25. Paula, I am so glad you are back! You must be pooped. Every time you have posted pictures of the booths you have worked on I think they couldn't get any better. But they are even more fabulous again this time. Thanks for sharing.

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  26. THANKS for sharing the pics! Wow, all of the hard work resulted in a FAB space! Love all the artwork and props, old and new. :)

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  27. Fantastic photos Paula! Thanks for taking us on a visual tour of that amazing booth!

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  28. Ok, I have to know what what going on with the q-tip and the found relative. Is there a technique I need to know?! I love how the booth looks every year. I wish my house looked like that. A girl can dream and slow hoard stuff from Sweet Salvage.

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  29. Your photos are amazing!!! I love how you told and showed the journey, the preparation and all the hard work that goes into creating these displays. The Booth looked awesome!! I bet it's sad sometimes to take them down. The handle looked amazing by the way

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  30. Thank you so much Paula, for the recap! You all work SO hard and the payoff is AMAZING! I truly enjoy getting to see all the photos, it makes me feel like I was there taking it all in! Tim has an amazing collection of vintage treasures! Everyone did a wonderful job on all the samples, they inspire me and spark my creativity!

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  31. Just amazing ... all the work ! My dream is to one day come and help set up... would love so much to be a part of this amazing Team <3

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  32. So interesting to see how it all comes together! It really does take a village...LOL! We have the easy part...sit back and wait for all the new goodies to be released! Oh wait...that's the HARD part!!!

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  33. Wish I could just play all day.... makes me sad that the mailman brings me bills to pay :( "ho hum...if only......."

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  34. This was incredible to view all the pics here. How gratifying it must have felt to stand back, and take in your labour of love. What an incredible journey, for sure! TFS

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  35. Fantastic pics - so much eye candy! You guys rocked your booths - the displays were amazing!

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