CHA Anaheim 2013

We are back from CHA in Anaheim, California.  We had a great time while we were there...lot's of fun, but always the best part of CHA is meeting new friends and also catching up with old friends.  While we got to see some of you there, we know that many are not able to attend and so here is a sampling of our week at CHA.  

Paula and I arrive 2-3 days ahead to help get everything set up.  The biggest part of set-up is the Idea-ology booth.  We were happy with the booth and think our plans worked out well to make some interesting displays.

Let's start with a few BEFORE pictures so you can appreciate the end result.

Idea-ology Booth

BEFORE:

Booth walls up without slat wall and shelves.  Crates getting unloaded.

Mario and Sarah, hard at work.

Starting to decorate booth....a LOT of crates, boxes and bubble wrap involved!

The first section of the the backdrop goes up.

It was created using one of the new French Industrial papers. 

AFTER:

Backdrop image of French Industrial paper complete.

Display with ladder, hanging lights, crates and Eiffel Tower.  

Notice the fun oil paintings on both walls....a Tim find....great props!

Idea-ology ledge

The other side....

....don't you love the hats!

These letterpress letters were left over from Tim's Studio table project.
The pages on hangers by Lynn Thune

Booth Projects -

Paris Configurations Book - by Paula, featuring new products - Configuration Book, French Industrial paper, Alterations Cameo Frame, Alterations Sized Ovals, Alpha Parts - Signmaker

 
Inside of the Paris Configurations book


Necklaces using Idea-ology findings by Connie Fong


NEW Assemblage Clock - by Paula

Journal by Sandi Krieger- showing Worn Book Cover.....

Inside journal above - showing NEWAlterations Pediments

Inside Journal above featuring Ring Binder and assorted Alpha Parts


NEW Assemblage Clock - by Jim Hankins
Fun that he made it a real working clock....

Another view of Jim's Assemblage Clock.  The circle book, bottom left, actually fits into the back of the clock.  Also pictured bottom right is the Ruler Book by Tim showing the Ruler Binding 

Framed Scrapbook Pages by Jan Hobbins

Eiffel Tower by Jim Hankins
Made with left over Configuration boxes.

Burlap Panel by Tim

Assemblage Clock by Tim

Journal by Stephanie Ackerman using Worn Book Cover, ring binder and assorted Configuration Boxes

Come back Monday for the rest of the story....CHA part 2.

see you then,
deb

The eagle has landed

I bet you are ready to send out the search party for us!  Well, we have have returned from Winter CHA and needed a day or two to recuperate (as well as unpack and do the laundry).  Deb will be doing the full CHA recap this weekend but I just wanted to let you know we are alive and ready to go.  We had a marvelous time at CHA seeing old friends, meeting new ones and hanging out in the best booth at the show.  Okay, I know I am partial but when so many people tell you they want to live in the booth, it must be good. 

I personally loved everything about the booth, from the top hats to the hanging lights.  Speaking of hanging lights...you might notice in the picture below what the lights are hanging from, a rescued ladder found on the side of the road.  So for those of you who guessed "ladder" from the last post, you were right.  I suppose that is what made getting the seat down in my friends Honda Accord even funnier since the ladder was so big (and soaking wet).  Of course it was cut to size for the booth wall so this piece seems so very manageable.

The product released at this show was amazing...I'm looking forward to experimenting with Tim's new Distress paints that look and feel amazing, great new Sizzix dies and the Stampers Anonymous new stamps are "in the house" so you can look forward to seeing some projects with those.

Well, I will leave the rest of the photos for Deb and her post this weekend.  I am going back to packing the last box of Christmas decorations (yes, it is sad but true) and getting organized again after the last minute chaos that happens every CHA. 

Thanks everyone for sticking with us while we were away. 
cheers!
paula

Sneak Peak continued...

With only a few short hours are left until I leave for CHA (craft and hobby trade show) I thought I'd better fill you in on what has been going on around here.  The month of December was a whirlwind of activity with it speeding into full hyper drive the closer we got to Christmas.  So many things going on behind the scenes that no one ever knows about to get ready for the show (and that is the way it should be). 
Even though I cannot tell anyone what I am doing to prepare, it does not diminish the excitement of the work.  My work table has been in constant use moving from one project to another and lest you think I am the only one, I am not.  Many other artists have helped out with the sample making for this show.   Part of my job is working with those artists which has made the chaos of December quite nice for me.  It always amazes me that 5 people can be given the same product and do such wonderfully different things with it.  One is not necessarily better than another, just different and in their own personal style.  That is what art is all about right?  Creating what you see in your minds eye to be beautiful and pleasing.  If someone else appreciates it...great, but if not, that's okay too, because you love it and believe in it.
Okay, let me step off my soapbox and get on with the post...more sneak peaks from Sizzix Alterations and Ranger.

If you haven't heard...there is new Distress Paint in 24 colors. You can see, read about and watch a short video here.

Stampers Anonymous sneak peaks started today on Tim's blog. I do not know how you will go about choosing which sets to buy...seriously.  I can't tell you how long I have waited for a great alpha set like the one below...I don't own it yet, but I will.

Here is a sneak peak of a little project I worked on with new Blueprint stamps.

 

Sizzix Alterations part 1 - see more here

Sizzix Alterations part 2  - see more here
a great new alpha

Getting excited? 
Me too, and I have already worked with much of the product!  It is a great release.  So much to look forward to in the coming months.
Here are few more sneak peaks of the projects I created.  I will start posting them when I return from the show next week along with scenes from our adventure to CHA.

And just for a little fun today...remember when I went to Wendy Addison's studio last month?  Well, to get to her studio in Port Costa you have to travel on a two lane road through a very rural area.  As my friend and I were driving we came across huge mess on the side of the road where it was very obvious that someone had dumped all the trash from their vehicle and drove off, leaving the State of California to pay for the disposal of their waste.  As we rounded the corner and saw the debris I yelled out to my friend who was driving, "Stop the car!  I need something from that dump" (I know you long time readers are probably having a flashback to the time I stopped for dresser drawers on the side of my street).  Anyway, she backed up and I got out of the car and jumped into the debris pile to grab my prize even though it was soaking wet from the light rain that was coming down. 

We decided with our two suitcases and Christmas shopping packages in the trunk that we were going to have to put the back seat down.  Sounds simple, right?  Well, she has only owned the car for a short time and had never had cause to put the seat down before, so she had to get the owner's manual out to figure out how to do it.  Should I mention now that it is no longer just sprinkling rain but really starting to rain?  Oh, and then a cyclist rides up and sees these two women on the side of a rural road, one of them standing in a pile of garbage....(what a site that must have been).  Of course I HAD to yell out to him, "I swear we didn't dump it! we're just taking some stuff!"   The funny thing was, he stopped his bike, turned around, an rode back down the hill...probably to find someone in auorthority to arrest us.


true story.

Well, we finally figured out that we had to pull the bright red button in the trunk to make the seat go down and we shoved in my prize...what was it you say?  well, for those of you coming to CHA come by the Idea-ology booth and you might just spot it.  For the rest of you I will take a photo at the show and post it here after the show opens on the 12th.  

I leave in the morning to start set up...hoping to document the booth, from crates to inspirational magic.  Wish me luck.

and maybe I should pack something...

cheers for a great week!
paula

Favorite Things

A couple of weeks ago Paula flew here to Arizona and we made the little trek to Tim's house.  While we were there we had the opportunity to see most of the new products coming out for CHA.  We were excited to get to see all the fun new stuff in person and have been waiting patiently for our chance to talk about it.  Since Tim has been doing "sneak peaks" this week we can finally share some of our favorites!   This is only a few, to see it all (and you will want to) check out Tim's blog.

1.Paper Stash "French Industrial" 

This paper line includes beautiful handwriting, french ephemera, great old photos along with some steam punk and french ticking stripes.   Here are 8 of the papers, but there are 24 designs total.  The other 16 are just as good, you're gonna want this one!

2.Tissue Tape - "Elements" 

Alphabet, pointing finger, black ruler, harlequin
Love that the tapes are different widths!

All 4 designs in one package, 10 yds each.  That's a lot of taping!

 click on photo to enlarge

3.Stencil Marks

Cute metal markers that can be used not only to "mark you spot", but also as a great embellishment in journals, on photos, cards or whatever....they are really nice and the perfect size at only 1 1/4" tall! 

 click on photo to enlarge

4.Locket Book

Let me start by saying this photo doesn't do it justice....way cuter IRL.  And speaking of the cute factor,  this is off the charts.  This little book/embellishment includes a mini accordion inside and can be used for jewelry, on a book cover or anywhere else you can use a special little dangle charm. 

 click on photo to enlarge

5.Worn Cover

This book cover is wrapped with printed fabric and really look like a beautiful old book.  The cover fits the "ring binder" perfectly for a great binding option, but was designed to be left "open" so you can create whatever kind of binding you want.  

6.Cabinet Card Frames

Love these cards that look like old cabinet cards.  The backs are of the cards are just as good as than the fronts!  Great for a 4x6 photo, quote or anything you want to slip inside....AND, they fit perfectly inside the "Worn Cover" book!

click on photo to enlarge

7. Ring Fasteners

Love these mini little hangers...so versatile, great for dangling a charm or hanging a sign or banner between two ...lots of possibilities with these!

click on photo to enlarge

I saved the best for last....

8.Wishbones

Who wouldn't want to have a bottle full of wishes?  They are so cute I think everyone needs one bottle to just sit on their desk so they can look at it everyday!  

click on photo to enlarge

I was able to come home with one of these darling little bottle of wishes.  Look how cute they are in the corked bottle!  The little wishbones inside are great attached to a card especially with sentiments like:   best wishes, my wish for you, wishful thinking, etc....

They can also be drilled with a tiny drill bit and attached with a jump ring to make it into a charm for jewelry or an embellishment....

OR

....send someone your "best wishes"- by adding a little message to the bottle.

Use a Memo Pin inserted into the cork and add a tiny tag made with a Chit Chat Word.   

It would have to be the quickest and easiest little gift/card ever!

Here is is sitting on my desk.  I gathered a few items and made a mini vignette to start the new year.  The 2013 numbers are "Alpha Parts Newsprint".  They are self-adhesive so they stick right to the book, so no gluing needed.

I have only talked about a few things, but the entire line is fabulous!  To see the entire winter release be sure and get the latest on Tim's blog.....you're gonna love it!

Next week we are headed to CHA....wish us luck!
Hope to see some of you there,

deb

InLinkz.com

Square One

Piccsy via Pinterest

A new year...Can you believe it?  2012 went by so fast!  Maybe it's that aging thing where time seems to start moving at an even quicker pace.  At the beginning of the year I was looking forward to going to Paris in April and now that is just a distant memory. 
So many good things happened in 2012 that I am grateful for, a new job with a great boss, traveling to visit friends in Australia with my husband, that fabulous trip to Paris with Sande K in April, and a great family vacation in July.  Closer to home, I have a house to live in, a car to drive, and a supportive husband who, although he eats way too much ketchup for my taste, is the best guy ever. 
I thought I might share some of my favorite quotes I found in 2012.  A little motivator, a kick in the butt, a boost to get the new year rolling...3 cheers for a great 2013!

Kushandwizdom via Pinterest

knackstudios

moneysavingmom

lollipops and roses

lovebirdstationery

noodlesndoodles via flicker

French by Design

appletree

So here's to the new year and all the possibilities it holds!
cheers for a great year!
paula