A Salute To Connie Crystal at CHA

This dress stopped me in my tracks.  It was the focal point in a booth by Connie Crystal.  They sell high quality crystal beads, pendant and suncatchers.  Sadly, they only accept wholesaler orders, so I can't purchase some of their super desirable pendants.  I can however, share their amazing paper and crystal dress with you.  It will inspire you for days and days!

EK Success at CHA with Claudine Hellmuth and Laliberi!

 The EK success booth was accessorized beautifully.  I love all the details!

 Isn't this mannequin gorgeous?

 These are all part of the Laliberi collection.

"Laliberi brings you a variety of kits, jewelry components and ready-to-wear accessories so you can make your style 100% you.  Linked here."

 Claudine Hellmuth's special EK success embroidery transfer kits are the cutest!

 The samples in the booth were wonderful!

Paris, London—wherever your heart imagines—our Continental Places embroidery transfers can take you there! Simply iron a design onto the fabric of your choice and use the thread provided or your own thread colors to embroider the design. We provide diagrams and instructions for basic embroidery stitches.

And who wouldn't love this tower?

When the NO PHOTO rule makes NO SENSE

I would love to tell you a little more about this picture that I took at the Craft and Hobby Show this week.  Ordinarily I would share the name of the company manufacturing the products and if I am lucky the name of the artist who crafted it.  That won't be the case today.  As soon as I snapped this image a woman came yelling to say that "this was a no photo conference."

Yeah, it is if you live in the 80's.

Don't get me wrong.  I think there are plenty of times the "no photo" rule should be invoked. 

But at a commercial event where everyone is trying to sell their products, I don't think that is a very good idea.

Those of us who promote companies through social media (unpaid) do so because we want to share what we see.  We report on what is hot and we do so for the love of the industry.  We do drive sales and some really big bloggers set trends.  This company does not seem to know that in 2012, a picture and post from an influential blogger might go a long way to promote what they sell. 

So, my readers.  Here is a picture I won't be showing you about a product I can't tell you anything about.

Mixed Minded Registration is Now Live!

The Mixed Minded Art Retreat Registration is now live!

I am teaching a resin class there this May!

Basic Grey at CHA

Anyone who attends a major convention like CHA arrives home with dozens of papers, catalogs and fliers.  All of these have to be sorted and you hope you remember why it was that you picked up a brochure in the first place.  I also like to document my trip with photos and there is no doubt that the Basic Grey booth was a favorite.  I turned a corner and there it was.  This beautiful canvas.  And then I saw many many more.  Check out this eye candy!

 These canvases gave me so many ideas!

I had no idea that Basic Grey was selling these canvases which they call "samplers."  I am ordered a few for myself today!  I am totally inspired by the artists who made these for the booth.  Well done!

Home from California

 I am back home and unpacking a few large pieces of luggage.  The Craft and Hobby show was another exciting whirlwind.  I was thrilled to teach two classes to launch the new Jewelry Resin created by ETI.

I am sure the post conference lull will set in later this afternoon.   

There will be no large gatherings of friends to look forward too, no new product launches and no restaurant desserts.

But of course, I am super happy to be home with my two best friends.  They'll just have to come up with some sort of special treat with coffee later this afternoon so the special CHA feeling will last a day or two longer.

Hoping To Blog From California

I am heading to the Craft and Hobby show in California!

I'll have pictures and many posts to share.

Please stay tuned!

It Takes A Village

 Packing for The Craft and Hobby show in California and going on The Shopping Channel again this week sure had me scrambling.  I needed help.  I am grateful to have received it.  Here are Paul and Magnus getting my class handouts stapled.

And here is Nancy.  She's my big gun.  If I call her...things get done.  

Really, no task too small or too large.  

I had four pieces of jewelry in various states of assembly...she finished them all for me and they are on their way to California with me to be in several showcases.  

I also managed to get her hooked on kumihimo...and she made one fabulous new strand for me.....

Thank you Paul, Magnus and Nancy!

Back On The Shopping Channel!

On Thursday January 26 I am back at the Shopping Channel!

11:30am

3:30pm

11pm - Canceled ( I am done for today!)