SuzeBlogz

The Craft Room....unplugged

First question....??

And the answer is......NO...I did NOT straighten up the craft room just for the blog....I did that part weeks ago!!!! It's an ungoing process!!

 

and this is what you get when you come up the stairs (beside Mollie), that's a guest room off to the left (you get your own bathroom and a 42" TV !!!!)

now lets go into the room !

S T U F F

LOTSA STUFF !!!

 

many many many many visuals 

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and this is my view when I sit at my little work area

 

Much like my house..my craft room is a visual of everything I enjoy.

(Found the hands at a Home Goods several years ago)

 

This is the view from right behind where I sit.

 

 

Art from friends that I love to have near me (love both the friends AND their art)

 

 

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Not every single thing in the room is labeled (I mean c'mon, I'm not perfect!...I even make typos...can you find it ??)

 

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This is my palette for doing beeswax. I bought it (it's custom made) from waxworkswest.com

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I made this torso with my friend Zana Clark one summer when I visited her in WI. Made from plaster sheets and dusted with Perfect Pearls

 

In the early years I wrote a bunch of books and did some DVDs...the covers are framed & hanging up. Gifts from friends.

 

One of my very first products...The Boxed Bunch ! My VERY first...bet you didn't know.....was WONDER TAPE !!

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The wall unit comes from IKEA

 

I made the drawer pulls from UTEE

 

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Another thing I have sprinkled all over the room are rubber stamps with really terrific (or funny) sayings, plus many fun or unusual things....you know...S T U F F !

Like my Simon Cowell Bobble Head

 

I made both the box and the Buddah head out of UTEE !

More UTEE handles

 

Now, look very carefully to find the switch that turns the light (below) on and off !! Now you can stop LOL. I have no idea where I bought it...it was years ago!

 

 

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( Words for Justin Bieber !!!!)

 

My desk area

 

So...that was my LITTLE  tour...I couldn't really photograph EVERYTHING !!!

I hope you enjoyed....let me know, will ya !

 

 

 

for 25 cents more....

you get the continuation of the house tour...

The LR area of the house is part of an open floor plan

The wall art is fun....I found the game board at a Home Goods a few years ago and I added the pieces to it. The doll on the L was a gift card from my waxy gal pals Wendy & Judy and the doll on the R is one I made.

 

The room divides ...and, as you can also see..I do "floor art". Not everything needs to be on a wall.....according to Suze ! Oh...that's Mollie...the cat...aged 12

When you come through the front door this is what greets you..

 

The doll puppet hanging on the mirror is very old, from China.

My friend Lisa Pace made this piece of art and gave it to me when she came to visit.

This one, an early piece of his, from Michael DeMeng..he's been here to visit too.

some art pieces I've had for so long I honestly do not remember who made them...but I do know I got these incredible dolls, probably 20 years ago, on a trip to CA.

The brushes and stand we got in China. The mask below also in China

 

This incredible piece of brass art, with the lightbulbs, we bought in South Africa. The wax piece below it was a handmade gift from Wendy. Buried deep under the wax is a piece of silk that she printed on. 

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I made these wall pieces using fantastic canvases from Ten Seconds Studio and beeswax. The birdcage cme from an Anthropologie store.

 

Indonesian Prayer Dolls are in my kitchen

 

and I like silly, hidden things...like my dino garden !

this fun shoe is from artist Kecia Deveney..she's been here too!!

 

This piece (below) is one of our favorites. I bought it for The Lenster for his birthday one year from a NY artist at a street fair. It's made up of all kinds of steampunk looking parts. 

 

a lot of you already know the story of this 'breakfront' table...my VERY favorite Home Goods find.

 

 

OK...the horse came from China

The accordian is an old piece bought in CA

 

I have again forgotten the artist but this piece is made from layers and layers of dressmaking patterns.

 

and...here are just some more little bits of whimsy all around the downstairs...

so, whadd'ya think.....tomorrow (or the day after) maybe we should investigate the upstairs

 

...and my craft room???

 

the 25 cent tour...

I've had a lot of friends visit our house and they all say the same thing...it's like taking a tour of a museum...so much to look at. And no matter how many times they've been here they always see something they missed before.

Now, I totally get that our house is NOT for EVERYBODY!

But it is "US"...so, I thought I'd give you the 25 cent tour...

and a bunch of you wanted to know about this wall.

Most of the angel collection was handmade by the artist who owned a rubber stamp company many many many years ago (at least 20) called ANT Transfer..anyone remember Ann? Long out of business, sorrowfully. Ann was way ahead of her time.

 

Who doesn't know the fantastic artist Teesha Moore? Well Teesha made this and I bought it ions ago at a rubber stamp show. It is amazing in person...it's a piece of pottery, and stamped....and breakable !

The wonderful, dear Pamela Huntington made this just for me...I LOVE it...

 

This is another piece by Pam Huntington. I love her style.

 

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A company called Primitive Twig made this little dolly from antique parts

and he's also made a few other crazy items we have in this house !

Like the dolly below

The abacus I found in a shop in the Minneapolis airport years ago and said "Do You Ship" and so they did.

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Primative Twig made the dolly below as well. All from antique parts.

 

The twig mirror was found in a shop in New Hope, Pennsylvania and falls right in with my love of all things natural and dried.

The monkeys are candles that smell wonderful (altho I'd never burn them) and I found them when I was shopping with super shopper friend (& craft writer extraordinaire) Suzanne McNeill on a shopping spree in Texas one year. She took me to great places!

I buy the Buddah heads whenever I find an interesting one.

 

In keeping with my love of natural things I have a lot of things with rocks on them....

 

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The living room and family room is all part of one open great room and has a divider

The round red wooden blocks came from an Anthropologie store about 5 years ago. There are a bunch of assorted items from trips we've taken, all kind of working together.

 

I brought the hats back from South Africa about 8 years ago.

 

I love terrriums and air plants

and the other side of the room divider looks like this

I did the 'art' that is on the walls, this one has both beeswax and UTEE (not mixed together as they are not compatible !)

 

but I really love my pottery bowl that I bought at a Renaissance Fair in New Mexico a zillion years ago. It is rubber stamped with the Beatles song "There are Places I Remember"...can you see it? I'll bet Lin can find her piece too!!!

 

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OKAY......You can tell I'm a collector, huh?

 

 

 

If you've been following Nathalie Kalbachs Creative Jumpstart you'll see the wall hanging I made as part of my "Project Using Household Items".

The Frida I found in Barcelona, brought back and framed here.

The large basket (to the right) I brought back from South Africa. The mask from Utah and some of the other pieces, handmade by various artists at juried art shows.

I made the collage to the right in Andrea DeMengs class at Art-Is-You and the green piece (to the left) is one I made using UTEE..all the "Suze" items came from various friends !

 

WE CAN DO MORE TOMORROW....

I'm up for it...You?






 

 

 

 

 

Lets take our final stroll through CHA

and all the make it take its....

Lunch

and beautiful samples

 

This was an interesting new product...first time at the show...and a HOT 20 winner. ComposiMold PowerMold Modeling Compound Push Mold Kit: make push molds of objects and textures from Modeling Compound castings.

 

 

you can watch a YouTube video on "how to" if you click HERE

 

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Buttons Galore and More had wonderful button kits

and do it yourself jewelry kits...like making cool rings with their buttons

 

and Suzanns' new book

 

 
 

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The adorable and so lovely Karen Elaine Thomas

 

and the equally adorable Jen Starr (I love someone who's MY height AND from New Jersey)

My pal Jennie Boxall from the UK

 

 

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Tims Fabrics

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and, the number 1 hottest product at the show

the Brother ScanNCut

The ScanNCut is an electronic die cutter.

You do not need to attach it to your computer.  All you need to do is plug in the (2 prong) power cord.

There are designs and fonts built into the machine.

You can scan in any design -- hand drawn or computer generated -- and the machine will create a cutting file.

 It is a revolutionary new home and hobby cutting machine with the convenience of a 300 DPI built-in scanner.

well folks...that about sums it up....Oh, I'm sure I could find dozens more pix but I think you've had a pretty good look.

Anyone who is still interested can read this list below of ALL the winners and google the companies to know more

 

Beadlon Artistic Wire Findings FormsTM: patent pending fixed peg jigs that allow you to make your own findings from a range of gauges of Artistic Wire and Beadalon German Style Wire.

 

Beadalon Knot-a-Bead™: patent pending desktop knotter tool to tie knots naturally with two hands for professional-looking jewelry.

 

BIC® Magic Marker® brand Window Marker: high quality marking and drawing tool designed to adhere to glass surfaces resulting in bold, vivid marks for window or glass writing occasions.

 

Brother International Corporation ScanNCut machine: a revolutionary new home and hobby cutting machine with the convenience of a 300 DPI built-in scanner.

 

Chameleon Art Products Ltd Color Tones Pens: pens for creating art effects, including 3D and airbrush, smooth transitions, highlighting, shading, blending and gradations.

 

ComposiMold PowerMold Modeling Compound Push Mold Kit: make push molds of objects and textures from Modeling Compound castings.

 

Craftwell eBrush: a portable airbrush system used by crafters, cake decorators and beauty enthusiasts alike for scrapbooking, makeup application and more.

 

CrystalNinja.com Crystal Katana: a patent-pending rhinestone and crystal pick up tool that picks up paper, embellishments, nail art, multimedia items and Swarovski Crystals.

 

DecoArt Chalky Finish Program: a complete program offering paint, waxes, varnishes, stain blocker, brushes and stencils that easily achieves a vintage, time-worn look for home decor and furniture pieces.

 

DESIGN MASTER TintIT™: multi-use transparent dye that fabricates color from just one can.

 

Ellison/Sizzix Modern Surrealist by Marisa Pawelko: 20 Originals steel-rule dies that create fashionable clothing appliqués, cards, stickers, notepads, and locker décor for teens and preteens.

 

Fiskars Brands 12” x 12” Rotary Ruler Combo: a rotary cutter with a ruler attached for measuring and cutting multiple layers of fabric easier.

 

ICE Resin Susan Lenart Kazmer Iced Enamels®: makes torch-fired or kiln-fired enamels with no fire required.

 

iLoveToCreate Aleene’s® Quick Dry Fabric Fusion®: an easy alternative to a needle and thread, remains durable and incredibly flexible, wash after wash.

 

ImpressArt Soft Strike™ Metal Stamping Blanks: A collection of metal discs specially made for metal stamping making it easy for metal stampers to leave deep, clean impressions and achieve professional results.

 

Little B Perfect Positioner: a unique adhesive mat designed for any die-cutting tool platform and any thin metal dies -- never waste a piece of paper again.

 

Lumi Inkodye Black: a sunlight-activated fabric dye that allows you to print your own photos onto fabric -- now available in black.

 

M-D Building Products Metal Sheets: perforated metal sheets, magnetic chalkboards, metal tools and other unique metals to add more dimension to craft projects.

 

Plaid Enterprises Mod Podge Mod Melter: a tool used to fill the Mod Molds with the Mod Melts. It allows the crafter to fill the molds with ease for molded embellishments, home décor, paper crafts and more.

 

Ranger Industries Tim Holtz® Distress Marker Spritzer: the perfect tool for creating airbrush effects on craft projects.

 

Spellbinders Tool-n-One: a portable tool that performs multiple craft functions, including piercing, folding, paper removal, inking, distressing, curling, and more.

 

So..until CHA of 2015...

Come back and visit my blog again..we'll be catching up on other stuff and, in the meantime...

HOP ON OVER TO MY ETSY SITE, WILL YA, HUH !!! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More From CHA 2014

I was in love with the samples in certain booths....one being the British paper company Craftwork Cards.

I'm also prejudiced because it gave me an opportunity to see my wonderful, happy, delicious friend Julie Hickey (r) again

but, truth be told, they had wonderful samples...what's not to love about anything thats very English in style.

The little paper pieces that form the flowers are called Candi that really POP when you use them in your design.

 

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IMPRESS ART is very dear to MY heart.

The adorable Theresa Cifali demoing at their booth

  

They have a spectacular new product called 

ALKEME

It is a new silver alternative for metal stampers. It's super easy to stamp on making deep crisp impressions, it makes stunning metal jewelry and,  at the fraction of the price of silver.

 

 

and they now have a wonderful soft strike hammer that makes it so easy to make the impressions. The hammer comes in 2 sizes and it felt like a wonderful fit in my hand.

of course...their terrific letter sets

and their large assortment of other metals for jewelry buffs (like me) !

one of the products that they distribute is a HUGE favorite of mine...the Pebeo Fantasy Effects

You just put one color of the paint in a bezel, add a second (or third) color to it and leave it completely alone...watch the magical effects take place all by themselves. It takes about 2 days to thoroughly dry so just leave it alone for the magic to happen.

The samples below are ones that I made.

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Ranger had wonderful designer challenge samples, as they always do.

Die Cuts with a View always has great sample boards

Here's the Ice Resin team..so nice of them to include me !

More friends

The Graffic 45 gang

Below: Nathalie (l), Judy & Wendy (r)

Patti and Robin (LL) & Christie (LR)

  

and still more

Julie Fei Fan and her mom and the wonderful Ruth Rae and her FAAAAAAABULOUS hand stiched dress that we all drooled over. Of course Beckah Krahula and Sarah Hodsdon...two wonderful always smiling friends! 

 

Joanne Sharpe...lettering artiste extraordinaire and now sewer extraordinaire as well !

 

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I found a new company...totally wonderful called CLASS ACT DESIGNS that carries  hand made and hand dyed silk ribbons. I went wild....yes..I was a wild woman in their booth !!

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Can't wait to make jewelry using their silks !

I always jump for joy when I visit NUNN design. I use a lot of their products in my work.

some other samples from Crafty Chica

 

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Spellbinders newest tool...The "Tool n' One" took #3 spot in the top 20 at CHA !

It is a portable tool that performs multiple craft functions, including piercing, paper removal and more. In addition, it provides a unique storage solution. What is the solution? The Tool n' One's attachments are housed within the "pod" of its main body.

 

and, for today I'll leave you with a few more pix from 'the floor'

and finally (for today anyway !)

RUPERT !!!!

See ya back here tomorrow....yes..there's still more !

 

 

 

 

 

 

are ya still walkin' with me?

I hope I'm not sending you all into CHA overload, especially now, since it's over !

A glimpse at the section that had all the new products

and some views from the floor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You'll never think of Duct Tape the same way again after you see these !

caught up with the super creative Nathalie Kalbach demoing at the Stampendous booth

Nathalie has her own line of stamp textures with Stampendous

Tulip had some body chalks, paints & glitter tattoo kits

 

 

and were demoing on customers...who were lined up!

 

Here's the adorable Charity Wings Art Center Volunteers

 

The beautiful Heidi Swapp

Aaron and Jenny

 

Debi Tullier demoing her stunning airbrush techniques for eBrush

need I say more !?!?

 

 

ending today on this 'flowery' note.....there is still more to come so I hope you'll come back and see what was new from Impress Art and the beautiful British company Craftwork Cards..and more !

 

 

and, CHA continues...

when you take thousands of pictures at CHA you know you'll be sharing for daaaaays after the show ends !

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Of course I was especially partial to the goings on at the ICE RESIN®  booth because I so love their product AND the amazing samples made by so many different artists.

 

I love their beautiful Rue Romantique® line by Kristen Robinson.

 

and the Art Mechanique® line which you can find in the big box stores like Hobby Lobby

 

 

 

and Ice Resin also has their new Silhouettes®..metal shapes that respond to their new line of Iced Enamels®

 

 

Just paint your bezel with the ICED Enamel® Medium, sprinkle on the ICED Enamels® Powder and fuse with a heat gun. Coat with ICE Resin®, and Voila! You have a FAUX ENAMEL finish. You'll be hard pressed to tell the difference between the real and the faux !

and I'm a very big fan of their Iced inclusions Opals

Here are some other beautiful samples, not jewelry related, that were in their booth

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My gorgeous girl bestie Julianna Hudgins

Jewel Loom was hiding in totally unexpected places....

The beaded book bindings (shown in the Spellbinders booth) were done with the loom which is innovative, portable, lightweight and easy to use. 

the display was designed by Linda Molten Peterson

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Speaking (again) of Spellbinders....

This is their incredible new TOOL n' ONE  tool

it removes all those little 'stuck' paper pieces in your stencils AND MORE !

CLICK THE LINK ABOVE AND CATCH THEIR VIDEO.

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I was fascinated by the new Beadalon Knot-A-Bead which will be coming out around March

This is a patent pending tabletop knotter tool that allows you to tie knots naturally, with two hands, and position the knots tightly against beads for professional looking jewelry. Robin Beam turned me on to it.

  

and Beadalon also has their small jig...you can fashion your own ear wires and designs repeatedly and perfectly each and every time.

 

Then they have something I really flipped over....honestly...

The Artistic Wire Straightener tool makes it easy to straighten wire that has been worked. Put the rollers in your hand in the open position with each of the rollers side by side. 

then, run the wire down the middle, close and pull

and last, but certainly not least, Beadalon has their CONETASTIC shaping tool 

Sandra Lupo invented this ingenious tool to create custom bead cones and bead caps for strung designs, earrings, Kumihimo and more! The 3 different sizes of cone mandrels fit into the base of the tool for easy storage. 

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Lets just breeze around the show floor for glimpses of exciting products, displays and favorite people like Susan (former owner of Rubbernecker Rubber Stamps)  and Ted (Stampers Anonymous)

 

Jill demonstrating at Ellison 

Wendy doing a Make it Take 

Katharine Walsh and Jayne Owles...my British buds !

who are as crazy as ever

making boxes and flowers in the WE are Memory Keepers booth

Tims Fabrics

and ORIGINAL letterpress machine, on display

Hemptique Booth

Color It Mine

This fella airbrushed the entire show and finished on the last day

 

Well....I'm sorta plotzing by now...oy vey...I cn't even find my eyeballs

plotz

pläts/

verb

informal

gerund or present participle: plotzing

1. 1.

   collapse or be beside oneself with frustration, annoyance, or other strong emotion.

   "lots of directors plotz while making their films"

so....time to sign off...BUT wait...there'll be MORE tomorrow..

we ain't done yet.



 

 

 

I'm Still Walkin' !

OY VEY....

It ain't so easy schlepping 'round CHA any more!

Firstly there's so much to see

and secondly..

I keep getting stopped every two minutes by old friends and CHA buddies!

 

OK..I'm totally done complaining !

My Iphone battery went down to 2%  just as it was time to leave...a sure sign it was time to give CHA and my feet a rest !

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I ran into Audrey Freedman whom I've known well over 20 years (she used to own Stamp Oasis, LV...remember) and Leslie Ohnstad (of Luminarte & Radiant Pearls fame!)

 

This is Niki Zipp...also one of my oldest friends...from South Africa..who I look forward to seeing every year!

 

Most of you know I have a love relationship with my Canadian buddy Carmi Cimicata...talented as all getout ! Carmi was demonstrating at the EI booth. Her own personal hand made jewelry always blows me away!

 

The booth had the most GORGEOUS samples showing what a slew of artists had done with a watch face that she provided to us as part of a resin crafts blog. Here are some of them...

THEY WILL COMPLETELY INSPIRE YOU !

 

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Now, I promised to share the most gorgeous booth of all at CHA...and that would be SPELLBINDERS

BE PREPARED to have your socks knocked off !

They have teamed up with Californians Shea and Debbie of A Gilded Life !

 

who are known for their soft and elegant shabby chic style in white & cream tones.

 

 

 

 

and now there will be exquisite bezels from Spellbinders that represent the Gilded "look"

  

 

 

 

so..watch for them ...I know I am beyond anxious !! They are so verastile they even look gorgeous on a store bought pillow

 

 

 

 

SPELLBINDERS also has another new product but we'll get to that in another blog..trust me...you'll love it !

Designer Linda Molden Peterson and Stacey Caron (owner, founder & creative mind beyond Spellbinders)

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so, who else had some great stuff?

Well of course RANGER

 

Dyan must own the last remaining copy of my old VHS video from a hundred years ago...we were cracking up !

 

 

Tims new "airbrush" Distress marker spritzer  tool

 

Dina Wakleys lovely artwork

 

Coloring on Ranger foil with Alcohol Ink

 

Debbie doing a Make-It Take

and, we'll conclude todays blog with a few more crafty friends, but come back tomorrow...there's gonna be plenty more !

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Here's the wonderful Cathie Filian and Steve Piacenza

 

Jen Cushman from Ice Resin !

Mary Beth Shaw (Stencil Girl) and Ken Oliver (Spellbinders)

 

The lovely Patty Bullard (inventor of Wubbers) and Robin Beam (total entrepeneur)

My BESTIES Wendy & Judy (owners of WaxWorksWest)

Darling Jenny Doh in one of my favorite booths...IMPRESS ART

My very wonderful friend of a million years, Suzanne McNeill who was demoing her skills at Zentangles using  DecoArt Glass Markers (check out those cups!)

OK...enough for today! Im in overload now.






 

Walkin' The Floor

CHA is always a big bright colorful show.

And they're waiting anxiously to get in!

Excitedly, one of the first booths I came upon was Melissa Frances featuring the adorable (and fellow New Jerseyite) Jenny Holiday

In addition to their new book, Jenny and Aaron now have fantastic papers featuring their designs. These designs are all from their HAND PAINTED work.

and the most adorable new frames

AND

rubber stamps

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NOW

You haven't really experienced a rhinestone till you've been to see The Crystal Ninja herself Kellie DeFries (m)

I have never seen so many exquisite items all crystalized

There is nothing that Kellie won't put a rhinestone on !!

 

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I LOVE running into Jess from Vintaj...she and her family are some of my super most favorite people...and she was doing a demo at Sizzix with the Ranger foil, Vintaj embossing folders and their great Vintaj metal jewelry bezels and Vintaj Patinas

 

and very soon they'll have the new dies (below) that cut the foil (or pictures, or collage sheets) to fit the exact size of the inside of their bezels.

then, doing their make & take,

we embossed the foil, colored it with the Vintaj patinas and finished off a wonderful necklace

Here are some of their marvelous booth samples

 

 

Tomorrow I'll tell you all about the most beautiful booth at the whole show...SPELLBINDERS

you'll almost wish you'd lived in it...!

but tonight, being somewhat exhusted from walking all day..I'll just share some random shots I took through the day...

like Wendy Vecchi demoing !

Zentangles

Julie Fei Fen Balzer demoing !

 and two of my very favorite people

Joe and Julez

so, we'll just conclude today with the happy singing Mod Podge Jar

and hope you'll come back for more tomorrow !!

set up, then party

It's now past midnight here in Anaheim & that makes it waaaaay past my east coast bedtime...I'm amazed I have the strength to stay awake enough to send these pictures off !!

BUT, today began setup day at CHA and while I arrived very late due to bad weather and delays I still manged to walk the show floor as many of your favorite manufacturers were still setting their booths up.

So, I'm sharing

LION BRAND YARN always done a superior job of showing off their product.

 

 

 

Then, I turn the corner into the 600 aisle and who do I bump into?? The Rangerettes

all my favorite gals

a little further into the 600 aisle I spot a happy looking booth

I cant wait to see what they'll be demoing tomorrow cause they have ICE RESIN...my favorite product to use for permanent jewelry resin.....and here's some random shots taken as other booths were coming together

 

Graffic 45 booth

 

Dina Wakley artwork in the Ranger Booth

 

 

 

 

 

 

and then...after setup was completed...a B-I-G party, band and all, liquor bar and all, dancing and all was held outside right in front of the convention center... a really big bash with lots of colored lights...

of course it's where you bump into friends you haven't seen since last CHA and you are really happy to see !

Know who they are??? Hint Hint, only one is the one and only Margot Potter !!

My friends Julie Hickey From the UK and Chris Nicholson from the U.S. Two of the nicest friends ever.

Lining up at the bar

Dancing their buns off

SCHMOOZING

Partying Hearty

They had Tricky Trays

and they had caricaturists

and a big line waiting to have it done !

I got to spread a little colorful cheer around too...

Tomorrow the show opens...with the bagpipes and all...stay with me peeps...I'll be posting !