CHA ... it was fun!!

I think this should be everyone's motto ... it sure was the slogan for the Craft and Hobby Association trade show in Anaheim last week! The amount of talent behind the products and the designers of the vendors always blows my mind. Just when you think there isn't one more fun idea ... you see another ... and they're all so pretty!

I love that the show is usually held in southern California ... usually Anaheim ... I'm totally in love with this state and love to explore new areas when we're there for the show. This year when it was over, we drove to Zion National Park in Utah for a few days so we got to drive through the Mojave Desert. That was interesting ... especially when our engine light came on partway in. There aren't a lot of service stations along that route!

My friend PamKittyMorning was there and she was toting a brand new bag made from her PamKittyMorning Love fabric ... and I'm in love with that fabric for sure! Totally jealous of her bag. She should have made me one. (insert pouty face here)

I don't know what was up with the full sized elephants but I saw at least three on the floor. Is this a trend?

Kaisercraft makes these interesting boxes and cubbies that can be covered with fabric or paper. They usually have some kind of function ... like the tool caddy ...  and are made from sturdy compressed wood. Pam and I fell in love with the ones that were decorated with sewing doo dads. Look for them to be arriving sometime in late Spring ... just couldn't resist!

Glitter houses and bottle brush trees everywhere and I love them, too! I found someone from the Tim Holtz team who is willing to fly to the Twin Cities to teach them and several other vintage projects. Raise your hand if you're in!

One of the products I was searching for was the Bon Bons from Lion Brand ... we have some of our wool applique people using them to stitch with and the look is unbelievable! But they're also perfect for those little crochet flowers. The skeins are tiny and I know I want one to use and one to keep cuz they are so darling!

Linda at the Sizzix booth was sewing with this stinkin' cute Eureka sewing machine. I'm so jealous! I want one ... it's in perfect shape and has a totally different look from a Featherweight. And then she told me what she paid for it. Now I'm even more green!! I never find deals like that ... and it came with the cabinet. Geez.

After I tore myself away from the sewing machine I was able to focus on their booth ... in addition to their quilting die cuts they had a sewing theme going on with their other dies. Some really fun things ... including this button card embossing folder. I can't wait for them to come in. They also had a mason jar die cut ... I've been wanting one for a long time so I can't wait to put it to good use. I hate that I have to wait. (insert pouty face again and maybe a small foot stamp)

Party hats and bracelets everywhere.

Embroidery on paper seemed to be a trend in a lot of booths too. I love the look ... thread adds so much to a paper project.

More trends ... especially the Chinese lanterns ... expect to be seeing them every time you turn around. I've noticed them at Target and on Pinterest.

Burlap too ... lots of ideas and inspiration for using it. Canvas Corp had premade pillows to embellish. I bought some of these in a range of colors from Maya Road. And I ordered lots of trims ... colors that matched our fabrics but in packages of three or four pieces ... about a yard of each ... perfect for those small bags we like to make. Everywhere I turned were buttons too ... I can't wait for this all to begin arriving!

I think the biggest trend I took away from the show is that we need to cre8time time for our hobbies ... there's a movement in the works to promote that. Creating is so fullfillling ... we all need to squeeze a couple minutes from each day to do it!