I'm back in town after almost two weeks away! Traveling without a computer (just an iPhone) means that I have also come home to 406 unread e-mails in one account and 812 in the other. So, if you're waiting for an e-mail for me, be patient. I'm working my way through them.
The first five days of my trip were dedicated to the Craft & Hobby Association's (CHA) annual winter show.
I believe that this is my seventh or eighth CHA? It hardly seems possible, but I believe this is the fourth Winter show I've attended.
If you're unfamiliar with CHA, it's an enormous trade show. There are classes, lectures, events, and all the new craft products get shown off on the show floor. While it's true that the show has changed over the years that I've been attending, it's also true that I've changed over those years. Or perhaps more specifically, my role has changed.
When I first started attending CHA it was like being allowed into Willy Wonka's factory. I was dazzled by all the new products and all the crafty celebrities. It was awesome and eye-opening all at once. You can read my thoughts about that first CHA experience here.
Nowadays, the show is work. I don't mean that it's not fun. It definitely is! I get to see so many of my favorite people and spend a lot of late nights socializing and laughing and hatching plans. I love meeting blog readers and the people whose blogs I read. I'm always shocked and surprised and delighted when people recognize me and want to take a photo with me. It's my five minutes of celebrity! :)
That said, as I was editing my photos I noticed how few product photos I had taken, how few photos with friends I took, and it got me thinking about how different this show was from my first show.
Anyway, here's a peek at my CHA bests and mosts:
Best Travel Companion:
Best Accidentally Identical Laughs:
Best Paperclips Ever:
Most Overpriced Food:
Best Chair Sharing at the Make & Take Table:
Best Stencil Designers:
Best Way to Get Pinched:
Best Life Sized Elephant:
Second Best Life-Sized Elephant:
Best Wall to Photograph Yourself Against:
Best Gift:
Project I Most Want to Try After CHA:
Best Sport (I got one of the Sakura salesmen to play along with the make & take):
Best Science Fair Designer Showcase Exhibit:
Best Hug (stole this photo from Nat's instagram feed):
Most Cold Dinner (wore my coat the whole time):
Best Designed Stamps (2 of the 4 new stamp sets I designed for Impression Obsession):
All in all it was a great five days. Thanks for letting me share!
