Tuesday, February 19, 2008

The Craft and Hobby Trade show

I have just returned from the CHA trade show and it was the first time in about 10 years I actually just walked through it. No booth, no teaching, no demonstrating. I really needed it. It was wonderful to take my time and walk each and every aisle and look at every product connected to the craft industry. The license and Design area of the show looked absolutly great!!! It was constructed beutifully and the booths were all sold out...it will have to be bigger next time! I really think this will be a great thing for the art licensors and designers as it grows, its the only art licensing event on the west coast and should soon attract art buyers from outside the craft industry.

The show overall felt a little slower than normal and there wasnt the urgency and excitement I had seen in the past in the scrapbooking section, it seemed that buyers were more spread out in the show, looking at everything.

What I saw:
GOING GREEN: yarns made from organic cotton, hemp, and bamboo
buttons made from nutshells and wood dyed beautiful colors

SOMETHING NEW:
a new stamp program that uses clear handles with wood rails that allow you to slide very large wood mounts into place and stamp and then use clear or unmounted rubber on the other side of the handle.... very cool

COMMON THREADS:
Lots of embroidery! the vintage kind... like your grandma did on her flour sack towels

Vintage sewing patterns mostly aprons from the 40s and 50s

felt, felting, felt felt felt!!!! beautiful colors, tote and purse blanks, beads, new needle felting tools, I love felt!!!

Theres more Im sure...but I have to get to work, Ill type at you again tomorrow

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