Beth Watson Design Studio: CHA 2014

Finally feeling better after bringing back the #CHAFLU from California.

Always lots to look at and take in while at the CHA tradeshow in Anaheim. Love seeing all my crafty friends and catching up with what everyone is up to! I also love to see the new products and how they work!

Here are some highlights:

The Banners of Hope Designer Display was spearheaded by Lorine Mason and gave CHA Designer Members and CHA Attendees an opportunity to create a banner with the theme of HOPE. The banners were then taken to the Charity Wings Art Center to be the centerpiece of a 24 hour Hope-A-Thon and will then travel around the country - Cool!

I organized and participated in my 9th Designer Showcase Event. This show floor event is a vehicle for the CHA Designer Members to create and display a 3D portfolio on a pedestal. There were 28 Designers who participated this year and the different displays were absolutely spectacular! I was truly amazed and inspired!

Work always plays just as big a role at the show as does play. I did demos and make and takes at the Makin's Clay and Smoothfoam booths. I love meeting new people who enjoy learning and creating with new products. And sometimes, I learn a thing or to as well!

Prime Media holds a crafty Blogger Event where manufacturers all come together to meet and network with the bloggers to preview new products and make mutually beneficial connections to spread crafting to the masses! This year's event had great companies like Fiskars, Design Master, Krylon, Plaid, Sizzix, Coats & Clark and Leisure Arts - just to name a few! I met online friends like Angela Daniels from Rit Dye, previewed new products like Mac & Cheese Duck Tape and created some new working relationships with some fabulous companies! These companies sent each craftere home with four large bags of swag, so we could play, create and blog when we got home - WOW!

A big THANK YOU to Simone Collins and everyone at Prime Media aka Fave Crafts!

I Love To Create had a Creative Refresh where all my crafty friends - Jonathan Fong, Lorine Mason, Ann Butler and Cindi Bisson - and I came together to get massages, eat gourmet popcorn and have mini make overs complete with headshots! Alyson Dias and the folks at I Love To Create sent each crafter home with a bag of swag! Another generous company!

I had a Snowman project on display at the Sizzix booth with Eileen Hull's new Cherished Collection.

My starburst mirror at the Sticky Sticks booth.

The Smoothfoam booth featured six of my blog projects.

My favorite booths included:

I Love To Create - yes those are beach balls decorated with Tulip 3D Fasion Paint! Along with crafty friends Eileen Hull and Pattie Wilkinson.

Lion Brand Yarns - the 7 wonders of the world created with yarn!

Red Heart - gigantic balls of yarn and scarves!

I also had the opportunity to be a classroom assistant to Eileen Hull and Amy Bowerman at their Artist On the Block workshop!