2 photos from CHA

My entire week last week was spent in sunny (but cool) California for the Craft & Hobby Association Trade Show. This year was especially exciting because it was Studio Calico's debut as a manufacturer. In the past, we've always attended as buyers for the kit side of our business, but this year we were both buyers and exhibitors. Strange and exhausting at the same time.

We (the SC crew: me, Greg, Stephen, Kristen, Lorie) arrived on Friday, our plane landed at 3:00pm. We took the shuttle to the hotel and hurriedly threw our bags in the room, picked up Davinie and headed to the convention center to start working on the booth. Never was I so excited to see a big, wooden crate. IT MADE IT!!!! Huge relief. We had made it minutes before the express pass lanes were closed, so we could work after-hours and construct to our heart's content (without union labor). Ahhhhh.

The next day was pretty relaxed. Several of SC's design team arrived (Waleska, Nicole, Tina) and we put the finishing touches on the booth and walked around the hall to see what was going on at our favorite manufacturers. I loved seeing the construction of the booths and all the hard work that goes into making for such an attractive showroom in such a short period of time.

Sunday, we were swamped at the booth. Joy did make-and-takes with the Home Front Fabrips and vintage buttons, and at times, there wasn't room to move in our 10x20 space. It was at that point, I took the only two photos I took the entire trip:

Tina, me, Marnie



Joy making brooches with 2 make-n-takers :)

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday was spent with more booth sales and me catching a minute or two here and there to go scope out the fabulous finds from the design team for future kits. Let me tell you, there's lots of great product out there that I can't wait to use in kits over the next few months. I'll keep it secret for now, but yes, there are some awesome products that have my mind reeling!

On Wednesday, the show closed at 2:00 but we waited until almost 7:00 to get our crate delivered so we could pack it up. Lots of waiting, but we had fun visiting with Pink Paislee and Jenni Bowlin Studio while they were waiting too. We said goodbye to the whole design team that day except Nicole Harper who stayed behind to help us pack up. The days just pass waaaaaaaaay too quickly.

By the time we flew home to frigid temperatures, we were already making plans for the next CHA in Chicago. We already have our hotel booked so, just you wait to see what we have up our sleeves at CHA-Summer 2010!

Last but not least, thanks to all you SC loyals who have been so supportive. We truly could not have done this without you....and I know I wouldn't have had the guts to do it if it weren't for you either. Y'all are awesome!