CHA Winter 09 - Sneak Peaks a plenty...

LOVING the new storage from AMM... HERE

It looks similar to the upgrades from Papermania... which are spookily the same chic black and lime as is their messenger bag... so PMA is spot on trend ;) The little drawers are my fav... I can think of lots of ways I would use them (make up being one!) Word on the street is that REALLY USEFUL has downsized, and will be showing off some mini boxes which apparently will make me *swoon*... can't wait!

Other sneak peaks...

7Gypsies (Gypsy Market)

American Crafts STAMPS!!!

Anna Griffin (4 new lines... some a little off piste for her style, but I like them!)

Bazzill Basics (...swiss dot additions, cardstock strips, splat mat etc)

CherryArte

Clear Scraps (...new additions!)

Collage Press (not a big brand in the UK - but still worth a peak!)

Core'dinations... launch an exclusive line for Europe (details to follow!!)

Crate Paper (Little Sprout, Lilian & Orbit)

DCWV

Daisy Bucket (Little Black Dress....mmmmm!!)

Dream Street (Fresh, MJ, Forever Family, Heartsong, Secret Garden & Lullaby)

EK SUCCESS

Fancy Pants

Heidi Swapp (...missing her loot - it is lovely!!)

Jenni Bowlin (Farmers wife is a hot pick!)

K&Co

Luxe Design

Martha Stewart

October Afternoon (Cherry Hill)

Paper Trunk (Maybe Baby, Socialite)

Pioneer

Queen & Co

Sassafras (Vintage Yummy, Anthem, Bungle Jungle... I want it all!)

SEI

Sizzix/Ellison

Theresa Collins (Family Matters, Documented)

Paris Hilton (*cough*)

Hope you are sitting comfortably with a warm drink and a slab of your fav chocolate!

xxx

CHA Summer 08 - Day Two (cont...)

I adore Jenni Bowlin... she has to be the tinest superstar at the show... just petite as heck, and beauty in abundance. That gal knows how to create flippin cool stuff - and the mud pie she introduced to me wasn't half bad (which translated means it wasn't half good either... americans can be great at most things - they just don't *rock* the chocolate boat ;)

Dream Street Papers have oodles to tempt... and my fav (even up close and personal) is that Simply Stated line by Amt Teets. It is lush... with a capital L.

Spotted: Like I *need* a reason to like Core'dinations... but chocolate?! Seriously has me hooked on the new line. I also spotted some amazing techniques (but more on that in day three...)

Claudine H.

I opened my emails to find that the hugely original Claudine Hellmuth had posted a comment. I had a stupid giddy moment, then pulled myself together over a plateful of marshmallows (the healthy way to start your day!) I am so going to have a chat with her at CHA... especially if it involves paint. Just days to go!!!

I am frantically making all those last minute panic purchases... ticking and rewriting my 'do to' list every few hours... and as long as I have my credit card and passport I think I can cope with whatever comes my way ;) I *did* succumb to some new sketchers - they are soooo comfy (...eek!! Since when does comfort override cool. Is this the slippery slope to becoming my totally uncool mother ;)

I spotted that the ENTIRE catalogue from Dream Street papers in now available online HERE I like the simply stated (HERE) as it will fit with just about any occasion and photo op!

CHA - Dream Street Pics

...click any of these smaller pics to make it juicy and large to swoon over ;)

Day Three (1)

I loved dream street papers pre-show sneaks; and I spotted the line I loved from afar and was raving about it on their booth... to then find that the designer was the gal next to me beaming. So this is Audrey Neal. I am a big fan - and can you believe this is her FIRST design line ...like EVER! She nailed it. I love it, love it, love it. I have scrapped in my head with it - and now have some real life samples to play with. The colours *ping* irl - simply *ping*.

I am sure you can get hold of their entire catalogue through Fidgeon Crafts (I might have spelt that wrong - sorry!) That is a wholesaler - and they have a very cool website! Love the fresh design...

Day One (2)

Loved DREAM STREET... looked a zillion times better in real life. Did spot Trimcraft speaking with them... so maybe we will see them under the Dovecraft label ;)

Jenni Bowlin is another range that is a personal fav. How can you NOT love what this girl does with paper... and those journaling cards?! She is the origin journal card genius in my book. Okay Heidi S also gets a look in on the crown - but Jenni has a little vintage 'umph'.

I chatted with Melody *hero* Ross - and again it was nice to look back on our past lives and see just what lessons we have learnt. Seriously, if someone could have handed me a manual on this stuff over 4-5 years ago, I maybe would never have taken that blind leap. But now I see the relationships I have with these strong women. It is the good bit to this scrapbooking industry - maybe even the best bit. I hugged Jorjana Brown... the original All My Memories (AMM) Founder; and I realised how much I missed working with her.

Things are changing - they are. You can either fight it, or you can find out what it is all about. I caught up with the lovely Mr T Bramwell, and met Alison for the first time. They are just good people - great competitors, great accents (I love a broad accent... feels like home!)

CHA - Sneak from Dream Street (and a nightmare too)

Spotted: Okay... it cannot all be plain sailing. The brown line is ok, but I am glad to be proved that there is a 'dud' in every bunch... Dream Street have released details of something quilted and yak. What were they thinking with those colout combos? Looks a lot like my washing when the darks get in with some pinks - and my daughters undies look murky... (sorry!)

CHA - More from McDreamy...

Spotted: 2 more lines from Dream Street!

CHA - Sneak from Dream Street (2)

Spotted: 4 more lines from the collaborative Dream Street (and I have to say that there are some personal favs from their entire CHA repertoire which I have added *in pen* to my shopping list!)

CHA - Sneak from Dream Street

Spotted: Fallen in love with the *Marieke* inspired line (isn't that just her style?!!) Just deliciously orange... like a self tan gone so so wrong, yet it is so so right ;)