Craft and Hobby Association/CHA 2013 Winter Trade Show

The CHA 2013 Winter is currently being held in Anaheim, CA thru January 15th.  If you have a chance, I hope you'll visit their fun Trade Show. CHA is a professional organization that helps those in the craft and hobby industry and stimulate excitement with consumers.  From SewCalGal's observations at this event today, the CHA organization definitely accomplished their goals and more!


The Anaheim Convention Center was packed with amazing vendor booths, many of which offered make & takes, as well as sharing inspirational projects.  And, there are also many amazing giveaways daily.

The show is dominated with scrapbooking vendors, from all over the world.  But, there are also many vendors that would be of interest to anyone with an interest in  quilting, sewing or embroidery. And, there are many wonderful products and inspiration that have crossed over from the world of scrapbooking to quilting, not to overlook mixed media/fibre arts.  So, it was not difficult to find inspiration in every booth at this Trade Show.  And, you may be amazed at what can be created with paper!

AccuCut, Craftwell, Sizzix, Silhouette, CT Pub, Liesure Arts, AdornIt, ArtBin, Clover Needlecraft, Fiskars, Grace Company/True Cut, June Tailor, Tutto Luggage and many more wonderful businesses that quilters love were their to introduce their new products. SewCalGal was only able to attend for a few hours, but is delighted to share a few insights with you about this fun show. And, I also want to encourage anyone that has a chance to attend a CHA show to do so.


Premier Yarns had an inspiration booth.

Beautiful yarns and spectacular projects.  I love the lacy swirly created on the skirt of this outfit.

Various Make & Takes are held Daily, thru Tuesday, January 15th. I had the pleasure of attending a ZenTangle session with the very talented Suzanne McNeill, where I learned insights on the art of ZenTangle and how to make a ZenTangle beaded necklace.   I also had a chance to check out her book "Zen-sational Stitches for Quilting", which looks like a really fun book for those that enjoy free-motion quilting and/or doodling.    I definitely want to get a copy and see create with it.

The Fiskars Fuse booth was beautifully decorated with inspirational projects.  I loved seeing these cute gift embellished gift bags with beautifully embossed birds.

Fiskars also had a beautiful table setting with interesting triangle bags stitched, leaving the imagination as to what treat or toy they might be filled with.

June Tailor introduced a collection of new Creative Covers Rulers that can be used to make unique "openwork" designs for bed covers, tabletop and wall art.  They have a flower, square and circle template that are reasonably priced.  They also look like fun and fast projects that SewCalGal thinks many quilters will  want to make.  

McCalls had a wonderful booth, but my highlight was seeing Michaela Laurie again.  I had previously met Michaela when she first came to CHA in 2011.  Her designs have now been picked up by McCalls for distribution in the US  They are fun designs that work well for paper crafts and fibre arts, creating fun decorations for the home and can make great greeting cards too.  Of course, SewCalGal is anxious to see someone turn Michaela's designs into quilted wallhangings and other quilted projects too!

Keep an eye out at your local JoAnns, sewing centers, and craft stores that carry McCalls patterns.  I think you'll enjoy these new "Paper Quilt Creations" designs.

You can find CHA at:
http://craftandhobby.org
http://craftandhobby.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/CraftandHobby?v=wall&ref=ts
https://twitter.com/CraftandHobby