I just returned from the CHA Winter 2011 show (Craft and Hobby Association) where manufacturers come to show off their latest and greatest products in the craft, hobby, and art markets. CHA is always fun—never boring, and I look forward to going all year. I’ve been attending the show for a decade now, each year something new rises to the top and brings excitement to the industry.
 |
|
|
Innovations Winner 2011 |
This year I was happy to attend the Innovations Sneak Peek event where 20 of the best innovative products were presented to a panel of judges (and the rest of the attendees) in hopes of winning the award for the most innovative product at CHA Winter 2011.
The winner of the Innovations Sneak Peek event was TAP (Transfer Artist Paper). And since many of you already use this fantastic transfer paper, you probably aren’t too surprised, right?
We know you love to get the latest and greatest news, information, and inspiration available, so we were happy to see that three of the other 19 innovative finalists are appearing in our next issue of Cloth Paper Scissors! Yes, I was surprised by that myself—and excited! We knew they were special when we placed them in the issue, but it’s nice to hear that everyone else agrees. Make sure to look for Michaela Laurie, Patricia Seggebruch, and the Anybook Reader® in the March/April issue.
 |
|
What else was new at the show? Stencils, lots and lots of stencils! It seems that everyone in the world must have purchased or downloaded Linda Blinn’s “Make it Graphic” Cloth Paper Scissors Workshop™, because there were stencils everywhere. Don’t worry, we’ll be bringing you some of the best of the stencils and stencil tools from the show floor in the Interweave Store as soon as they start shipping from the manufacturers!
 |
We also had loads of fun at our Mixed-Media Meet Up! at the Sizzix booth. Here I am with the terribly creative peeps who stopped by: Pam Carriker (author of Art at the Speed of Life), Traci Bunkers (author of Print & Stamp Lab), Stefanie Girard (author of Sweater Surgery), and Lisa Kettell (author of Altered Art Circus!)—Yes, there are a lot of authors at the show. | |
Stay tuned to each issue of Cloth Paper Scissors and keep an eye out for the latest and greatest supplies, tools, and new techniques—oh, and don’t forget to order some TAP and tap into your inner artist today!
 |
|
And speaking of latest and greatest, I’d like to take a moment to introduce you to the new voice of Cloth Paper Scissors Today, the one, the only…Cate Prato! Oh, don’t worry, I’ll still be here, spouting the mixed-media love, I’ll just be doing it from my Outside the Box with Jenn blog.
Cate will be bringing you new and interesting mixed-media news each and every week. She’ll be kicking things off this Wednesday, February 9, with an introduction to our new cover guy. I hope you’ll all help me give Cate a great big, mixed-media welcome!
Cheers,
