When I went to my first trade show about six years ago, I noticed that the badge holder that you are given is not the most beautiful thing to wear around your neck. So I designed a box that will hold business cards, a tiny pen and some money along with your badge. I demo’d this box at the Craft Studio, Read on…
Collecting my thoughts
August 3rd, 2010
I have just arrived home after a month of three big trips- a family vacation, driving marathon to help my daughter arrive at her new home and move in, and a week long trade show. Read on…
Rock on
July 29th, 2010
I have always been a rock collector. I love how smooth and heavy they are- perfect for skipping stones on the lake or weighting your beach towels down. But what do you do with them when you get them home? Read on…
Beach time
July 27th, 2010
We just returned from a fun family vacation to Florida. Along the way I picked up a bunch of beach and nautical souvenirs. And then there are the hundreds of photos of my granddaughter that we took! Unfortunately, shells don’t transfer too well into scrapbook layouts. On the drive back, I was reflecting on how I might create a three dimensional display of the trip. Somewhere, I have seen the idea of making memory jars. These are clear glass jars filled with Read on…
Today I bit my dentist…
July 22nd, 2010I didn’t mean to… it was early, I hadn’t had breakfast and he stuck a gloppy impression thingy in my mouth and said something. I chomped down obediently. And then he yelled. I don’t think he said, “Bite”, when I think back. He did say some other things though. Under his breath. Oops. Read on…
CHA Preparations
July 20th, 2010
As some of you may know, the Craft and Hobby Association hosts two trade shows each year. The summer show is usually held in Chicago and is relatively small in comparison to the winter show in Los Angeles every January. The Winter show is the premier craft and hobby event where hundreds of manufacturers set up booths bursting with their “latest and greatest” products and tools. Designers come to display their work as well, setting up tables at the Designer Showcase. Each designer purchases table space showcasing their best work, in hopes of attracting manufacturers, publishers and editors requiring their design services to create projects for trade show samples, packaging, books and magazines or even ideas for new product.
Odds and Ends
July 15th, 2010
Remember how I told I went to the ribbon outlet and found some really amazing deals? Well, that was great fun but now I am stuck with the question of how to store and organize it all!
My daughter loves strawberries. So I picked some up when I was grocery shopping. The plastic containers they came in were pretty cute so I washed them out and added them to the pile of “things to recycle for projects” where they sat while I pondered what to do with them. Read on…
Cupcake decor
July 13th, 2010
This cheerful set of Guest Towel Cupcakes served up on a recycled cake plate is a great way to spruce up your bathroom for a party. The idea came from my friend, Jonathan Fong, a fabulous designer, author and lifestyle expert I met at CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) a few years ago. Read on…
Chalk, anyone?
July 8th, 2010
Here is a quick and easy way to add punch to your home at practically no cost.
Write on the walls. You heard me. The next time Aunt Margaret and Uncle Joe come for a visit, grab a piece of sidewalk chalk and write a message to them on a prominent wall. I do this often and it’s always fun to see people’s reactions. Read on…
Wedding bells!
July 6th, 2010
About a month ago, we had a call from my daughter’s boyfriend. He and my daughter met while singing together in the Glee Club at the Coast Guard Academy. Jess graduated two years ago and is stationed in CA on a cutter and Jason just graduated in May. While we were talking, he asked if we would be around over the weekend because he wanted to talk to us. He drove down eight hours to tell us he planned to ask her to marry him and wanted to make sure that was OK with us. (He had me at wanting to talk to us!) So, the day after graduation, Read on…
