Best Blogger Contest

As a designer member of the Association for the Creative Industry (AFCI), I am privileged to work with some of the most talented artists, designers, and bloggers in the industry.

This past January, during the AFCI annual trade show "Creativation"  Prime Publishing/Fave Crafts invited the creative influencers to their annual Blogger event. The evening is sponsored by some of the best creative manufacturers in the industry.

The event is designed to allow the two groups to mingle and get to know each other. Allow the manufacturers to learn about the designers, artists, and bloggers, areas of expertise, and let the creative influencers learn what the manufacturers are looking for to see if a partnership can be formed between the two.

One of the absolute funnest parts of the event is that all those "creative influencer  types" get to participate in Prime Publishing/Fave Crafts "Best Blogger" Contest using products from the sponsors.
There were over 40 entries, and 20 were chosen as finalists and mine was one of them.

My "Modern End Table from Wedding Keepsakes" is up against 19 other amazing projects. The prizes are all cash awards and determined by public vote.

 You can check out the amazing projects including my end table here at -----> Best Blogger Contest and then vote for your favorite!

Thanks to Prime Publishing/Fave Crafts for being amazing hosts, and to the wonderful sponsors: Deflecto, Leisure Arts, Love Knitting, Marvy Uchida, Premier Yarn, Plaid, Polyform, Red Heart, Sakura, Share A Sale, Testors/Rust-Oleum, Xyron, Yarnspirations

The Most Magical Place on Earth--CHA Show Recap

When you go to a magic show are you the type of person that wants to know "how did they do that?" I sure am. While I understand, a good magic show takes skill, technique and a whole lot of practice, I also realize you need to know "how the trick was done."

I recently returned from what I consider to be the "most magical place on earth." While I did go to Anaheim, California, my purpose there wasn't to visit a mouse, my purpose was to attend the Craft and Hobby Association trade show commonly referred to as CHA for short.

Art for me is magical. It transforms the creators thoughts, feelings, emotions, memories, ideas-- into a tangible and visible form, able to be shared with others. Before you get into a big debate with me over the word "magic" consider the definition:

mag·ic/ˈmajik/

noun

1. the power of apparently influencing the course of events by using mysterious or supernatural forces.
2. wonderful; exciting

Art for me is wonderful and exciting, I love how someone's work can take me on a mysterious journey into their inner thoughts, it can convey emotion, art shares a memory. Art can also be a form of self expression or a way to make "cool stuff" and bring beauty to the world around us. Yet sometimes that whole creative process can be a bit mysterious, therefore, art to me is magical. 

While I appreciate art and love creating, and I do not consider myself an artist, yet somehow, the creative industry has embraced me as one of their own, because of this, I am able to attend the Craft and Hobby Association trade show. The purpose of CHA is to bring together; creative professionals, businesses and manufacturers to further the creative industry. At the CHA show we learn about the latest products, learn new techniques, and connect with others in the industry. I like to think of it as my chance to learn the"how did they do that?!?!" to the magic of creating.

Sometimes the "how did they do that" comes from a fabulous new product designed to make something easier or create a cool effect. Other times the "how did they do that" comes from learning from other creative professionals that share their techniques, and skill with us. All the time it's a chance to connect with old friends and make news ones and celebrate the "magic" that is the creative industry.

So come with me to catch a glimpse of the 2015 Craft and Hobby Association Trade Show and see why I call it "The most magical place on earth!"

 

For those wanting to view via You Tube you can find it HERE