CHA DESIGNER SHOWCASE
Several highlights to mention but at the top of the list was getting to one of the artists featured in the "Designer Showcase." We are able to set up a display of product mock-ups and marketing materials for potential licensing for my wildflower art. Art Directors and company representatives walked the showcase over a 2-day period, Jan. 30-31. We were able to give out a good number of press packets and business cards and will soon start the follow up. As you may know, my wildflowers have been featured on watches sold in the UK for the last 4 years and we are hoping to continue to build on that success! As you tell from the photos here, we continue to look at fabric (as seen on the umbrella, purse and pillow) as well as paper and other product applications.FUN WITH MAKIN'S CLAY
We were able to spend many hours walking the trade show, seeing new products, talking with company reps and getting to try various materials during Make-it-N-Take-it sessions. An exciting opportunity that came my way as a result was the chance to "play" with a great air-dry polymer clay from the folks at Makin's Clay. I had a chance to do several small projects, with the thoughts of summer art camps AND classes for adults in the back of mind the whole time. This polymer clay is easy to use and only limited by your imagination. I'm posting some photos of items on display in the Makin's Clay booth to give you just a small glimpse of what can be done. You can be sure that classes in using Makin's Clay will be on the next Casa de Linda schedule!MAKE IT AND GIVE IT
Thanks to the folks at iLoveToCreate, David and I both got to play a bit using Scribble Stamps on simple quilt blocks. But we didn't bring these home. Instead, the company was inviting folks to create blocks that would be make into quilts and donated to children's homes. How cool is that?! We had a great time. There's a special connection for me personally with iLoveToCreate. These are the same people who own the Duncan brand of ceramic paints and supplies. I did lots of business with them back in the 1970s and 1980s when, along with my family, I had a business called Linda's Ceramic Supply in my hometown of Floresville, Texas. This was huge wholesale and retail ceramic shop that started with a tiny kiln and 13 molds that I bought for $100 in 1976. It ran its course and due to a downturn in the economy and a downward spiral in the ceramics industry as a whole in the early 1980s, we closed the business in 1986. But it was a great run while it lasted and Duncan will always be a part of creative past and have a special place in my heart.CHA: IT WASN'T ALL PLAY
Yes, we had a great time getting dabble with paint-n-clay, but we also spent several hours in business seminars presented by CHA. This is a great perk of being a member of this national organization. David spent time in two workshops focused on the Internet and Social Media. I participated in a seminar led by none other than Leatrice Eiseman, Director of the Pantone Color Institute. Pantone is that company who, through tons of research, announces the what color or colors will be hot in the coming year. By the way, for 2012, it's Tangerine Tango. While one color tends to get the spotlight, the seminar was really about 9 palettes that will be showing up in homes, fashion, and more in the coming year. It was just amazing to learn what all goes in to selecting the palettes and where those influences come from. Ahh...SUNNY CALIFORNIA!
The CHA 2012 Winter Convention was held in Anaheim. David and I both love this part of California! The Anaheim Convention Center has done a great job of landscaping the grounds and the tall palm trees lining the walkways, creating nature's patterns, are a special treat. David snapped these photos outside of the convention center.
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