Arts Publications

A summer CHA, CHA

Expression, Nov-Dec, 2005 by Lisa Stahlhut

Hmmm, summer in Chicago? Well, at least we were inside most of the time. And what a place it is. The annual summer show put on by the Crafts and Hobby Association is the smaller of the two retail shows CHA holds during the year. The summer show, affectionately referred to as CHA CHA, or my favorite, Baby CHA, definitely didn't let us down. The CHA show is such a crazy mix of wonderful products, talented people and sore feet. Attending the show consists of walking miles in your Easy Spirits, living off chips and caffeine, and sore cheeks from hours of smiling. But we do it in order to give you the best in the industry--new products, new ideas and new artists. Here are just a few memories and finds from this summer's show:

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Fun at the booth. Don't you just love candid shots while you're eating? Dawn's gonna kill me for printing this.

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Always on the lookout for cool products, I just had to visit the z becky brown booth. Carolyn (left) and Nancy (right) were nice enough to pose with the talk-of-the-show-product--the Creative Clazzic handbag. Look for an article on the purse next month. We gave a few to some of the biggest artists around to see what they could do. Can't wait to see them ...

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We shared our booth one day with the DIY network. They were filming "on-the-street craft challenges" at CHA for a new show called Craft Labs. The show will premiere sometime late next year and will cover the latest twists on a variety of craft obsessions such as altered books, soap making, polymer clay, collage, art dolls, computer crafting, stained glass and much more. Now that's an eclectic mix!

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Demonstrations always draw a crowd at the show but squeezing through the crowd to see Tim Holtz demo at the Ranger booth can be challenging. Hey, cool heat gun, Tim!

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Polyform's new baby, Sculpey Ultra Light, was so new it was locked behind glass. The lightweight and bakeable clay is sure to become a staple in every clayer's studio.

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Nothing says love like ... decorative papers. The bride and groom at Bisous B Zoo were happy to show their selection of elegant scrapbook papers before jetting off to their honeymoon.

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Petals anyone? Makes you want to take off your shoes and frolic through the booth, huh? That's what I thought--and I don't think they minded much.

While on her five-minute break at the booth, Karen Thomas whipped up this simple origami bonzai tree. Just kidding, this amazing example was on display to show what you could do with all of the wonderful supplies from Yasutomo.

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