CHA Winter 2012 Day 3 - Tim Holtz, May Arts, Teresa Collins Stampmaker

For me, CHA comes to a close. I will fly back tomorrow. This has been a treat and a wonderful experience.

As I approached the doors this morning, the atmosphere was very quite. No huge crowds, just people walking in with in an orderly fashion. Many of them had their catalogs in hand after working through them the night before. I know, I did the same thing. By now you should have your purchasing plans all worked out because tomorrow is a short day and it is all over.

I did pick out some really cool ribbon from my favorite company, May Arts. It is really awesome when they recognize your name and all is well. The ribbons should be in soon as they are shipping everything that is in stock. YEAH!!!... New ribbon to play with.

Next, I went back to Ranger's booth and took pictures of the new pens that we have coming. There are 37 colors!!!... Better than color crayons, I swear....lol. They have a fine tip end and a wider tip on the other end. I want to play!!!! Like I say yesterday, we will carry a very limited supply, so if you want these, you need to buy them now. When we go the the CKC Expo in Portland Oregon in March, I know that these will fly off the shelves!!!
Then, I headed over to the Photocentric booth to take some pictures. Our very own Cheri Piles is on the Teresa Collins Design Team and Cheri also designs for Photocentric. The girls there are so sweet and awesome. I have a new friend in Janet. (her brother's name is Charlie and I have a sister who's name is Janet..lol)

We carry the Teresa Collins Stamp Maker. You really need to stop by our booth ( CKC Expo in Portland in March) and check it out. We will have it on display. It is an awesome tool and I love the logo Cheri made for The Hens' Den.

After all of my must do's, I finally took the opportunity to take some amazing pictures of the DCWV booth. They won the award for the best booth and they sure did deserve it. Look at all the wonderful things they had:

This is a Parrot display and on the other side was this:

He is so pretty!!

Next was the Peacock. Look at that flowing tail!

Here is a close up of his head. Just beautiful!!

The next several pictures are of various trees that they had in their booth. Just breath taking. The amount of time and care in putting each one together had to have been a major undertaking. AND they had to ship them in to the convention. MY OH MY!!

Each display was made from their very own paper. We do not carry DCWV, but this booth was a must post. They deserve the reconigtion. They did an awesome job.

As CHA comes to an end, I hope you have enjoyed our daily blog posts. I wanted to give you a feel of what it is like to be here. Please leave your comments, we would love to hear from you.

Take Care!!!

CHA Winter 2012 Day 2- Petaloo, Grapic 45, My Minds Eye, Tim Holtz

Day two started off with a different kind of energy. The opening crowd was half of that from the day before. There was no opening ceremonies, just the security staff checking and making sure that everyone getting into the show had their appropriate badge and that they belonged there. No sneaking in was going to be allowed.

Once the doors opened, that mad dash from yesterday was more of a walk of determination. A different kind of agenda was taking place. Those booths that you did not get to yesterday are now the target for the day. What great new items do they have in store for the public to see, touch and smell..(yes smell)

I do have to say, that by the end of yesterday I was so darn fed up with this rolling bag that was attached to my hand and following me all over the place. I would turn around and there it was. I would want to step to the right or the left and there it was. To think that I have this attachment for the 3 day in a row is getting old...lololololol

Ok, onto the goodies. My Mind's Eye was one of my stops. They have such wonderful paper and I really enjoyed chatting it up with one of the reps. I would love to carry everything they have but I promised myself that I would stick with my budget. (Ugh, a woman on a budget and admitting it....lol)





Next, I went back to Grapic 45 so that I could take pictures and show you the new goodies that we will be getting in with their paper lines. OH, what fun!!! Metal Butterflies and cute small brads.

Can you imagine taking a small set of needle nose pliers and tweaking those wings so that the butterfly looked like it was flying? Now imagine adding one or two of those cute metal brads...OooooLaLa!




Now, I made a wonderful find!!!... as I was walking around I found this cute booth called Petaloo. They have the most amazing flowers and WHAT DID MY EYE'S SPY but Grapic 45 paper! It was being used to show off the awesome colors and how wonderful they blend and compliment the Grapic 45 paper lines.....Yes!!! So...I "squirreled" and we are getting some of these wonderful flowers in our store to compliment and work with all the Grapic 45 paper lines. Such a grand find!!

Next I was back at the Ranger booth for another make and take and it was using the melting pot again. Applying Perfect Pearls with the resin they use and I made another piece of bling.

Yes, you see correctly. Tim Holtz signed the back of my bling!!.... Whooo Hooooo

I watched Tim demonstrate the new pens that Ranger is debuting and at first I thought they were just another marker and thinking they would not be an item that we would carry at this time. Well, I squirreled again. We are getting those wonderful pens and they should be shipping mid February. The things that you can do with those pens are awesome and they are priced very nicely compared to other products on the market. We will carry a limited supply, so be sure to be the first one to go on line and purchase them once we announce that they are in the store and available.

I will try and get some pictures of them today and post them on our Day 3 of CHA

(such a brain fart, should have done that yesterday)

Have an awesome day and we will catch you later

CHA Winter 2012

CHA Winter 2012.
What can I say?  What should I say?   But WOW!..  

This has been an experience.   From the moment I walked in this morning to the last booth I was at, it was a ride!   I has such an awesome opportunity to meet the people behind the scene to those on  the front lines.

Opening the doors....

I was 3rd in line to get in the doors.  From my vantage point I really got an in sight into the early hours of the opening.   We were surprised with a "flash mob" and all camera's were flashing and clicking like crazy.  One of the dis-advantages of being in front, you do not get to see what is happening in the rear.  But my ears told me all I needed to hear.  People were having fun!!.  (I am hoping to get a video from a friend, so please check back)

Having waited for a very long time, we were surprised once again.  Bag Pipes!!!... They are such an awesome sound and it came from afar and the closer they got to the front entrance, the more intense the excitement got.   What a wonderful and talented group and what a way to build up the the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Once that ribbon was cut, it was a MAD dash into the convention center.  Everyone spent days mapping out their path, mapping out who was giving limited specials to the first 50 or 100 people, who had the best goodies.... it was CRAZY!!!!!

Me... I headed straight to Ranger and my first make-in-take was quick and easy and very cute.   They were demonstrating a "melting pot" for a hard resin onto Tim Holtz's new "Tire Tread" material.   FUN.. FUN.. FUN.... 20 min later, I was in line at Tim Holtz Idea-ology.......

The was was 1.5 hours... When I got to that stool, I was so darn happy.  The sweet gal that was helping with the make-in-takes was so sweet.  She saw the look on my face and I am sure it was red from being so hot.  (you know that feeling... right.. private summer moments) ANY WAY...... This make-in-take was Tim's new releases.  The Pocket Watch... what a fun thing to play with!!!.  I wore it all day long.  (hope it Tim appreciates it).  Now, understand I am hearing hoops and hollars behind me and in the distance I could see Tim Holtz and Mario Rossi.  I felt so bumbed that my timing was way off and that I would not get to meet either of them....

WRONG!!!!... Happy Girl.. Happy Dance!!!

Mario is so sweet and kind and Tim was to gracious to take a moment out of his VERY busy day and take a picture with me.    Love them both!!!!!!!!!!   Ummmm... did I mention that we have goodies coming??

Next was Teresa Collins Designs!!....What an opportuity, I have to say.   I was to surprised to find that the very people I wanted to meet, they were ALL there.  Nick Nash.. (cutie pie), Julie Jacob (what a sweet heart and so darn cute), Teresa Collins, herself and Gentry her daughter.  That was a bonus.  We see the names of her children on her bling and it was such a pleasure to meet Gentry.  Very sweet girl and cute.  (hey guys!!!!). Teresa was so gracious.  I know it must be a very long day to stand in those beautiful heels and dresses and smile every time a stranger wanted to take a picture.  I am honored and blessed that she allowed me such an opportuinty. (yes, we have 2 lines coming from Teresa Collins Designs)

Then, onto Graphic 45.   I was sitting there with one of Diane's daughters placing an order and Diane came out.. let me say that all the dresses that every one of the girls were wearing were just gourgeous!!!!  Stunning!!!.. Diane was elegant and gracious.   I asked her daughter if I could take a photo with Diane and she said "sure".  I jumped out of my chair, stood next to Diane and I felt like a little school girl next to one of her idols...lol.   (OH.. AND... we have 2 lines coming!!)

Even Beautiful Ladies must take off their shoes.  Their feet hurt just like the rest of us.

Now by this time I have to eat.   Needed fuel.. so off to the food bar!!.. not the best, but the best I could find.  There was no way I was going to leave.   LOLOLOLOLOL

I spent a few moments collecting my thoughts and when I turned around there was Bo Bunny!!!!

I stepped into the booth and met Matthew, the owners son.  He was so funny.  We joked and laughed at some of the antic's we both saw and witnessed throughout the day.  He was a hoot. He even recited a saying that he had to type 100 times when he was in the 7th grade.   Cracked me up.   I stuck around for a drawing that they were holding at 5 pm.  Sad to say, I did not win anything but they were SO generous with their give -a- ways.   
Oh, and yes we have 2 of their new releases coming.  

Day 2...Wonder what I will find???  Stay tuned!

Here's a little sneak peak of what will be coming soon to the store!

BO BUNNY

Photo Source

Photo Source

TERESA COLLINS

Source

MY MIND'S EYE

Follow Your Heart  

BE HAPPY COLLECTION

Source

Source

Source

SIMPLE STORIES

Source

Source

After this, my day was done.  Many long hours standing on my feet and boy did they let me know that.   Now I sit in the hotel room planning tomorrow and my plan of attack for day 2........

CHA 2012 Winter Show

Oh My Gosh!!!.... What an experience.    Today is day 1 and I have 4 more days.   I swear I am going to wear out the rubber on the bottom of my sneakers.    This is my first time attending CHA, so from that point of view, it is more than I thought it would be but at the same time it is just what I thought is would be.  

People running everywhere trying to get their booths set up or make their way to their classes.   Mass people and it was only day one..... I will need to take my valuim tomorrow.

I will keep you posted......

Bo Bunny Timepiece

I love playing with different things, more than working on a 12 x 12 piece of paper.  A friend, Jodie from Sharin Memories, asked if I would do something with this old frame she had.  She wanted to hang it up in her store.  The moment I saw the window frame, my mind had already created the story that should be on it.   You can see it at Jodie's store.  She would love it if you stopped by and say Hi.

This is the front side of the window.  I used Bo Bunny's Timepiece paper line for this project because I wanted the age of the window to tell a story and with this paperline, it tells it quite well. 

This is the back side of the window, completing the story.  The pictures are of my Twin Grandsons.  They are getting their first set of wheels.  Grandpa is showing them how to use the peddles and how to stear and how to just sit on them....lol.  We had so much fun that day.  Great memories.  Love this project so much, I am on the hunt for another window to do the same for our home.  If you know where I can find one, please, please let me know. 

Hugs!!!!!

Products used:

Bo Bunny Timepiece

Bo Bunny Timepiece embellishments

Tim Holtz Distress ink Walnut Stain

Very Old 5 Piece Window

Double sided tape

Black Cardstock

Looking back at 2011 and foward to 2012

The Hens' Den made their debut February 2011 and since then, it has been one big ride.  Little did we know what was in front of us for the remainder of 2011.  We set up our first web site, went live and have so much fun with it.  We also have attended several Expo's through out the year, Scrapbook Expo and Creating Keepsakes Expo and a couple of Arabian Horse shows.

What an eye opener they all were.  We had very good times and some frustrating times.  Setting up the booths is the hard part and long and frustrating.  When everything is all done and we step back and smile really big at what we put together, it is worth all the hard work.  During the shows themselves, we have been blessed to meet some really wonderful scrappers.  At the end of the show, we found it incredible just how FAST we can take down the booth...have to laugh at our selves....so glad to be on the road home but looking forward to the next one.

2011 also brought us the experience with our first Design Team.  I want to thank Elisha and Brittney, our Teen Designers, for giving us their time and efforts.   School is just too important, so they will not be joining us in 2012.
Cheri Piles will stay on as our Design Team Lead (and am I glad) and Carla Oliveria will remain on as well and she has accepted the positing of Design Team Lead Asst.  I am so darn happy!!!   We can not make this happen without them.

 In December, The Hens' Den was blessed with the growth and addition of 7 new design team members.   Their talents are amazing and I am so excited to see what their enthusiasm brings to The Hens' Den in 2012.  Please give a warm welcome to:

Carolyn Lotin

Becky Garrison

Theresa Harris

Lori McClellan

Krystle Thomas

Nicolle Kramer

Sesil Cratin - Guest Designer

Each one of these ladies are awesome and we are so darn blessed to have them with us for the 2012 year.  This just amazes me and I hope we are all they expect us to be.
There are other changes as well.  There are surprises on the horizon and hopefully you will all enjoy and appreciate them.  It takes a lot of work, effort and communication to make things come together. As the weeks roll out, we will announce each change and we welcome your comments on them all.   So excited......
Again, The Hen's Den will be attending several expo with Scrapbook Expo in July and October and Creating Keepsakes Expo in March and November and we once again will attend The Daffodil Arabian Horse Show that is held in Puyallup in April.   Please stop by and say Hi to us if you are at any of the events.
Lastly, we want to thank all of our customers for a wonderful 2011 and we look forward to seeing you again in 2012. 
Happy New Year!!!
Charlie