Sunday, February 26, 2012

Below is a list of my top 25 favorite products and manufacturers at this years Winter CHA 2012 show in Anaheim, CA. Today I will showcase no: 11-13 on my list!

1.Ruby Rock-It www.rubyrock-it.com
2.Graphic 45 www.g45papers.com
3.Hemptique www.hemptique.net
4.Vintaj www.vintaj.com
5.Beacon Adhesives www.beaconadhesives.com
6.Scrap Perfect www.scraperfect.com
7.Plaid www.plaidonline.com
8.Ranger www.rangerink.com
9.Ellison/Sizzix www.ellison.com
10.Colorbox/Clearsnap/Donna Salazar www.clearsnapinc.com
11.Basic Grey www.basicgrey.com
12.Kaiser Craft www.kaisercraft.net
13.EK Success:Martha Stewart and French General www.eksuccessbrands.com
14.Glitter Dust www.thermoweb.comhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
15.October Afternoon www.octoberafternoon.com
16.Offray Ribbon-Sports Line
17.Best Creations www.bestcreation.us
18.Zutter www.zutterproducts.com
19.Walter Kunze Dresden's www.walterkunze.com
20.Globe Craft Memories www.globecraftmemories.com

Right Now I am showing no. 11, 12, 13:Basic Grey, Kaiser Craft, EK Success!

No. 11 is Basic Grey, they always put out great line of scrapbooking papers and accessories, I've been a fan from the beginning! This year my fave of their new lines is the Konnichiwa line, its so Kawaii meets whimsical and storybook all wrapped in one. I noticed throughout the show the most popular themes were: Dolls (Paper Doll, Matryoshka, Konnichiwa, Kitsch, etc.), Kawaii Style meaning everything cute, with Asian influence and all sweet, Bake Shoppe/Sweet Shoppe, Nature: Trees, Owls, Birds and Steampunk: Steampunk Travel, Wheels, Clocks, Dress Forms, Bird Cages, Victorian, Apothecary, Lanterns, Hot Air Balloons, etc.
I just love all these papers, I have to have them, imagine the possibilities..........
Now I must move onto no. 12 with Kaiser Craft, another scrapbook company who unveiled a few great lines: I just love the cute Kawaii style trees and chubby faced owls, they are just too cute!I especially love the cutesy deers and red top Gnome like mushrooms:Their whole line is fabulous and like Basic Grey, I need to have this new line from Kaiser Craft too, I am imagining all the artful goodness I could create with this line....

Now My final pick of this post is no. 13: EK Success: French General and Martha Stewart Lines!
I have been a fan of French General for years, I have had the pleasure of meeting the French General herself: Kari, have journeyed to her store and attended a French General event or two. So when I saw her line w/EK Success, I knew instantly I'd have to have everything in it!
Look at all these fab products:Can you pick a fave yet? LOL, so much eye candy, I was here forever, then I ran into my friend from grade school Alex, who introduced me to another fabulous line that Martha Stewart created!Martha's new line of clay and clay molds, well we all know how much I love molds, I've been creating my own for over 8 years, time flies, lol. So we all know I'm going to love this set of products, lots of flower, butterfly and accent molds:These are all made from clay:Are you in love yet????? I'd say I am, I'll be carrying the French General and Martha Stewart EK Success products in my store soon, especially the molds and clay, I hope I don't keep them all for myself, lol!

Stay tuned for no. 14-17 of the top 25! For more information on Basic Grey, Kaiser Craft and Ek Success/Martha Stewart and French General visit their sites:
www.basicgrey.com
www.kaisercraft.net
www.eksuccessbrands.com
www.marthastewart.com
www.frenchgeneral.com
Magic and Joy,
Lisa!

CHA Day 1, Part 2

The next part of my journey into CHA I had to stop at my 2nd family: Beacon Adhesives!
Here I am with the amazing Mark Wilson of Creative Distribution who came all the way from England to CHA for the Beacon Booth.

Everyone in this group are truly amazing from their products to themselves, Mike, Karen, Hala, the whole team is just wonderful. Their customer service and pride in their products goes beyond normal limits, anytime I have a question I get a solution fast.

I recently tried a few new products and love working with Quick Grip, Zip Dry, Kids Choice and Decoupage Gloss Sealer, which I use to seal in my glitter. For a complete guide on Beacon Glue's visit their link: http://www.beaconadhesives.com/tips.html and download their free glue/tips guide. Also here is a quick link to their adhesive selection: http://www.beaconadhesives.com/cchart.htmlI'll be back with more Beacon photos and the Top 25 Product spotlight in the next day or so...

After Beacon, I headed over to search for my 3rd family, my Aussie family, on the way I got distracted by some other fab booths gracing the floors, here is one of them, Best Creations, look at how cute these papers are:I'll be sharing more photos of their papers in the spotlight! I just love love love these! I then spotted the new sports line of ribbons at Offray, How much do I love my sports, so yes I am thrilled with these new ribbons:

Along the way, I ran into my childhood friend Alex, we always seen to meet at CHA and were both from the same area, lol. Alex is an amazing creative talent, and works with Martha Stewart, he gave me a quick preview of some new Martha products and you will just faint, trust me! Here is a quick preview of some new products, my fave are the molds and clay products she has created, I'll be showing casing more of this in my spotlight, as this is one of my must have new fave items!After spending some time here at EK Success, I found the one and the only RUBY ROCK-IT, my Aussie Family!All I had to do is look for the massive birdcage, it was like living in a real life assemblage filled with Ruby Rock-it bliss. Upon entering the ceremony had begun, the gifting of the shirt, fam to fam. We presented Warren with his own NJ shirt, lol, the girls Joanna and Rachel will get something more blingy!
Followed by the meeting, lol. The Ruby Rock-it crew did it again with amazing new products, all I'm gonna say is OMG, I couldn't leave their booth with all the must have goodies, I'm especially loving their paper doll, British Steampunk and Nostalgia lines, I already overdosed on their Le Jardin collection last year! Its safe to say their new products will be in my Top 25 Spotlight! Here I am with two of the greatest girls I know:The whole crew!Great Minds think with Great Shoes!LOL!
After closing out the day at Ruby Rock-it, Mom and I headed over to meet the crew at Beacon for dinner, the choice amazing Mexican at: La Casa Garcia, such a great dinner with great people!
After dinner, we headed to the hotel to get ready for another fun filled and long day at CHA. This concludes highlights from Day CHA Day 1, stay tuned for Day 2, Day 3, Day 4 and highlights, along with the Top 25!
xoxo
Lisa!

Christmas in NYC: Martha Show, Macy's Windows and Tinsel!
On Wed. Dec. 10, 2008, I ventured into the city on the 5:30 am train to Penn Station NYC to meet my dear friend Theresa from Middle School, for the live Martha Stewart Show, we had to be there around 8:00am for our seating.

It was an unusually warm day with temps around 68/70 degrees so waiting on line wasn't bad, with a cup of Dounkin Donuts in hand, good conversation, Theresa and I were ready to watch Martha Live with special guest: Paula Abdul, and Katie Steuernagle, who makes these adorable animal pull toys, funny thing is I have circus cart pull toys and circus rubber animal toys/dolls in my new book: Altered Art Circus, Quarry Books, Feb.2009 (Now available), buy pre-sale now at: http://www.amazon.com/Altered-Art-Circus-Techniques-Assemblages/dp/1592534872 or visit http://www.quarrybooks.com/
Katie's adorable pull toys put a smile on my face and was by far the best part of the show, even though Paula Abdul looked fabulous and mentioned her new accessory line, which is gorgeous and full of sparkle and glam, a must have for any true diva or for the inner Queen in you.



Here is the link for Katie's Pull Toy Project:
http://www.marthastewart.com/article/handmade-holiday-gift-papier-mache-pull-toys?lnc=38f9cf380e1dd010VgnVCM1000005b09a00aRCRD&rsc=showmain_tv_the-martha-stewart-show

The set was decorated in true Martha Stewart Holiday Glam, this 7 segment show was wonderful and so was her staff, I recommend if you get the chance try to go to the show, you will not regret it. Pictures are allowed before and after the show airs, you can take pictures from your seating area, but do not wander around, I think this is a very fair request! Plus you will leave the show with a surprise, we received Giradelli Chocolate, which I'm saving for my opera cake which I make before New Years!

After the Show Theresa and I walked a few blocks over to Macy's (Miracle of 34th Street) to look at all the holiday decorations and window displays. Here are some of my favorite window display pictures from Macy's:






After walking around and looking at all the enchanting Window Display's, Theresa and I walked on over to Phoenix Beads and Tinsel Trading. I had to visit with Marcia and Miss Linda Ashton


while I was there, she is one of the most amazing milliners and super talented, we met through my dear friend Terri, visit Terri's blog to read her post on Linda and take a glimpse in the New York Times for the article http://dimestoedaze.typepad.com/ and NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/11/26/fashion/20081127-runway_3.html Heather and Terri are wonderful! Love them both!

Now once you enter Tinsel Trading, trust me you won't leave empty handed, I love what Marcia and her staff did with the store displays for the holidays, they had tinsel, vintage holiday goodies and real mica throughout the store, it was pure Tinsel Wonderland and of course I stayed for over an hour chatting with the girls and treasure hunting throughout.

Isn't this adorable, this girl display sits right in the front of the store, for more info on their wonderful findings, books, events, please visit: http://www.tinseltrading.com/

After Tinsel I headed over to Phoenix beads, and then back for to Penn Station for my 4:30pm train home, it was a wonderful day filled with lots of Holiday Magic and Joy!

XO!
Lisa!