CHA-CHA-CHA... Chicago!
ThreadBanger breezed through the CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) Summer Convention and Trade Show last week in Chicago. This event is the place for craft supply manufacuters to exhibit all of their new products to retailers. According to CHA, fashion crafting industry retail sales bring in approximately $6.3 billion per year!
Our first stop: We went to see TLC, STYLE NETWORK and WE TV star Mark Montano's 10-Minute Craft Challenge, where the competition heated up and the audience shouted for their favorite contestants to decide the winner. What a blast!
Mark spread the news about his latest book "The Big-Ass Book of Crafts," where he shares over 150 crafts to "fill your home, give to your friends, decorate the yard, or send to mom"... definitely something to check out at www.markmontano.com and www.craftytown.com if you love to craft (and who doesn't?). 
Overall the show was inspiring, and well, there were scrabookers galore everywhere! We've boiled the creativity down to three very cool products to share with and inspire you. Here they are!
2. Ramesh from PNE – Panchakanya Nepal Enterprises, a leading manufacturer & exporter of Nepalese handmade felt products showcased a number of creative ways to use felt to make bags, coin purses, broaches, keyrings, jewelry, accessories, hats, shoes and belts! Tucked away in the corner of the show floor, this felt find rocked!
3. Coats and Clark - They shared the company's new Dual Duty, “The ‘Xtra’ Performance Threads for the 21st Century. The new color-coded spools make it a cinch to find the perfect thread for the job. Lynn Browne gave us the ultimate tour of the line, showed some great embroidery examples and dropped a hint for adding a touch of cool to your next project - zippers! Be sure to check out their site for free patterns and tons of tips for your next needle project!
Dear Thread Heads,
This trip was a whirlwind. We owe a big thank you to Victor Domine of CHA for the special invitation, and we're looking forward to heading back for more at the next CHA show in Anaheim, CA (January 25-28). In fact, the Winter 2009 program will be focused on The Green Movement and Indie Crafting and we can't wait!
Leave us a comment below and let us know what designs, trends, and products inspire you!
felt, zippers, cha, mark montano, craft and hobby association, big ass book of crafts, coats and clark, ramesh, PNE
I love those stencils! Am totally inspired to get my halloween craft on. Thank you ThreadBanger :)
This was the first CHA I missed in 5 years. (I was traveling through Europe during the trade show this year) Looks like I missed "some" good stuff, but from what I hear it was more of the same ol' crap.....after working in the scrapbooking industry for quite a few years you get burned out from all the scrappers who want to be so much more than they actually are......but I digress.......