Craft and Hobby Association 2015

Lots of good stuff was happening at the Craft and Hobby Association show this year. I was really excited to be there, it's always fun....but last year my priority was moving my mom and getting her and my little brother settled .....MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!...so back to making more time for art.

The show ran Jan 9th thru 13th. There are lots of new products to see of course but also lots of wonderful classes to take with some really accomplished artists. It's like the who's who in the craft industry.

                                                          Supplies from Pam's class.

My first class was with the fabulous Pam Carriker, I love her art. We made journals using her color palette...which just happens to be my favorite colors too! We played with her new stencils, paints, rub-ons and I finally got to try one of Pam's favorite products...Derivan Liquid Pencil. She showed us how to apply it with a sponge over a stencil....didn't know you could use it so many ways. Once you blend it it has a hazy, halo effect.

                                                 

                                                       Liquid pencil used with stencil.

Another artist I always enjoy taking workshops with is Traci Bautista....I love her recycle ideas for creating art. She generously gave each student a copy of her book 'Printmaking Unleashed'.....it's full of inspiration. Thank you Traci!

I have admired Rebekah Meier's work with fabric for many years, but never taken a class with her. This was my chance. I really enjoyed the class and the new products we used. Rebekah furnished us with some of her cool new stencils, a fabulous tissue paper she had designed and some really nice fabric banners from  Fabric Elements.

 

                             Banner I made in Rebekah's class using her stencils and tissue paper.

Besides classes and workshops I ran around to different booths and sat in on their make and takes. It was such a blast learning how to use new materials. I am formally in love with Gelatos...scrumptious new colors have been added to the line. Talked to Rita Barakat who does some wonderful things with Faber-Castell  products, need to take a workshop with Rita real soon. Luckily for me she lives in Dallas and I live in Fort Worth...can't wait to get together with her.

                                                      Some of the things I loved at CHA.

2015 is going to be a great year, hope you will stop by to visit with Suzanne McNeill, myself and other fabulous artists who are teaching at Sparks Creative Arts Studio in Arlington, Texas. Suzanne was also at CHA...together we picked up some wonderful new products to use in the studio workshops and classes, looking forward to sharing the with you all.