More great photos from winter CHA show posted on Julie McGuffee's blog. Thanks so much for sharing Julie! Looking at all the photos I am struck by how pretty everything is, beautiful flowers and embellishments. 

Suede from Project Runway with his collection of elaborately textured and layered dresses. Stunning! Dresses and dress forms, cooking and baking elements, products packaged in containers looking like perfume or nail polish. It is certainly evident from this show it is indeed a woman's industry!

Beyond that is the celebration of the everyday arts and that creativity is inherent in our lives. The show is inspiring, the dress becomes a work of art. The gorgeous gowns shown may not be for everyday wear but products used to create them can be incorporated into an everyday dress. The dress then becomes unique and reflects the wearer's signature style.

Creativity is one of life's greatest gifts and industry shows like CHA encapsulate how amazing it is all in a few days. Have a creative weekend! Debra, CEO!

The winter CHA tradeshow in LA (Craft & Hobby Association) ended today. Suze Weinberg of Ranger has posted some great pics from the show. The brass jewelry designs created using the Sizzix diecut machine are just beautiful!

C&T Publishing won the Innovative New Product Award with their TAP Transfer Artist Paper. The talented Rebekah Meiers demoed some beautiful collage pieces using TAP during the show.

I missed being at the show and connecting with everyone but considering the weather getting there and home would have meant delays. I had some of my work at the show and hope my characters behaved themselves!  I am busy with some other commitments at present. However with everyone posting from their phones and sending messages from the show it was easy to follow what was happening.

Show pictures were full of happy faces busy sharing and creating, many designer friends had new products being released and were busy making new contacts for business ahead. I am very grateful for such dear friends who messaged me with contacts to follow up with even though I wasn't at the show.

So to creativity and inspiration, an integral part of the human spirit! Debra, CEO!

Coming up in the months ahead I am going to be part of a monthly blog hop with a group of talented designers, the Designer Crafts Connection. We had such a great time participating in the Sizzix Triple Play BlogHop that forty four of us have wanted to continue. Organized by Julie McGuffee and Niki Meiners with Jen Goode creating logo and our technical set up we are almost ready to launch.

Our first challenge was to create a design for the charity auction at the CHA show in Los Angeles. I used some of my favorite products, STYROFOAM TM products and National Nonwovens wool to create a winter angel. Inspired by the winter and my two darling daughters who have left the nest my winter angel was lovingly created.

I have always loved tams since I was a little girl and this winter I have been wearing a soft creamy one so of course my angel needed one too!

Fran here for Fowl Friday! Freda is a little under the weather so is just moi today. She seems to have a bit of the sniffles, a case of Fowlitus. It involves some sneezing, wheezing, whining and overall yuckiness. So she is confined to the nest with a little bell.

Ah the little bell, it is now ringing on average every five minutes! Juice, more tissue, hot water bottle, soup (not chicken of course!) water with lemon, chocolate! (haven't heard that prescribed before!)

Anyway I am being run off my little chicken legs attending to her. Debra is busy so I am on full time duty. Thinking the bell may disappear at her highness nap time!

Till next time! Follow the Fowl, Fran & Freda! (cough, sniffle, sniffle!)

One of the fun things about my work and being on facebook is I never know when I am tagged in a photo what I might be in the photo. When I am tagged by an editor or company I may be an ornament, a pillow or a bunny!

I love wool and felt so much of my work is with these and recently I was tagged in a photo by National Nonwovens. My table runner, pillow and Oliver Owl who have also appeared in Creative Homearts and Crafts 'n Things magazines were in the booth at International Quilt Market in the Xotic felt display. Their Xotic felt made from fifty percent bamboo is so soft and cuts like butter! The colors are so fun and vibrant! Many of my projects are available with instructions on the Homearts site. Have a creative day! Follow the Joy! Debra

I began this year with three words, love, joy & gratitude to live by. This past week has left me filled with gratitude. Waking each morning in good health and having meaningful purpose I am grateful for. The people in each day have reminded me of how generous the human spirit is.

When we encounter someone or a situation which is made memorable or special, it is always made so by the people involved. A local shop I go to regularly has the friendliest upbeat woman. I commented on her delightful service and she replied, of course I get to serve customers like you! That is how she makes every customer feel. These are the people who make an everyday ordinary moment one to remember throughout the day with a smile. 

Each day is a reason to celebrate this life. Each birthday a reminder of the day we arrived and the world was changed forever. Each of us is here with a purpose and to make a difference in this life. Live it well & with gratitude. Debra

Well it is Fowl Friday with Fran & Freda! It is of course our favorite day of the week! In fact Freda and I have been discussing our plans for the year. (We hear Debra doing it enough so why not us!) Sooooo we have decided that we need our own holiday Fantastic Fowl Day, or actually Fantastic Fowl Week would work.

For our holiday we envision a parade, all fowl and feather related of course! Our favorite foods served all week with appropriate entertainment. Freda has a secret crush on Big Bird well maybe not so secret. His photo is hanging above her nest covered in chicken lip kisses. (Debra has a great selection of lipstick that Freda sometimes borrows.) So if Big Bird could make an appearance Freda would be happy.

Everyone attending would be wearing a tshirt with our photos on it and fowl shaped balloons for all our peeps. Dancing in the streets, a little funky chicken happening and all eligible roosters welcome! However we do need to keep an eye or two on Freda

So please support us in our efforts to bring in Fowl Friday week! Have a fabulous week friends! Follow the fowl Fran & Freda!

It snowed again last night and is truly a winter wonderland! I walk everyday so hats, gloves and scarves are required wardrobe pieces. When looking through some old family photos I found one of my grandmother as a young woman taken in the winter season.

Inspiration comes from many sources and most often unexpectedly. I looked at the photo of my grandmother so many years ago, a glimpse into her daily life and also to the fashion of the day. Her matching scarf and muff are wonderful. I remember having a muff as a child and loving it. This photo has inspired me to create one. I will peruse my cozy fabrics, perhaps needle felting added details. Off to sketch a design! (well after I check off some of my list for today) Thanks Gram! Have a wonderful creative day! Debra, CEO!

Creativity is a reflection of what comes from inside. Whatever we choose to express in any way sends the world a message of the kind of person we are. These days with self expression being everywhere in the virtual social world and at the touch of a finger you can express yourself.

The instant connection, the sharing and feedback, support received are all good things. Many of us work alone so it allows for a connection, to know more about colleagues we may only see a couple times a year.

What happens also is over time personalities are established through what is expressed both in words and shared visually through photos, links, etc. As we share we are also offering up an energy, our energy into the world. Perhaps a good question to think about is how do we want the world on any level to see us and what do we want to offer of value?

This is a question that I have thought about alot and have realized I wish to inspire creativity in others but also to inspire the spirit. Each of us is a great gift in this life and we are here to share our gifts with the world, to lead a life that is meaningful and rewarding. May this day and everyday be full, rich and inspired! Follow the JOY! Debra, CEO!

It is Fowl Friday! Our favorite day being the only day we are allowed to say anything. Well we do talk lots according to Debra but Debra also does not seem to listen to much we have to say.

For example there is this supposed Santa character still sitting in the sunroom. We wonder why is he all white, why does he have a squirrel instead of a sack? Is he a squirrel Santa bringing only nuts? Does he carry anything good in his pockets? Does he trip on his robes in the snow? Anyway none of our questions have been answered more like totally ignored!!! If anyone can help with answers we would so appreciate it! Follow the Fowl, Fran & Freda!