Back from the CHA Conference & Trade Show! It was busy, full of creativity and connecting with amazing wonderful friends!

I arrived before good friend and talented designer Marie Browning who was bringing the flowers for our Crafty Couture dress. Good friend Michelle Zimmerman sent the clay leaves and swirls in from California so we spent Sunday evening adding leaves and flowers to the gown. Monday the dresses were all put on display for the show opening Tuesday! Eighteen spectacular entries which I will feature in upcoming posts. Six will be in the January issue of Cloth Paper Scissors.

First up our dramatic Zen Tango Twirl entry and me!

Sunday I leave for the CHA Craft and Hobby Conference and Trade Show in Chicago. As always there are many last minute preparations. I had to miss the last show so I am very excited to be going to the summer show. I have had the flu and no voice for a week but am hoping to be able to talk by Monday! I am trusting that it will be okay whatever happens.

Show Schedule, What I am up to at the show which is a little slower paced than winter show! Monday is Education Day and a very full day! Hope to be posting from the show and tweeting! Inspiring the Joy of Creativity always! Debra

1.     Monday 18 8-7pm, Crafty Couture Dress to be delivered to show floor and set up.
-9-11 am Designer Roundtable, 10 am Moderating Tradeshow Essentials
-noon-1pm Wow Factor Online Classes
-Deliver Westcott Charity Wings Project
-2pm-arrive to demo at 3-5pm Canadian Be Inspired Event
-Taste of Rosemount 4:30-6pm Conference Lobby
-6pm Designer Crafts Connection  Meeting
-6:30-8pm Designer Section Meeting

2.     Tuesday 19 Trade Show opens
11am-12 noon Designer Showcase setup
3-4 Volunteer at Designer Showcase
5-7 pm Meet and Greet with EPM's Editors, Publishers, Manufacturers at Showcase
7pm-8pm Teardown of Showcase

3.     Wednesday 20 9-10 am Canadian Section Meeting Rm 50-51
12-2pm Gypsy Journal Rm 13

       Walk Show Floor, visit sponsor companies, appointments
Divas-A Tribute to Women in Pop 6:30-10:30 Ballroom

4.     Thursday 21 appointments
Tear down Crafty Couture Display at end of Show 
 

The last few days are going by quickly getting ready for the CHA Craft & Hobby Conference & Tradeshow in Chicago!

My wardrobe for the show is what I like to refer to as a "creatively economical style". One of my bags for the show is a dollar store tote, embellished with bamboo coasters, fabric, felt remnants, trims and accented with beautiful artwork from a friend and local artist who also makes wonderful jewelry, Cynthia Ryder.

I also took a $4 thrift store find of a very plain little black knit dress and embellished it with Cynthia's artwork transferred to fabric sheets, beads, topstitching and another $3 sale belt to make another comfy stylish outfit for the show. Added my little hot pink cardigan and pearls for the finishing touches! So one more outfit ready to go and one that goes with my very comfy black sandals, a necessity on the show floor! The after and below the original dress! Keep creating the JOY! Debra

With only a week to the CHA show we are all busy finishing up new design work, commitments and preparation for the show. Part of this is four days of morning to night on and around the show floor and events and what to wear.

I love dresses and also like to be comfortable. I find feeling good in what you wear is directly related to looking good. If you look good and are comfortable it is great for the confidence. Since sewing is an area that most of my design work is in, I always have a piece on or an accessory that I have made.

For this show I am sewing more than usual. Working with a very small budget for anything new for the show it inspired me to be very creative. I found some great fabrics on sale and hit a sale on belts of four for ten dollars. I also have come to realize even though I spend much of my work time designing items, writing instructions and creating patterns I do not like to follow anyone elses pattern.

I designed this very vibrant black and white dress for myself, super easy, a patternless dress. The fabrics for the dress were $6 and the belt $3 so for less than $10 I have a cute little dress for the show.

I measured around my body added 6" and cut two rectangles. From there using a dress I had as a guide I cut a v-neck and arm holes. Gathered up the shoulders, added a ruffle and trim to both neckline and bottom. Made a couple rose pins from leftover fabric. Added the belt for the finishing touch! The dress to design and make took only three hours. I love how the flirty ruffle on the bottom moves when I walk and at the show there will be a lot of walking! Follow the JOY of Creativity! Debra, CEO!

Westcott Brand has generously sponsored CHA Designers in an exciting and fun opportunity to showcase their designs in the Westcott booth at the upcoming summer 2011 CHA Show in Rosemont, July 18-21st.

Keeping with Westcott Brand's charitable theme, this opportunity is also a fundraiser whereby the featured projects will be auctioned in an effort to raise contributions for CharityWings.org a non-profit foundation and "place for creative minds who want to give TM."

Along with Westcott, the Duck Tape Brand and Velcro Brand are also sponsors. The challenge is to use these products along with at least three more when creating a home decor or fashion item n larger than 12" square.

I decided to make an outdoor decor pillow as Duck Tape is weatherproof. I made it two sided using Velcro products to have a removeable flower on one side and a button tic tac toe game on the other. It was a fun project and really my first time designing something with Duck Tape. The sheets were easy to use with the grid lines on back and the Westcott cutting tools .

I embellished the pillow using a hole punch and hotfix pearl marble studs.

It is a busy time these days preparing for the upcoming, less than two weeks away! CHA (Craft and Hobby) trade show in Chicago.I am participating in several events one of them being the Westcott Brand Designer Charity Challenge.

Westcott Brand has generously sponsored CHA Designers in an exciting and fun opportunity to showcase their designs in the Westcott booth at the upcoming summer 2011 CHA Show in Rosemont, July 18-21st.

Keeping with Westcott Brand's charitable theme, this opportunity is also a fundraiser whereby the featured projects will be auctioned in an effort to raise contributions for CharityWings.org a non-profit foundation and "place for creative minds who want to give TM."

Along with Westcott, the Duck Tape Brand and Velcro Brand are also sponsors. The challenge is to use these products along with at least three more when creating a home decor or fashion item n larger than 12" square.

So Wednesday the big reveal of my design! Here are the supplies sent. Debra!

This month's DCC Designer Crafts Connection Blog Hop is an exciting challenge and even more exciting for you, great designs and a fabulous give away! We got to design with I Love to Create (Tulip) BEADS IN A BOTTLE! To see all of the fabulous designs our very talented group has come up with just click on the DCC button in the sidebar!

I had an outdated pair of white denim jeans so I cut them off and with some great retro inspired fabrics created a cute ruffled skirt. I accented the top with the BEADS IN A BOTTLE. The product is so easy to use and with a tiny squeeze you can create beautiful gemstone beads!

For contest details on how to win this wonderful array of I Love to Create Products and have fun creating your own unique designs just click on the link! http://ilovetocreateblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/beads-in-bottle-blog-hop.html 

Summertime, strawberry time and the living is easy! Admittedly I am spending much of my time indoors preparing for the CHA (Craft & Hobby) Trade Show. I do walk everyday and am exploring my neighborhood. Each season brings a whole new landscape to experience. What a lovely street of vintage homes and beautiful gardens.

Up the street is a charming place with beautiful plants that frame the front. Golf clubs are a whimsical addition to the shutters. The front door is so welcoming with a striking large arrangement of a watering can wreath. Just the perfect touch to a place that reminds me of a fairy tale cottage. I am thinking something similar on my deck's twig divider would be very striking. Inspiration is everywhere! Follow your JOY always! Debra

I am busy getting ready for CHA, the Craft and Hobby Tradeshow in Chicago. One of the big events of the show for me is the Crafty Couture Runway Challenge where teams of designers are creating mixed media gowns to be displayed at the show. I am very fortunate to have the talented team of Michelle Zimmerman, fabulous clay artist and Marie Browning, the craft goddess!

The theme of our dress is inspired by the art of Zentangle and the Zen Tango dance. We are creating a black and white ruffled gown of reclaimed fabrics, clay, ribbon, trims, dyes, stamps, coffee filters and dryer sheets. With the talent and creativity of the CHA Designers there will be stunning gowns. Six of the gowns will be featured in an upcoming issue of Cloth Paper Scissors!

Have I mentioned before that I love dresses, I have been sewing dresses since I was five when I made doll dresses with my Mom's help at my tiny sewing machine. When my first daughter arrived I sewed her entire wardrobe and made many matching Mom and me dresses. I have always loved ruffles, feminine romantic inspired dresses. There are incredible romantic gowns and accessories found on the beautiful site  Bonzie Designs

On Mother's Day my daughter posted a picture of us together in a dress set I had made from fabric strips. It is a hot summer day late in the afternoon so we both look ready for a nap but it brought back "sew many memories!" Follow the Joy always, Debra!

We are all a flutter! It is Fowl Friday with Fran & Freda! Big news! Kate called yesterday all excited, (Kate is Debra's youngest darling daughter), she is on PEI working as a pastry chef at Holland College this summer. She just graduated from Pastry Arts in April.

Well the Royal couple Prince William and Kate are visiting PEI next weekend and.... Kate will be part of the chef team cooking for them. Debra has been posting and tweeting to her peeps, a proud Mama!

She raised a couple of good chicks there in her girls, both have found their passion and are doing so well. Although the oldest DD is apparently in the market for another (gulp) feline. We certainly won't be visiting anytime soon! 

So we are just hanging out waiting to get the whole scoop on next weekend waiting for our Kate to meet the royal Kate! We are a couple of proud fowl! Follow the Fowl, Fran & Freda!