Charity Wings is a wonderful non-profit organization which has a two-fold mission.  One to support Artists, Crafters, and Scrapbookers who want to raise money and awareness for their favorite causes. Two to offer the community unique and creative opportunities to give.

This year Charity Wings organizes Live From CHA – fundraising towards Bernie Berlin’s “A Place To Bark ” and Meow too . Many might know Bernie Berlin who is an amazing Mixed Media Artist. She founded this organization many years ago to rescue dogs, taking in the dogs that have been abandoned, abused or police confiscated. She quarantines, fosters, retrains, transports & adopts. Cats are also welcome at her rescue. She is drawn to the unwanted, unloved and misunderstood. Hoping to educate and effect change for the animals that do not have a voice of their own.

This totally speaks to me as my Mom has been an animal rescuer for an animal protection organization as long as I can remember. We always had all kinds of mistreated dogs and cats at home for some time and lot’s of the work that Bernie does I know from my Mom and I admire. If you have ever seen how thankful those little friends are after you helped them, you know what I mean.

Here is the gist of LIVE from CHA:
-Basically, if you can’t attend the show, we attend for you!
–JUST $10 to join and you get entered into 45 drawings worth over $4500!
-You get to chat online with 45 manufacturers and designers from the show floor.
-Anyone anywhere in the world can watch from their internet connection
-They are raising money for A Place to Bark a wonderful rescue run by Bernie Berlin

I will give away a free ticket to one of you who helps Charity Wing to promote this event either on your own blog, Facebook or twitter or who buys a ticket and tells me so here in the comment section (I will trust you !) . Simply leave me a note you did so and I will draw a name on the 15th and send it to Charity Wings so you get your raffle ticket.

I will also donate a package to the raffle and you will see me LIVE and at LIVE from CHA  ;)

It would be wonderful if you would join!

Have a gorgeous day

Nat

Let me show you a little sneak of my Make n Takes for Prima at CHA next week – Booth #633

I would love to see you there if you make it…and if not…don’t be sad – I will post the tutorial after CHA  on my blog :)

Huge hugs and have an amazing day

Nat

Nat

The Designer Showcase at CHA 2012 was my first one to attend and show my work. Basically in a nutshell CHA Designers display their work on a table in a separate room in the convention center- and I believe we were about 60 designers.

With the suitcase restriction and being on the road for 3 weeks, traveling and bringing the booth projects for manufacturers, I had a hard time to get everything packed- and I wish I would have been able to do more decoration – there were some amazing amazing decorative tables out there- but oh well – LOL- this science fair table is actually pretty much me, isn’t it ? You get the raw me – let the work itself speak ;)

It is a nice way to show others what you do and what you can do – and I have enjoyed doing it. The work was show cased for two days and the evening of day one there was a slideshow with an introduction of the designers and a 2 hour “Meet and Greet the Designer”. I enjoyed meeting many new people and it made me happy that some wonderful people got aware of my work and it is very thrilling to see how things evolve.

You are not allowed to take photos in the room- other than of your own display- so I’m sorry- you will only see my display :) As this year the show case was not only open to manufacturers, editors and publishers but also to designers we were recommended to only show published work and that is what I did, besides my little…..n*Studio.

My n*Studio has suffered a bit during the flight- but I tried to assemble it back together the best I could. Just as an reminder – a picture of the real n*Studio:

I was able to come close with the furniture I think :) the mess is a different topic – LOL

Here are some pictures when I was still building it at home- somehow I didn’t manage to take more picture of the n*Studio when it was finally built and set up at CHA.

I created miniature canvases of my real 12×12 canvases on the wall- some were also showcased.

I wish my shelve would look as nice and orderly in real life- sorry Julie– it didn’t really evolve since you were here ;)

I would like to thank the following companies for supporting me for my Designer Show Case: Eco Green Crafts, Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L, Elmers for the Display Board and Velcro

Also thank you so much to my besties Birgit and Cat who helped me in the 1 hour time slot to set it up and take it down. It was wonderful that you did that – I so love you two! Also thanks to my designers around me that helped me with emergency glue guns, tapes and chocolate – LOL.

I did leave the studio in LA -it would have not survived another flight – I still have furniture and the canvases though- any ideas on what I should do with it?

Wishing you a gorgeous day!

Nat

Nat

During CHA I was filmed by Christine from Scraptime at the Eco Green Crafts Booth. If you have not checked out Christine’s blog yet- which post regularly videos about products and techniques – check it out – it is a great blog and it is in my feedreader for a long time now :)

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/36664035]

I have to laugh when I see myself in the video – you have to know that those situations make me nervous – because I wasn’t really prepared…and I do not like to be not prepared ;)

Some of you asked about my stamps with Eco Green Crafts and when they will be shipped – it looks like they are going to be shipped in April – so it is still a bit till then …but hey…LOL- I’m as impatient as some of you :) You just have to remember- most of the new products that are shown at CHA are not yet produced …it is a convention that shows prototypes and new ideas .

Speaking of Eco Green Crafts – in the video you see me using the new Artist Spackle.

Artist Spackle is a heavy textured medium for structural, dimensional, and textural applications—a dream come true for mixed media artists. Artist Spackle can be thinned to make paste and has great adhesive qualities.

I so love it- you will see a lot of projects coming up with it- I’m still testing and trying- and you saw already one of the layouts yesterday using it :) – AHHHH TEXTUREEEEEE

Wishing you an amazing weekend ahead

Nat

Nat

The CHA theme this year was The Power of Community. Some wonderful Charities were doing all kinds of activities during the show. The Designer Members were given the opportunity to create an ornament for one of the charities of their choice and it hang in one of those Community Parks from a tree and was later auctioned off.

I chose to create my ornament for Crafting for a Cure – which “is  a not-for-profit registered charity that looks for opportunities to insure children are having a positive experience when a hospital visit is necessary.”

Having spent a lot of time of my childhood in hospitals – something that I for sure never mentioned and also almost never talk about- this charity rings a personal string in me and I love the thought behind this charity.

Being in the hospital as a kid is scary. You do not understand everything that happens whether it be the things that are happening with you or around you.

I remember one of the times I was in the hospital – I had an operation the next day and I was 6 or 7 and the night before the operation I was brought to this special room – I actually still don’t know why they did this- but they brought me and another boy there because we had our operation the next day and it had something to do with getting us ready easier the next morning or so. So anyway- we both were lying in bed the whole night scared about our upcoming operation and talked. I’m sure it just felt for us as if it was the whole night and it was only a couple of hours- but anyway we talked about our fear of the operation.

The boy was getting a heart operation.When we were rolled out to the elevator the next morning to get to OP we actually said bye-bye and promised to visit each other later. A couple of days after my operation I asked my mother to find out where the boy was – so I could visit him. She came back and had to tell me the boy did not make it.

Still to this day I don’t like hospitals. I have a hard time visiting hospitals. You must be a really good friend or family member that I actually do visit you. I will have all kinds of excuses why I can’t make it. The smell, the look, the atmosphere – everything reminds me of those times back then. And once in a while- not often- but once in a while I think about the little boy with whom I had spent a scary night in the hospital and who I never  even asked about his name, because all that mattered for us was our fear.

Thank you Crafting for a Cure for doing such an amazing work! I hope my little ornament helped a lot towards your cause!

Also thank you to Candice Windham for organizing this  for CHA – what a wonderful idea!

hugs

Nat

Nat

≈Back Pipes signaling the beginning of the show≈

I cannot even tell you how awesome this CHA has been! This was my third time and I did a lot of things different this time. The first time I went and had no idea what to expect, was totally overwhelmed and had the feeling I did everything wrong. The second time I went and worked the whole time, saw almost nothing of the floor and was totally overwhelmed and had the feeling I did everything wrong. And this time?

I went – and totally loved every single minute- had the feeling I saw everything, enjoyed everything and made the most of everything :) This was the best and most uplifting inspiring CHA yet.

I guess I should blurt it right out because to be quite honest, I have no idea how I was able to keep this secret so long- LOL ….Eco Green Crafts and I partnered and they released a Stamp Plate of mine this CHA – Texture stamps- here is a product Mock up. I’m sooo thrilled about it since Eco Green Craft is a company I do love for a couple of years now – I love their products and I love the concept behind it- it is dear to my heart. So this is a huge honor for me. See my logo? I was almost wetting my pants when I saw it – sorry- but hey- that is just honest – LOL

But also my amazing friend Julie Fei Fan Balzer has some stamps coming out with Eco Green Crafts and here is what she had to say about them and you will get a short glimpse of mine too – thank you Julie for shouting this out :)

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Efz6D35rlRo]

The new Artist Spackle by Eco Green Crafts is AMAZING- I’m sooo in Love with it- watch out for texture galore the next months till this baby bucket is empty – LOL

I was filmed too by Scraptime in Canada and will post it when it is up too :) Probably made a fool of myself ;) (Photo stolen from Birgit)

Here with Susan of Eco Green Crafts and Vanessa from Stampington

– My favorite was sharing lot’s of time with my friends!!

≈Ted & Jaime of The Crafter’s Workshop and I celebrated Julie’s birthday on friday together – picture stolen from the Birthday girl – Julie Fei Fan Balzer :) – We had an awesome evening together ≈

On set up day I visited many seminars and cruised through the lines of booths to deliver my projects. Here are Sharon and me doing the Creative Jump Start “Let’s Jump” – I ‘m still giggling when I see the picture- LOL. Sharon already landed again- while still yelling “Let’s jUmp” Hilarious blurry picture.

Here is Drew Scott– amazingly talented teenager! Watch out for him ! Thank you Drew for all your help during my Make ‘N Takes- you rock!

Sunday and monday I did my Make ‘N Takes at the Prima booth-picture stolen from Louise – don’t kill me girl- you are still traveling- LOL !!! I will post the tutorial for the Make and Take later this week.

I spent lots of time with my adorable friend and room-mate Birgit Koopsen – she looks too cute in this Prima hat. Birgit has helped me a lot with my Showcase- you rock girl – and oh well- what can I say- she is the best! Oh wait it was Julie…oh wait it is both of them- LOL – or maybe it is Cat….mmmhh

my amazing friend cat-herine Scanlon who also helped me big time setting up the show case!!! Miss you already girl!

It was so fun to see Anna again – here we are with Pom :) and see- Jaime is in the background – love that girl!

Here is Donna- we spent a fun evening together – hehehe :)

But of course I was not ONLY chatting there ;) I actually did also see products- but honestly I did not take too many photos and was too lazy to get the big camera out- so those pictures are all of poor quality taken with my cell phone camera

The big secret is out – Tattered Angels was not only acquired by Canvas Corp – no, they also released their new product Line Plain Jane. It contains – Simply Sheer, Baseboard and Stained Glass. Basically it  is the four paint products they had before (Glam and Glaze are as one) without the Glimmer. Nice! I had fun playing with it before CHA and doing some projects for the booth.

Heidi Swapp was one of my first stops. She releasied her new Signature line – and I love love love it! And I love her! Heidi Swapp just made me REALLY happy this CHA – and she knows ;)

The memory filed folders were my absolute highlight with them and here is s a little sneak of a project I did with them- can’t show you all yet

I love Heidi’s Ribbon – it has a plastic like surface- but still is like fabric- but the cool thing is that actually Tape Runners stick to it – unlike to fabric and that if you heat it starts fringing- totally cool!

As always I also loved the Pink Paislee collection and fell totally in Love with those tags- tags are the rage anyway- but boy do I love THOSE tags!

And as always Pink Paislee had a cute decoration :)

I loved this line by Jilli Bean- terrible photo I know- but the second grey picture is actually from an old phone book – sooo awesome.

Ronda Palazzari, Birgit and i spent one morning together and had lot’s of fun using the Jilli Bean Booth for some mischief ;)

I cannot wait till Ronda comes out with her book

And here are Ronda and Birgit playing with the gesso I told them about by Deco Art

The Gesso is nice and thick and highly pigmented and smooth- loved it. Thanks to the amazing Bethany Kartchner for enabling me with her amazing inspiring Make ‘N Take!

Oh and look  – I also ran into the fabulous girls Tina and Mireia from Scrapbook Werkstatt– hehehe- they are too funny! oh brother I look quite stupid in this picture- but oh well- out with it ;)

here are my two aussies that brought me lots of yummie and sweet presents – Louise Nelson and Sherry Mendoza!

The amazing Jen Cushman at the Designer Roundtable- who later on won the New Horizon Plaid Award- so cool and so well deserved! She is awesome

Julie Fei Fan Balzer with her awesome apron and logo “I’m a Dirty Girl” I loved seeing all those people wearing this sticker through CHA – and ….This woman is THE HIT. I saw her talking in front of 100s of people- and boy does she have presence! If you have the chance to take a class with her – TAKE IT!!!!! She is funny, knows so much and knows how to engage people and teach them lot’s of things! I was trying to rub my should on her to get some of her talent off but she was calling me Dirty Girl ;)

And of course I had to visit Allison – Hambly has always been one of my favorite companies!

Look at this mistable paper- yummie!

And here is Dyan – loved chatting with this girl – she is fun and we share a love for vintage dresses- hehehe- I think her son got really scared when I told her where she should go in L.A. LOL – Next year we have a shopping date- huh? LOL

Her stencils with Crafter’s Workshop are awesome too!

and of course her artwork too

Oh and speaking of Ranger’s – here is Terry- looooooveeee her!!!

oh and look who I bumped into – Elina from Greece. Finally I was able to congratulate her to the wedding personally :)

oh and look who I also met- Emily Pitts from Cocoa Daisy :)

Some highlights have no picture- dinner with Christine from Cocoa Daisy with Ronda and Birgit and Julie – and some other times – but sometimes the memory is just as good as a dark blurry picture :)

I have so many more pictures also of booths- but I think I have to stop now- cause this is pretty epic already- you are probably already bored….snore…or are gone already ;) I will show you some pictures of my designer show case in a different post too :)

Wishing you an amazing day

Nat

Nat