Where I wasn't

CHA that is. I had been attending/working CHA (and HIA and Memory Trends) for almost ten years. It was fun being on the "inside," wearing my "uniform" (company logo shirts/sweaters), seeing what buyers wanted, what products wowed them (or didn't wow them). And if I was lucky to get a break, I loved walking the floor and seeing the latest and greatest in scrapbook and craft supplies. Of course, it was a lot of work too. When you work a booth, that means getting up early to make sure the booth is ready, smiling at the all questions, smiling at the complainers, smiling even though you're starving or thirsty or have to take a bathroom break but there's no time for any of that. And if you're walking the floor, even for fun, there's so much to see and report on and you're always afraid of missing the next big thing.

I could have attended the consumer Super Show this year, but I just couldn't bring myself to spend the entry and parking fee ($25 total). And with the closing of Lifetime Moments and Linnecards, I didn't have that pre-show excitement. No feeds from any of the manufacturers, no excited posts from scrapbook fans I know and trust. No need to beg the owners to carry this or that or put in a good word for a new product. Plus I didn't realize how much I would miss seeing things in person. I've been checking out various company websites and blogs and I guess it is a good thing that a few things caught my eye anyway. At the top of the list are my favorites from last year, Jillibean Soup and Bella Blvd. A big bonus is Core'dinations has embossed cardstock to match Jillibean Soup. There's some goodies from KI and Maya Road that I'd like to add to my stash too. And I'll have to see if there's any new Thickers I can't live without. I hope I can find all this stuff locally, since I don't know where to shop anymore.