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Trendspotting Report – August 2011

August 19, 2011 by Jessica Ripley 6 Comments

Each month we spy and spot the latest trends in fashion, design, and pop culture which often determine the hottest trends in craft. This is your monthly Trend Spotting report of the hottest trends spotted online.

This month is dedicated to trends that aren’t necessarily new, but that have proven they will be sticking around for the long haul. Spotted in lines at Summer CHA as well as countless projects across the web, these trends are here to stay (and we love it!).

Flag Banners

Not only are flag banners and bunting easy to put together with almost any scraps of paper or fabric you have on hand, they lend themselves to all kinds of crafty applications. Hambly has an adorable new line featuring banners, and October Afternoon’s new Sidewalks line has some adorable banners as well. From holiday specific to adding just the right touch to a project, the celebratory touch they add just can’t be beat.

Here are some great examples of how versatile flag banners can be:

1. Flag Banner 2. Birthday Banner Card 3. Photo Pocket Flag Banner 4. Banner Quilt 5. 5x Banners 6. Red and Aqua Party Pouch 7. Tiny Flag Banner 8. Cake Bunting 9. Bunting Tea Towel

Monsters

Cute monsters especially have sunk their teeth into crafts and have not let go (and don’t seem to plan to any time soon). They remain popular in everything from stuffed creations to stamps to scrapbooking lines, such as Niki Sivils new My Lil’ Monster. Thanks to movies like Monsters, Inc. and Where the Wild Things Are, monsters are known to be as friendly and cuddly as ever, and as a result welcome in both our bedtime stories and our crafts.

Some ‘too cute to be scary’ examples:

1. Cell Phone Pouch 2. Flabberjabber Square Head Monster Plush 3. Monster Butt Pants 4. Where the Wild Things Are Quilt 5. Beast Bag 6. Monster Birthday Cupcakes 7. Monster Hooded Towel 8. Arbuckle the Monster Coffee Cozy 9. Monster Birthday Card

Retro Dress Forms, Cameras, Sewing Machines…

Apart from dress forms which just feel like they belong in the same category, we can’t get enough of retro gadgets such as cameras, telephones (remember when you had to dial them?), fans, sewing machines, bicycles, etc. Though I keep thinking I might be tired of it, the vintage craze is one of my personal favorites, and I was tickled pink to see this trend still around in Summer CHA releases like Amy Tangerine’s new Signature Line from American Crafts. They give a classic feel to any project that just works.

Here are some wonderful projects using these classic images:

1. Kitschy Camera 2. Typewriter Print 3. Dress Form Fabric Pillow 4. Sewing Machine Pouch 5. Vintage Phone Card 6. Sewing Machine Necklace 7. Felt Camera Case 8. Your Special Card
9. Birthday Card

So, what do you think about the trends we’re showcasing this month? Agree or disagree? Are you tired of any of these yet or are glad they are sticking around? Have you made any projects that fall into these categories? We would love to see them! What cool trends are you spying on StumbleUpon, Pinterest, and the internet? Please share it in the Comments section below this post on our website. We love to hear YOUR opinions!

And if you are one of the great crafters who have a project featured in this article, feel free to share this with your friends on your blogs and websites with this handy dandy logo. Keep up that amazing work, we love sharing it!

Filed Under: News, Trends Tagged With: trend spotting, Trend Spotting Report, Trends

CHA SuperShow Summer 2011, Chicago

July 22, 2011 by Simone Collins 3 Comments

The CHA Craft Supershow Section at TransWorld’s Jewelry, Fashion and Accessories Show is being held this weekend, July 21-24, 2011 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. There are Manufacturers as well as retailers in attendance for prime shopping.

Craftside is there, giving attendees a free journal at their booth, and showing off all their great crafty titles.

And demos to show you how to use the cool products at the show.

There are plenty of hands-on make-and-takes like this one from Lion Brand yarn.

There are some crafty celebs in attendance too.

There are FREE make-and-takes at some of the booths, like this one from My Favorite Things, which also included a FREE stamp set for attendees who participated. Their make-and-take schedule is available on their blog.

Plenty of cool deals and projects in their booth as well.

And some great free projects from the Splitcoast Stampers gang and manufacturers which change each day.

And another free make-and-take from Taylored Expressions, who also brought along all their great products.

And special deals just for attendees.

And let’s not forget the great projects to inspire you!

So, if you are in the Chicagoland area, you have two more days to check out the show! Let us know if you will be there or if you attended, what do you think? We would love to know!

Read past Supershow coverage

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: CHA, CHA 2011, CHA Craft SuperShow, Craftside, Events, My Favorite Things, Simone Collins, Taylored Expressions

CHA Summer 2011 | Jenni Bowlin

July 20, 2011 by Simone Collins 11 Comments

Jenni Bowlin is always a very popular booth at CHA, and this year is no exception. Jenni has released two new Holiday lines, Christmas and Halloween.

She also has new alterable alphabets which can be colored with ink but still retain the designs printed on them. This will allow crafters to adjust their lettering to meet their style and design needs.

Their new Haven line features beautiful fall colors.

And great new clear stamps, including her fabulous butterflies.

What do you think of these new designs? Do you buy holiday themed products?

Filed Under: CHA, News Tagged With: CHA Summer 2011, Christmas, Halloween, Jenni Bowlin, Scrapbooking

CHA 2011 Supershow: Chicago

July 18, 2011 by Sarah Moore Leave a Comment

July 21-24, 2011
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
Rosemont (Chicago), IL

Following successful debuts in Orlando, Anaheim and Rosemont/Chicago, IL, the Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) Craft Supershow will now be held as the CHA Craft Supershow Section at TransWorld’s Jewelry, Fashion & Accessories (JF&A) Show. This event has great synergy with the audience of crafters and craft and hobby enthusiasts in the Chicagoland area that have attended the Craft Supershow in the past.

The CHA Craft Supershow Section will draw over 8,000 crafters from across the country and feature industry-leading exhibitors showcasing unique craft products and supplies available for sale during the show. This along with the 25,000 attendees that the JF&A Show brings, it will surely be the ultimate craft shopping experience in Chicago! Expert crafters will assist attendees with hands-on projects and make-n-take demonstrations on the show floor.

“We launched the Craft Supershow to promote the benefits of crafting, such as the value proposition, quality time with family, stress-relief and to introduce and remind consumers of the pleasure of crafting,” explained Steve Berger, President and CEO of the Craft & Hobby Association. “We are very excited to bring this fun and informative event as part of TransWorld’s 34+ year tradition of finely attended Jewelry, Fashion & Accessories Shows in the Chicagoland area.”

CHA Summer 2011 Sneak Peeks

July 17, 2011 by Jessica Ripley 11 Comments

CHA Summer is right around the corner and sneak peeks of new products are beginning to swirl around the internet. The Craft and Hobby Summer Show will give designers, retailers, and the media a first look at new products about to hit the market for the next six months. Whether you are attending the show or following along with us while we cover every hot new product, this is a very exciting time in the craft world. CHA will run from July 19th to the 21st in Rosemont, Illinois.

Here is a look at sneak peeks we have found so far…

Simple Stories:

American Crafts: