It's a mystery to me, the game commences
For the usual fee - plus expenses
Confidential information - it's in a diary
This is my investigation - it's not a public inquiry
Are you confused??? Well... first for those not born before 1980 ;-) - they are lyrics from a Dire Straits song - Private Investigations. Second - why is the giveaway a mystery??
Well, tomorrow morning I am off to CHAW 2011 aka Craft and Hobby Association Winter Conference and Trade Show.
This is held twice a year - a winter session (January in LA) and a summer session (July usually in Chicago).
It is where ALL the craft manufacturers come together to display their wares for the next 6 months. Imagine if you will a scrapbook expo you have been to, combine that with a marathon and then give it all a good dose of steroids. You might just about come close to CHA. It is huge beyond belief.
It is not just scrapbooking manufacturers but all craft manufacturers - stamping, painting, sewing, beading, inking, woodworking, metal, jewellery, apparel, baking, cooking, knitting - the list is endless - and so are the corridors of booths!! There never seems to be enough time to get around just the booths of the scrapbook manufacturers I want to see - let alone all the other types of crafts I would love to have a gander at.
So far there are 544 exhibitors (yep... steroids!!)
This year it is at the LA convention centre - so if you have been there you know just how big that place is. I thought the Anaheim CC was big enough - but LACC is bigger! By the end of each day you are 10 inches shorter from all the walking you have done (hence the marathon part).
It was so bad last year - and I was so tired at the end of one day - I actually got a taxi back to my hotel. Not so bad you think???? - this is the part where I own up that my hotel was maybe 500 yards from the conference centre. But I could not have walked that 500 yards if my life depended on it. I am sure the taxi driver thought I was a total nutjob. In fairness - I found out after the show - I actually had an infected foot - which is maybe why I was struggling so much each day!
But despite all that I am excited. It is fun - I get to see people I only see once or twice a year. I get to see all the new goodies in the flesh! I get to take fun classes - and do a lot of make and takes. I get to buy stuff - although I have to be sensible - it is very easy to get carried away and want to buy every single thing you see!
So what is the mystery giveaway???
Last year I came back LADEN down with goodies. Samples, giveaways, prizes of all shapes and sizes and crafts.
So the winner this week will get a selection of the newest stuff out there - long before it ever hits the shelves.
I don't even know what it will be - but it will be good!
I will try to post the winner from LA - but I don't get back until late Tuesday next week - so it will all depend how things go. In saying that though - I do hope to get some posting done from CHA - even if it is a couple of uploads on youtube with my Flip!
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