CHA Tradeshow 2015 Highlights

I'm finally posting a few pictures from the highlights of CHA 2015. It was a fabulous trade show!

The iLoveToCreate booth was right in the front door, so I was a busy girl the entire time.

I couldn't believe it when I got there and saw the huge pictures of myself in the booth! Pretty much gave me the giggles.

There were only a couple of times during the entire show that I didn't have people at my make-it-take-it station making cool stuff. 

It was great to meet up with my favorite peeps like Mark Montano ❤️

And I got some good hugs from Steve and Cathie!

The iLoveToCreate booth was beautiful. And it was hoppin with lots of make-it-take-its, good friends and new products. 

Everyone loved the lanyards we made with the new Aleene's Quick Dry Fabric Fusion. 

One of the things I love most about the trade show is getting to do the Designer Showcase. This year I focused on Aleene's adhesives and made a denim and wool covered mannequin embellished with appliqués, pom-poms, and of course tassels. 

I also showcased several high heel stiletto ring holders. You know that my motto is; "If I can't glue it I don't do it!"

My portfolio certainly got a work-out this year. I'm so excited about the future!

Ugly Christmas Sweaters!

It seems that the Ugly Christmas Sweater has become a phenomenon in the cyber world and at holiday parties! And, thanks to this strange infatuation for ugly, my Ugly Christmas Necktie Sweater has been pick up by several top sites!  I'm over the moon, happy, and just shocked at how popular they are.  

The Ugly Christmas Sweater that keeps getting featured was made for the blog at iLoveToCreate, and also here on my Pattiewack blog.  I really think that the cute factor comes from our fabulous model/copywriter, Chloe Tatro.  She is a cutie patootie, and really sells it!  I mean, who else do you see holding an ornament with so much sassy-tude, right? 

To top it all off, our iLoveToCreate social media expert, Alexa Westerfield is a contributor for Buzzfeed.com and she put my sweater in a countdown for 27 Ugly Christmas Sweaters yesterday!  Love ya, Alexa!

  

Today.com did a cute segment on the Today Show, then followed it up with their top Ugly Christmas Sweaters, too.  They found my sweater on Pinterest, and it was #2 on the list!!  

But wait, there's MORE!  *giggle*

Yahoo.com featured it, too!  They found the sweater on iLoveToCreate.com and put it in a slideshow on their front page.  Wowza!  I've actually been in shock to tell you the truth, but super excited that the world is embracing pompoms, glue, and DIY just for the fun of it.  Yes!  What the world needs more of right now is some stinkin' holiday cheer!

So, just in case you need to know how to make your own ugly but cute Ugly Christmas Sweater, here's the instructions.  Look in the closet and grab those ugly neckties or run down to the thrift store and then glue yourself a fabulous and fun sweater to wow your friends and family!

#CHAshow Behind The Scenes @iLoveToCreate !!

All of our iLoveToCreate team had a great time at the 2014 Craft and Hobby Tradeshow!  Our booth this year was loaded with artful inspiration and we had a blast sharing the work of our talented team with attendees.  A lot was going on in our booth...from me decoupaging a mannequin with recycled magazines, to enthusiastic tie dye action from our favorite reality TV star Rupert Boneham.  Let me take you on a mini tour of all the activity!