Pay No Attention to the Woman Behind the Curtain!

Photo Copyright Lloyd Pratt 1987

Well folks, I'm strapping on my seat belt for the busiest month of my year. I have two major tradeshows with classes to teach, books to sign, make it take it demos to prep and copious amounts of shameless self promotion. First I head to Anaheim for CHA, then I come home for a week, breathe, celebrate my daughter's 11th birthday and jet off to Tucson for the CRYSTALLIZED-Swarovski Elements event at the Gem Show. It's a two city marathon and it couldn't happen at a better time of year because these months would be long, grey and cold if I weren't spinning straw like a mad woman!

I'm hard at work today on my final manufacturer project for display on the CHA show floor. CHA stands for Craft and Hobby Association and it's the world's biggest art and craft industry trade show. I've been working WAY out of my comfort zone here for a few weeks now and it's good to stretch my creative muscles, but sometimes I look at the outcome and wonder if it's brilliant or just plan wacked! If I were being honest, I'd claim to have about an 80% design success rate and about 15% of things that are pretty cool, but not quite ground breaking and 5% of things that really, truly suck wind. So let's just say I edit...a lot!

I wish I could show you what I'm doing, but unfortunately I can't. I can't show you what I'm doing or reveal who I'm doing it for until after the show. That's part of the deal. I am entrusted with a lot of secrets and it's my job to maintain them. I often know about new products months and months before they debut and if I blather, I'm apt to lose my standing in my industry.

I work in a highly competitive arena and manufacturers are trusting me to test products and make innovative projects that showcase their new materials and also to keep my trap shut about that those new materials are. What I can say is that there are a lot of folks who spend their days dreaming up new pathways of creativity for you, the crafter. There's some very exciting stuff on the horizon and I'm looking forward to sharing with you when these fabulous items hit the shelves!

I'm going to be insanely busy for the next month, but check back here regularly because I'll be posting book giveaways, free projects and crafty inspiration. Until then...craft on with your bad selves!

Cheers,
Madge