CHA Mega Show 2016 | People & Places

I always like to start my overview of the CHA Mega Show with a look at the people I encountered at the show, and the setting that it took place in. After all, what is a good story without a setting and characters?

Anaheim Convention Center

As for all of the past eight years (except for 2011, when the show was in downtown Los Angeles), the show took place at the Anaheim Convention Center next door to Disneyland Resort. This year was tinged with sadness and nostalgia for a lot of attendees, as CHA has announced that the show will be in Phoenix for the next three years. The show's longtime Anaheim location is an integral part of the show to many, providing entertainment and a concurrent vacation for family members. There's also many traditions that have grown up around the venue over the show's long residence there. The move to Phoenix will mean an unfamiliar venue, and the need to begin new traditions for many of the show's events.

Photo Play set up

Another change afoot this year was that for the first time ever I worked set-up day! My social media work for Photo Play Paper (pictured above) and Buttons Galore had me busy on the show floor assisting with the decoration of their booths. It was so exciting helping to set the stage for the show, and then later watching attendees' reactions to the results.

Belle Vie flower crate

I was just thrilled that the one and a half suitcases full of projects - like this floral arrangement - that I carried to the show survived the trip. (OK, I cheated and assembled the arrangement at the convention center. But the pieces survived the trip!)

May Flaum and Nancy Nally

After months of planning by all of us, it was amazing to watch my friend May Flaum launch her new 28 Lilac Lane collection for Buttons Galore and see how much attendees loved it.

Saturday morning, CHA Mega Show 2016 kicked off and immediately I found some of my favorite industry people hard at work on the show floor showing off their products and greeting attendees.

Richard Garay

The seemingly boundless energy of Richard Garay was on display in his booth, debuting his new wholesale product line to buyers.

Ali Edwards

Ali Edwards was looking lovely in the Studio Calico booth, promoting her partnership with them. (Studio Calico maintained their booth space to promote their various brands and education products despite recently announcing that they were ceasing to produce wholesale product for the time being.) It's always a joy to see Ali! She doesn't come to the events often enough (hint, hint Ali!).

Tammy Tutterow

This show seemed just bursting with big new line debuts, more than it seems we've seen in a long time. At Spellbinders, Tammy Tutterow (above) and Seth Apter (not pictured) were showing off their new product lines with that company.

Frank Garcia

I was lucky enough during my Prima visit to get a tour from the man himself, Frank Garcia, of his absolutely beautiful new collections.

Maria DelPinto

Maria DelPinto of our sister site Craft Critique was busy at the show, taking photos and looking for interesting things to tell our readers about! Here she is creating something amazing in the Plaid booth.

Plaid Make and Take

I also stopped by the Plaid booth for a make & take, but mine was decidedly less glamorous than Maria's! Their new dye paint required donning full splash protection to protect the respectable wardrobe - but it sure was fun! Watch Craft Critique soon for more info on this interesting new product.

Canvas Corp make it

The Canvas Corp make it take it was as fast as it was gorgeous, and attendees got to have a little creative fun in the process of creating their rosette pin by selecting their embellishments and positioning them. It was a nice little creative play break in the business day!

Saturday evening was packed with events at the show!

Open Market

First up was the Open Market, which was a cash & carry event where participating manufacturers were selling items at a discount to show attendees to take home with them. Some were selling clearance merchandise and some were selling current items. The event room was very crowded, especially early in the event, even with the $20 ticket charge.

Betsy Burnett

For many of the media like myself, the evening then continued at the Hilton with the invitation-only VIB Blogger Party put on by FaveCrafts. This event is a wonderful chance for bloggers to network with each other and with manufacturer sponsors of the party (for which there is a waiting list to take part). I caught up with former Scrapbook Update contributor (and #crazyshoeboxlady) Betsy Burnett at the party!

Ice Cream

After the VIB Blogger Party was over, it was across the street to the Marriott to have some ice cream and help Simple Stories celebrate at their 5th Birthday Bash!

Simple Stories staff

It's hard to believe that this company has only been in the wholesale market for 5 years! They have become a huge presence in a short time. Here's to many more, Simple Stories!

Anaheim Sunrise

A late night didn't mean I got to sleep in, however! The sun was barely rising as I walked to the convention center on Sunday morning. Thank goodness for Starbucks!

Tim Holtz

Not much could get me over the convention center two hours before the show opened, but the chance to see private demos by Tim Holtz and the other Ranger designers at their VIP media & buyer event is on that short list! This year I was especially interested to see the demo because Ranger has added several entirely new mediums to their line-up (Distress Crayons, Mica Spray) that I wanted to learn about.

Dyan Reavely

This photo pretty much sums up what it is like to be a celebrity like Dyan Reavely at the show - a wall of cameras in front of you (including mine, taking pictures of the cameras filming).

Mix Bar

Remember at the beginning I mentioned new traditions will have to be made? Some of my favorite moments from Anaheim CHA shows have taken place in Mix, the bar in the Anaheim Hilton. It has long been the unofficial after hours hangout of the designer and media crowd at CHA. While it may at first glance at times that nothing but fun is being had, in reality much hard work is done during those evenings. Tips are exchanged on products not to miss. Business deals are made. Trends and industry changes are hashed out and analyzed over pizza and burgers. In Phoenix, a new venue will have to be found to serve as home for this informal and yet ever-so-important work.

Monday Night CHA dinner

One group of us in particular has taken to meeting for dinner the 3rd night of the show. In Phoenix, with a shorter show, this will probably have to shift to the 2nd night as well as find a new venue. This year's group posed for a photo in honor of the last Anaheim meet-up (l-r): Erin Bassett, Christine Urias, Tami Morrison, me, Roberta Wax, Tanya Fox.

Creme Brûlée

Did I mention Mix makes a killer Creme Brûlée? Oh yeah.

Downtown Disney

But then they turned out the lights and the show was over...time to celebrate the conclusion of another successful show. One last chance for beignets at Downtown Disney seemed fitting!

Tami lego store

Dinner and some souvenir shopping for the family with my great friend Tami Morrison! (The Legos were a hit, by the way.)

The industry, and the Anaheim venue itself, has changed dramatically over the time that CHA Mega Show has made Anaheim its winter home. Change is somewhat sad and challenging but also needed. Phoenix will be a fresh start, a chance to rethink all that we have thought we've known about the show and what it is. What will we make of it?