After a full weekend of CRAFTY craziness, demos, book signings, meetings, dinners and drinks with my FAVE artists, designers, book publishers, editors and friends...I'm glad to be back in LALA land! I haven't been in Cali for awhile. I really miss it when I'm gone. Got stuck in Dallas after my connecting flight from Chi-town was delayed. So one extra night on the road wasn't bad. What am I talking about...I'm forever on the road! :) At least American put me up in a decent hotel. So here's the scoop in photos at CHA and a few of my favorite highlights!

me & Jenn Perkins making FUNKY brooches & accessories @ the DUNCAN booth
-Demoed at DUNCAN with some artsy crafty ladies...Jennifer Perkins, Kathy Cano-Murillo, Hope Perkins and Sonya Nimri
-Launched my Collage Pauge line of Instant decoupage in Matte, Glossy & Sparkles(my fave!)
-Congrats to Claudine who launched her new line STUDIO with Ranger!! AWESOME sticky back canvas!!
-Quick catch up with Tim Holtz, love his grunge board!
-Dinner with the girls @ MAKI sushi & noodles...squished in a van with Bernie, Claudine, Kim, Carmi, Jenn, Hope and Sonya ;-)
-Dinner @ Gibson's with the F+W crew, YES (Greg & Justin...lol) I AM working on my second book!! :)
-I worked most of the time, so I only got a few minutes to race through the show floor..but I bumped into the lovely Ali Edwards, Nadine Schwartz, Justin from Copic, Chad Fox from Notions.
-Chatted with the gang from Creative Imaginations
-Hung out at Shoeless Joe's with Nate(my AWESOME Collage Pauge product manager, Lynda(homeland security) and played pool with Justin.
-Enjoyed dinner and cocktails with Impatient Beader...Margot Potter and her sweetiepie Drew
-Had fun catching up with the talented and sweet Candie Cooper
-Happy hour with the gang along with Cathie and Steve of Creative Juices, who were launching their Plaid product line
-Caught up with Jami P. @ scrapbooking.com, will be working on editorial soon.
-Picked up and advance copy of the Naughty Secretary Club
: The Working Girls Guide to Handmade Jewelry - A-W-E-S-O-M-E
-Had a delightful conversation with John Pagliaro from Mary Engelbreight and saw a copy of the Home Companion (Collage Pauge is featured on Page 20!!)
-Met Aubre from American Girl Magazine, talked about editorial opps.
-Finally got to catch up with Ana Cabrera from CK Online...look for some cool editorial coming up!!

sippin on bloody marys after a LONG day of demos with good friend Hope Perkins of Hot Pink Pistol

making Collage Pauge barrettes @ DUNCAN booth
signing Collage Unleashed @ F+W Pubs booth
my lovely girlie claudine hellmuth making barrettes @ the DUNCAN booth
visiting with my Uncle Paul, one of my mom's best friends in Chicago
my demo table full of Collage Pauge papers and Aleene's adhesives
YUMMY crafty curios from Naughty Secretary Club
collage pauge wall of projects
me & my little luggage...i AM A NOMAD! :)