As promised, we want to share with you a few of our highlights from attending the Craft and Hobby Association Summer Show in Chicago last week!

First off…2 of our favorite people in the industry! Cathie Filian and Steve Piacenza  from HGTV’s Creative Juice. They were as warm and endearing as we find them on TV. It was so fun to meet them for the 1st time as they were there showcasing their new “Hot Glue Gun Helpers” from Plaid.

Here’s a short video of us meeting Cathie and Steve, as well as Cathie demonstrates how the new hot glue gun helpers work. No more burnt fingers for us!

And recognize this gal? If not, you’ll surely recognize what she represents…MOD PODGE ROCKS! Amy is one awesome woman who loves her decoupage! And don’t YOU? You definitely should…it’s a staple around here! Check out her blog for oodles of inspiration from around the globe.

Then of course we love all of the creative and amazingly talented folks behind Provo Craft, makers of the Cricut. They were there to debut their brand-new product- The Cricut Imagine. Oh. Wow. Amazing. It is similar to the Cricut expression, but can print out in color!!! All cartridges are interchangeable as well. So, so cool.

Jinger is their spokeswoman and then there’s Maggie who we just adore and is a huge proponent of ProvoCraft with her “challenges” she creates over at her blog. If you’re ready for a creative challenge using products from ProvoCraft, then Maggie is the gal to see. Maggie is so, so sweet. We could sit and visit and laugh with her for hours if given the chance.

 And finally, here’s Kathy Cano-Murillo, otherwise known as “Crafty Chica.” She’s just as nice as they come!She has her own product line filled with flashy and vibrant colors. Her work is beautiful! And so is she!

Here’s a video clip of Kris having some fun with Tulip’s Tie-Dye kits! So easy to do and a great project for both kids and adults!

Now doesn’t that look like fun? (Sorry for the poor image quality on this one… not sure why that happened!)

And did you know that Kathy Cano-Murillo is not only an amazing artist, but also a new and upcoming author? Her brand-new novel, Waking Up in the Land of Glitter was a really fun read. And doesn’t that title just make you smile?

We hope you enjoyed part 1 of our CHA recap. Come back to the blog this week to hear and see more about the summer show!

Tags: Cathie and Steve, CHA, Craft and Hobby Association, Crafty Chica, Creative Juice, Cricut Imagine, Cuttlebug Challenge, HGTV, Hot Glue Gun Helpers, Kathy Cano-Murillo, Mod Podge Rocks, ProvoCraft, theDIYdish.com, tie dye, Tulip