Spectacular Sights from Winter CHA

My report from Winter CHA is going to be a little bit different this year. Instead of giving you a blow by blow description of the all the new products that were released, I'm going to share photos a couple of spectacular things I saw. At the DCWV booth, the theme was "Grow Your Creativity" and to support the theme they had "planted" a garden of very exotic trees: real trees that were cut down and decorated in Utah before being transported to CHA in California. They are truly amazing and the photos barely do them justice. Firstly, the Scrap Tree with everything handmade from paper. It features butterflies, flowers, leaves and beautiful bird cages. Look at the spectacular peacock which proudly sits at the foot of the tree. And yes, it too is handcrafted from paper! The Home Decor Tree features mirrors, wired flowers and other embellishments from the home decor range. And the third tree is the bead tree. Glass balls filled with jewellery dec......

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Shopping Expedition at Michaels

You might think it's a bit strange that I would even think about making a trip to Michaels Craft store when I've travelled to the US for CHA, undoubtedly one of the world's largest craft shows. But it makes much more sense when you realise that CHA is a "look but don't touch" shopping experience. Because it's a trade show, you can't buy anything off the shelf to take home with you. Instead, you have to wait for it to be released and then shipped to your local retailer. So you see, a trip to Michaels is essential to stock up on hard to get craft items. Shopping at Michaels is a lot of fun: the store is packed full of crafty goodness for every craft you can think of! But if you're a regular reader of my blog, it won't be too hard for you to guess which aisles I spend most of my time in. And if you're not, then check out the shopping bag below for a hint. As you'd expect, my bag includes lots of beads, crystals and findings, plus ......

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I Dream of Genie

Ever wished you had a genie lamp? Wouldn't it be great to rub it and watch the genie materialise right before your very eyes?  And then to hear the booming voice bellow out: "My wish is your command!" Well, I can't promise you the 3 wishes, but I can show you how to make your very own Genie Bottle. Or a Faux Perfume Bottle. If you'd like to learn how to make this exquisite bottle, then join me in a 1 1/2 hour workshop in February and make one of your very own! This is a Mill Lane Studio exclusive from my Vessels and Vials series. It's a stunning piece of jewellery that is sure to draw many admiring comments.  In the workshop, you'll learn my tips and techniques for how to construct your bottle and how to create secure loops that will make your jewellery piece solid.   You can find out more details about the class by visiting the Current Class Schedule at Mill Lane Studio. To make a booking or enquiry, please click here ......

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