back from CHA

Hey there. I have some pictures to share from CHA - mostly of wonderful people. I don't have anything visual to share of our evening in the city, but I so enjoyed spending time with a few CK friends in Chicago. Got to pick up my all-time favorite popcorn from Garrett's (truth be told, it's the only popcorn I really like ... the caramel & cheddar cheese MIXED is seriously to-die-for). We did a little shopping at H&M, had a lovely meal, and a bit of an adventure trying to get back to the hotel late at night when they cleared everyone off the train for "maintenance".

Say hi to a few new friends:



This sweet person is Wilna, a super talented gal from South Africa that I met there a few years ago. She made this AMAZING, very-much-from-scratch scrapbook for our little family, using pictures that a photographer took of us in South Africa. She's held onto it all this time (no wonder ... it was hard for her to part with it!) so that she could give it to me in person. I about died. What a treasure and I feel totally unworthy to have it. Thank you, thank you Wilna!



These fun girls are on the design team at Picture Me Perfect in Fremont, California (with Suzy West). So fun to see Rocio, Sylvia, and Erin.



This group of cuties is from Tinkering Ink. So, so, so nice and just a fun group of girls. Pretty booth, eh?



I'm told that Kelly Crowl (pictured above) is my biggest fan. And by the way she reacted when she turned around and I was right there ... oh MY. Totally entertaining. Such a funny, funny moment for all her friends watching too. Kelly is on the design team at The Memory Zone in Plymouth, Indiana ... and totally my new friend.



These sweethearts are from The Scrappin' Buds in Slidell, Louisiana. Many of them lost everything to Katrina and talking to them about it was sobering. They have such positive attitudes and you can tell that they also have a very special bond and wonderful friendships with one another. So much to be thankful for, and they reminded me of that.



Last, but certainly not least ... Rebecca Cooper. Can I gush? Am I allowed? She is DARLING and super talented and she has this fabulous new book out that I love, love, love (and read cover to cover on the plane ride home). I was so inspired, that I even did a layout the next day. I'll tell you more about that tomorrow.

By the way, the book I'm holding is my NEW BOOK! It was so fun to see it for the very first time at CHA (I had to smell it right away ... I love the smell of fresh printing) and I got to give away a handful of copies too. We're on schedule to have these available to you in September and if you want us to mail you a copy as soon as it hits our warehouse, you can pre-order here.