Craft Super Show 2010

Last Friday, I made the drive to Rosemont to go to a little craft experience called Craft Super Show.  All the big names would be there.  Fiskars, JoAnn, Cricut, Lion Brand, and I was sure I would be surrounded by all of 12 other crafters from the area.  I was wrong.  No exaggeration, there were about 1000 people in line in front of me, waiting to get in.  Some of them were dressed up as bugs, some had huge project bags with them.  Some were hosting their own web shows as they walked around.  I tightened the straps of my camo backpack, took a deep breath, and walked in.  

Of all the tables, about half were scrapbooking stations.  I tried scrapbooking once, and I made a valiant effort, but it's really all about the tools.  I don't get it.  It's a lovely endeavor for those who have the means, but I just don't get it!  Anyway, this little card was a Make and Take project for a buck, so I gave it a go.  I stenciled, embossed, and sponge painted the copper card.  Then I made the fabric flower and punched a hole for the brad to hold it in place.  I punched corners in the navy blue card and added some copper paper clips.  I like it.  I still don't get it.

This was a beautiful moment.  I've always wanted to learn how to make this I-cord, and I've seen the knitting bug in stores, but I didn't know how to use him.  The lady from Lion Brand taught me, and I gave her a tip on how to get the yarn unstuck from inside the bug's body (just a little puff of air sends the yarn right through).  And when I was done, she let me keep the bug!  Doesn't take much to send me over the moon at Craft Shows.

If An Elephant Can Paint, the paint-your-own-pottery studio had ornaments for Make and Take.  I covered it with a wax paint, then burnished it until it was shiny.  I wrote lyrics from love songs along the edge, and added puffy paint hearts in the middle.  The puffy paint fell off when it was dry, but I wasn't upset.  I'd like another go at this project, using just wax paint.  

In an effort to try new things, and get over my problem with scrapbooking, I went to a die cut station making felt brooches.  I rolled out the paper and felt, and sewed a button on one side, and a pin on the other.  I really like this pin.  It took me about four times as long to complete this project than the veterans at the table.  I broke a sweat, and they were looking at me like I was nuts.  

I signed up for a potholder class at 1:45, knowing that Wendy Russell, the host of She's Crafty, would be holding a craft competition at 2pm.  I had a really hard time with the potholder, and I think the cranky ladies teaching me wanted to go to lunch or something.  Maybe they'd just never seen someone accidentally sew over a pin, I don't know.  But I sat there for a good half hour, struggling to finish, and I missed my opportunity to see Wendy.  I finally finished the potholder, and as grumpy as I was, I did learn a couple things.  I started to leave pushing through the hundreds of crafters in my way, knowing Wendy wouldn't be back until 4pm.  I didn't care about waiting.  I was done.  

Then I couldn't find the exit.  But I did find sloppy joes.  I ate lunch, got an ice cream cone, and with renewed interest, walked around for awhile, just looking about.  I spied Crafty Chica and the lady who hosts Knit and Crochet Today.  Maybe Wendy was walking around?  It was 3:15, and I thought I'd just hang out with the throng, waiting for Wendy to make an Elvis-like entrance.  Will she charge me $20 or $25 for an autograph, I thought.  

I found her station, and there she was.  Setting up a table.  No one was camped out in sleeping bags.  There was no one at all.  I fumbled through my bag, looking for the... ahem... Craft Night "party hats" that were inspired by her show.  She was about to walk back into her tent, when I exclaimed, "Wendy Russell will you sign my tassels?!"  Wendy was a very good sport, laughed heartily, and happily autographed both tassels.  She had her assistant take pictures with her camera and mine.  She was very nice.  When it came time for me to give her one of my clever business cards, my backpack zipper jammed.  Mercilously.  I thought I would have to grab a Fiskars and do open pocket surgery right there.  But she remembered my name, and hopefully won't forget Tassel Girl.  

Also made at the show were a decoupaged frame and a duct tape wallet with credit card pockets.  I got lots of great new ideas, and had fun by myself.