Greetings from cha, anaheim 2009

Oh, how I wish I had a picture to include with this post.

Maybe a picture of the opening parade.  Yeah, that’s right, a parade inside the convention center, with a Scottish pipe and drum corp.  Because nothing says “I’m here to craft” like a buttload of bagpipes.  There’s only one thing that could have made this event even more surreal.  And that would be to have the Craft and Hobby Association employees (Hi Lauri!  Hi Anthony!) all pulling craft carts like a precision drill time.  You know, like those precision lawnmower drill teams, weaving in and out in tight formation.  Man, that would be sweet.

Or the disorderly procession of large women dragging their overflowing craft carts and fleeing the building this morning.  Around 10 a.m., all the fire alarms went off, accompanied by a voice on the P.A. system that could have been Charlie Brown’s teacher, but after a while was replaced by a human voice saying something like “This really IS an emergency.  Please evacuate the building immediately!”  I dunno, maybe someone’s glue gun caught fire.  Never did find out.  Bagpipes would have been nice…

Or the celebrity guest appearance of Paris Hilton.  Some of you may be asking, “What would Paris Hilton be doing at a CHA show?  Does she knit dog cozies?  Has she written a craft book?  Can she read a craft book?”  I do not have an answer for you.  Couldn’t get anywhere near the event.  Darn.

But seriously, it’s been a really good show so far.  We (the License and Design section) are right in the middle of the show floor, not off in Siberia like last year.  The manufacturers know we’re there now, the VIP buyers have been great, and show management is working really hard to make this a viable alternative to Surtex.  As for potential licenses, it’s looking good–much better than I anticipated–but only time will tell.  Hate to count those pre-natal chickens, ya know.