In January, ImpressArt exhibited at the Craft and Hobby Association’s (CHA) winter trade show where we taught the masses to metal stamp. I personally look forward to trade show. It’s a wonderful feeling to be surround by and submerged in all that crafty goodness! So many things are happening both on and off the trade show floor…all of it creative! For a designer like me, I’m definitely in my element.
I always have a busy show. There are new products to see, seminars and workshops to attend, people to visit and places to go. One of my favorite things to do as a designer is teach. I love working with people and teaching them how to do something new, which is why I do a fair bit of teaching for ImpressArt when they exhibit at the Craft and Hobby Association’s trade shows.
The show is five days. The first day is all education. Seminars, Demonars and Workshops of all kinds happen on day one. On this day, I taught a workshop for ImpressArt called Embellish It with Metal. Fellow designer, Cindi Bisson, co-taught this workshop with me and we were sold out! It was a great class and very loud. Everyone seemed to have a great time and the student’s projects came out great!
The remaining four days all of those things are going on, but the these are the most fun because the show floor is OPEN! There is nothing quite like the experience of a craft and hobby trade show. There is so much going on on the show floor. Demonstrations and Make It Take Its (MITIs) are happening almost everywhere you look. All the cool products, fabulous projects, amazing booth designs and luscious colors everywhere you look…well…you can liken it to the feeling a kid may get in a candy store.
Of course, ImpressArt got in on the action and excitement by hosting Make It Take Its in the booth. Margot Potter and I shared the schedule. Both Margot and I planned MITIs that were simple, yet pretty that the attendees could wear around the show floor.
I must be honest. Doing Make It Take Its in the ImpressArt booth is probably one of my favorite things to do. As I mentioned earlier, I simply love to teach. While I love doing the workshops, MITIs are special because often times, you get people who are curious about the stamps, but they might be a little timid at first. Metal stamping can appear complicated and intimidating. I don’t know if it’s the noise or the fact that you have to use a hammer. Whatever it is, there is nothing quite like seeing someone’s expression change once they have stamped their very first piece. Many times I heard someone exclaim, “Oh wow! That was a lot easier than it looks!” It melts my heart.
This is the expression I am talking about below. See how happy she is? I just love it! That’s what makes me happy.
I’d love to teach you to metal stamp, too! There are lots of amazing projects in the ImpressArt Project section for all levels. We also have some new video on our YouTube Channel you will want to check out. Whether you are new to metal stamping or an accomplished metal-smith, there is something here for you!
Artfully yours………Theresa
