CHA Tear Down

The CHA Show closed at 2pm and we quickly tore down and packed everything away in the crates. It has ended up being a good show for us and we made some good contacts to pursue when we get home. We paid a union guy $$ under the table to get our crate early... yes illegal payoffs are alive and well in the convention world... political world as well. Then off to the airport we went. We are sooo excited to go through the catalogs and pick out good things that will delight you!

While we were taking down the booth, Bonnie got a sliver in her finger and ended up going to the first aid station. They could not get it out and sent her on to the hospital emergency. She ended up having a 3/4" sliver that went through her knuckle to the other side of her finger and walked away with two stitches. Only Bonnie. Through the years on trips she has had blood poisoning, kidney stones, broken shoulder and more...
-Brenda

Top Left: 1) Brenda & Madison of Fancy Pants 2) Brenda & Ryann of Piggy Tales 3) Brenda & Carolee of Carolee's Creation 4) Brenda & Heather Downs 5) Brenda, Ash & Rick Gass of Cameo 6) Brenda, Bonnie, Josh, Lindsay, Annie & Craig of CREA

Top Left: 1) Bonnie with TP 2) Brenda & Deann of We Are Storytellers 3) Bonnie, Brenda & Mike Hessing of WR Memories 4) The tear down begins 5) Brenda & Kristia playing clothespin torture game while we waited for crate to come 6) Josh with velcro

CHA Day Three, Boredom Sets In

Today was the same kinda day as the day before... but good to see friends. I miss home & family. They are having slumber parties with their Dad. It has been so nice to have my daughter Ashlee with me (Orem store manager).

The pranks started today and I am sure they will carry into tomorrow as we keep ourselves entertained in a way unbecoming to a tradeshow. Why I don't feel something is hanging from my rear end is surprising to me.

On our way to dinner with Matt, we talked to the taxi driver about the different conventions and he filled us in on the convention scoop. He hates Utah and avoids it like the plague.
Best looking people: Natural Products Convention
Ugliest dressers: Nurses Convention
Most uptight: Helicopter Convention
Snootiest people: Doctors Convention
Most Alcohol consumed: Music Convention

We came back to our room and watched The Secret Life of Bees... a keeper of a movie :)

-BrendaTop Left: 1) Josh & Matt from Flexo One 2) Brenda, Sue & Sharee of Scrapbook Nook 3) Brenda & Ash 4) Brenda, Bonnie, Cynthea & Tonya of Doodlebug 5) Brenda, Leslie & Jennifer of Las Vegas 6) Ash & Josh

Top Left: 1) Brenda & Dennis Conforto of Scrapbooking.com 2) Brenda & Sophia of Strictly Scrapbooking 3) Brenda, Bonnie, Josh & Delanie of EK Success 4) Brenda & Josh 5) Lindsay & Bonnie 6) Brenda & Des Tanner

CHA Day Two

We are now suffering from effects of the trade show. I think it happens to everyone in trade shows around the world. One day melds into another and you slowly lose your mind. I long to be outside. True, it is hard to stay in a 20x20 booth and say the same thing over and over again. But it is so wonderful to see friends in this market, along with our customers who we love & appreciate. This year the economy seems to be on everyone's minds, whether their business is here in the US or overseas. We are more tired today then we were yesterday. This show is 1/2 day too long... it should have been over today. We had an emergency evacuation in the morning. Everyone left, I stayed and cut paper.
-Brenda

Top left: 1) Erika Clayton & I 2) Josh & Bonnie 3) Brenda, Ash, Richard & Kyle of Obrien 4) Jane Seymore 5 Miss Vicky & I 5) Brenda, Josh, Steve & Lisa of Crate Paper

Top left: 1) Brenda, Josh, Bob & Rob 2) Brenda & Jody Hunt of My Mind's Eye 3) Emergency Evacuation 4) Bonnie, Kristia & Richard Lowton of Scrapdoodles, UK 5) Brenda & Rebecca of Scrapblog 6) Pebbles with Matt & Jessica & Sofia of Flexo-One

CHA Day One

Ashlee has been busy walking around and gathering catalogs. We are unable to download the images in Ashlee's camera until we get back, but we will do it quickly upon our arrival home. There are a lot of fun new products being introduced. We are looking forward to changing our internet site to make it easier for our far away friends to know what products go together and to order. It will be fun! I find myself wondering why we haven't done it before!

Day One Memories:The best part about the show is seeing friends in the scrapbook industry and catching up on each others lives. I am doing my best to stay inside our 20x20 booth. I have to fight the urge not to take flight and walk around. Ash, Lindsay & Josh found out that Paris Hilton was coming to the show at 3pm and quickly ran to catch a glimpse of her. Why she has a craft line at CHA is a hard thing to get my brain around. What craft could she possibly be interested in? The crowds are down substantially, but those that are here love our booth and product. We did have a customer that told Lindsay she 'strongly' hated the Linnie Bell line (Lindsay created it).

Once again, we worked through breakfast & lunch and went to Coco's for dinner ... close by and quick. The chicken fried steak was soooo good. It felt good to sit down. I miss my family.
-Brenda

The beginning of day one...

The backside of our booth...

Top left: 1) Lindsay Ostrom & I 2) Our new ribbon packages 3) Karen Crisp & I 4) Bonnie, Adrian Lazenby & I 5) Ashlee, Wayne Mitchell & I 6) Paris Hilton 7) Chris Skinner & I 8) Josh & show order
9) Leslie Lee & I

Top Left: 1) Pebbles flair buttons 2) Bonnie & Josh 3) Pebbles Chipboard Chips 4) Greg & Celina Moncur 5) Ash & Lindsay 6) Brenda, Marilyn & Kathleen 7) Josh & Darth Vader 8) Share & Tell album
9) Sales

CHA Set Up

We got up early and headed over to the convention center... a quick walk from our Hotel. I opened a package from Larry and was delighted to find chocolate covered strawberries! We love to stay at the Anabella. Call me an optimist, but I thought we would be done by 2pm and pictured an afternoon nap in my future. It was not to be. We worked through breakfast & lunch before finishing at 7:30pm and grabbing dinner. Ash & I took a quick, but expensive taxi ride over to Costco and picked up fresh flowers. It has been good to see my friends in this industry throughout the day. I have know them for many years. We accidently printed our bi-line as Gathering Life's Memories instead of Gathering Life's Moments. It's an oops that I don't think many will catch. We are quite tickled with our display this year. Tomorrow the show begins and one thing is for certain... we will be more tired tomorrow than we are today :)

Our #17 Bday is this weekend at Pebbles in my Pocket. Larry & the girls are working hard and keeping things going on their end. We sure love and appreciate our customers :)

I sure miss my family, though Larry is getting surprisingly good at texting which is fun.
-Brenda

Landing in Anaheim

CHA in Anaheim. It's the Craft & Hobby Show where all the manufacturers gather and stores come to shop. Our Pebbles manufacturing group has a booth there. We are excited to see all the new items and bring them into the shop. Many of our products are discounted at the store to make room for the new that will be coming in. It's a great time to come to Pebbles... come visit!

Larry & Paul took us to the airport in plenty of time. Boy there was a lot of fog! I am always amazed how we can be in snowy Utah and then in a couple of hours be in California with Palm Trees. We think the Pilot had to pee because we have never taxied to the gate so fast, catching air as went over the bumps, before coming to a screetching halt. The airport shuttle van man drove us 25-30 miles over the speed limit and we were at our Hotel before we blinked 3 times. We all looked at each other, no words came out of our mouths.

I am the first to admit, I just don't like airplanes. The first thing I do, by habit, is to check out the people I may die with. Then I check out the plaid shirt men to see if they all look nice (they always do). Then while I sit there I play a little airport movie in my head and pick out the passengers to play the part... The villaines, the hero, the whiny woman that won't shut up, the whimpy man that cannot step forward and the one that gives his life so others may live... I must be bored. I spend the remaining time thinking about breathing in the recycled air of sick people on the plane.

We went through security. Since I had "a bulkie" hoodie on (their words), I needed to be padded down. I was wondering how they could tell if it was my sweat jacket or me that was bulky. I sucked in anyway.
- Brenda

Kristia, Bonnie, Josh, Ashlee, Lindsay & me with the fingers

Valentines Coupon Book P2G KIT

Our coupon book is adorable and ready to fill with your promised to do's for your favorite sweetheart. Created from American Craft printed paper.
Everything is precut & ready to create. $5.49 each. Available exclusively at Pebbles in my Pocket stores or please click here to order online. Available January 21 while supplies last. Pre-order yours today.
-Brenda

Valentine Kid Patterns

Our Valentine bags are too cute for words and perfect for a school or family project. The pattern can easily be cut & traced and placed on a white or kraft handled bag (sold at Pebbles). The mouth is open, allowing valentines & treats to slip into the bag. Keep in mind, that cardstock colors can be chosen to create a look-a-like image of your child. Have a wonderful time making this project with your little one. Patterns available exclusively at Pebbles in my Pocket stores or please click here to purchase pattern online. $2.99 each.
-Brenda

Pray for Darbi

Darbi Pedersen was born to Audrey and Clint yesterday at only 23 weeks, due to some unexpected complications. She weighs 1 pound and is 11 inches long. The doctors say she is a real fighter. Audrey has worked at Pebbles for over a year. We love her and her little family dearly. Please keep them in your prayers. We love you Audrey, Clint and Darbi!!!
-Pebbles Family