While I was only in the USA for a few days, I did have time to visit the Prima warehouse and see a little of CHA (the Craft and Hobby trade show) while I was there. Since I know you’d all love an outsider’s view of what it was like, I’ve compiled a few photos.
I arrived in California expecting it to have weather similar to New Zealand in September. Or October. Because California doesn’t really get that cold, right?
Wrong. That’s snow.
And while it was sunny the whole time I was there, full sun meant no cloud… no cloud meant the temperatures plummeted to below freezing (I regularly saw –1 or –2) early in the night, like by 9pm. I know I’m going to wear some abuse from those in the Sth Island but this northern girl couldn’t handle it! Which is why I live in the Nth Island, not the Sth!
One of the first places we visited was the Prima Warehouse. This is what it looks like from the upstairs offices. Boxes and boxes. And boxes. Boxes as far as the eye could see and in each box was gorgeous Prima product.
And even more boxes…
Exit signs … seriously… who would want to EXIT this place? (Would you?)
Rows and rows of boxes with little holes in ready to pull a packet of goodness out. I ran around like a mad thing putting my hands in boxes and seeing what surprise I could pull out. That is some seriously cool lucky dip material, right there. I wish you could all enjoy the experience. It was mind boggling.
But it wasn’t all running around playing with gorgeous products, sometimes we sat down… I was in California with Janine Koczwara and Anna Dabrowska (Finnabair) – there’s a treat right there, right? - we worked our butts off the night before CHA creating fabulous demos to teach at the Prima booth. This is the classroom at the Prima Warehouse, I wish I’d got some of my favourite Prima staff in the shot too, but it was late at night and they’d already gone home. Check out the winter coats. I told you it was cold! If you look carefully you can see some of Jamie Dougherty’s artwork on the right… that lady is one AMAZING artist… if there was one lady I felt like I would have loved to watch work, it was her. Can’t say enough about the talent she has.
And the next day it was booth set-up. Here are some of the Prima staff ready to go home after setting up.
That’s my artwork centre stage right there.. proud? yes.
I loved the way these layouts hung under the cast iron hangers. Have I been shopping on trademe for similar items? Why yes I have. The Prima frames look amazing with them.
Artwork above by myself and Janine. It was a huge treat to see where my artwork was used. I’ve sent artwork off to CHA for years, never really seeing how it’s been used. It was great to be able to view the process of how everything is displayed.
This is outside the gorgeous Prima book – this was the table I did Make n Takes at. Loved the wishes and dreams tree beside me. Loved the gorgeous Prima product around me. Loved the ladies I shared this space with… more of that next time.
Oh – before I go – my favourites in the Prima booth? Has to be this line by Anna Dabrowska (Finnabair). The line is below - will I be getting it in to sell at Autumn Escape in April? Why YES I will. How could I not?
Laters – more Prima CHA next time.
WOw Wow and more Wow - what an amazing place - need to put it on my "bucket list"
Posted by: Karen Johnson | January 31, 2013 at 05:11 PM
Swoon - I can't imagine getting to go to CHA! So nice for you to see how they use your items in person. On the weather front my parents just returned from being there. They go most years as they have grandkids 30 mins from Anaheim and they said this year was the coldest they have ever experienced for that time of year.
Posted by: Memoriesbymanda | February 01, 2013 at 10:57 AM
Im glad you got to have your own Willie Wonka moment be for you left California
Posted by: Gela | February 01, 2013 at 02:22 PM
HOLY MOLEY!! That is a whole other Disneyland!
Posted by: Lainie | February 05, 2013 at 01:29 PM
California might have been cold but the prima warehouse and meeting up with creative friends would have been an amazing adventure
Posted by: Pearl Maple | February 09, 2013 at 01:17 PM
Wow! what a amazing pics you have uploaded. You have used very impressive content in your post. Thanks for sharing this post.
Posted by: lockandleave | February 21, 2013 at 09:08 PM