Thank goodness that things are back to normal with my ISP! I can't believe how much we count on the internet in our house...it's like a utility now, not just a luxury!
Well...this is a Loooong post...so you may want to grab a snack before you start! lol! This Album is the visual for this post too.
So... a little about the show and my trip to NY. The one thing that I keep realizing at these shows is that everyone has something amazing about them. It's my favorite thing to meet new people and discover what it is for them!
the National Stationary show is SO different than CHA...but I was expecting that. I saw a ton of "card only" companies that had fun new designs and that was fun! I also met a few incredible illustrators of Children's books (Check this artist out! She is SO sweet!) and some retail store owners that were a blast to visit with. AND RIBBON!!! I did notice a ton of ribbon. Pepillon stood out with its new "Fantastic Ribbon" really cool tight striped ribbon! Hopefully they will have it on their website soon. I was able to snag a little sample and will try to make something fun with it soon. there weren't very many scrapbooking/stamping booths but the few that were there were top notch. As I said on my last post Websters Pages took my breath away. I sat for a while visiting with Brandin, drooling over their papers. Classic AND contemporary all at once. She is a DOLL...smart and beautiful. I had to change what I had planned for the show to meet the needs of the show and Brandin set me up with some paper. (I went from Make and Takes to raw creating a Bridal set...people were much more into seeing it done instead of doing it themselves.) I was also lent a fun self inking stamp from PSA Essentials. They have some neat ready to stamp cards.
Ok...someone asked about where to get fun things in the city.. WELL...Tinsel Trading Co takes the cake for embellishments for sure! this company has been creating amazing goodies for over 70 years. They have TRUE Vintage everything...It was breathtaking to see and touch.
Cavallini & Co. was in attendance as well and it was super fun to see all their goodies up close and personal. They have come out with new Butterfly and Vintage animal stamp sets...the animals are very Pottery Barn...LOVE THEM!
It was a good show in a lot of ways and I learned a ton. I really enjoyed hanging with the Marvy Team! I cannot express to you how lucky I am to work with them. they are kind and generous. we had some down time and sat and visited about products and packaging. I got to hear about some of the upcoming goodies and beg for a few new shapes that I am hoping they will produce. It was fun to play with a few things that I don't have, like the Bistro Markers! THOSE ARE FUN! Overall, their pens were the hit of the show for them. They have the coooooolest everyday pens.
Anywhoo...thats a sum up of the show. :) Now... the after hours stuff!
Sunday I got into the City about 6pm and started Right away to just stroll around. I passed CBS, went by Rockefeller Center, NBC, down 5th Ave then back over to Broadway. Then hopped down to times square. this is all SUPER CLOSE to each other. it was amazing. I was marked by a few pick pockets too...it was a tad obvious and I just looked them in the eyes and gave them a "do I look THAT stupid look" then they went the other direction. I made my way to the Shubert Theater and saw Spamalot...Monty Python lovers dream....then walked back to the hotel. Whew....I was a tad tired.
Monday, ate my Bagel with Cream cheese for breakfast, Sobrets Hot dog for lunch then went to the Red Eye Grill for dinner with the team. Talk about Fat and Happy! Holy cow! I felt I got my bite of the Big Apple that day. Dinner was an amazing crab Cake surrounded by monster prawns...it was all so tender and fresh...melt in your mouth good! Dessert was a fresh made brownie (warm) covered with homemade ice cream, caramel, walnuts, hot fudge....and SO much more. I savored every bite too! they were laughing at me because they thought I was full and couldn't believe I downed the whole thing! LIL! It was MONSTER! Later we walked down to Time Square and picked up some "items" from the street. heehee. We cracked up and were amazed at the amount of police that were trying to bust the non-permit solicitors selling the knock offs. I was clueless that it was a naughty to buy and sell them...untill I was walking away with mine and my group said I should put it away. Yikes! We were amazed at how warm time square is from all the lights. totally cool! Headed over to the M&M's store and got scanned to see what "flavor" I was. ............I ain't tellin' its just too scary! LOL! Swatch was out next stop. We all had graduated in the 80's so it brought back fun memories. Got me a Sweet watch...almost got a poppy like one, but it just wasn't as versatile as I would have liked.
Tuesday after the show I took my first subway ride and met up with Robin Mower at Penn Station(RMower from SCS) and she showed me the town! Penn station was a world in itself...there is a mall down there....freaked me out! We snagged a cab and hit Battery Park first to check out Lady Liberty. Even from a distance she was exceptional! we then walked through the financial district to the east side, past the Brooklyn bridge (which I have a deed to ;) LOL!) and up to China Town. Ok...I was a tad surprised how I felt like I was in a totally different country! billboards were in Chinese and everyone was speaking Chinese. We then floated into Little Italy...litterally on one street it was all China...and across the street it was Italy. Same thing, it was like we were in Italy! We decided to eat dinner there. I ate my first Canolli. then we saw this little deli that sold the yummiest cookies and treats. I bought an Éclair and Macaroon. (you can see the little bag with me at the top of the empire state building) We then headed over to the top of the Empire State Bldg. it was a clear night. the lights were amazing. Robin had to catch a train back home so we headed back to Penn station and parted ways. :( I took the E train back to 53rd which took me directly to my hotel....I melted into bed.
Wednesday was my last day. I got dressed and packed up. I decided that I would go to the Manhattan temple while I was so close. So I mapped it out,then walked over a few blocks to central park. What a great thing to have in the middle of a city! I walked past Trump Towers and down Central Ave until I realized I had gone too far then headed one block west to Colombia where I needed to be. I was thrilled to see a post office! I had been looking for one for a while, so I popped in to pick up some stamps. While at the inside vending machine a nice gentleman asked if stamps had gone up to $.41. I answered..."yup...silly huh". I turned to see this dad with his son and daughter in a stroller. The little girl made me feel homesick right away. she was a doll and had a princess back pack so we visited for a few minutes. I was a little taken back when I first looked at them and realized that it was Richard Kind but didn't make big deal about it. He's SO tall though. I then headed down to the Temple and finished my NY experience.
I am SO grateful that I was able to go. it was a dream come true! Meeting up with Robin was my favorite thing though. There is nothing like hanging out with a great person!
