A quick note about this summer's armchair attendee process:
As you can tell from the date of my last post (May 23), I've been a little busy of late. I am blogging after the trade show this year instead of during it and am condensing all of my armchair attendee blogging into two posts: this one (trends) and another one tomorrow (my wishlist). There have been some recent shifts in the industry, resulting in a much smaller summer show and many companies staggering releases across the year rather than having two big releases a year. However, there's still a lot happening and it's fun to watch it unfold!
Introduction
Some of you may be wondering what it means to be an “armchair attendee.” How can you “attend” the show if you’re not there? Well, here’s my process.- In the weeks ahead of the show, I regularly frequent websites that compile manufacturers’ sneak peeks. Most manufacturers “sneak” their new releases prior to the show via their company’s blog, but that can be exhausting to follow without the aid of websites that do the work of compiling sneaks for you. A good website for this is Scrapbook Update. I also try to spot sneaks as they appear on Facebook and Pinterest.
- As I look at sneaks, I make sure to check out both official product images as well as any projects showcasing the new products. Often a line or a product that doesn’t grab me at first looks different when I see it on a layout or a card.
- Once the show starts, I watch online for photos and videos from the CHA show floor. Not all companies do sneak peeks or extensive sneak peeks and seeing new products together with projects made with them in the booth can inspire. You can try searching #CHAshow on Twitter, check magazines' and manufacturers' Twitter feeds/Facebook pages/blogs, or follow targeted CHA product reveal websites (like Scrapbook.com's video from the show floor).
- I use Pinterest to grab images that catch my attention, posting them to a CHA Summer 2014 board.
- I start my process by looking for any new and unusual products, and then, as the sneaks accumulate, pore over them for continuing and emerging trends.
- I finish my process by making a wishlist of the products I want to be sure to buy.
From the armchair perspective, I didn't see a whole lot in terms of new trends this year. My speculation is that that's due to the shrinking of the industry. Companies that are still in the game are likely playing it safe, building on what have been big sellers for them in the past. That having been said, I did spot some interesting things.
Let's take a look at two trends I am noticing. One is ominpresent, the other is smaller.
Trend #1: Big, Bold, Colorful, Diagonal
Many manufacturers are moving away from smaller-scale patterns and are including big, bold, colorful prints with diagonal lines in their collections. Here are some examples of what I've seen:
1. My Mind's Eye Jubilee Wild Berry
2. Crate Paper Notes and Things
3. Pink Paislee Solstice
4. Gossamer Blue Get Happy
5. Chickaniddy Crafts Scrumptious
6. Studio Calico Brighton Pier
Trend #2: Diamonds
I am not talking here about metallic gem stickers, but about images of diamonds. This motif trend follows on the heels of the bling-it-up trend. There's been a huge and successful surge in metallics the last year or two so why not add another facet of bling into the mix? Let's peek at what I'm seeing appear.
1. Gossamer Blue On My Desk
3. Prima Julie Nutting Kaleidoscope (bottom row, second pattern from left)
4. We R Memory Keepers Shine and We R Memory Keepers Clearly Bold
Unusual Twists
I love seeing products that take an existing trend (or trends) and turn it into something unique. Here are a few examples.
1. Ombre + Cork: Crate Paper Notes and Things
2. Quilt + Map: Webster's Pages Nest
3. Gold + Foam + Geotags + Anchors + Arrows: Pink Paislee Solstice
If you were at the show or are armchair attending yourself, what did I miss? Be sure to check back tomorrow to see what's going on my wishlist!
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