CHA Canadian Designer, Educator and Creative Professional (DECP)

Retreat Review

November 22-24, 2014 Kempenfelt Conference Centre Innisfil (near Barrie, Ontario, Canada)

This retreat was planned by the designer committee of the CHA Canada Chapter, Audrey DeJong, Carmi Cimicata, Wendy Russell and Canadian Executive Brenda Greenwood-Vernem. Pictured during a sight visit in August, Carmi, Brenda and Audrey.

The goal of the event was to bring together the powerful creative CHA members, who support retailers and suppliers in the craft industry, and to enrich, encourage and assist these CHA members in furthering their creative careers. Presenters were specifically chosen to represent a diverse collection of craft segments so as to push attendees beyond their comfort zone and encourage cross participation with each attendee’s area of specialty.

The retreat was intentionally planned to be a small focused diverse group of individuals from a variety of creative backgrounds and career levels. Attendees were Michael’s instructors, online businesses, new creative professionals, published craft authors, product designers and developers, TV presenters and even a TV producer.

A visual walk through the weekend

Friday evening guests arrived to our private lodge, complete with fireplace, meeting rooms, lounge, pool and game tables as well as a sauna and hot tub (which incidentally no one used as we were too busy!)

Carmi created unique buttons The Swag

As part of the accreditation process each guest and presenter displayed three items they were particularly proud of. Here are some of the displays

The evening started with a mix and mingle of snacks, sponsored by Coats and Clark Canada Inc, and a getting to know you game with the now obsolete Canadian pennies. Each attendee was given a penny and had to share a memory from the year of their penny. Stories of fighting forest fires, birth of babies and a host humours stories broke down barriers…. and so began many new friendships of total strangers.

The group moved into a Resin class from ETI with Carmi Cimicata. John Arbour, President of Coats and Clark was invited to join the ladies for the evening and participated in this class and became the brunt of many comments which he took in good stride. The pennies became part of one of the resin project that were created

Saturday Morning the snow fell in large soft flakes through the window as attendees walked to the main lodge for a scrumptious breakfast buffet. The food during the weekend was excellent.

As the group reconvened in our lodge the snow continued to fall and a chorus of “Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow” began, as attendees were all grateful that they did not have to drive anywhere that day, especially when they later heard there was a 15 car pile up on the highway just outside of Barrie! First up was Brother Canada demonstrating their new Scan N Cut Machine. New technology at its finest! Cathy Schnarr and JoAnne Cockerton did an amazing presentation of some of the projects and uses of the machine. Attendees began scheming on how to sell off their older die cut machines and purchase a Scan N Cut!

Next up was Deco Art with presenter Debbie Cotton. Many attendees had not had much experience with painting before so Debbie demonstrated some simple techniques on a project by Canadian designer Tracy Moreau. Many thanks to Westcott for sponsoring this class and providing supplies.

After another refreshing walk through the snow to the main lodge for lunch, the first of two accreditation sessions began. Wendy Russell, a producer for the Marilyn Denis Show, a Canadian national TV show and host of her own craft show on HGTV “Shes’ Crafty” presented Boothmanship; how to effectively prepare and conduct yourself in a booth while representing the product or manufacturer with effective sales and follow up. Thanks again to Westcott for sponsoring Wendy’s presentation

Next was a “get down and dirty” sculpting session with Powertex and presenter Brigette Thompson. Tarps, aprons and gloves where the name of the game for the afternoon, as attendee’s squigged, squeezed and teased Powertex fabric into a molded mask project. There was a lot of banter and jokes between new BFF”s as Brigette with her enjoyable humor instructed and assisted attendees with their projects.

The winter wonderland outside continued and after a quick break attendees assembled in the next classroom to knit. What a perfect last project. There was quiet relaxing conversation as knitting needles chinked and clicked in the background. Surprisingly many attendees had some skills in knitting so instructor Leanne (The Viking) Schmidt could assist the few newbies at the back. Leanne had created a revolving video that was projected at the front of the classroom to show how to knit. Coats and Clark sponsored the class and provided some lovely soft wool and a bag of knitting goodies for all. The project was a knitted phone cover, but there was plenty of left over wool to create other projects.

Another brisk walk through the snow to dinner led to more excitement. The other group at the convention centre for the weekend was the local Sweet Adeline’s and we shared a dinning room with them during the event. Dinner was most entertaining as the Adeline’s had all dressed up with fancy hats, so not to be outdone, Leanne returned to our lodge and brought back some of her famous crocheted hat samples for attendees to wear. The crochets hats were met with a huge ovation and the Adeline’s serenaded the DECP before dinner was served.

Saturday evening was reserved for Chill and Play, a time to catch up on any projects not completed during the day. Each of the presentations was only an hour long, but so much had been accomplished. Attendees had a chance for hands on play with the Brother Scan N Cut, touch up their Powertex mask or finish off the paint project from Deco Art. Eventually everyone convened in front of the fireplace for a “Stitch and Bitch” and re cap on the day’s events. More experienced designers were seen on comfy couches with newbie attendees giving advice on how to expand their crafting careers and conversations on favourite products and helpful industry marketing and education teams hummed in the back ground as the fire crackled. A chocolate fountain and glasses of wine made the evening perfect and many stayed up to the wee hours of the morning.

Sunday morning began with the second accreditation session, this time with Ann Butler, CHA Designer Council Chair who presented Ethics and Standards. The presentation was punctuated with lots of input and advice from experienced designers on the dos and don’ts of working in the craft industry. Even experienced designers found this refresher useful and revitalizing as they heard comments and questions from the newer members of the group. They reflected on their achievements and now it was a time to give back.

Next up, paper arts with Canadian company Ecstasy Crafts. Marilynne Oskamp demonstrated some of the wonderful products her company sells and demonstrated a new die machine with adjustable tension settings. Attendees made greeting cards and tried new transfer techniques.

A quick lunch was followed by a summary “Think Tank” session with Paula Jones CHA Canada Representative. It included a review of the weekend, suggestions for future events and accreditation requirements as well as a challenge to promote the event and each of the presenters products through social media over the coming weeks. A Facebook group was started so we could all stay in touch and share ideas and contacts. Accreditation certificates were handed out to all attendees and quarterly meetings were discussed to be set up during the year to include addtional accreditations sessions.

The CHA Canadian Designer committee is planning on repeating this event next year and Ann Butler is discussing the possibility of replicating this event on a small scale in regions in the US. All attendees at this retreat were or became members of CHA. Of the 21 attendees CHA Canada gained 7 new members, one renewal and three of the new members will be attending the CHA show in Anaheim for the first time in January. CHA Canada highly recommends each of the accredited attendees from this retreat for designer services at trade shows, consumer shows and demonstration purposes as well as online social media services.

Attendee Roberta Birnbaun shared her comments on her blog which sums up what many participants felt going home that day. "What sets this retreat apart is that it is 'the coming together of many individuals from many diverse disciplines and industries. THAT is what was great; I wasn't 'just with scrapbookers' or 'just with crafters'. Everyone, at some point, had to push beyond their comfort zone and the liberation of that was incredible." THAT is what was so great! I felt enriched, nourished and infused with a new energy. You cannot help but feel empowered and fueled to tackle new and exciting things. When you are surrounded by so much diversity in the craft community; when you have suppliers, designers, crafters and artists together in one place ONLY amazing things can come from it. I thrive on learning. This was the best decision I have made for myself this year: joining CHA and attending this retreat.”

Congratulation to graduates: Ann Butler, Audrey DeJong, Ava Gavloski, Brenda Greenwood-Vernem, Brigette Thompson, Carmi Cimicata, Cathie Schnarr, Christine Comi, Debbie Cotton, Elizabeth Glenday, Emma Ivemey, Jennifer Calder, Joanne Cockerton, Leanne Schmidt, Marilynne Oskamp, Marjolaine Walker, Nancy Donaldson, Roberta Birnbaum, Stacey Rumsby, Wendy Russell