Is it me or did this day just fly by? I feel like I covered a lot of territory and yet didn't see near enough.

I did a quick run through of new products downstairs. Amongst the toy folks and paper suppliers was a new vendor named Tinkering Ink. Check this company out. their attention to detail is impressive. I wanted to steal one of the custom tops the ladies were wearing today. The embellished tee shirts reflected the paper design and I think this team has an opportunity to add scrapbook paper-inspired fashion to their lovely collection of products. Also notable were supremely gifty limited edition hand lotions with fragrances inspired by the names of the paper collections. Alot of thought went into these products to position them as an affordable luxury. I can't wait to see tomorrow's tee shirt.

Plaid is going after that future customer in a big way with new lines that support their fashion art products. Great display ideas that could be easily replicated in a craft store. I liked the customizable belt program and new embroidery kits from Michael Jolly that looked like something you'd see in Vogue.

Categories I am watching closely.... paint. Some interesting new product introductions for use on fabric as well as water-based "craft" paints that dry like a fine art paint. Embroidery- especially contemporary takes on classic techniques such as crewel and stamped embroidery designs.

If you have toddlers at home or are just a fan of the enormously talented Eric Carle, search out Loew-Cornell's new Eric Carle line of craft kits. Eric Carle is an author and collage artist/illustrator whose popular book series is often used by educators to connect art with math and language. The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Brown Bear, Brown Bear products sang to me. This is a recognizable brand in a thoroughly gifty educational toy format.Retail priced under $20 for those of us on the 4-year old birthday party circuit.

If I didn't know better I'd swear I was at the Leather and Luggage Show. The breadth of luggage and tote offerings is immense not only are they well crafted and well-executed design-wise. They have lots of special storage sections for crafters to tote stuff between classes and crops.

Lots of surfaces for scrapbookers that aren't pages cards or albums: alphabet letters, clip boards, frames, shadowboxes. DCWV made a strong statement about home decor in their booth. Very Attractive.

"Pretty" powers on  whether it is rhinestones from Thermoweb, glitter, flower embellishments or pretty color combinations. Vintage chic, boho, soho- whatever you call it, we still love an informal mix of print and pattern.

Neat wall shelf in Making Memories booth. Whitewashed wood with deep shelves and a bar to hold ribbons. It was craft storage made to look like furniture.

Ribbons! Buy them on the spool and cut 'em yourself.There's more of a profit margin for you and there is more of an opportunity to coordinate them with the paper lines you're bringing in.

Martha Stewart packed the house for the keynote. I don't think I have ever seen such attendance at a keynote speech. Apparently she spent quite a bit of time visiting booths looking at products and taking photos with fans. Too bad she isn't staying through the whole show. She was adding to the excitement.

A good full day. Now we all rest up for another big day tomorrow- Beth