The Summit of Awesome, a Hello Craft extravaganza, was held this past weekend, May 1-3,2009. I spent three days meeting amazing people, learning how to pursue crafting as a business, sharing stories, buying other’s goods, and making awesome things. It was such a huge honor, and privilege to be apart of, an opportunity worth well more than I paid. Not to mention a fabulous way to spend my birthday weekend.
Friday morning consisted I went to “Street Teams. Why you should connect and collaborate.” My aunt had also signed up for the three day conference so we got to go to some of the sessions together, plus I had someone I knew there with me. Even though the event focused on meeting new people, it was nice to have one contact already formed. Following the session we had lunch with Craftnote Maria Thomas – the CEO of Etsy!! so amazing. In the afternoon I listened to the Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts talk in “Am I a Business? How and when to form a business for your crafty endeavors.” Now I know I should marry a lawyer, all that stuff is too confusing for my brain. Then the highlight of the entire summit, premiere of Handmade Nation, An Indie Craft Documentary! I’ve been waiting to see it forever! It was everything and more. Can’t wait to see it again!!
Saturday was a long day. Started with “Developing a Product Line. Deciding what to make and sell.” Probably the most inspiring of all the sessions I attended. This really widened my viewpoint of what I could create, make, and sell. The Craftnote for Saturday was with Jenny Hart of Sublime Stitching. She told her story of how she came to love embroidery and how she is trying to spread embroidery as a form of art. After her speech she hosted a workshop on embroidery – I now know how to correctly sew a split stitch. El Jefe along with Biggs and Featherbelle spoke about going out on a limb. I wish my photos from this session had come out better! The Show of Awesome completed the day’s events which was an awesome party to attend. There was the Make Something Awesome table, the speakers sold their goods, music, wine tasting, and a silent auction. It was open to the public so Claudia joined me and Keith, this was his first crafting event. Claudia and I have now planned our summer and work schedules around area craft fairs! Next up Art Star Craft Bazaar!
Sunday was a little more low key with only a morning session, “Copyright and Tradmarks, How to protect yourself and your work.” Lots of information I would have never known otherwise, good thing I went to this one. Copyright infringement is popping up more and more in the indie craft scene – I’m not ok with this. After there was the Awesome Elephant where everyone put in a handmade gift. I wrapped up one of my buttonhole bags that I embellished with roving and embroidery. People seemed to like it so that made me happy! I got a set of four cards with fiber embellishments, right up my alley! To conclude the Awesome weekend we took a group photo and then I headed home for a well deserved nap. A weekend long craft blast can sure take a lot out of a girl, it was totally worth it.
Summit of Awesome, Class of 2009!
Below are some photo highlights, more coming soon via flickr.
Maria Thomas!
Summit-ers lunching
Claudia & Keith Making Something Awesome
Mustache May!
Us at Show of Awesome
Biggs & Featherbelle
Awesome Elephant Gifts!
