Craft Con

The Summit of Awesome

admin — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:47:25 +0000

Craft Con organizers are taking a time-out this year to retool our format. We have some exciting new ideas in store to facilitate expanded participation in the event. “But where will I get my in-person crafty business conference fix in 2009?”, you may be asking. Thankfully, Hello Craft has come to the rescue to keep the conversation going. The Summit of Awesome in Washington D.C. is scheduled to take place May 1st-3rd, 2009. The event is being organized by Craft Con alumni, and we know it’s going to be, well…awesome!

Register by April 10th for a discounted ticket price!

From the press release:

Summit of Awesome comes to Washington, DC!
(MidCity, Washington, D.C.) On Friday, May 1st, Hello Craft will host its first ever Summit of Awesome in the heart of the Nation’s Capital. Geared specifically for independent artists and crafters, the Summit of Awesome is 3 full days of seminars and hands-on workshops, which will provide business and technical education for those in the handmade arts community. The Summit also includes the D.C. premiere showing of the Indie Craft Documentary film, Handmade Nation - A highly anticipated film that captures the superstars of the indie crafting world, and documents how the handmade community began and took it’s current shape.
The entire Summit of Awesome will take place in the independent shops, restaurants and bars in the MidCity area of D.C., along 14th and U Streets NW. The Friday night film screening of Handmade Nation will be hosted at the DCJCC’s Theatre J.
Seminar topics include Business Identity and Branding, How to Green Your Craft, Small Business Basics, The Ins and Outs of Trade Shows, and many more. An exciting line up of speakers who are leaders in their field include Maria Thomas, Chief Operating Officer of Etsy.com, Laura Lee from DC Threads, and the founders of Cosa Verde, Liz Grotyohann and Jeff Fein-Worton, just to name a few.

Hello Craft is a D.C. based non-profit, launched in the Fall of 2008. With many ties to the local and national indie crafting communities, Hello Craft is committed to advancing, promoting and empowering independent crafters, small business owners and the handmade movement. Through the foundation of its interactive and increasingly popular website hellocraft.com, Hello Craft brings together crafters and makers to learn, grow and be prosperous in this ever-changing economy. Through the desire to help sustain the handmade movement and support independent crafters within the community, Hello Craft welcomes all its first annual Summit of Awesome.
EVENT: Summit of Awesome
WHEN: Friday, May 1 - Sunday, May 3
WHERE: MidCity, Washington, D.C.
WEBSITE/SUMMIT REGISTRATION: hellocraft.com

Craft Con ‘08

peptogirl — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 21:09:23 +0000

View last year’s program, download informative materials, and listen to podcasts on the Craft Con 2008 page. More conference supplements and audio files to come, so please check back soon!

Also, please stay tuned for date and location of the upcoming 2009 conference.

Wrap Up

Rachel — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 17:13:29 +0000

Whew, what an action-packed weekend! To judge based on those of you that we spoke with afterwards everyone had a great time and learned TONS. Please post any blog wrap-ups or press in the comments and we will be sure to add them to the list!

Craft Con 08 post-event content - Audio recordings, supplemental materials, and more! check back often for updates as we edit all the audio from the event!

Special thanks again to all of our sponsors who made the event possible.

A flickr pool of photos from the weekend

Etsy Storque wrap-up

Photobooth silliness from the Gala

Peptogirl blog wrap-up

some more photos from the weekend

DIY Lounge blog wrap-up

WilloToons blog teaser

String Theory blog follow-up

WilloToons photo set

Photos from last year

Friday’s Mixers!

Rachel — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 08:29:35 +0000

So you want to see the city? Well let us birds of a feather flock together and check out some of the cool and crafty sights in San Francisco. Tour will start at 3 pm at La Boulange, 500 Hayes St (between Laguna St & Octavia St). We’ll make our way through the Hayes Valley and then over to Lower Haight for cocktails and the first Craft Congress dinner!
If you want to catch up later, come find us at Danny Coyles (668 Haight) around 5 p.m. for cocktail hour hosted by Readymade magazine.
Dinner will be served at 6 at Cafe International (508 Haight).

Around 7:30, we will be wrapping up dinner and headed out to any number of cool happenings in the area. This is subject to change, but here are a few of the current suggestions:
Discarded to Divine: de Young Museum
Velvet da Vinci: Enric Majoral art opening
Lower Haight First Friday: music and art

Final Schedule for the Weekend

Rachel — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 07:53:11 +0000

Here is the info on what the final order of things has turned up to be - and final details on Friday’s activities. All sessions will be held at Brava Theatre 2789 24th St SF. Craft Con 2008 Complete Schedule

Thank You

Rachel — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 20:52:53 +0000

Here are all of the organizations that have sponsored us! We want to thank them for helping to make this event possible.

Maker Faire

We love Maker Faire not only for helping to make the conference possible, but also because it is just so freaking fun! What could be better than a whole fairground filled with the craftiest scientists and the savviest crafters from all over the place? Oh, and fire.

SF Indie Fashion . com

Buyer’s Market of American Craft

Craft Mutiny

Leland Tea

Transit

Rachel — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 21:23:54 +0000

The SF Bay Area online transit hub is here:

http://transit.511.org

The theatre (where all sessions will be held) is a pleasant walk through a flat and sunny neighborhood from 24th and Mission St BART, for those coming from East or South.

People traveling within the city will be pleased to know that SF Muni is usually pretty good. Buses cost $1.50, with a transfer which is good for a couple hours, and many routes run all night.

Parking at Brava is street parking or at the SF General Hospital public lot, 23rd & San Bruno, and costs about $12/day.

Cab companies:

415 626 2345

415 333 3333

415 970 1300

Where to Stay

Rachel — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 07:56:12 +0000

Hotel and hostel options have been discussed on the yahoo group here; if people are also willing to post things that have been suggested there into the comments here too it would be helpful I bet!

Attendee Roll Call

Rachel — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 23:32:41 +0000

This list will be updated on a rolling basis. We will continue to accept applicants provisionally until the venue has filled. What does this mean? The official application period for attending Craft Con 2008 has closed. But, do not despair! You may apply on a rolling basis through the week leading up to the conference, BUT we cannot guarantee that you will be included in meals or that you will receive all conference materials. We will work hard to include everybody in these things because ongoing interest in the event is too powerful to deny!

If you filled out an application and never got a receipt email we never got your application! There have been some glitches with the application; if you think this happened to you please fill it out again or contact us! You should receive a copy of your own application.

(more…)

Gala

Rachel — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 19:18:16 +0000

Crafty Style Gala

Live art and fashion construction by Onerary and Architect G from Pandora’s Trunk

Live ambient soundscapes quartet with Mika Pontecorvo

electric cello, guitar/flute, electronics/percussion and drums

Free photobooth (play dress-up)

DIY craft station (make yer own souvenirs)

Food and drink

(attending this gala is free for all conference attendees)

What is this revolution all about?

It’s no secret that handmade is on the rise. Real people all over the world are finding ways to make a living their own way with their own hands, crafting a whole new tomorrow. Come learn about, experience, and a celebrate this movement - in style!