This year I'm taking my first ever craft vacation, aka a business trip to Craftcation (Craft + Vacation!) As I've grown in my small business, I've been looking for ways to invest in myself to make MCreativeJ better year over year. Craftcation seemed like the perfect mix of business advice, hands-on workshops, and networking.
Back in 2020 my good friend Sara of Brown Paper Bag and I had planned to attend this small business and crafting conference and then... well, we all know what happened, a world-wide pandemic. So after two years of eager anticipation, vaccinations, and rescheduled plans, I'm excited to share that Craftcation is back on for 2022.
And even better, I'll be teaching at the conference this year!
After chatting with a few friends who have attended in years past, I'm even more excited to get to try my hand at new crafts, connect with fellow small business owners, and learn new ways to improve my small business. I'm also looking forward to sharing my love of embroidery with fellow makers.
If you're not familiar with Craftcation, here's a little more about the conference and where you can snag a ticket.
Craftcation is a makers and small business conference held annually in the artsy, seaside town of Ventura on the coast of Southern California. We spend five days being led by industry experts in small business classes and craft workshops as well as attending social gatherings, special events and more to connect, educate and foster community.
And while workshops haven't been announced yet, here's a peak at the workshops I'll be offering.
Desert Landscape Pins
Wear your flair! That's right, in this two-hour, hands-on class you'll learn how to stitch your own hand embroidered pin. Attendees will receive a surprise pin shape and materials to create their own piece of wearable landscape art. Fiber artist Melissa Galbraith of MCreativeJ will teach you how to use the satin stitch, back stitch, reverse chain stitch, and straight stitch as well as her hand embroidery expertise, tips, and tricks to help you create your own unique desert landscape pin. Come with landscape design ideas in mind.
3D Blooming Wildflowers
Let’s create whimsical wildflowers! Learn to embroider a playful bunch of wildflowers in this in person embroidery workshop with fiber artist Melissa Galbraith of MCreativeJ. This two hands-on workshop covers a variety of beginner-friendly embroidery stitches such as the satin stitch, back stitch, stem stitch, leaf stitch, French knot, and woven picot stitch. Each attendee will receive a full kit to create this design. Kits include: a 4-inch wooden embroidery hoop, transfer design, sewing pins, an embroidery needle, full skeins of embroidery thread, cream cotton fabric, backing materials, and printed instructions.
I can't wait to see you there!
-Melissa