Yup, I’m going to Minnesota for the Creative Connection event! I’ve never seen any event like this and I’m very excited to attend.

They describe it as:
“a 3-day conference, crafting extravaganza and shopping emporium for creative women, women entrepreneurs…THE CREATIVE CONNECTION will bring together women who are passionate about being creative in their everyday lives as artists, mothers, bloggers, cooks, business owners and crafters. Come learn, create, market, shop and connect with like-minded women from all across the United States!”

Etsy is a major sponsor.

I’m attending a panel on how to get a craft book published, and all kinds of great stuff like that! It’s going to be networking central with craft book editors there, an Etsy executive, Amy Butler, and all kinds of folks. There’s a Handmade Market, a Junk Bonanza nearby, a luncheon on Women Entrepreneurs, growing your business, etc.

I’ll be there Friday and Saturday.

Here are some of the things I’ll be attending:

TAKING YOUR BUSINESS TO THE NEXT LEVEL
2:30 PM – 5:00 PM

Is your business ready to go to the next level? Do you know what that next level is … or how to begin to get there? Should you pursue TV, books, brand extensions, or Web licensing? How do you make the right connections to allow it all to happen, not to mention assess the costs and acquire financing? Hear from women who have expanded their businesses through multiple platforms and also from marketing and licensing professionals who will draw on personal experiences and share their professional advice to guide you through the process.

MODERATOR
Margo Tantau
PANELISTS
Leigh Standley
Candi Jensen
Heather Bailey
Tiffany Windsor

BOXED LUNCH WITH WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS
11:30AM – 2:00 PM

Pick up your boxed lunch, take a seat, and hear from extraordinary women who started their businesses based on what they love. Jill Braff, CEO of Scrapblog, will begin by speaking about her own personal journey of creativity and business. You will then hear from five women in creative businesses who, for each of them, what started as an idea, a necessity, or a creative moment has turned into a business and in some cases a national brand. How do they manage it all, or do they? How did they get to where they are today? What are their words of wisdom, best practices, biggest mistakes, and proudest moments. Join us for open and candid conversations with:

*Jill Braff, CEO of Scrapblog

* Cathie Filian
* Christine Plantan of russell+hazel
* Heather Bailey
* Kathy Cano-Murillo, the Crafty Chica
* Vickie Howell

———————————————

EDITORIAL PANEL BREAKFAST
8:00 AM – 10:30 AM

Start the day hearing from the top magazine and book editors in both print and online editorial. What is the future of print? Who is the e-reader? Will print survive the digital age? How do you get a book published? How do you become featured in a magazine? What should you know before publishing or launching a magazine in print or online? Our editorial panel will address these issues (and more) over breakfast with time for questions from you! We will first hear from Executive Editor, Jennifer Keltner, of Better Homes and Gardens Creative Collection who will speak about “Sharpening your creative spirit, re-ignight your passion for crafting”, a brief exploration in creativity. We will then hear from a panel of industry experts on the state of publishing today (and thereafter). Moderated by Nancy Soriano.

Jennifer Keltner, Better Homes & Gardens Creative Collection group
Panelists:

Christen Olivarez of Stampington & Company
Deb Gore Ohrn of Better Homes & Gardens Creative Collection Group
Jo Packham of WHERE WOMEN CREATE
MaryJane Butters of MaryJanesFarm
Nicole McConville of Lark Crafts
Tonia Davenport of North Light Craft Books
—–
CLASSES | JEWELRY
PETITE COEUR CUSHION
Teacher: Kaari Meng, (designed for Anthropologie and owner of French General, her book just came out, too)
Registration Code: 3FAM, 2SPM

The focus of this workshop is a small mourning heart, like those the French gypsies made using collected amulets found inside old pockets and church pews. Your hand-stitched heart, stuffed with sheep’s wool and embellished with vintage charms, will become a small good luck token to hang in your creative space — or use it as a pincushion for your small jewels. I’ll be teaching this class using a kit made especially for The Creative Connection!

Students should bring to class:
• Small bits and bobs for embellishments (optional)
• Scissors

Materials kit will be provided at class.

Materials kit fee: $25.00

Friday: SPIN – A New Twist on Vintage Board Games

Here’s the first mosaic I did, a few years ago. It’s a house number. The orange tiles are from a broken tea cup and the blue background tiles are stained glass.

Wednesday: Trina’s illustration on diabetes during pregnancy

Pretty yarns, pretty tea cup, pretty Chilwich mat. Lovely greens for you today.

Friday: Letterpress Cards by Suzy Ultman

A little necklace I made recently of briolette stones. One of these shots is my friend’s necklace she got from her daughter from Tiffany’s. Can you guess which one? It’s kinda obvious because the Tiffany briolettes are cut perfectly. My stones are from ebay and etsy on the cheap. My friend says she likes mine better. But that just shows you what a lovely person she is because I know she is just saying that.

Wednesday: Susy Pilgrim Waters’s Summer Soiree

The colors are getting brighter but we still have soft lavenders from the astilbe and lace hydrangea.

Monday: Quiz: Is it a Lilla necklace or a Tiffany’s necklace?

Here’s a sign I designed for our wonderful local children’s preschool. Thought you’d like to see it and the very cool 3-D effect they were able to do.

Friday: Adolie’s featured in two magazines

I wanted to share these images of today’s bouquet from my garden.

Wednesday: NYC Trim shop

Our bizarrely early New England spring brings gorgeous flowers. I’m hoping to take pictures regularly to show you the prettiness. Here’s a pink peony that looks like a poppy, and an orange Korean azalea in bud, and our planter with those fab yellow-green petunias and magenta verbena.

Friday: New Images by Hsinping Pan

Monday: Sarajo’s Live interview with Mindy from Sirius/XM Kids Place Live

This is what Uppercase’s Editor, Janine Vangool, wrote in the Uppercase Blog:

“In our current issue, Aaron Leighton interviews artist rep Lilla Rogers. Lilla has an amazing roster of talent and I was thrilled to be able to include images by a few of the artists. Matte Stephens created an original illustration for the fox cover, and below is a photo of Sarajo Frieden’s work (left, with embroidery by Marci Boudreau) and Amy Blay (right).

Thanks, Sarajo, for sending me the picture of the magazine in your studio. Looks like your cat is quite fond of it. And thank you, Lilla, for graciously lending your time for the interview — and for the lovely bouquet this week!

Congratulations to Sarajo on the release of Noonie’s Masterpiece, a children’s book she illustrated. Find out more about the book on Chronicle Books’ website.”

Wednesday: Marco Marella for ‘pastarito’ restaurants, italy