Hello there! I’m Angie with team Lucky Break, and I’m jumping in the driver’s seat to share our Craftcation 2019 Recap.
The Lucky Break Team is a group of remote leading ladies sprinkled across the continental US. A handful of times every year, the LBC team has the opportunity to convene in person. When we do, we team build, work on projects, and spend time basking in each other’s vibrancy. Craftcation is one of those times, and we aren’t even mad about it.
Pictured: Angie & Harriet, Lela, Helen, and Chloe.
What is Craftcation?
What is Craftcation? It’s an annual small business and makers conference nestled in beautiful Ventura, CA. It is five glorious days of sun, business workshops, craft workshops, skill building, networking, and dance parties (costumes encouraged!). But most of all, it is a time for us at Lucky Break to mingle in person with some of the best damn clients on this planet. This was the fourth Craftcation that we’ve attended together, and it’s the one conference every year that we’re most excited to participate in.
Workshops
Last year, Lela had the honor of inspiring the sea of hundreds of makers and artists as the closing keynote speaker. This year, she got to kick back a bit, have some fun, and taught her first craft workshop. With some help of Anne-Marie and Amanda from Bramble Berry, she led a workshop on creating deliciously decadent bath salts.
New this year, Lela selected a few brave souls to volunteer for a brand review of their business in front of a live audience. Craftcation’s very own Dear Handmade Life with Nicole and Katie jumped into the hot seat. The audience got to see how Lela works with brands to help them improve their brand recognition online, identify “their people,” and develop their storytelling to their core MVP.
Lela also presented on a panel titled Breaking Through BusinessBlocks alongside Monique Malcom of Keep Chasing the Stars, Amy Tan of Amy Tangerine, Becky Helms of The Pink Samurai, Marlo Miyashiroof Creative Arts Consulting, with moderation by Rosalie Gale of Ugly Baby Shop.
Yours truly also taught her first Craftcation workshop. If you didn’t know, alongside working for Lucky Break, I also run my own business, bobo design studio. In addition to creating wanderlust inspired lifestyle goods, I’m also a professional chalk and hand lettering artist. I was thrilled to share my chalk skills with a group of eager and talented folks looking to level up their lettering skills!
After the classes, we let our hair down
As for the event itself, there are annual “can’t miss” activities that at its core, are what Crafcation is all about… celebrating creativity in the most colorful and extra way as possible. There is an art walk in the hotel called Wanderings. Teams completely transform their hotel suites into a full-on themed experience filled with crafting, shopping, dancing, costumes, and more.
Then there is the famed Iron Craft competition. Y’all might remember the 2018 champion hailing from Team Lucky Break- Miss Shannon Miller. It’s a lightning round, elimination-style competition where contestants create a unique craft using mystery supplies and tools.
We can’t have a true Craftcation 2019 Recap if we don’t talk about the dance party. The last night of the conference plays host to the annual Craftcation Dance Party. The theme this year? Bad Ass Women Throughout History. Attendees dressed up as the badass women they admire. And well BHB grad Jamie Leigh took the cake. Complete with a paper Drake the bearded dragon and all!
This conference is the best excuse for the Lucky Break Team to get together. But above all else, it reminds us how important community is. We get to inspire each other in person, hug people we have only been able to engage with online, and have a safe place for a few days to share in the struggles and hardships that are running a creative business. (Hot tip: cocktails aid in this process!).
Want to learn more?
We are so grateful that the fantastic team Dear Handmade Life break their backs to put on this incredible event every year. To learn more about Craftcation, be sure to follow Dear Handmade Life on Instagram. And mark your calendars: Craftcation 2020 is going down April 15-19 and Team Lucky Break will be there!
