Strategic Sewing & Quilting Summit to Convene Summer 2020
The Strategic Sewing and Quilting Summit will bring industry leaders together this summer in Chicago to develop a strategic plan to grow the consumer market for sewing.
RSVP to the Webinar: Prepare for a Successful Craft Fair
Show Report: Road to California 2020
Catch the highlights from the 2020 edition of the Road to California Quilters’ Conference & Showcase which ran last week and celebrated its 25th anniversary.
Show Report: Creativation 2020
Creativation 2020 took place this past weekend in Phoenix. The Association for Creative Industries’ trade show brings together craft businesses from all around the US and the world. Stacey Trock was there and has this report.
Join Us for Business Untangled: A Live Event in New York City
Join us in New York City for Business Untangled, an education and networking event for dyers, designers and entrepreneurs in the fiber industry.
Destination Dallas: A Needlepoint Trade Show with a Focus on Community Building
Destination Dallas is a premier trade show for the needlepoint industry with an emphasis on community building. Here’s the story of how three women bought a struggling regional show and transformed it into what it is today.
TNNA to Replace Winter Market with Pavilion at Creativation
The National Needlearts Association will no longer hold its Winter Market and instead will have a pavilion for wholesalers on the show floor at Creativation 2020.
The Big List of Craft Fairs and Festivals
Independent craft shows have sprung up everywhere in the last few years. They’re a great opportunity to meet customers and colleagues. Here’s a roundup!
What’s New at AFCI
On Tuesday, August 13, the Association for Creative Industries (AFCI) held a virtual town hall meeting to update its 1,500 member companies on changes that have taken places since transitioning to being managed by Smith-Bucklin, an association management firm, in April.
What is h+h Cologne and Is It Right for Your Business?
Traveling overseas to attend a trade show is a big investment of both time and financial resources, but the payoff can be big. If you’re going to go abroad in search of unique products to source for your retail shop or to make connections with European buyers, h+h Cologne is likely your best bet.
6 Expert Tips to Calm Your Nerves So You Can Give a Stellar Presentation
No matter how long you’ve been doing public presentations you likely still get that sick feeling in your stomach just before walking on stage. Public speaking anxiety is incredibly common. Although most of us struggle with it at least to some degree, there are tried and true techniques you can teach yourself that can make a big difference in your level of ease on stage.
Show Report: SNAP! 2019
SNAP Conference is an annual event held in Salt Lake City, Utah, targeting creative bloggers/content creators. This year in 2019, it ran Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, April 11-13. In their own words from the conference’s website: “We’re joined by the best bloggers representing modern handmade, contemporary craft, mind-blowing home-based events, and DIY, along with dozens of creative entrepreneurs.” Stephanie Woodson was there and brings us this report.
Show Report: Craftcation 2019
Craftcation, the five-day business and makers’ conference held in Ventura, California, has once again served up a delightful mix of hands-on craft workshops, business classes, and problem-solving “think tanks” geared to makers and creative entrepreneurs. The event, which ran from April 3-7 and is now in its 8th year, attracted about 500 people, including presenters, sponsors, staff, and volunteers, many looking to start, build or refine their businesses while having fun and learning new skills. Roberta Wax was there and brings us this report.
Show Report: Sewing and Stitchery Expo 2019
Set within view of Washington State’s majestic Mt. Rainier, the 35th annual Sewing and Stitchery Expo took place February 28th – March 3rd. According to organizers, a record number of attendees shopped over 400 vendors and took over 100 classes per day from industry experts at this year’s show. Unique in the world of sewing shows, the Sewing and Stitchery Expo is owned and managed by non-profit Washington State University and is the largest consumer sewing show in the USA. Attendees and business owners come from all over the US, Canada, and several other countries. Annette Millard was there and brings us this report.
Cosplay Attracts a New Demographic to Sewing
Motivated by the desire to make their own costumes, cosplayers are buying sewing machines, patterns, fabrics and supplies and they’re taking classes to develop their sewing skills. The sewing industry is taking note, especially since cosplayers are typically between 18-39 years old, a market that retailers are desperate to reach.
Don’t Let Social Anxiety Disorder Hurt Your Business
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, about 15 million American adults suffer from this disorder, which can seriously and negatively affect one’s life, from social to business.
Show Report: Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2019
In its 6th year, Edinburgh Yarn Festival (EYF) welcomes thousands of knitters and crocheters from around the world for five full days of woolly fun. The festival, with its ancillary events, took place March 20-24 at Edinburgh Corn Exchange. Paige Sato was there and brings us this report.
State of the European Handmade Market
The creative market in the European Union is nearly as big as the United States’, but with some very curious differences.
The Fiber Festival: Is This Venue Right for Me?
The fiber festival is a unique and specific kind of yarn experience. Differing from a retreat or educational conference, a fiber festival has its roots in connecting small-scale fiber producers and makers to fiber enthusiasts who are looking for specialty products and to those who are curious about where yarn comes from.
Modcast Event Brings Together Designers, Artists, Quilters in Nashville
During QuiltCon 2019 Modern Sewciety recorded two live podcasts in collaboration with Craft South. Called Modcasts, the two shows sold out quickly and featured an all-star panel of guests. Andrea Tsang Jackson was there and brings us this report.