all about us...
all about us...
We curate events, education and community for creatives and
passionate small business owners.
"whatever makes you different or weird -
that is your strength."
-MERYL STREEP-
DURING OUR 13 YEARS IN BUSINESS WE HAVE...
- Welcomed over 500,000 guests to shop local, celebrate community and craft with us at our multi-city biannual Patchwork Show festivals where we provided nearly 15,000 artists with a venue to grow their businesses, share their products and inspire others.
- Helped thousands of creatives turn passion into a profession, become besties with their inner artist and find camaraderie through our life-changing Craftcation Conference.
- Shared business know-how, art and craft inspiration and true tales of being a creative misfit and entrepreneur through our 100+ podcast episodes, 800+ blog posts and thriving social media audience.
DURING OUR 13 YEARS IN BUSINESS
WE HAVE...
- Welcomed over 500,000 guests to shop local, celebrate community and craft with us at our multi-city biannual Patchwork Show festivals where we provided nearly 15,000 artists with a venue to grow their businesses, share their products and inspire others.
- Helped thousands of creatives turn passion into a profession, become besties with their inner artist and find camaraderie through our life-changing Craftcation Conference.
- Shared business know-how, art and craft inspiration and true tales of being a creative misfit and entrepreneur through our 100+ podcast episodes, 800+ blog posts and thriving social media audience.
meet the dear handmade life team...
meet the dear handmade life team...
i'm nicole
FOUNDER, CEO & CREATIVE DIRECTOR
i'm nicole
I’m a multi-passionate creative, middle-aged first-time mama, imposter syndrome warrior, cheeseburger, cake and Korean BBQ connoisseur, confessional journaler, second-hand shop scavenger, deep dive conversationalist and the CEO and Creative Director at Dear Handmade Life.
I'M NICOLE STEVENSON
FOUNDER, CEO & CREATIVE DIRECTOR
I’m a multi-passionate creative, middle-aged first-time mama, impostor syndrome warrior, cheeseburger, cake and Korean BBQ connoisseur, confessional journaler, second-hand shop scavenger, deep dive conversationalist and the CEO and creative director at Dear Handmade Life.
KATIE MACAVOY
COO & DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL
MANAGING DIRECTOR, CRAFTCATION CONFERENCE
I’m Katie Mac, a maker, marketer, and Mama living in Atlanta with my husband, two kids, and our crazy dog. I started my career working for large corporations before finding my niche supporting creative business owners with the business side of business. In my down time you can find me hosting weekly gameday festivities to cheer on my beloved Georgia Bulldogs, heading to the ballpark to root for my Atlanta Braves, binge-watching all the true crime and Gordon Ramsay with my husband, eating ALL the tacos with my college-aged son, singing Taylor Swift with my teenage mini-me daughter, and squeezing in as much time with my girl gang as possible
KATIE MACAVOY
COO & DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL
MANAGING DIRECTOR, CRAFTCATION CONFERENCE
I’m Katie Mac, a maker, marketer, and Mama living in Atlanta with my husband, two kids, and our crazy dog. I started my career working for large corporations before finding my niche supporting creative business owners with the business side of business. In my down time you can find me hosting weekly gameday festivities to cheer on my beloved Georgia Bulldogs, heading to the ballpark to root for my Atlanta Braves, binge-watching all the true crime and Gordon Ramsay with my husband, eating ALL the tacos with my college-aged son, singing Taylor Swift with my teenage mini-me daughter, and squeezing in as much time with my girl gang as possible
nicole spaulding
DIRECTOR, PATCHWORK SHOW
Passionate crafter, lifelong learner, nature lover and the “boots on the ground” woman who makes sure everyone knows what to do and has what they need.
nik vandeventer
CRAFT DIRECTOR
Nik is a maker, day dreamer & potty mouth who loves cats, coffee and craft beer. She is a self taught hand embroiderer and will DIY pretty much anything she can get her hands on. She lives in LA with her husband and her three awesome cats (that she can’t shut up about).
nicole spaulding
DIRECTOR, PATCHWORK SHOW
Passionate crafter, lifelong learner, nature lover and the “boots on the ground” woman who makes sure everyone knows what to do and has what they need.
nik vandeventer
CRAFT DIRECTOR
Nik is a maker, day dreamer & potty mouth who loves cats, coffee and craft beer. She is a self taught hand embroiderer and will DIY pretty much anything she can get her hands on. She lives in LA with her husband and her three awesome cats (that she can’t shut up about).
leann foss
EVENTS & SPONSORSHIPS
Maker of many things and secondhand fiend who never turns down a good costume opportunity. Connecting our partners to our community and making sure our events are stress-free and pretty.
lauren durr
social media
Sewing mama trying to keep the machines running for the next generations. Mom to two great kids, adopter of cats, I sew clothes because I believe in the transformational power of fashion. I will never turn down caramel (unless it’s flan, gels and I don’t gel). I ice dye rainbows onto denim because we all need some heavy-duty hope.
leann foss
EVENTS & SPONSORSHIPS
Maker of many things and secondhand fiend who never turns down a good costume opportunity. Connecting our partners to our community and making sure our events are stress-free and pretty.
lauren durr
social media
Sewing mama trying to keep the machines running for the next generations. Mom to two great kids, adopter of cats, I sew clothes because I believe in the transformational power of fashion. I will never turn down caramel (unless it’s flan, gels and I don’t gel). I ice dye rainbows onto denim because we all need some heavy-duty hope.
we believe...
how it all began...
It all started with a cardboard refrigerator box that Nicole found next to the dumpster at the condominium complex where she lived when she was eight. Armed with safety scissors and Mrs. Grossmn’s scented markers, she transformed the box into a “storefront” where she sold her handmade (and I mean VERY handmade) stationery…
how it all began...
mogul in training
no longer has that bowl cut.
It all started with a cardboard refrigerator box that Nicole found next to the dumpster at the condominium complex where she lived when she was eight. Armed with safety scissors and her Mrs. Grossman’s scented markers, she transformed the box into a “storefront” where she sold her handmade (I mean VERY handmade) stationery…
not sure where to start?
the backstory...
the backstory...
Dear Handmade Life began on a Southern California backyard patio over margaritas when the aunt-and-niece team of Delilah Snell and Nicole Stevenson thought back to their childhood dream of starting a business together and brainstormed about how to cultivate community, creativity and coolness in their hometown. They drew on their passions for craft, food and small business, creating their first collaboration, a tiny holiday craft show called Patchwork Show that drew huge crowds and proved that a dose of creativity and togetherness was just what their town needed.
Over the next decade, Patchwork Show evolved into a multi-city biannual festival. In 2011, they launched Craftcation Conference, giving small business owners and creatives support and education through four magical days of craft, business and wellness workshops at the beach.
Dear Handmade Life began on a Southern California backyard patio over margaritas when the aunt-and-niece team of Delilah Snell and Nicole Stevenson thought back to their childhood dream of starting a business together and brainstormed about how to cultivate community, creativity and coolness in their hometown. They drew on their passions for craft, food and small business, creating their first collaboration, a tiny holiday craft show called Patchwork Show that drew huge crowds and proved that a dose of creativity and togetherness was just what their town needed.
Over the next decade, Patchwork Show evolved into a multi-city biannual festival. In 2011, they launched Craftcation Conference, giving small business owners and creatives support and education through four magical days of craft, business and wellness workshops at the beach.
With the additions of a blog, podcast, online shop and workshops as well as a thriving virtual community, the brand became Dear Handmade Life in 2013. Delilah moved on from Dear Handmade Life in 2018.
Today, Nicole and the Dear Handmade Life team of badass creative women curate events, education and community for creative misfits, passionate small business owners and DIY devotees.
Dear Handmade Life began on a Southern California backyard patio over margaritas when the aunt-and-niece team of Delilah Snell and Nicole Stevenson thought back to their childhood dream of starting a business together and brainstormed about how to cultivate community, creativity and coolness in their hometown. They drew on their passions for craft, food and small business, creating their first collaboration, a tiny holiday craft show called Patchwork Show that drew huge crowds and proved that a dose of creativity and togetherness was just what their town needed.
Over the next decade, Patchwork Show evolved into a multi-city biannual festival. In 2011, they launched Craftcation Conference, giving small business owners and creatives support and education through four magical days of craft, business and wellness workshops at the beach.
With the additions of a blog, podcast, online shop and workshops as well as a thriving virtual community, the brand became Dear Handmade Life in 2013. Delilah moved on from Dear Handmade Life in 2018.
Today, Nicole and the Dear Handmade Life team of badass creative women curate events, education and community for creative misfits, passionate small business owners and DIY devotees.
With the additions of a blog, podcast, online shop and workshops as well as a thriving virtual community, the brand became Dear Handmade Life in 2013. Delilah moved on from Dear Handmade Life in 2018.
Today, Nicole and the Dear Handmade Life team of badass creative women curate events, education and community for creatives and passionate small business owners.
