hello!
i'm nicole.
California-born creative entrepreneur, lifelong maker, and middle-aged first-time mama who turned a sewing machine and sheer determination into a six-figure business.
I’ve traded my sewing machine for a pen and a podcast mic to help creatives skip the trial-and-error and build a life and business they love.
With lessons learned from growing my own creative businesses and producing events like Patchwork Show and Craftcation, I’m here to help you embrace imperfect progress, ditch the hustle mentality, and reach your goals—whether they’re business, personal, or creative—more smoothly and with greater clarity.
a few random things about me...
I’ve been a Dolly Parton superfan since the moment I saw her light up the screen in 9 to 5 when I was six years old. To this day, Mule Skinner Blues is my favorite song—and yes, I know every yodel by heart.
I’m convinced that a good soak in a body of water can fix just about any bad mood. Give me a beach or a backyard BBQ with a pool, family, and friends, and I’m in my happy place—bonus points if there’s a margarita and cheeseburger involved.
Put a microphone in front of me, and it’s almost impossible for me not to grab it and start singing—despite my inability to carry a tune, remember lyrics, or wait for anyone to actually invite me on stage.
i've always been about doing
things differently.
While other kids were perfecting their 80s blue eye shadow or swooning over boy bands, I was running a cardboard “shop” to sell handmade stationery and plotting my next creative business adventure.
Fast forward to scrimping for craft fair booth fees, hauling handmade goods to flea markets, and teaching DIY workshops at my tiny studio, The Craft Kitchen.
Being scrappy and figuring out my own way to make things happen has always been my superpower—and now, I’m here to help you do the same. I’m passionate about imperfect progress, building community, and helping creatives shake off the hustle mentality.
Here, we ditch one-size-fits-all success formulas to quiet your inner critic, embrace your unique path, and build a life you don’t need a vacation from—because …
magic happens where mindset meets meaningful action.
Let’s carve your way forward together.
how I got here...
the long version
1984 yorba linda, ca
At nine, I launched my first “business”—a handmade stationery shop crafted from cardboard. Fueled by my family’s entrepreneurial spirit (and Aqua-Net bangs), I found a passion for creating that sparked my path as a maker and entrepreneur.
1992 anaheim, ca
My after-school job at a vintage shop taught me everything from display design to spotting thrifted gems. I begged my mom to teach me to sew so I could turn Goodwill muumuus into wrap skirts. Thanks, Molly Ringwald, for making it cool to be broke and artsy.
1988 orange, ca
After a summer sweeping hair and answering phones at my dad’s barber shop, I started my second business, Sweets from the Heart by Nicole, selling chocolate lollipops to his customers.
2000 venice beach, ca
Sharing a one-bedroom apartment with four other artists, I sold paintings on the boardwalk and at flea markets, learning from street artists how to balance making art I loved with making enough to buy groceries.
1998 san francisco, ca
While juggling grad school and waitressing, I sold my first mixed media art pieces at a friend’s open studio event. They sold out, sparking my dream of paying my rent with my art and I hit the road for LA.
2003 echo park, CA
I launched Random Nicole, a line of purses made from old jeans and hand-painted canvases. Venice Beach tourists loved them, and I scaled the business to clothing, eventually selling in over 250 stores worldwide, including my first brick-and-mortar in Hollywood.
2002 hollywood, ca
From costuming Alec Baldwin and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to answering phones at a VCR repair shop, I juggled a mix of “prestigious” jobs—teaching preschool, cleaning houses, running a CB radio at a trucking company, and waiting tables in a topless bar (fully clothed, I promise!)—all to fund my creative dreams.
2007 irvine, ca
In 2007, I co-founded Patchwork Show, starting with 25 vendors in a parking lot and growing it into a multi-city event connecting artists with their communities. A year later, I opened The Craft Kitchen, a studio and boutique where I taught workshops and supported local makers.
2012 ventura, ca
I moved back to Northern California to finish my master’s degree, met my future husband, and co-founded Craftcation—a business and makers conference born from a brainstorming session in a traffic jam, creating a space for creatives to connect, learn, and grow. This also marked the start of Dear Handmade Life, the parent brand behind Patchwork Show and Craftcation.
2018 long beach, ca
My business partner transitioned out of Dear Handmade Life, and I took the reins, collaborating with an incredible team of creative women to grow our events and online community.
2020 santa rosa, ca
After years of infertility, I got pregnant, faced pre-term labor, and endured bed rest and hospital stays during our busiest event season. With the support of my team and family, Luca arrived healthy in January. Weeks later, COVID forced us to postpone events—a tough call that deepened my commitment to bringing creativity and connection to our community.
today!
In 2024, I said goodbye to the Dear Handmade Life brand as it evolved into three distinct parts: Patchwork Show, Craftcation Conference, and my new venture, Nicole Stevenson: Your Creative Mentor. This shift allows Patchwork Show and Craftcation to thrive as their own brands while I focus on mentoring creatives through The Club, CAMP, It’s Part of the Process podcast and other projects, helping them build fulfilling, creative lives—without the burnout.
