Welcome Craftcation Attendees!

We’re so excited to have you join us at Craftcation! If you’re a first time attendee: we can’t wait to meet you. If you’re a return attendee: welcome back!

ALL ATTENDEES: The info below will help you navigate the conference, understand logistics and make the most out of your time at Craftcation. We want to help you have an awesome experience at Craftcation so PLEASE READ ALL THE INFO BELOW!

Love, Nicole + Delilah

HOTEL WIFI – NETWORK = Marriott Conference PASSWORD = creative

SCHEDULE CHANGES:

4.5.18 update:

Classes that were in the Downstairs lobby are now in Salon 2 (2nd floor of the hotel next to Salon 3). Events that were downstairs will remain downstairs.

Casual crafting classes that were on the pool patio will now be in the downstairs lobby.

All indoor yoga and meditation will now be in Salon 1 (next to Salon 2). *If the weather is bad, outdoor yoga and meditation will take place in Salon 1.

Wednesday – 2:00-3:30 – Sewing 101- Machine Basics & Straight Line Skirt session 1
NEW CLASS WILL BE: same class but with Rebecca Saylor teaching

Wednesday – 4:00-7:00 – The Serger Bar
NEW CLASS WILL BE: dopp kit (bag) class with Rebecca Saylor teaching

Friday – 2:00-3:30 – Dog Gone Good: Sewing for A Cause
NEW CLASS WILL BE: TBA project with Rebecca Saylor teaching

Saturday 9:00-10:30 – Sewing 101- Machine Basics & Straight Line Skirt session 2
NEW CLASS WILL BE: Sewing 101 – sewing a tote with Kelly Affleck

3.17.18 update:

Strategic Financial Planning + Goal Setting for Makers WAS: Wednesday 4:00-5:30 NOW: Cancelled

Are You Making a Profit? – KPI’s (Key Performance Indicators) for Making Businesses WAS: Wednesday 4:00-5:30 NOW: Cancelled

3.7.18 update:

How to Take High-Quality Instagram Photos Using Your iPhone: WAS: Saturday 2:00-3:30, NOW: Friday 4:00-5:30

Think Tank: Branding and Online Presence: WAS: Saturday 11:00-12:30, NOW: Wednesday 2:00-3:30. If you were signed up for the think tank, your registration will transfer to the new day day/time.

CRAFT WORKSHOP REGISTRATION/CREATING YOUR SCHEDULE:

All meals and most craft workshops will require you to pre-register for them. *Craft workshop/meal registration opened on March 1, 2018 at 9:00am PT. Most craft workshops are full. See below on how to join the wait list if a class you want to take is full.

CLICK HERE to a list of workshops that have openings as of 3.16.18 at 1:00pm PT.

HERE IS THE CASE-SENSITIVE PASSWORD TO REGISTER FOR MEALS AND WORKSHOPS: cc18

TO REGISTER FOR CRAFT WORKSHOPS/MEALS/TOURS:

  1. Go to the Craftcation schedule HERE.
  2. Click “SIGN UP” under the instructor name for the workshop you want to register for.
  3. You’ll be taken to a page where you’ll enter this password: cc18 and then you’ll enter your name and email and click complete registration.
  4. Go back to the schedule HERE and repeat the process for the next class.

*Please note that you’ll sign up for workshops one at a time, so keep that password handy. You do not need to print your tickets as there will be a check in sheet at the workshop.

Click HERE to see the schedule. Click on the workshop title to see the full description.

To watch a video where Nicole explains and shows the registration process look below.

 

There are two types of workshops at Craftcation:

1. Craft workshops/tours: Workshops WITH a * before the title on the schedule are limited space workshops that require attendees to sign up for them before the conference during craft workshop registration. These have limited space and fill up quickly. Supplies are included in your conference registration unless otherwise noted in the workshop description. Please read the workshop descriptions to learn of pre-requisites or things you need to bring.

2. Business workshops/panels: Workshops WITHOUT a * before the title on the schedule are walk-in workshops which means that Craftcation attendees can just walk-in and don’t need to pre-sign up.

EXPLANATION OF THE WORKSHOP REGISTRATION PROCESS:

Registration for craft/limited space workshops (marked with a * on the schedule) opens on 3.1.18 at 9:00am PT. At that time we’ll email all attendees a code that will allow them to sign up for workshops, the email will go to the email address you entered when you registered for the conference, so if you’re not receiving those emails (maybe they’re in your spam?), you can check in the private Facebook group for attendees because we’ll post it there and we’ll post it at the top of this page as well.

At that time (3.1.18 at 9:00am PT) you’ll go to the schedule on our website and you’ll see the words “SIGN UP” under the instructor name for each class. You’ll click “SIGN UP” and it will take you to a page where you’ll enter the code we sent and you’ll be able to register for individual workshops. Please note that you’ll sign up for workshops one at a time, so keep that code handy.

*You do not need to print your tickets as there will be a check in sheet at the workshop.

CREATING YOUR SCHEDULE:

We can’t stress how important it is for you to spend time looking at the schedule picking out workshops BEFORE we open registration so that you’ll be ready with your schedule and the workshops you want to take the morning we open registration. Although we have more workshops this year than ever before, chances are you won’t be able to get into every single workshop you hoped for. Please be prepared with your back-up choices for time blocks. Remember as you create your schedule to make space for downtime, meals, office hours, connecting with each other and enjoying the hotel pool, beach, etc. 🙂 We don’t have a scheduled lunch on Thursday so we suggest you skip one of the time blocks to make time for lunch.

WORKSHOP PLANNING WORKSHEETS:

We created Workshop Planning Worksheets to help you get organized and prepare. CLICK HERE to download the worksheets. *NOTE: meals, parties and other other activities are not on the worksheet, you can see them on the schedule here.

IF YOU’RE NOT ABLE TO GET INTO A WORKSHOP:

OPTION 1 – WAITING LIST: If a workshop is sold out please email Nicole – patchworkshow@gmail.com with your name, email address and the names, dates and times of workshop(s) you weren’t able to register for and she will add you to the waiting list for that workshop and add you + email you if/when space becomes available.

OPTION 2 – ADDING WORKSHOPS AT THE CONFERENCE: Most times you may be able to add a craft workshop at the conference if someone who registered for it is a no-show or if the instructor is able to take more students.*Don’t worry, many times there’s room for more! There will be a waiting list posted at the door of the room where the workshop will take place – you can add your name to it or ask a staff member for assistance.

We know it can be frustrating to not be able to sign up for a workshop that you really wanted to take. Every year we get emails from disappointed attendees who didn’t register for craft workshops right at 9:00am when we open registration and they are upset because the workshop(s) they wanted are sold out. PLEASE BE READY TO REGISTER FOR HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS RIGHT WHEN REGISTRATION OPENS! Please email Nicole – hello@dearhandmadelife.com if you have any issues. Nicole will be monitoring the registration process, emails and the private Facebook group that morning to help you and will get back to you as soon as she can. Keep in mind that the day craft workshop registration opens, she receives hundreds of emails and posts in a few hours.

We do EVERYTHING we can to accommodate all of you but we are not magicians. We can’t have endless maximums in every workshop because you wouldn’t get the personalized attention you’ll need to learn. We DON’T set the maximum capacity for workshops, the presenters do it based upon how many students they can comfortably teach. At the past five Craftcations most attendees were able to get into workshops either through the waiting list or adding them at the conference.

WORKSHOPS WITH MULTIPLE SESSIONS OR TWO PARTS:

Workshops that have ‘session 1 or session 2’ in the title are workshops that we’re offering multiple times, you only need to sign up for/attend ONE session. If a workshop says (Continued) in the title it means that it’s one class split into two parts and if you take the class you will need to attend both parts to complete the project. *Please arrive for ALL workshops at least 5-10 minutes before they start.

CRAFTCATION ATTENDEE FACEBOOK GROUP:

We have a private Facebook group for Craftcation attendees. If you’re on Facebook we encourage you to click here and request to join the group to keep up to date on announcements as well as to share resources with fellow attendees. This is the perfect place to reach out about sharing rides/rooms as well carpooling/meeting up during Craftcation + we’ll share important info here. 

WANDERINGS: SELF-GUIDED ARTWALK APPLICATION + INFO:

Wanderings is a self-guided artwalk on Friday night at the Marriott hosted by Rosalie Gale of Ugly Baby. Attendees and presenters can apply to be a part of Wanderings and create an experience in their hotel room at the Marriott. To submit an application to host a Wanderings room: CLICK HERE. Past experiences have included a photo booth, pop-up shop, coloring book party, group art quilt and more. All Craftcation attendees are invited to check out the Wanderings rooms and collect stamps on the Wanderings “Passport”. Wanderings room hosts and anyone who collects stamps from all the rooms will be entered to win a ticket to Craftcation 2018!

GET PROFESSIONAL NOT SO CORPORATE HEADSHOTS AT CRAFTCATION WITH SARAH DERAGON:

Need an awesome pro headshot for your website, social media etc.? Craftcation presenter and professional photographer Sarah Deragon is offering headshots for Craftcation attendees at a super discounted price! She has three different packages available starting at ONLY $100! To learn more, see packages and schedule a session with her at Craftcation click here (FYI: Sara is currently sold out but has a waiting list). Sarah’s speciality is working with people who hate having their photo taken, so fear not! Your photo session will be fun and energizing!

TRAVEL TO VENTURA:

For info on travel to and within Ventura look here. You can also reach out in our private Facebook group about car pooling.

HOTEL:

Several nights at the Marriott are sold out, Click HERE to check availability/book your room. There are some alternative places to stay listed here. You can also check VRBO or Airbnb or reach out in our private Facebook group to see if anyone that has a room wants to share.

CONNECT WITH FELLOW ATTENDEES BEFORE YOU ARRIVE + WIN AWESOME STUFF:

One of the best parts of Craftcation is building your community. Get started before you get to Craftcation by sharing about your business/creativity, how you’re preparing, what you’re excited for etc. on social media.

Use our hashtag #Craftcation18 and tag us @dearhandmadelife when you post. We’ll search the #Craftcation18 hashtags and choose one lucky winner to get: -Access to all four of our online workshops AND a ticket to Craftcation 2019!

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*IF YOU’RE A NEW ATTENDEE: PLEASE CONTINUE READING THE INFO BELOW.

*IF YOU’RE A PAST ATTENDEE: YOU MAY ALREADY KNOW SOME OF THE INFO BELOW BUT PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO REVIEW IT.

SPECIAL EVENTS AT CRAFTCATION:

To watch a video where Nicole explains the special events and activities at Craftcation, look below.

TRAVEL WITHIN VENTURA:

Some of our events: lunches, parties and dinners are NOT at the hotel (locations and addresses of off-campus events are on the schedule). For some events, we will have shuttles but we suggest ride-sharing and Lyft as well.

LYFT AND RIDE-SHARING: Lyft is also available in downtown Ventura for a minimal fee. We also suggest ride sharing with fellow attendees. Please join our private Facebook group for Craftcation attendees so you can post about sharing rides during the conference.

FREE DOWNTOWN TROLLEY: There is also a free downtown trolley that picks up at the Marriott (please either talk to the Marriott front desk or valets, or call 805-827-4444 to arrange a ride) and drops off at various downtown locations including the Crowne Plaza Hotel (from the Crowne Plaza you can walk to downtown in about five minutes). To see a schedule of shuttle times please go here.

OFFICE HOURS:

When you arrive and check-in at Craftcation you’ll see a sign-up sheet for office hours. Office hours are the perfect chance to get one-on-one support from our presenters who are experts in a specific area. Office hours sign-ups are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

CHECKING-IN WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT CRAFTCATION:

YOU MUST WEAR YOUR BADGE AT CRAFTCATION (YOU’LL GET IT WHEN YOU CHECK-IN) *see the following
No need to print your tickets. Simply bring your photo ID to the Craftcation registration table in the Marriott and receive your badge and program. NOTE: You must be wearing your badge at all times to attend any Craftcation event/workshop – no exceptions!
CHECK-IN TIMES:
Wednesday * April 4 – 12:00-3:00pm
Thursday * April 5 – 9:00-2:00pm
*If you don’t arrive during these registration times you can get your badge at our Craftcation pop-up shop in the La Jolla room at the Marriott.

PROGRAM/THINGS TO DO/EXPLORING:

When you check-in you’ll get a program with suggested things to do, maps, schedule etc… Keep your program handy as it will be your guide for your time at Craftcation.

SPECIAL INFO FOR NEW CRAFTCATION ATTENDEES:

We know there’s a lot of info on this page and that you’re busy creatives but please read the info below to help you make the most out of Craftcation. 🙂

We strive to make Craftcation a friendly and open environment. We are both extremely active at the conference and are excited to meet you and answer any questions you have. PLEASE don’t hesitate to introduce yourself to us or ask us questions. We also have several staff members and volunteers working at the conference. Many of them have been working at Craftcation since our first conference and will able to help you if you have issues or questions. We also have many return attendees and ambassadors attending. Don’t be shy about asking for help. 🙂 Our pop-up shop (located upstairs in the La Jolla room at the Marriott) is fully staffed with knowledgeable people and they will likely be able to assist as well. If you have an emergency situation while at Craftcation, please find a staff member or ask for help in the pop-up shop.

TIPS ON PREPARING FOR A CONFERENCE:

We’ve got you covered! Please sit down and grab a cup of tea or a glass of wine and take some time to read these posts as they will help you prepare.

If you’re coming alone or you’re an introvert, remember every single person that’s next you chose to some to Craftcation too, so you already have something in common:

You’re not going to forge a life-long connection with every single person you meet at Craftcation BUT if you’re not open to connecting with anyone and everyone, then chances are you won’t connect with anyone. If you’re sitting next to someone, say “HI” and see where it goes from there. You already know you have something in common… you both chose Craftcation! Ask them: where they’re from? what they do? what workshops they’re excited about? which presenters they can’t wait to meet? Chances are you’ll end up in an awesome conversation.

Here are some posts with tips on connecting with people: How to network at a creative conference + Networking for Introverts: 6 ways to work a room

Be prepared + figure out what your goals are + plan accordingly:

Craftcation is an investment of your time, money and energy… to make sure you achieve your goals, set aside time to plan. This post has awesome tips on how to prepare, do your research, what to pack and more: How to prepare for a creative conference and check out How to attend a conference on a budget. This post has good tips for how to set your goals for a conference: 7 reasons why attending a conference will revolutionize your business and creativity and check out How to survive and thrive at conferences.

Make time for yourself:

Many first-time attendees pack their schedule with workshops only to arrive and find that they’re overwhelmed by the schedule they made for themselves and they wish they would have created more downtime or moments to connect with attendees and presenters spontaneously. Keep this in mind when you create your schedule and if you decide you don’t want to attend a craft workshop you signed up for, email Nicole: hello@dearhandmadelife.com or let one of the craft room staff members know.

That’s it for now! Can’t wait to see you all at Craftcation!

-Nicole + Delilah