Craftcation 2023 Social Activities
meet and greet and Q&A for first-time attendees & INTROVERTS
with Katie Mac and Craftcation 2023 Ambassadors
Join other introverts & first-timers for a low key gathering with drinks and community building. The first time I came to Craftcation I didn’t know a single person. Throughout the weekend I was able to warm up and meet some other first-timers like me and we’re still friends to this day. Come hang out, make new friends and talk about all things crafting. Let’s get to know each other! Feel free to grab a beverage at the bar and bring it along.
OPENING CELEBRATION and happy hour
Join us at the Craftcation Opening Celebration and Happy Hour for DIY crafting, meeting and mingling with fellow attendees, author book signings and so much more! Let’s celebrate being back together amongst our community.
TOTE BAG FLAIR! CUSTOMIZE YOUR CRAFTCATION TOTE
with ALLYSIA HOLLAND & JILL BATES-MOORE
Take your tote bag from 1 of many to 1 of 1! Come hang out for a bit while you make some custom crafty upgrades to your Craftcation tote.
Kumihimo Friendship Bracelets
with JESSIE KATZ GREENBERG
Join us upstairs for a relaxing friendship bracelet party! You’ll learn a simple technique to weave a kumihimo cord friendship bracelet, using a cardboard loom you’ll DIY yourself. Learning the technique takes only a few minutes then we’ll spend the rest of the time relaxing and chatting while we finish our new bracelets!
Möbius Ball Zipper Pull Decoration
with REBECA MOJICA
Pick your colors and create a cute little knot of intertwined metal rings. You’ll attach this knot (known as a chainmaille Möbius Ball) onto a lanyard hook so you can deck out your badge, your purse, or any other zipper you’d like!
Iron Craft 2023
with HOLLY MARSH
At Iron Craft Ventura, you’ll experience: Crafting. Secret Supplies. Surprises. Mayhem.
Craftcation attendees will compete against other makers to vie for the title (AND prizes!) of Iron Craft Champion. The defending champion will be there to hold her title of Master Crafter- will she win again or will someone new claim the title? Competitors will be given a basic set of craft supplies and will need to create a super rad creation, within minutes. But–there’s a catch: competitors will need to include the Secret Supply Item, which will be revealed just as the timer starts! Come watch or better yet, participate in this fast-paced, creative, yet fun event at Happy Hour!
DRINK AND DRAW
What better way to test your creative skills and knowledge than in friendly competition with a drink in hand! Get to know your fellow crafters, artists, hand-made business owners, and crafty geeks at this fun and casual creative mixer. We’ll be getting down to some funky music, there will be trivia, and we’ll be making art through group challenges, games, and activities. No art experience required – bring your imagination, your business card, and let’s pre-party to start off an amazing weekend at Craftcation!
henna party
with MOHINI TODKARI
You’re invited! Join me for a special henna party as I create unique freehand designs, just for you! Get the temporary henna tattoo done on your hands, arms, shoulders, feet or ankles. Henna is a beautiful and ancient form of completely natural temporary body art. You can show it off up to 2 weeks after it’s applied. Dress vibrantly and join me as we celebrate art from other cultures!
Karaoke: The Final Frontier
hosted by GLAMDROMEDA STRANGE (MALLORY WHITFIELD)
Sing your heart out at this judgment-free intergalactic space themed karaoke party. The ability to carry a tune is not required, but costumes are encouraged. Think galaxies, space travel, sci-fi, aliens, rocket ships, planets, moons, and Ziggy Stardust.
PHOTO WALKING TOUR
with KATHRYN HARRIS
Come with me on an outdoor walking tour around the hotel as I show you how to use public spaces for beautiful brand photography. I’ll teach you tips & tricks for best lighting, angles and poses and how to incorporate nature in your images.
upcycled fashion show
with MARISA LYNCH
Join us for our first ever Upcycled Fashion Show! Come see attendees of Marisa Lynch’s Thrift and Upcycle Workshop to showcase the lovely fashion pieces they create in either session of this workshop. More information on how to participate will be sent to attendees enrolled in the Upcycle Workshop.
Statement Macrame Necklaces
with RACHAEL DURAN
Learn to make a fun statement necklace using braided (*recycled?) cotton cord. You will use a basic figure eight macramé knot and finish your necklace by wrapping the ends with embroidery floss.
LEATHER SCRAP JEWELRY
with JENNIFER PERKINS
Turn colorful pieces of scrap leather into one of kinda wearable works of art! Host Jennifer Perkins will be your guide for this fun and easy make and take where you will paint, cut and layer leather. Most folks make a pair of earrings (or 2) but either way plan to walk away with your new favorite accessory.
WANDERINGS 2023: A SELF-GUIDED EXPERIENCE TOUR
Wanderings is a self-guided tour of fun and exciting experiences hosted by your fellow Craftcation attendees. We’ve seen everything from communal craft projects, dance parties, costume photo booths, podcast recording sessions, fundraisers and so much more. We’ll put together a list of room numbers so you know where in the hotel to… you guessed it….. wander. Start at the top and work your way down. Start at the front and work your way back. It’s all up to you! You create your own route. Just be sure to get a stamp from each room on your Wanderings Passport!
JUDGEMENT FREE DANCE PARTY!
Get down on it at this judgment-free, body-positive, booze-optional, sequins-always-encouraged dance party. This year’s theme is A Night at the Art Museum. Costumes are encouraged but not required.
casual board game party
with HOLLY MARSH
We all love the Saturday night dance party and love to cheer our fellow Craftcationers on as they get down with their bad selves in their badass costumes. But what if the dance party isn’t your scene or you’re feeling a little more introverted, or you want to keep your evening more casual? Come to the Casual Board Game Party, where you’ll get to play a variety of board or card games with your fellow attendees.
Folks are welcome to wear costumes, casual wear, jammies- whatever you’d like!
SCREENPRINTING MAKE & TAKE
with ALLISON KREFT
Join us for a screenprinting make and take where you’ll use screens with Craftcation-themed images to print!
EYE GLASSES LEASH
with LINSEY MARTIN
This will be a make and take 30 minute craft. I will teach a Half Square Knot spiral to embellish a eye glass leash. This can be used to conveniently wear your sunglasses or seeing eye glasses.
Closing Ceremony
hosted by DEAR HANDMADE LIFE
All good things must come to an end – or so we’re told. Let’s get together one last time and close out what is sure to be another remarkable week together. Here we’ll be giving away prizes, recognizing outstanding Ambassadors and attendees, sharing stories, mingling and of course taking our now famous group photo!
