Summer Catch-up with Midwest Craft Con

It’s been a few months since we were all together for Midwest Craft Con! How you doing?

Our springs and summers have been eventful! Shortly after the Con wrapped up, Grace sold her car, donated a lifetime of craft supplies and become our international craft correspondent. With her trusted feline and a one-way ticket, she took off for a new adventure abroad in Germany! As a full-time freelance writer, she’s had the freedom to work from the road for years, but Berlin was calling her name. (Grace in German is Gayle — little-known fact.) She’s now settled into her new apartment and even picked up a part-time editing gig at a financial newspaper. She’s spending her weekends exploring her new home and is jonesing to start a new project. You can follow her adventures on Instagram!

Brit and myself are both still stateside! Brit is hard at work with her Crafty Mart duties in Akron, already looking ahead to their holiday show. This woman runs not one but two creative nonprofits! Up north she’s been holding a series of events called The Maker Sessions, and she brought in a few Conners to offer small business advice to creatives in the Akron area. She’s also been working on a massive project designed to bring back retail to the city’s downtown. She’s currently enjoying the last weeks of summer with her two kids before the school bells rings and she returns to the classroom to teach high school English.

As for myself… like Brit, I’ve been home with my kids this summer, but I have still been productive in between swim meets and play dates. Since returning from Craftcation, my soap business received some much needed attention and its virtual doors have opened again. Craftin’ Outlaws, which this year will be a two-day craft fair, is hosting our first ever DIY gala in Columbus. I’ve also added creative consulting to my list of job descriptions. The family and I will be taking a much-needed road trip to Colorado in a few weeks before the kids head back to school.

We three still text daily and have had monthly Google Hangouts since our event wrapped in February. The 2017 Craft Con taught us so very much and was an emotional and financial roller coaster ride. But we never stopped forging ahead and being there to support one another along the way. Together we’ve scouted a new location for Craft Con, confirmed our amazing keynotes and planned what will become the best craft con to date — while still finding time to go outside now and then!

We can’t wait to get the band back together next year. Seriously, we have AMAZING things planned, new crafty friends joining our team and some BIG craft names making appearances. I’ve got goosebumps just typing, but you’ll have to wait another few days for the big announcement!

Midwest Craft Con is an all-hands-on-deck operation, and each one of us is so very important in making the event happen, and that inspired our theme for 2018: Never Craft Alone. While none of us want summer to end, we’re also really looking forward to February!