Thanks to everyone who joined us for an amazing 3 day weekend in Seattle for the 2010 Conference of Creative Entrepreneurs!
It was an amazing opportunity to hear from so many talented speakers, swap stories with other attendees, eat lots of delectable treats and maybe most importantly we all took another step towards attaining our [...]

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ccewest

Bazaar Bizarre began in 2001 in the Boston-area as an offbeat entertainment extravaganza to showcase the DIY movement and handmade goods. Bazaar Bizarre has spread across the nation to cities such as Los Angeles, Cleveland, Maker Faire Bay Area and Austin. Bazaar Bizarre San Francisco is a Handmade market, Indie entertainment extravaganza [...]

We thought we’d give you an insiders guide for places to eat while attending the conference. We will be providing breakfast and lunch but there is dinner to think about too! Oh and add in a good place to hang out with someone to do alittle informal networking with? Vermillion is the place!

Vermillion [...]

We are so excited that in just a few days we will be gathering for the first ever Conference of Creative Entreprenuers! If you have any questions about the upcoming event feel free to get in contact with attendee coordinator: Andrea Porter – andrea@creativeconferencewest.com.

Have the chance to win this amazing poster by Seattle based artist Matthew Porter in this years raffle!

We are excited to announce a special special round table reception hosted by The Conference for Creative Entrepreneurs.
The event will feature small group discussions about running a small business, networking opportunities with members of the the art, craft and design community, craft and product demonstrations, special discounts on services and products from our sponsors, [...]

I know whenever I go somewhere, even on vacation, my eyes are still peeled for good stores to hit up where I might showcase our line. Check out some of the stores below. Possibly plan for an extra day or two while in Seattle to talk to some store owners. Face to face meeting can [...]

This week we’re psyched to introduce you to Seattle’s Central Co-op! The folks behind Central Co-op are a motley cadre of cooperators with a spectrum of magical skills that support sustainable practices, community accountability, and the local food economy. They also happen to sell delicious food. But we wanted to find out [...]

Earlier in the month I mentioned my new favorite site Crafting an MBA Megan creator of the site has put together a book club aimed at helping you read, digest, and discuss various small business topics. I often need a group to hold me responsible and give me a timetable. So I think this book [...]

We thought we’d give you an insiders guide for places to eat while attending the conference. We will be providing breakfast and lunch but there is dinner to think about too! How about tacos?

Just across the street from Oddfellows is Rancho Bravo. If you are a vegetarian your choices are limited (one taco) and it’s [...]

Did you miss the early bird deadline?
Well, seems a few people did so we extended just through the 20th. So get on it now so you don’t miss out!
Discounts for Blogger & Journalists
We would love some more press so we are offering bloggers and journalists a discount! We would love if you [...]

If you attended this past weekends Urban Craft Uprising event you may be considering applying for the holiday or next years summer show. Or maybe you have applied in the past but did not get in. With competition stiff for vendors you will get an amazing leg up by attending day one’s class – Craft [...]

We thought we’d give you an insiders guide for places to eat while attending the conference. We will be providing breakfast and lunch but there is dinner to think about too! Or maybe more importantly what about happy hour?

Coconut, Lavender, Pomegranate – all martinis that are offered at Chapel! Fancy martinis, happy hour (only [...]

This is one craft show of the summer not to miss. Urban Craft Uprising consistently has an amazing line up of artists! The first 100 folks through the door each day get a free swag bag of goodies! Free admission, craft demos, hourly giveaways!

Seattle Center Exhibition Hall, July 10 & 11th: 11 – 5.
www.urbancraftuprising.com [...]

With the conference just a bit over a month away you might be getting in the mood to talk business. Megan Auman of Crafting an MBA recently did a guest blog post over on design*sponge about her top 10 biz books. This list will get you thinking and then you will have lots and lots [...]

We thought we’d give you an insiders guide for places to eat while attending the conference. We will be providing breakfast and lunch but there is dinner to think about too! Or maybe more importantly what about dessert?

In the course of three days you are bound to find this spot as it is just [...]

To round out the conference the last evening we will be holding a happy hour at Grey Gallery and Lounge. This will be a great way to make sure you gather contact info from all the amazing folks you have meet over the weekend. We are excited to be able to incorporate these down times [...]

A great new venue for lovers of craft opened in the Phinney Ridge neighborhood of Seattle in 2009. Assemble integrates a gallery space, a workshop studio, and a retail shop to host creativity of all kinds. Their mission is to showcase craft as modern art, while teaching both traditional and avant-garde crafting techniques in a workshop environment.

Check [...]

1) You have one of the best craft podcasts (CraftSanity) on the planet (the other one is Diane’s of course). What made you get into podcasting?
Thank you. I never planned to get into podcasting. It all started in the winter of 2005 when I asked my husband, Jeff, what he was listening to on [...]

Come meet Samantha Fisher and Cary Lane at the Elliot Bay book signing event who have just recently released The Sock Monkey & Friends Kit by Chronicle Books!

With this book and kit you can transform stray socks into stuffed-animal friends with this utterly cute craft kit! It featuring step-by-step instructions for 9 unique sock [...]

Are you super excited about this years CCE conference but are wondering about ways to stay involved year round with groups that support small business owners in the art, craft and design community.
First, Kristen Rask and Andrea Porter two of the organizers of this years CCE event are also the minds behind Seattle’s Grassroots [...]

Thanks to everyone who entered our recent CCE contest for a free one day pass.
We have picked a winner! Dave Sheely of Dave Sheely Designs.
We appreciate everyone giving it a shot and helping us spread the word! Be on the lookout for more contests in the future!

We thought we’d give you an insiders guide for places to eat while attending the conference. We will be providing breakfast and lunch but there is dinner to think about too!

When I go out of town I always like to go out for a more “fancy” meal but nothing that is going to really [...]

Thinking of getting a one day pass? Be a backer on kickstarter and get lots of goodies in addition to a CHEAPER ticket price!

Looking for a way to finish up the weekend at the conference? How about heading just across the street for an amazing free concert in the park!

Join the Monktail Creative Music Concern Sat. August 14th, 2010 for Sounds Outside: A Celebration of Adventurous Music & Community! The 5th annual free, outdoor, festival of jazz [...]

We are excited to announce a special fundraising project!

Kickstarter is a new model for rasing funds towards a specific project. Each project has pledge contribution levels where individuals can get special bonuses for helping us reach our fund raising goals!
Every project has a funding goal and a time limit. When the deadline is [...]

CCE- We already heard from Lauren about how Raised Eyebrow came about. How were the first years of being in business for yourself? What are some highlights or harsh lessons learned?

EM- Wow, that was such a long time ago that it almost feels like someone else experienced all that, but it is fun to remember, so thanks for asking.

The early days were really incredible. I remember feeling like I had this huge burst of energy suddenly fall into my life. Somehow the process of deciding that I would spend my days working on my own project — our company — gave me all this extra energy to devote to… well at the time it felt like everything. I was just so fueled and fed by the idea of working for myself and (forgive the cliche) building my dreams and not someone else’s that I felt like I was on top of the world. I started sewing in earnest. Took on all kinds of personal projects, rode my bike more, everything I was unstoppable.

An important business lesson that we learned early on was that your personal credit has little to do with your business credit. We were really surprised to learn that our impeccable personal credit histories had little sway when we went to apply for a line of credit for the business. Of course, we left applying for credit until a time when we needed it, so that was a bit stressful. The lesson learned there? Apply for credit as your business as soon as you can, even if you don’t need it. I recommend a line of credit (lower interest rate) and a credit card (useful for online purchases etc) to everyone, even if they have small limits and you don’t think you need them yet. Once you’ve got a toehold, you can expand your credit as you need to overtime and it will be much easier than starting from scratch.

If you currently live in Seattle the Capitol Hill Art Walk is growing and growing so you should check it out! A particularily good month is June as it is Blitz’s 1 year anniversary on June 10th.
If you are coming into town for the conference you will have an opportunity to check out the [...]

We thought we’d give you an insiders guide for places to eat while attending the conference. We will be providing breakfast and lunch but there is dinner to think about too!
Just downstairs from the Century Ballroom, our main conference hub, is Oddfellows.

A great place for sandwiches and salads during the days – I’ve [...]

We are planning some fun events at night after the finish of each day of the conference. On August 14th from 5:30 – 7:00 we will be hosting a book signings with various authors and illustrators from the crafty community at Elliot Bay Books.

This is a great opportunity to find out how these folks [...]

Follow us on twitter.com/CCEWest!

We are offering one lucky winner a free one day pass or half off the ticket price of a three day pass for getting word out about CCE!

All you have to do is 2 of these 3 items things:
Help spread the word about the giveaway on your blog, twitter, or facebook & leave a comment [...]

If you mised our June 1st dealine for the 3 day early bird ticket discount no fear you are in luck! We have extended the deadline through July 15th!
Buy now