World Crafty Domination

So what do you do when you've been laboring at your crafts, becoming moderately successful and are ready to take things to the next level?

If you're like us, you gather together some like-minded people and form a powerful cabal!

The first meeting of World Crafty Domination convened on Monday, over pretzel fondue and burgers at a local pub.

Above, Shawn Gascoyne-Bowman (the brain behind www.criminalcrafts.com), me (of Molly Lee Cards) and Wendy Cull (DoggoneKnitting and QueenBeeHandmade)

And Kathy Larsen (MosquitoLodge), Linda Candello (Crafty Linda) and Jane Sabatini (half of Three Little Clouds).

Not present were Christine Thatcher (Christine Marie Studio and Eugenia Sabatini (the other half of Three Little Clouds).

Between us, we are veterans of the craft fair circuit, have sold thousands on Etsy, taught classes, taught ourselves our craft, shopped around book proposals, FaceBooked, Twittered, been featured in magazines and numerous blogs, are resting retail space in a bricks and mortar store, and, well, pretty much approached the crafting world at many, many different angles.

Why am I going on and on about a social engagement? If you happen to be stuck in a crafty rut, put out the word to find other crafty people, set a date and meet! Not all of our group knew each other and we'd never met with the sole purpose of finding ways to take over the world one cute handcrafted item at a time.

The energy and flow of ideas was so invigorating! Each of us had different skills and experience to bring to the table.

We've created an online group where we can keep up with the exchange of ideas and continue the spirit of collaboration.

Some of us will be attending the I Heart Portland/Etsy Meet and Greet on Friday at PNCA together and we've made plans to meet again in March, to check out Kathy and Christine's mini shop within a shop.

More to come!