Down To The Wire

Creative Estates early bird registration ends at 6pm PST.  That's in 9 hours.  If you haven't registered yet, please do so by clicking HERE.  We can't wait to meet you all in April!

Not that we’re name dropping, but…

With the agenda finalized, we are ready to start sharing a few more details about the conference…Up first? Details and speakers for each of the breakout sessions.

Really excited today to provide you with some of the details for our first breakout session:
Inside the Creative Business: How four women turned a hobby into a thriving business

Shealynn Benner (SheyB), Erin Edwards (The Vintage Pearl), Ashley Hackshaw (Lil Blue Boo) and Kim Stoegbauer  (TomKat Studio) operate four of the most well-known brands in the blogosphere. Though they come from varied backgrounds, each has channeled their creative talent to develop a thriving business on the web.

Shey, Erin, Ashley and Kim will share their story, along with providing valuable insight into the ins and outs of operating a successful creative business.

Read more about them here:

	Shealynn Benner – SheyB Shealynn, Shey or The Camera Strap Girl lives in Arizona and is married to her dream of a husband, Mike. They have 2 beautiful girls, Angelina (8 years) and Zoe Rae (4 years).  In 2008, Shealynn started *Shey*[B] on a whim after struggling with her uncomfortable camera strap during long photo shoots. She needed a solution - and, that solution would lead to what *Shey*[B] is today. Her business has grown leaps and bounds since then - and she's excited to continue to add fresh, new designs and products to her ever growing line. She's Shey. The camera-strap-girl...transforming DSLR camera straps from blah to beautiful.  Shealynn's business has been featured in InStyle Magazine (Germany), and Australia's hottest fashion magazine, Frankie. She has also been featured on many of the web's hottest blogs. Blog: www.shealynnbenner.com Camera Strap Shop: www.sheyb.bigcartel.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/shealynn Twitter: sheyb
	Erin Edwards – The Vintage Pearl Erin Edwards started her business, The Vintage Pearl, in 2007 as a creative outlet while staying at home with her kids. Over the course of the three years since she began her business, demand has increased to the point that she recently opened a store front in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Erin has used The Vintage Pearl as a way to give back to the community and bless others. She works closely with several non profits, including international ministries and orphanages. Erin lives in Oklahoma with her high school sweetheart Ryan, and their children Caleb, Jonah, Tess and Eden. The Vintage Pearl has been feautred all over the web on blogs like The Pioneer Woman and Nie Nie Dialogues. Erin’s work has also been featured in Real Simple, Martha Stewart Living and Rachel Ray. Blog: www.thevintagepearl.blogspot.com Shop: www.thevintagepearl.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=101361415722 Twitter: www.twitter.com/thevintagepearl
	Ashley Hackshaw – Lil Blue Boo Ashley Hackshaw's Lil Blue Boo blog is where her love of designing, sewing, painting, power tools and motherhood all intersect.....patterns, tutorials, photos, T-shirts, tantrums, beads, rocks, buttons, fabric, leaves, thread, ribbon, paint, dye, paper, tape, wood.........if only there were more hours in the day! Lil Blue Boo is all about encouraging others to find their creative streak. After a former career in investment banking, Ashley threw herself full time into motherhood and following her passion for anything and everything creative. Ashley's Lil Blue Boo clothing line and sewing patterns grew out of Ashley's love of new and reclaimed knits and embellishing them with silk screens, dye and transfers. Her passion is coming up with unique one-of-a-kind and limited edition knit clothing for adults and children. Blog: www.lilblueboo.com or www.lilblueboo.blogspot.com Clothing & pattern shop: www.lilblueboo.bigcartel.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/lilblueboo Twitter: lilblueboo
	Kim Stoegbauer – TomKat Studio Kim is a mom of two little ones, Tommy & Kate who left her real estate career to be home with her children. She decided to start a blog to showcase her creative projects including incredible parties and home decorating. The blog quickly gained a loyal following and soon her fans were asking her to create party designs for them. She opened up shop in March 2009, and her business has grown at a record pace. Her website receives over 150,000 visits a month and she connects everyday with her over 11,000 fans on Facebook! She loves inspiring other women moms to start their own businesses and believes that you can indeed "have it all!" Kim has been featured on Martha Stewart's website, In Style Magazine & The Arizona Republic, and the web's most popular party blogs! Blog: www.TheTomKatStudio.com Etsy Shop: www.tomkatstudio.etsy.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/thetomkatstudio Twitter: tomkatstudio

2011 Creative Estates Conference Agenda

We are so excited to announce the 2011 Creative Estates conference agenda!

        

Handmade Market Link

Just a notice that the link in the below post has been fixed.  Thanks to everyone who let us know so we could fix it.  :)

Handmade Market

OK everyone!  Registration is now open for Creative Estates Handmade Market vendors!!  We have opened it to everyone (conference attendees and non conference attendees), but the spaces are very limited!  Sign up today by clicking HERE!  Can't wait to see you and your beautiful creations in April!!!

Hotel

We've been asked a lot lately about where to book a hotel while attending Creative Estates.  Since this conference is different and not being held in a hotel, we have found a hotel about 2 blocks from Gangplank (where Creative Estates is being held).  It's a very quick walk.  The hotel to call and book a room is the beautiful Crowne Plaza San Marcos Golf Resort.  The rooms are extremely affordable at only $109 a night!  You're allowed 1 roommate to share those costs as well!  Sharing a room is always the way to go... so much fun!

We do encourage staying at the Crowne Plaza while attending the Creative Estates Conference.  Staying at the hotel surrounded by fellow attendees is so much fun and helps in getting to know others you may not have been able to get to know at the conference.  Having a roommate is like a sleepover!  Who doesn't love a sleepover?  :)

We look forward to seeing you in April!