Amanda Edwards | Chicago Craft Social | Lifestyle Portrait Session
Wednesday, June 16th, 2010
Almost three months ago I had the pleasure of meeting the lovely Amanda Edwards of Chicago Craft Social while attending a workshop at SCORE Chicago. As three young entrepeneurs with zest for our businesses, Amanda, Maria Bayer, and I instantly connected. Recognizing the value of collaboration, we started meeting regularly to track our progress and offer a fresh perspective to one another outside of our own industries. One of the ideas birthed out of these meetings and Amanda’s flourishing creativity was Chicago Craft Social. As coordinator for three collaborative craft events over the past year, Amanda’s experience inspired her to take a new approach to energizing the craft community in Chicago. Her prior gatherings were highly successful and creatively fulfilling, quite similar to Etsy’s local craft parties, but Amanda wanted to take it to a new level. So for the all new Chicago Craft Social, she has joined forces with both local and national talent. Among the talented artists that will be donating their resources and sharing their skills are a bead store, a stamp store, a national craft education manager, and a professional celebrity crafter. The idea is that participants pay a small fee for unlimited access to these materials while receiving instruction in a new area of artistry. There are typically 4-5 crafts to choose from in a given night and the amount of time one wants to spend on one is the only limit. The event has some fabulous sponsors giving away notable prizes, and refreshments will be provided throughout the evening. I am honored to be photographing Craft Social’s debut and I hope to see many of you there!