If you follow me on Instagram you know that I spent last weekend in gorgeous Sonoma, California for the Michaels Makers Summit. I’m sure that you could tell from my photos that is was AHHH…MA….ZING! I’ve been working with Michaels as a Michaels Maker for the last year and was ecstatic to be asked to be a Maker again this year. In preparation for the upcoming year, Michaels planned and executed an incredible summit for all the Makers.
I’ve been to a handful of blogger events and conferences since I began blogging and this was HANDS DOWN the best I have ever attended. Michaels thought of everything from rides, food and logistics, to cute hair ties and gum in the bathrooms. They made us feel so valued as bloggers and just people in general. As much as I loved the Michaels team already, this event seared a major crush on my heart. I just adore them.
So onto the summit. Here’s a brief recap of everything that went down! After the Makers had landed and arrived in San Fransisco, CA, we met up for a spectacular dinner at Long Meadows Ranch (a farm to table restaurant in Napa Valley).
As a party and event blogger, I was DYING over the tablescape, florals and details of our dinner table. I mean look at that flatware. So dreamy! The food was CRAZY delicious, the company charming and the overall atmosphere just amazing. There is something about getting together with people who do what you do, and love what you love. We joked that crafting bloggers are probably the only people in the world that can chat about ribbon for over an hour…. and love it.
My dinner dates, starting from the center and moving left, Jillian of the Michaels Team, Giggles Galore, Design Dazzle, Make It and Love It, UCreate, ME, Tatertots and Jello, Skip To My Lou and Kara’s Party Ideas.
My adorable roomie, Mariah of Giggles Galore.
Only a rare breed would order Diet Cokes in the famous Wine Country. How I love my Diet Coke sisters! Kari of UCreate & Kara of Kara’s Party Ideas
THE SUMMIT
After a good night’s rest, we woke early and were transported to a GORGEOUS retreat location called The Ranch Above. The Michaels team prepared the Ranch so beautifully! It was evident how much work and time they put into getting everything ready. I mean look at these details!
How gorgeous is this entrance? So much DIY goodness!
I love that every detail you see was DIYed. The pillows, the paper chandeliers, the thread tassels, garlands and more!
My favorite aspect of the whole retreat was it’s focus…to make! Michaels with the help of Creativebug provided four fantastic classes for us to take. We spent the whole day in our element, creating, crafting and learning new skills. I learned how to transfer images from Courtney Cerruti, make paper flowers from Livia Cetti, how to watercolor from Yao Cheng and how to weave from Annabel Wrigley. It was such a wonderful day, filled with so much talent! My mind with literally going to explode with all ideas running through my head of how to use these new skills.
And hooray for you, Creativebug is offering these same classes to you FOR FREE! The classes we took at the summit (Image Transfer, Paper Flower Making, Watercolor, Weaving) are available online for FREE on Michaels.com until 8/22.
IMAGE TRANSFER CLASS
PAPER FLOWER MAKING
WATERCOLOR CLASS
WEAVING CLASS
The Summit ended Saturday morning with a discussion with Michaels EVP, Steve Carlotti. I unfortunately was feeling under the weather and had to leave early, but I hear his words were inspiring! They focused on making, creating and inspiring others to do the same.
I feel so honored to be apart of this Makers Movement and LOVE working with this fabulous company. Thank you Michaels for the wonderful summit! I appreciate all your hard work and look forward to this next year!
If you haven’t met all 50 of this year’s Makers, check out each of our blogs and bios here! And make sure to follow all of our projects on social media at #MadeWithMichaels.
