I
just got back from a fantastic weekend in Chicago with dozens, make
that hundreds, of inspirational women. I enjoyed the tremendous honor
of participating in the web panel at the Country Living Women
Entrepreneurs event at the Renaissance Hotel. Wow. I think we’d all
agree. Wow.
A much-needed, much-enjoyed energizer!
They dyed the Chicago river green that day. I hear there was a
fantastic parade. Though it was tempting to sneak outside for a quick
peek, we were all plugged in for a serious re-charge and not likely to
disengage. 
I spent the event shoulder to shoulder with Anna Griffin, as dynamic as she is beautiful. Such a treat to get to know her.
*Panel photos courtesy of Anna herself, who thoughtfully dug out my
camera for a couple of quick shots. (Thanks, Anna! Your photos were
the best ones of the batch.) There she is with miss Beth Ferreira of
Etsy — lots of exciting things in the works over at Etsy*
Dozens of business owners gathered from over 40 states to attend the
event. I had the pleasure of meeting many of them during the breaks —
I wish I could have met them all. Evenings were spent getting to know
the panelists & the well-knit Country Living editors & staff.
What an amazing group! Contagious electricity.
I’d share more photos, but most of them are blurry &
psychedelic. I did get one sharp shot of the audience to my left.
That’s Vicki Bodwell in front (sunshine embodied) of Warm Biscuit.
My Saturday night ended with a winding tour through the maze-like
hallways of the House of Blues with Maggie Pace of Pick Up Sticks (love
her!). I’d have been set with blog photos if I’d had my camera at
dinner that
night — imagine walls upholstered with crazy quilts & painted
shoes. And the pokiest elevator in modern Chicago — good company
makes all the difference.
Then there was Sunday. Bonus day. No work, no plans, just a
last-minute meet-up with a gaggle of gals from the event. Joanna
Figueroa & I drove out to Lincoln Park to window shop and fabric
talk with the delightful Paula Prass, her beautiful daughter, Jennifer,
miss Bari J., and Anita Hopper who makes handbags of recycled leather
jackets (great concept).
What a fantastic weekend! Kudos to Country Living for bringing
women business owners together for such a meaningful event. If you’re
revving up to focus your creative dreams into a real business, I highly
recommend attending next year. Thanks Country Living for your
hospitality, I had a wonderful time.
Heather – congrats on your great honour. You had the best legs on stage.
Mark.
Wow. That looks like a very amazing event. Congratulations. ~jen~
I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing Anna before and she is truly a sweetheart! Sounds like a really great event.
Congratulations on participating in such a wonderful event!
Look at you girlfriend!!! Lovin to watch you blossom!! See you in Portland..Jennifer
One of the lovely attendees of this event is the very reason I was introduced to your blog! It looks like it was an amazing time and makes me wish for a moment I lived back in the Chicago area 🙂 Come to NYC!
Ewww Creepy Mark. Creepy.
I wish I could have been there. I love Country Living and reading about that event was how I found out about your blog — which I also love.
LOVE the coat! too cute!
What a fabulous event!
Wow was all I could say as well! Thank you for sharing your story and providing such inspiration. It was lovely to meet you. Can’t wait to see what you dream up next!!
So glad you enjoyed it! I attended last year and know how recharged I felt when I returned home! WISH I could have been there again!
Heather – It was wonderful to meet you at the CL event. I soaked up everything you said about blogging! When I got home and picked up my Mary Engelbreit again I thought OMG! I had read the whole article about you but didn’t put 2 and 2 together! Ahh the crazy pace of a conference. Congratulations on the beautiful article and I wish you continued success – just pretend I said it in person!
Hi Heather! Thanks for the great post on the CL event. I hope I can hang on to the electric, creative energy I felt in the conference that day and on the town Saturday night. Nice description of the cavey House of Blues…I was lucky to have found the exit! –Maggie
It looks like fun! You definitely had the best shoes and the pink coat looks smashing! You’ll need it in Portland too. And an umbrella.
that red house looks just like the one across the street from where i used to live as a child (a man named mr. ford lived there. it was around 1975, and in the neighborhood of 26th and millard).
Heather, I agree!! It was a fantastic weekend…and so great to be around all of the creativity. (Didn’t it feel like the Renaissance Hotel just crackled with the energy??) I can’t wait to go back again next year.
Carol
Heather, I agree!! It was a fantastic weekend…and so great to be around all of the creativity. (Didn’t it feel like the Renaissance Hotel just crackled with the energy??) I can’t wait to go back again next year.
Carol
Wow, how exciting! I had no idea such an event existed, but what a wonderful idea. I’ll have to look into this for next year. Thanks for sharing the info!
Looks like you had a fun filled weekend!! LOVE the pink coat, by the way! 🙂
It was great chatting with you at the CL event in Chicago. It was a fantastic conference with so much inspiration all in one place.
Hope you decide to offer a pattern for that cute green bag you were carrying.
I’ve always been a big fan of Country Living magazine. Saw you in there. Congrats! You look so perky and full of personality, just from seeing your photo!
Brenda
What a fantastic event – so cool! And you look adorable, as always…:)
Yes, the coat is cute…but what I’m REALLY crazy for are those super shoes!
Hi Heather! I subscribe to Country Living and I absolutely love it. One of these days, I’ll make it to Chicago. Love the coat. I also see that you’re wearing those fabulous yellow shoes. Congrats, again! Oh, I just picked up MEHC today. Can’t wait to dig in!
Congratulations! LOVE your cute yellow shoes AND the pink coat! (:
Love the pink coat! What a great shape it is. You look mighty cute on stage, too.
This is off topic… but in response to Megan. My comment is not creepy – many ladies have commented on the shoes, and I am just saying that Heather looks good in them. Loosen up Megan!
I am very happily married to a great wife – with great legs. My wife and I are fans of Heather’s inspirational work, so we are just saying that she rocks!
I think she has great legs too!
Sounds like a great conference…chicago is one of my favorite city’s. Love your blog; have added you to my list of favorites…check out my blog at http://www.therunningquilter.blogspot.com
How exciting! Thanks for leaving me a comment! 🙂 It would be wonderful for you to sell your Fabric line in your shop! I would love it!
I am so excited to see your coming soon fabric line! I cant wait! So Fun! Thanks for all the inspiration! You are great!
Good comment Mark (and your husband Isaac too) Men might not notice the shoes like us women, but they know a good pair of legs when they see them! (and the inspirational woman who owns them) I think you are fabulous and to think I was supposed to be there-WHAA! but alas, I was whisked away to the Bahamas by my husband (who thinks my legs are great too) Had to sell my ticket. Hopefully next year. You met my friend Bari, who did my blog banner for me. Congrats on your continued success (and noticebly long legs)
how exciting!!!! i lurve!!!!!!!!! the pink coat- did you make it????
what a fantastic event~
i love to see women who use their creativity so fully.
ps~ may in portland shouldn’t be so rainy
but do wear the coat to market!!!!
What a cool and inspiring event!
Hey Heather-HUGE fan of yours and was thrilled to see you on the panel…truly, you’ve raised the bar on creativity and blogging and inspire me! Are you going to be at the BLOGHER conference in San Francisco? Would love to reconnect…at the same time, I would love to work with you in some capacity on warmbiscuit.com! Thanks for the mention! Vicki
How special to be a part of such an amazing event. I’m glad you got to do this!
Heather, It was so amazing to meet you in person! What a hugh and amazing event, so many wonderful ladies and beautiful weather in Chicago……I look forward to next year!!!!!
Looks like fun! You sure know how to rock the yellow!!
Happy spring~
Kim
Heather – It was so great to meet you this weekend!
Hi Heather,
I attended the conference and pitched a product, but it was meeting and chatting with you that really energized me. I was constatnly nodding my head in agreement as you spoke on stage, especially your comments regarding blogging. You were so correct! I wrote about the event as well and how inspirational it was to be around so many smart and creative business women. Thank you for sharing your time with me,
Elizabeth
Hi Heather,
Missy and I really enjoyed meeting you at the CL event (and Jennifer, Paula and Anita whom we had dinner with Saturday night…so fun!). You, Anna and everyone were so inpiring! We appreciated your taking the time to talk to us and just be so “real”. Very cool. Enjoyed the ME article this month. I have total studio envy! Take care.
Liz
http://www.sweetfunkyvintage.com
Heather,
Thanks again for making yourself available at the conference. My sister and I enjoyed meeting you and all the great advice you gave. It inspired me to start my blog when I came home. And I wrote about my experience of meeting you.
Thanks again,
Heather
Heather – what an inspiration you are. I am a huge fan and it was great to see you and listen to all you have to offer those of us starting out. Thank you.
I just started my business this past fall, was one of those selected to “Pitch” to CL editors last weekend, and learned so much from you and those who spoke! Thanks for adding to making it a perfect day!
Meg Finn
VintageScraps.etsy.com
The event in Chicago was amazing! It was my first one and I was lucky enough be sitting behind Charlotte Barnard. I tried to talk to you but you were wisked away to join the panel. I have never blogged before, but after hearing you talk about it, I started one. It’s jamiescreativityboard.wordpress.com. I am hoping to chat with other creative women that want to start a business or already have one. Thank you for the inspiration!
Lovely Pink Coat!
Oh I feel like such a proud Mama, I told Vicki Bodwell (a really, really close friend and business partner, I have worked with her for years) about you and introduced her to your blog, when she started her blog. I am so glad the two of you were able to meet. She is such an inspiration to me. She said you were amazing (her words) and I am just a tad jealous I did not make it to the event. I am hoping to make it next year to the Country Living Event. Congrats on all your success!