Greetings from beautiful Napa on this glorious May day!
I’m going to get to the point: I have pulled the plug for an in-person event for Craft Napa next January. I’ve said all along I wanted to be as transparent as I could regarding the decision-making process for this, so here goes. I posted this yesterday both in the Craft Napa e-newsletter and on the Craft Napa website:
Join Us for a Boutique Crafting Experience
Craft Napa 2021
January 13-17, 2021
With health and safety concerns of COVID-19 lingering for the foreseeable future, we are creating a multi-media, immersive event next January. We are planning a very fun adventure and time together, so please save the dates!
More information to follow in early June.
We are going to bring Craft Napa to you, in the comfort of your own studio. In early June, I will be announcing a bit more about the concept, and share important dates (program announcements, timelines, add-ons, registration, etc.).
Personally, I am very relieved to be making this decision now rather than waiting until later. All of the science points to the fact that we more than likely will not have a vaccine widely available prior to January 2021. Even with practicing social distancing, deep cleaning of rooms, etc., I don’t feel it’s prudent to be offering an in-person event for clientele that for the most part, are over 60 years in age, and considered to be a bit more vulnerable to suffering the consequences of COVID-19. I’ll feel a lot more confident hosting an in-person event when the vaccine becomes widely available–hopefully by the middle of next year.
Making this decision now frees me up to plan for something really, really fun. So I hope you will check back in early June!
In the meantime, I am continuing to interview quilters, fabric designers, and mixed media artists, every single day (weekends included) at 1:00 PM Pacific over on Instagram (Pokey Bolton account). I have been doing these for more than 30 days, and some are uploaded onto the Crafting a Life YouTube channel, but the last 11 days of interviews are now all available right on my Instagram account. So far we’ve gotten a sneak peek of a number of fabric lines debuting this spring, learned some tips and best practices for moving to online teaching, not to mention take a candid and inspiring peek into people’s studios! It’s amazing to me what people have been making in terms of art, and also people’s coping practices for staying sane through this pandemic.
A sample of some of Leslie Tucker Jenison’s Warehouse District fabric line for Robert Kaufman that she shared on my IG Live. This fabric line will be available in August.
Soon I am going to be putting up more merchandise (i.e. Craft Napa project bags, and metal water bottles) on the craftnapa.com website, and will post a giveaway here when available.
Stay safe and well,
Pokey
Hello Pokey….
A very reasonable decision. Thank you. I look forward to your planned at-home projects and fun.
Quilt, sew, design with this extra time.
Please, take care and stay well.
Best,
Loretta Armstrong
Thanks, Loretta!
Since 2021 was going to be my year to finally attend Craft Napa I look forward to hearing details. I have already been thinking about getting my small group of sewing friends together and renting a big house, maybe in the Napa area since we are spread out over NorCal, to attend as a group. We love getting together at Cindy Needham’s studio in Chico, maybe we can get her to join us.
Love your daily get togethers, I am learning so much!
Hi Linda, I am sorry that it wont work out for an in-person event in January 2021; I just don’t think it will be safe or that people will feel at all comfortable, especially if there is going to be a second wave of this expected over the fall/winter months as the CDC and other scientists are projecting, and still no vaccine in place. I will be announcing plans for 2021 shortly, and I think it will still be a lot of fun! I hope you can join us, and that in 2022 your group will come in person! Be well and thanks for your comment, Pokey
I totally understand and agree with your decision. Hoping it will work for us as a small group to be together and experience Craft Napa from a distance / virtually with whatever platform you use. That is assuming the 7 of us in our sewing group are comfortable sharing a house next January. I am sure it will be great but would be even more fun with a few friends.
A wonderful idea! And good also to commit now. I believe you are planning very wisely.
Pat, long-time reader of Quilting Arts.
This is so exciting! Kudos for coming up with a way to continue with Craft Napa and allowing all interested parties to be able to attend in a safe way. Fun!
I’m loving Leslie Tucker Jenison’s new line of fabrics. I’ll be watching for the giveaway.
Stay healthy, stay safe!
Thank you from my heart to yours. Smart decisions make greater virtual happiness! Blessings, Pamela Graham
I look forward to seeing what you plan and how it will work across the time zones. Always ready to learn & share ideas.
Exciting, looking forward to it. I probably would not have made a in person event but looking forward to a virtual one.