2015…we found the best way to recap this year of adventures, reeeeallly tough small business challenges (that are still and probably forever in the making), numerous decisions, exploding ideas and creativity, thriving relationships, road trips galore, and tons of coffee in a photo review! Check it!
*if you are checking it on your phone some photos might be sideways but I swear on non-phones they are good to go!
Unglued: Craft Fest 2015 – our FIFTH annual Fest in Fargo at the Plains Art Museum with over 70 makers, workshops, vintage room, make and takes, food row, and more…
Won ND Event of the Year for our Craft Fest (still so crazy!)…
Committed to the beautiful, creative city of Sioux Falls and set up shop with Unglued: Sioux Falls brick and mortar at 218 S. Phillips Ave…
Including a Modern Textiles fabric mini shop in back…
Hung out on North Dakota Today doing monthly (and more!) DIY’s with hosts Chris and Andrea…
Bringing local makers on like Jameson Leatherworks and Twenty Below Coffee…
And some super fun appearances in South Dakota…
Hosted 6 weekly kids summer camps in Fargo for the second summer with local artists Chelsea and Lexie…
Began to do some more frequent DIY’s on our blog thanks to our Sioux Falls crew…
Worked on a lot of creative displays utilizing our awesome crews’ creative skills and interests and expanding them (watch for another post this weekend on our window display fun!!)…
Themed the summer in both Fargo and Sioux Falls as the “Summer Party Series” and worked with local vintage lovers (The White House Boutique!) on making them super adorable…
Made our dream of an adult summer camp happen over Labor Day Weekend at YMCA Camp Cormorant in Minnesota…(bonus VIDEO here!)…
Partied more than ever in both cities with private craft parties for all ages…
And Etsy Global Craft Parties…
Inspired with our 2nd Fargo Handmade Home Tour…
Renovated our Fargo shop to be less of a cluster and feature our makers better (and add awesome things like Dana’s hand lettering)…
Joined forces with Fargo Brewing Company to host “Unbrewed Craft Fest” during their Oktoberfest…
Created more with our kids during monthly Maker Clubs in Fargo with Lexie…
Continued Late Night Craft Parties in both cities and at fun venues like Drekker Brewing Company…
Kept our FM Etsy User Group going to connect creative handmade business owners together and host quarterly meet-ups on focused topics…
Began to have our full-time crew take “creative days” to stay inspired and develop creative skills they have been wanting to…
Collaborated often with our awesome business neighbors in Fargo and Sioux Falls on events…
Began to host workshops at private events with other companies…
Survived a crazy and awesome holiday season themed “love local” with our incredible crew…
And ended the year with our kids’ winter camp with Lexie from Aerow and Kristina from Bakeology leading it on…
Booyah!! Plus this was a year of watching our crew and makers we work with grow their own businesses and events including artist instructor Chelsea opening the Make Room in Fargo, a variety of crafters hosting holiday craft shows together, venues like Drekker Brewing Company hosting a craft market and pop up shops for artists, makers growing and some even quitting their day jobs to some even selling their businesses like Dana selling her handmade business (botny) and also becoming assistant manager in our Fargo shop(!) – and Grand Forks maker Dakotah Beard Oils just sold to the Fargo makers Barbarian, and more things we can’t wrap our minds around at the moment!
There are so many more words we want to say of 2015 but for now our hearts are totally bursting looking back on this year. I (Ashley M) realize more than ever that I get to work with genuinely incredible people in our crew, makers, local businesses, and yourself! This collision of small business + striving to make a difference and create an impact is hardest thing Justin and I have ever done and it doesn’t look to get any easier. Each year, though, it really solidifies that I’d rather work 120 hours a week towards this mission with Unglued than 40 hours doing something else just because it’d be more stable 😉 (However, I did renew my nursing license one last time last night! For a rainy day, you know?). Just grab me a huge cup of coffee and we can change the world together! #amiright?!
We really do believe that by getting you more creative that it will enrich your life in ways nothing else can and by helping our creative communities and businesses thrive that we can create that impact (pound it).
(quote from Steve Jobs – photo from Etsy)
Our Fargo crew meets up this week to dream up the possibilities so watch out world – we’ve got more things to do and adventures to take to live out our mission to be a place and events to “buy creative and get inspired”…and we hope you’ll be alongside us during it and are grateful for you being there this past year <3
Until then here’s 2 sidenotes:
Save the date for our Fargo Unglued; Craft Fest Feb 26 & 27!! More info coming soon here.
Our Sioux Falls shop now has its own dedicated Facebook page!