Sponsors | The Creative Connection

Presenting Sponsor

Sterling Publishing

Sterling Publishing is one of the world’s leading publishers of illustrated, nonfiction and children’s books. It is committed to enhancing this status by combining its distinguished heritage with an open mind to incubating new businesses and an all-consuming, entrepreneurial zest. Sterling’s most recent evolutions include adding imprints such as The Creative Connection Press and its first fiction imprint, Silver Oak, which expands its 6,000+ title base of ebooks and pbooks, bringing books to life through social events, and creating new ways of storytelling that entertain, enrich, and educate. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Barnes & Noble, Inc. For more information, visit SterlingPublishing.com.

Partners

BlogHer

BlogHer is a community and media company created in partnership with women in social media. Lisa Stone, Elisa Camahort Page, and Jory Des Jardins founded BlogHer in 2005 in response to the question, “Where are all the women bloggers?”

Today, BlogHer is the largest community of women who blog: 25+ million unique visitors per month (Nielsen NetRatings). Engaged, influential, and info-savvy, these women come to BlogHer to seek and share advice, opinions, and recommendations. BlogHer’s team works hard to bring you the best and brightest conversations, writers, and speakers – online and in person. That’s what we do best. (more…)

Vogue Knitting

Launched almost 30 years ago, Vogue Knitting has set the bar for hand-knitting. It’s the style leader and the magazine knitters turn to on a regular basis for inspirational patterns, chic styling, and compelling techniques. Vogue is a name synonymous with fashion and style, and when it comes to knitting, nothing equals the impact of Vogue Knitting. Learn more at vogueknitting.com and vogueknittinglive.com.

MaryJanesFarm

MaryJanesFarm: Simple Solutions for Everyday Organic, grew out of the vision of MaryJane Butters after she realized her dream of owning a farm 25 years ago. She began by selling organic eggs, produce, and flowers, then blossomed into becoming an organic lifestyle pioneer. MaryJanesFarm is based on the simple constructs of community and self-sufficiency, all wrapped up in a package referred to as “the farmgirl way.” Never-ending devotion to an everyday organic lifestyle has helped the business grow from an organic farm to a successful mail-order business, a popular bed and breakfast, and a self-titled magazine, MaryJanesFarm. The concepts of responsibility and stewardship are furthered in her Pay Dirt Farm School and Project F.A.R.M. (First-class American Rural Made). For a growing population of individuals and families striving to “go green,” MaryJanesFarm offers a practical assortment of resources and ways to get involved.

Founding Sponsors

Stampington

Since 1994, Stampington & Company of Laguna Hills, California, has been a leading source of information and inspiration for art and crafts lovers around the world. Launched with a small line of rubber stamps by President and Publisher, Kellene Giloff, the company has since expanded to include more than 1,500 stamp images and over 30 bestselling publications, including Somerset Studio, Belle Armoire Jewelry, Somerset Life, Artful Blogging, Where Women Create, and Where Women Cook. Known for their stunning full-color photography and step-by-step instructions, Stampington & Company’s publications provide a forum for both professional artists and hobbyists to share their beautiful handmade creations with one another.

Where Women Cook

A shared love of food – whether it’s cooking it, talking about it, or eating it – brings people together. Join us for a culinary adventure within the pages of Where Women Cook. Creative storage ideas, eye-catching décor, delicious food and drink recipes, and inspirational stories will all be shared within the pages of each exceptional issue. Visit us at: www.wherewomencook.com.

Where Women Create

Whether it is art, food, music, written works, or choreographed dances, extraordinary women know that the process of creating is as important as what ultimately gets created. Where Women Create invites you into the creative spaces of the most extraordinary women of our time. Through stunning photography and inspirational stories, each issue of this quarterly magazine will inspire your creative soul. Learn more about Where Women Create: www.wherewomencreate.com.

Diamond Sponsors

Platinum Sponsors

McDonalds

McDonald’s® is excited to participate in The Creative Connection 2011! Be sure to check out the “Working with a Sponsor” panel on Friday, September 16, where our Manager of External Communications, Jessica Rau, will participate. Also, we hope to see you at the Women Entrepreneurs VIP Breakfast Panel on Saturday, September 17, where we’ll be serving our delicious Fruit & Maple Oatmeal, and creamy Fruit & Walnut Salad, two of our wholesome breakfast options that are less than 300 calories each. Visit: www.mcdonalds.com

Gold Sponsors

Starbucks

Transition from the care-free days of summer to the more familiar routines of fall with a perfect cup of Starbucks coffee. Whether it’s brewed in-store, whole instant coffee on-the-go or whole bean packaged coffee to brew at home, Starbucks coffee has the best tasting, highest-quality coffee available. Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting the highest quality arabica coffee. Today, with stores around the globe, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at www.starbucks.com.

Supporting Sponsors

Community Sponsors

Goodsie

Homemade Simple Marketplace

The Vintage Pearl

The Vintage Pearl creates unique and meaningful handstamped jewelry and keepsakes. Each piece is handcrafted from start to finish with care in our studio in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We use raw sterling silver, freshwater pearls and birthstone crystals in our creations. Each letter is individually stamped by hand, we do not use a machine, making every piece a true one-of-a-kind! Our jewelry is customized with any names, dates or words of inspiration, and we have several fonts and charm shapes to choose from. We want your piece to be meaningful to you. Visit: http://www.thevintagepearl.com/

Program Sponsors

Arrow Sewing Cabinets

Arrow Companies, LLC, has been manufacturing quality, specialty furniture since 1943. Arrow’s classic sewing machine cabinets and craft tables are functional, affordable and offer superior engineering and quality. Visit them at http://www.arrowcabinets.com/

BurdaStyle

BurdaStyle is the largest DIY fashion and sewing community with over half a million registered members and nearly 7 million pageviews a month. A “sort of Facebook for sewers” (The New York Times). Our aim is to bring the craft of sewing to a new generation of fashion designers, hobbyists, DIYers as well as inspire fashion enthusiasts. The website offers thousands of stylish handcrafted clothes, downloadable PDF sewing patterns, tutorials, project ideas and a community passionate about fashion. Visit them at http://www.burdastyle.com/

Chronicle Books

One of the most admired and respected publishing companies in the U.S., Chronicle Books was founded in 1967 and over the years has developed a reputation for award-winning, innovative books. The company continues to challenge conventional publishing wisdom, setting trends in both subject and format, maintaining a list that includes fine art titles in design, art, architecture, and photography. www.chroniclebooks.com

DecoArt

Since 1985, DecoArt has manufactured one of the broadest lines of acrylic paints and finishes for general arts and crafts use in the world. The line includes all-purpose acrylics for professional artists, crafters, and students. Located centrally in the United States, DecoArt manufactures numerous specialty paints that are designed specifically for surfaces like glass, ceramics, fabric, and metal, from its Stanford, Kentucky production facility. Visit: http://www.decoart.com/

DEMDACO

DEMDACO exists to lift the spirit by providing product that helps people connect in a meaningful way and by pursuing business as it ought to be. We strive to provide fresh, innovative designs that tell a story. We are blessed to work with talented artists who continue to amaze us with their creativity and versatility. We have received many heartfelt letters and emails from people who have been touched in some way by our artists’ creations. We are thrilled and humbled to be a part of such intimate moments. It is our desire to let you express yourself through the gifts you give and in the personal statements you make in your home. As you browse through our collections, we think you’ll find what you need to help you do just that. www.demdaco.com

Etsy

Etsy is the world’s most vibrant handmade marketplace. We connect consumers with independent creators and designers to find the very best in handmade goods, while providing these artists with the technology and information they need to start and grow their own businesses. Etsy is a community that actively supports one another in the shared goal of offering alternatives to mass-produced objects. We work to highlight the true value of handmade goods and their creators and encourage awareness of the social and environmental implications of production and consumption. We created Etsy to reconnect producer and consumer, and swing the pendulum back to a time when we bought our bread from the baker, food from the farmer, and shoes from the cobbler. Visit: www.etsy.com

Golden Fig

Laurie McCann Crowell has apprenticed under some of the countries top prepared and fancy food creators. She attributes much of her gourmet appreciation to and continues to be inspired by Barefoot Contessa’s Ina Garten with whom she worked in East Hampton, New York. Voted one of the “Top 100 Minnesotans to Watch” by Mpls./St.Paul Magazine, McCann Crowell develops her Golden Fig line of specialty foods items locally in Minneapolis. All Golden Fig items are blended and bottled in small batches on a weekly basis. Which ensures your spices, vinegars or sugars will arrive to you with the freshest flavor around. Visit: http://www.goldenfig.com/

Hallmark

For more than 100 years, Hallmark Cards, Inc. has helped people connect with one another and give voice to their feelings. Our employees are personally passionate about caring, creativity, quality and innovation, values that have guided us from the start and remain at our core. We’re best known for greeting cards, but we’re much more than that. Our products include paper party supplies, gifts and wrapping paper… ornaments and decorative items for the home… memory-keeping picture frames, albums and scrapbooks… e-cards and personalized photo cards… even a cable television channel. We’re with you at holidays and any-days, at your most important milestones and unexpected occasions, when you want to share a laugh and when you seek to offer comfort. We’re privately held, and committed to remaining so. We’re family-owned with third-generation family leadership taking us into the 21st century. www.hallmark.com

Janome

Power and precision… reliability and creativity. For over 150 years, Janome America has provided a full range of sewing machines and sergers at the cutting edge of sewing technology. Our mission is to produce machines which inspire creativity and innovation, yet are simple to use. We understand the most important thing about our products is not the machines themselves, but how easy and intuitive it is to create with them. Because the better your tools, the more inventive, artistic and pleasurable your sewing experience. We are pleased to provide machines for the attendees of this year’s Creative Connection, because we “Believe in Your Creativity.” www.janome.com

Making Memories

Since its 1997 inception, Making Memories has become one of the nation’s fastest growing manufacturers of craft and scrapbooking supplies. The privately held Inc. 500 company (2001) boasts more than 5,000 individual products in its wholesale supply collection. Making Memories attributes its phenomenal growth to sourcing innovative product, establishing an intimate relationship with customers, and providing an unending supply of inspirational ideas. www.makingmemories.com

Tote Sponsors

American Craft Council

The American Craft Council is a national, nonprofit educational organization founded in 1943 by Aileen Osborn Webb. The mission of the Council is to champion craft. The ACC has four main programs: a national craft show circuit, a magazine, an awards program, and educational initiatives including access to a world class, on site library. http://www.craftcouncil.org/

Archiver’s

Archiver’s is THE place for creativity, scrapbooking, card-making, and paper-crafting! Our stores are filled with amazing creative supplies, including products you can’t find anywhere else. We offer thousands of papers, stickers, and embellishments; rubber-stamping and card-making supplies; hundreds of scrapbooks and albums; do-it-yourself stationery in multiple shapes, sizes, and colors; a free workroom filled with hundreds of die-cuts; creative classes and workshops; endless ideas to inspire; and so much more. Plus, with our online store, Archivers Annex, you can shop for the coolest creative supplies 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from the comfort of your home. We’re just what you have been looking for!

BurdaStyle

Century Farmhouse

When Century Farmhouse® first began crafting soaps, they were entirely made by hand in our lovely old, log farmhouse. We’ve grown, and our new studio allows up-close observation of the soap making process. We still create the soaps by hand, and we do it using only the finest plant-based oils. They are made with filtered rainwater, organic teas, maple sap, or snow; and are scented with natural essential oils. The colors come from teas, clays, or the essential oils; these soaps contain no synthetic ingredients. Care is taken to include organically grown botanicals by working directly with farmers and growers from around the world to obtain exactly the right botanicals for our special soaps. Experience the warmth and welcome of Century Farmhouse®!

Crafty Chica

Crafty Chica® is the only all-inclusive and award-winning brand developed to celebrate the Hispanic culture through creativity.Kathy Cano-Murillo is the spokesperson and creator of the Crafty Chica® brand, which boasts a vibrant mix of arts & craft products geared for those who crave color and pop art combined with innovation and easy applications. Consumers love to create with Crafty Chica® products because they are innovative and over-the-top, providing a foundation for expressing the most unique personal styles. Visit: http://www.ilovetocreate.com/craftychica.aspx

Curly Girl Design

Curly Girl Design is the brainchild of artist Leigh Standley, who combines her design talent with the ability to write witty statements on love, friendship and a host of other topics to create beautiful works of art. Her designs adorn Curly Girl’s line of greeting cards, magnets, sticky notes, journals, buttons and more. Born and raised in St. Louis, Leigh says she got her start in seventh grade where she spent more time doodling and less time learning the quadratic equation. Poor marks in math notwithstanding, she went on to earn a degree in Visual Communications from the University of Kansas. Following her formal education, Leigh worked as an art director, in the marketing field and as the manager of a yoga studio before beginning what would become Curly Girl Design. Working from the attic space of her Boston-area apartment, she designed cards, shipped orders and developed the company. A lot has changed since its humble beginnings in 2003. Curly Girl now has its own warehouse space and boasts a lively group of worker bees and friends. You can find Curly Girl products in all fifty states and around the world, too, thanks to our international distributors. Curly Girl has also been chosen twice (2006 and 2010) for a coveted LOUIE Award, the Oscars of the greeting card industry. As a company that deals with a lot of paper, Curly Girl believes in being green. To that end, greeting cards are printed on recycled paper using soy-based inks at a printer based in New England. Many Curly Girl cards, journals, art boards and magnetic notepads are even printed on machines that run on wind power! The future looks bright for Curly Girl with an ever-expanding line, a delightful fan base and plans to enlarge its warehouse to make room for more goodies. Leigh and her crew are truly fulfilling the company motto: “Send love.”

DecoArt

DEMDACO

Etsy

Fiskars

Fiskars is a leading brand that provides functional, user-friendly and lasting design solutions for hand tools and beyond. We constantly work with crafters worldwide to develop innovative tools that are simple to use and last a lifetime. Fiskars products respond to genuine inspiration and drive to get the job done well in the most effortless and intuitive way. All of our scissors and tools are designed with simplicity, ease of use and performance in mind, helping you take part in your favorite activity with a minimum of mistakes, frustration and hand strain. Find us online at www.fiskars.com or www.facebook.com/fiskars.

Class Supply Sponsors

8th Continent Soymilk

8th Continent Soymilk is made from U.S. grown soybeans that aren’t genetically engineered. An excellent source of calcium, it is the American Heart Association-certified soymilk. 8th Continent Soymilk is available in eight different varieties: Complete Vanilla; Regular Original and Vanilla; Light Original, Vanilla, and Chocolate; and Fat Free Original and Vanilla. All 8th Continent soymilks are lactose- and gluten-free, vegan, and Kosher U certified. More information on 8th Continent Soymilk products can be found at www.8thcontinent.com.

Amy’s

Amy’s is a family-run business, committed to making delicious, nourishing foods for health conscious people who are sometimes too busy to cook. Please visit us at http://www.amys.com

Bob’s Red Mill

Bob’s Red Mill Natural Foods is a distinctive stone grinding miller of whole grain natural foods. We offer a wide selection of natural and gluten free flours, cereals and mixes, most of which are vegan. To view the Bob’s Red Mill product line visit www.bobsredmill.com.

Ener-G Foods

Ener-G Foods, manufacturer of over 150 wheat-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and kosher-certified products. Please visit us at http://www.ener-g.com

Lesaffre Yeast

For more than 150 years, Lesaffre has been the world leader in manufacturing premium quality yeast and yeast derivatives. Our Human Care division focuses exclusively on marketing yeast products that advance human health by nature of their overall nutritional value or condition-specific health benefits.

For manufacturers, Lesaffre offers a variety of yeast ingredients under the LYNSIDE® brand for use in functional foods, dietary supplements, cosmetics and clinical nutrition. For consumers, Lesaffre manufactures the legendary RED STAR® brand of nutritional yeast retail products. Visit: http://www.safyeast.com/

Mimic Creme

MimicCreme is a 100% natural Non-Dairy, Non-Soy CREAM alternative made deliciously wholesome from Almonds and Cashews. They are all Vegan, Kosher Parve, Cholesterol-Free, Gluten-Free and Trans Fat-Free. The Unsweetened cream is great for soups sauces and baking, while the Sweetened versions make fabulous ice creams, shakes and smoothies. There are also three MimicCreme coffee creamers and a whipping cream called Healthy Top. Visit us at www.mimiccreme.com

Mod Podge

Since 1967, crafters have entrusted their most treasured decoupage creations to Mod Podge®, the number one, all-in-one glue, sealer and finish! The ultimate in convenience, Mod Podge is loved by crafters young and old for its flexibility, versatility and supreme ease of use. Best of all, it’s waterbase for easy clean-up, and non-toxic, too–perfect for young crafters. In addition to the original matte and gloss formulas, the Mod Podge family includes an assortment of specialty finishes for visual effects.

Nasoya

Always striving to meet the changing needs of consumers, Nasoya is committed to producing delicious, innovative foods that promote the health and well being of our consumers and the earth. Look for our premium organic and all natural tofu, Super Hummus, and Asian style noodles and wraps in the produce or dairy section and Nayonaise®, our soy based sandwich spreads, in the produce or condiments aisle.Visit us at www.nasoya.com

Parma!

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Parma! is nutrient dense, dairy-free, gluten-free, gmo-free, Kosher, and tastes great. Chipotle Parma! now has less heat, more smokey, cheesey flavor. Try new Garlicky Green Parma! with organic hemp and kelp. Parma! is good karma! Visit us at www.eatparma.com

Peanut Butter & Co.

Someone once said that the next best thing to sliced bread is peanut butter. But for a growing number of our customers, Peanut Butter & Co. brand peanut butter on sliced bread is THE best thing period.We are always asked about our formula for success. We see it this way: as kids, we grow up eating peanut butter sandwiches. But many of us never really lose our taste for this sticky stuff. Most of the peanut butter on the supermarket shelves are formulated, packaged and marketed with kids in mind. But in reality, adults eat more peanut butter than kids every day. And while most adults grew up on mass market brands, as we get older, we are ready for something a bit more sophisticated. And that’s where Peanut Butter & Co. comes in. We’re the good-for-you, indulgent treat that appeals to adults as well as kids.Peanut Butter & Co.’s line of all-natural peanut butter contains no hydrogenated oils, no cholesterol, no trans-fats and, no high fructose corn syrup. Our flavors are gluten-free, vegan (except for The Bee’s Knees which is vegetarian), and certified kosher. Lastly, but just as importantly, we only use USA-grown peanuts in our peanut butter. Visit us at At Peanut Butter & Co., we continue to find ways to bring you healthful and delicious products. We’ve just introduced our new line of all-natural baking mixes as well as peanut butter packets that you can enjoy on the go. We’ve got lots more in store, so please keep us company on your journey to deliciousness! Visit us at http://ilovepeanutbutter.com/

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