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.
