Handmade Seattle Almost Here

Hello Handmade Community,

Two weeks left! Here’s what’s ahead at Handmade Seattle.

First I’m excited to announce that we’ve finally shipped a lightning-fast replacement for our old, clunky WordPress site. With support from my staff and the Handmade Network team, we’ve built a site that’s smoother, faster, and way easier to navigate. Though we’re still adding some of the older content, I think you’ll appreciate how much cleaner everything feels: Above is the light theme in honor of Ben Visness, who loves it for unknown reasons.

Special Thanks to Jes and Freya

I want to give a big thanks to Jes Chuhta, a talented designer who shaped the Handmade Cities brand into something that really stands out now. Also, a shoutout to Freya, who is a recurring speaker and friend of Handmade. Jes made it to Handmade Cities because of Freya. She loved the ethos and has since helped us move beyond “programmer art.”

Their influence on Handmade Cities is unmistakable.

Handmade Seattle in Two Weeks

The conference is nearly here: Wednesday - Friday, November 20 - 22nd 2024.

The lineup is finally coming together. Admittedly, it’s not finalized yet, but it’s really shaping up well. I acknowledge that having to wait is not ideal, because an official lineup is the lifeblood of a conference. That said if you trust us, please register early so we can push through this year and make a strong comeback in 2025.

P.S. Friday will be all about in-person hangouts. No livestream, just real connection.

Why Boston Recordings Are Delayed

This year came down to either closing up shop or finding a way to press on through the bad economy. I chose the latter, which has meant smaller attendance, slow-ass responses from yours truly, and difficulties with advance planning. Even worse it’s also meant some delays, especially the Boston in-person recordings for online ticket holders. If you’re tired of waiting, send me an email, and I’ll make sure to process a refund.

I’m committed to editing and publishing the recordings shortly after Handmade Seattle.

When I asked in Discord if I should have perhaps shut down, you all told me to keep going, and I’m grateful. Most in-person conferences that pause don’t return. Your encouragement has kept me motivated.

That said, I apologize for this year’s circumstances. I really should have done a better job communicating the state of affairs on the regular.

We’re Still Alive, and 100% Independent

In my opinion, surviving a bad year brings immediate change for the better. Take 2020. We pivoted fully online, self-hosted a chat server, hit #1 on Hacker News, and sold enough tickets to stay profitable. The year after we became fully-hybrid: a model that allowed me to become a full-time business owner, pay staff members, and make it possible for Handmade Seattle to reach people globally.

Now it’s 2024. Amidst the layoffs a startling evolution is taking shape: Handmade Meetups are growing like crazy. They’ve become a communal meatspace when there’s no conference. Next year, I’m planning to build upon Handmade Meetups as a serious platform: our very own meetup.com, but without the spying, ads and vendor lock-in.

Name your favorite city. Imagine traveling to Tokyo and finding a Handmade meetup happening nearby. New friends, cool projects, surprise job offers, conversations on software quality—anywhere in the world.

See You Soon

I’m looking forward to Handmade Seattle, rain or shine. I’ll keep you posted with more newsletters as we approach, including daily schedules, speaker slots, and invites to our private chat server.

Your indie organizer,
Abner

P.S. I’ve kept references to Majora’s Mask and ChocoVine to a minimum. Please expect a lot to slip through once Handmade Seattle kicks off. That’s how I decompress.