Craftzine.com blog: Craft Business Archives

Archive: Craft Business

June 19, 2009

Checkin' In: Crafty Chica Kathy Cano-Murillo

There are few peeps in the crafting world who haven't heard of the Crafty Chica, Kathy Cano-Murillo. There could be no better way to describe Kathy because she is indeed one Crafty Chica! All that glitters may not be gold, but likely, it has Kathy's stamp of approval, being as she's the biggest glitter advocate I know of, having originated such slogans as "Don't be bitter, use more glitter!" Indeed, Kathy! She is head of the glitterati, the godmother of glitter.

Kathy contributed two sparkling projects to the pages of CRAFT. In our premier issue, CRAFT Volume 01, Kathy showed us how to spice up a plain terracotta flower pot with clay, vivid color, and of course glitter:

And in CRAFT Volume 02, she shared with us how to make fun earrings of paper and tin with an unmistakable Crafty Chica flair:

We checked in with her recently, and despite her super busy schedule, she had a great update to share with us. Here's what she said:

"I've been keep very busy. Everything is still growing at a very steady pace! These days I work full-time for Duncan Enterprises as a Senior Product Developer and Spokesperson for my own brand! The team at Duncan is amazing because they have allowed me to work on CraftyChica.com as my main job. (You may remember I used to be an entertainment reporter for The Arizona Republic.) Aside from the product line, which is for sale on my site, amazon.com, and several indies shops around the country, I also released a new book this year."

"Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing (Potter Craft) is my best-selling book to date! It was my message to help crafters embrace sewing. It seems to have worked; I get emails daily from people who appreciate and embraced the concept! I'm currently working on the follow-up proposal that will be even more exciting and sparkly!

I'm also gearing up for the 4th Annual Crafty Chica Cruise in April 2010. Last year we had 50+ crafters, and this year we are opening it up to even more! These were people from all ages, backgrounds, skill levels, and art styles who came on board to craft! We have six workshops, a 24-hour craft room, plus a mercado area for cruisers to sell their art, cocktail party, sightseeing, and lots of free goodies!

We have two new brands on the Murillo household: www.MantasticCrafts.com (my husband Patrick Murillo) and www.MayaintheMoment.com (my teen daughter, Maya).

Our Heard Museum exhibit, La Casa Murillo: A Life Size Shadow Box is coming to an end after 11 months! Thousands of people have come through to see it. It has more than 500 handmade items that my husband and I created in our home studio. There will be a "moving sale" on August 21, where a live auctioneer will auction off the larger pieces to the public!

My biggest news is the release of my debut novel on March 1, 2010. I love creative writing as much as I love crafting. I've been writing ever since grade school. I spent many years as a journalist and now I've entered the world of fiction writing! I love that now I can combine both worlds! The book is first in the "Crafty Chica Novel" series. It is called Waking Up in the Land of Glitter."

"Here is the synopsis:

Struggling domestic-goddess-in-training Ofy is determined to turn heads at this year's International CraftOlympics. To do that, she'll need the help of her best friend, Star. Considering herself a serious artist, Star is hesitant, but finally agrees to help as a way to end her own creative slump. Truthfully she thinks Ofy is a little loca about the whole craft thing — and about her idol: local TV personality, Crafty Chloe. Star doesn't trust the bottle-blonde, even after she becomes part of their crafting team. As the competition heats up, Star will learn Chloe's dirty little secret, why crafting means so much to Ofy, and that beauty, art, and creativity can take many more forms than a canvas hanging in a gallery."

Wow! Thanks, Chica! Check out Kathy's product line, site, and new books for some seriously spicy flavor.

June 11, 2009

Crafting a Business with Jenny Hart

Crafting a Business
By Jenny Hart

The Money: You Gotta Keep 'Em Separated!

Oh yes, you better believe it. While everyone has been pacing nervously in circles over the economy, I am still gonna tell you to keep a sharp eye on your company's finances. You do still have a company, don't you? Even just a little somethin' somethin' on the side? I bet you do. Now is the best time to buckle down and see what makes your little business tick. Even if you need to take a hiatus to figure it out and re-stabilize, do so (no need to prematurely announce a shuttering of your doors). Let's look at your finances.

First of all, you keep your monies neatly organized and accounted for, right? You never "cross the financial streams," so to speak, between what you spend on yourself and what covers costs the company has to bear, right? Right? Oh dear. You realize that to do it any other way is a great way to run your business into the ground faster than you can say "expense it."

Cash flow is the lifeblood of your business. If you don't know what's pumping in and out of your bank account — and why and how much — then you don't know anything about your business. You can't tell how it's doing, and I bet you don't sleep so well at night, not knowing. When you know, you can sleep (or at least, best figure out how to straighten it out).

Let's talk to a successful and stable business, Art Star in Philadelphia. Owned and operated by Megan Brewster and Erin Waxman, Art Star is a boutique and gallery that features the work of independent artists, designers, and crafters. They also host the Art Star Craft Bazaar, which recently took place on May 30–31.

I had a solo show at Art Star a few years ago, and while I was there Erin was showing me her charmingly arcane, but practical, method for going through the gallery's receipts each day. As I sat down to write this column, I wondered if she still used this accounting method today, or if they'd moved on as business grew. So, let's talk to a couple of women who have been doing it all by themselves and making it work.

What is the main focus of your business?

Our space is divided between the gallery and boutique. The gallery rotates every six weeks with a new artist, and our main focus in the boutique is to carry handmade work by artists, but we also work with a few artists to develop limited edition products — for example, prints, glasses, mugs, etc.

How do you keep your books, and how did you learn to keep books? Or, do you have someone else do them for you?

We keep the books ourselves. We thought about hiring someone to save us some time, but haven't gotten around to that yet. We tried using QuickBooks when we first opened, but I found it more trouble than just making an excel document. We also bought the cheapest version, so that may have been why it didn't quite work for us. Shortly after we first opened, a friend showed me some basics, but most of it seems like common sense to me — keep track of what goes in and out.

Do you have your own system? Why does it work for you?

Yes, I have a few Excel documents to break things down. I keep a daily ledger of what we take in and what goes out, and then I also like to have comparisons from month to month and year to year.

What doesn't work about it?

We have an archaic way of keeping track of all our inventory. Each artist has a specific code for easy organizing and payments, but it's all handwritten and kept in large book keepers. It was fine when we first opened 4 years ago and only had a handful of artists, but now that we have 50+, we need to update it. This year we plan to get a POS system that will keep the artist inventory together. It will save time and energy when we need to pay them and at the end of the year for taxes.

Did you have to make changes to your bookkeeping as you grew?

When we first opened I kept everything in a handwritten ledger. It was slow when we first opened, and I didn't have much to keep track of, but then I realized how silly that was and I created an Excel document for balancing our books and keeping track of our money flow.

Do you work with an accountant? How do they help you?

Yes! I think anyone who has a business, no matter how big or small, should have an accountant. There are so many forms that we have to fill out at the end of the year that I would never want to even attempt doing it myself. We have to file taxes for Art Star and for our personal income, plus I have my own jewelry and clothing as a separate business. It's just too much to think about. We just organize and break down our figures, and send it along to him — and then magic, it's all done.

It's also important to have someone to call with any questions regarding taxes, deductions, etc.

How are you weathering the current economy?

We are surprisingly doing alright. It's always slow in January and February. I think after the holidays people are sick of shopping. Last year we definitely had a lull around August and September, but then our holiday season was a little better this year than last. This was the first year when we had people tell us that they were making an effort to only shop at small businesses. We even had a few folks who did one-stop shopping; we have a good price range in the shop and something for men, women, boys, and girls.

What was the best lesson you learned in watching your finances? Scariest money story?

The first year that our business showed profit was really scary. Our accountant called and asked me if I was sitting down. The month of December is when we bring in the most money, and because we pay our artists in January for sales in December, it seemed that we had lots of extra money, but we didn't. We had to pay a chunk in taxes that year — very scary. We learned to try to get at least a chunk of artist payments out by December 31st for the deduction, and if there are any improvements or upgrades we need to make to our business, such as buy a new computer or furniture, we do it before the year is up.

What's your favorite tax write-off?

Food and beer for the opening receptions!

What has been your biggest reward in running your significantly awesome Art Star gallery?

A sense of accomplishment and being a part of a community that's both local and national. We love the artists we work with and want to promote their work to the best of our ability. Helping to generate an income for artists and expose Philadelphia to work we like and think is important. We also like being our own boss.

I heard that! Being your own boss has its rewards. If you're in the Philly, Penn., area be sure to stop by their gallery and boutique.

In Austin next week? Join Jenny and friends at the Austin Museum of Art (AMOA) for an evening of "Communicrafting" with local teachers and designers, who will be on-hand to let you jump in and sew, knit, embroider, and just try your hand. Jenny Hart will also be introducing her latest kits (stationery, baby bibs, and some surprises) from Chronicle Books in the AMOA bookstore. Come one, come all next Thursday, June 18th from 6:30–8:30 p.m.

About the Author:

Jenny Hart is the founder of Sublime Stitching, the first embroidery design company to bring tattoos, robots, and pinups to needlework patterns. She is also the author of several titles on embroidery for Chronicle Books and an internationally exhibited fine artist. Jenny lives and works in Austin, Texas, where she is a founding member of the infamous Austin Craft Mafia.

March 26, 2009

How-To: Make a Craft Fair Banner

Craftsterbanner
Craftster Community Manager, Jungrrl, shows you how to make a craft fair banner in this awesome tutorial featuring this felt banner for Craftster.

From batgirl at Craftster:

It made its debut at a very rainy Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago last summer, and it was hit! Most recently it was spotted at the Craftster/Standard Recording party at SXSW in Austin, Texas! Jungrrl shows how it was done in this awesome tutorial. Now you can use her tips and make your next booth stand out from the crowd.

February 22, 2009

Starting an Etsy Business

Check out the 3 part series "Starting an Etsy Business" (part 1, part 2, part 3) over on Design Sponge. There's a Q&A with White Elephant Vintage and Blue Bell Bazaar, as well as a write up on business tips, including a sample excel spreadsheet for tracking sales and inventory.

February 3, 2009

Crafting advice from Thelonius Monk

Ok, not really--he's actually giving advice to saxophonist Steve Lacy, but I thought there were some wonderful insights about the creative process and collaboration that applied to crafting and all art, not just music ... I love his line "Don't play everything (or every time); let some thing just go by. Some music just imagined." He's even got business advice: "Don't sound anybody for a gig, just be on the scene." (I don't know if I agree with him entirely there, but he's right about getting yourself out there and making as many contacts as possible.) Perhaps best of all: "Whatever you think can't be done, someone will come along and do it. A genius is the one most like himself". (Or herself, of course.) For more of his notes, mosey on over to Swiss Miss, where I saw it in the first place.

January 31, 2009

CPSIA Lead-Testing Law is Delayed

Thanks to the incredible grassroots movement against the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, which would have gone into effect on February 10, 2009, the commission that created the law has voted to stay the legislation for one year.

"The stay of enforcement provides some temporary, limited relief to the crafters, children's garment manufacturers and toy makers who had been subject to the testing and certification required under the CPSIA. These businesses will not need to issue certificates based on testing of their products until additional decisions are issued by the Commission."

Read the full statement here.

Senator Jim DeMint from South Carolina has sponsored an amendment in order to reform the law.

It's certainly not a done deal, but it's a step in the right direction.

January 27, 2009

More Harm than Good? More on the CPSIA

I've known for a while that one of the key legal challenges to the growth of the DIY segment as a source of innovation is liability law. So-called consumer protection laws have long been used to punish manufacturers who produce defective or harmful products, even if the use of the product extends beyond what the manufacturer intended. In the past year, parents and child-safety organizations have lobbied the US government to enact a law that requires products intended for children to be tested and proven to be safe. That is the origin of the Consumer Protection Safety Improvement Act, slated to take effect in February. Now, what happens when the the very law designed to protect parents and children eliminates a source of handmade products that were designed as safe alternatives?

Imagine if food from farmers's markets was eliminated because they were required them to comply with a set of regulations imposed on the industrial food-processing system that people don't trust. The effects of this law are not limited to crafters, but all those who are making products large and small. I've heard that a number of companies are truly scared by what this legislation could do to them. The following is a column I wrote on the subject for the current issue of CRAFT magazine.

Read full story

January 15, 2009

Last Day to Vote on the CPSIA at Change.org

Image by Hasenpfeffer Incorporated, via Handmade Detroit

This just in from BuyHandmade.org:

The last day of voting for the Ideas for Change in America competition is today! On Friday we will present the top 10 ideas to the Obama administration at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. We'll then connect the winning ideas to leading nonprofits and launch a series of national advocacy campaigns to turn each idea into federal policy.

One of the top 10 issues right now is the CPSIA issue. For more on this, see the info below (via the Handmade Toy Alliance):

In 2007, large toy manufacturers who outsource their production to China and other developing countries violated the public's trust. They were selling toys with dangerously high lead content, toys with unsafe small part, toys with improperly secured and easily swallowed small magnets, and toys made from chemicals that made kids sick. Almost every problem toy in 2007 was made in China.
The United States Congress rightly recognized that the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) lacked the authority and staffing to prevent dangerous toys from being imported into the US. So, they passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) in August, 2008. Among other things, the CPSIA bans lead and phthalates in toys, mandates third-party testing and certification for all toys and requires toy makers to permanently label each toy with a date and batch number.

All of these changes will be fairly easy for large, multinational toy manufacturers to comply with. Large manufacturers who make thousands of units of each toy have very little incremental cost to pay for testing and update their molds to include batch labels.

For small American, Canadian, and European toy makers, however, the costs of mandatory testing will likely drive them out of business.

* A toymaker, for example, who makes wooden cars in his garage in Maine to supplement his income cannot afford the $4,000 fee per toy that testing labs are charging to assure compliance with the CPSIA.
* A work at home mom in Minnesota who makes dolls to sell at craft fairs must choose either to violate the law or cease operations.
* A small toy retailer in Vermont who imports wooden toys from Europe, which has long had stringent toy safety standards, must now pay for testing on every toy they import.
* And even the handful of larger toy makers who still employ workers in the United States face increased costs to comply with the CPSIA, even though American-made toys had nothing to do with the toy safety problems of 2007.

The CPSIA simply forgot to exclude the class of toys that have earned and kept the public's trust: Toys made in the US, Canada, and Europe. The result, unless the law is modified, is that handmade toys will no longer be legal in the US.

If this law had been applied to the food industry, every farmers market in the country would be forced to close while Kraft and Dole prospered.

How You can Help:

Please write to your United States Congress Person and Senator to request changes in the CPSIA to save handmade toys. Use our sample letter or write your own. You can find your Congress Person here and Senator here.

January 12, 2009

Calculating the True Cost of CPSIA Third Party Component Testing

One handmaker of organic parent/baby accessories, Turtle Park Tots, calculates the true cost the required CPSIA testing on products, going into effect in February:

I've telling everyone how expensive the third-party component testing required by the CPSIA is but I don't think I've sat down and actually ran the numbers. Yikes! The costs are truly frightening!

I calculated the costs based on my current Winter Collection and assuming that each component test cost between $75-$100. Not included in these costs are the cost of each test item (they are destroyed in the testing process) and the cost of shipping the items to China since that's where most of the testing facilities are located.

Materials used in Winter Collection: certified organic cotton fabric, certified organic terry cloth, certified organic cotton fleece, poly thread, velcro, cotton fabric, poly anti-pill fleece, cotton chenille

The numbers: $25325 - $29100 to test the Turtle Park Tots Winter Collection

One commenter pointed out that to meet goals for profits, Turtle Park Tots would have to increase her retail prices astronomically. If you'll remember, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act has the unintended consequence of requiring individual expensive testing of products to make sure they're free of lead and other hazardous materials before they can be sold in the US. It seems totally unfair that the big companies who created the problems with lead-contaminated toys aren't the ones who will pay the biggest price, it's the small independent hand-crafters. How much is the CPSIA going to cost your business? Post it up in the comments. Via Silona's twitter.

One commenter on BoingBoing debunked the possible loophole of claiming your handmades as "collectibles" instead of toys. Beanoli writes:

The 'collectible loophole' would be unlikely to stand up in court. From the FAQ on the Act:

"A "children's product" means a consumer product designed or intended primarily for children 12 years of age or younger. In determining whether a consumer product is primarily intended for a child 12 years of age or younger, the following factors will be considered:

A statement by the manufacturer about the intended use of the product, including a label on the product if such statement is reasonable.

Whether the product is represented in its packaging, display, promotion or advertising as appropriate for use by children 12 years of age or younger.

Whether the product is commonly recognized by consumers as being intended for use by a child 12 years of age or younger.

The Age Determination Guidelines issued by the Commission staff in September 2002, and any successor to such guidelines.

So any product 'commonly recognised by consumers' as a prepubescent child's toy could be covered by the Act, whether or not it's labelled as 'adult use only', or 'collectible'."

More:

Consumer Safety Rules Could Drive Crafters Out of Business

December 23, 2008

The NY Times on Craft Sales & the Recession

Shoppers at a Michaels store in Pleasant Hill, Calif. - photo by Peter DaSilva

The New York Times has an interesting article about the effect the recession has been having on craft sales, both on the craft supply front and the readymade craft product end. The gist? Sales are up! Read more here.

December 18, 2008

Protests Against Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act

We've been following the CPSIA development, and it's apparent the groundswell of protest is in full swing.

Petitions are being signed by the thousands, letters are being sent to Congress, and small business owners are mobilizing to take action against what they believe are unreasonable demands being placed on them by a law that will take effect on February 10. The new legislation will mandate that every part of a child's toy and clothing be tested for lead before it can be sold to the public.

The law was passed in response to high levels of lead being found in toys manufactured in Chinese factories, but does not take into account the thousands of small businesses who make toys and clothes in much smaller numbers, and many of them by hand in their own homes or workshops. If the law goes into effect as it's currently written, they will have to pay up to thousands of dollars to test just one set of handmade goods.

Here are just a few developments:

As of Thursday December 18, 3 p.m. PST, 4,417 petitioners had added their names to ipetitions.

Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont sent a note to Cecilia Leibovitz, founder of Craftsbury Kids, stating his intent to work with the Congress work towards a solution that will help small American manufacturers.

National Bankruptcy Day lists many helpful links and sites for those compelled to learn more and take action. One of them is the wiki link to the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce, which lists the names of Congress members on the committee who should be written to.

Fashion Incubator is also following these developments closely and offers useful links and information.

Stay tuned for more! As ever, write to us, tell us your thoughts, and let us know of any other developments.

December 15, 2008

A Leather Crafter's Story

Etsy's Handmade Portraits series goes in depth with successful sellers to tell the story of their creative rise to fame. In this one, learn how Allison Sattinger started her own line of beautiful leather crafts, Sunny Rising Leather.

December 12, 2008

Consumer Safety Rules Could Drive Crafters Out of Business

Cory Doctorow at BB writes:

Crafters are up in arms over a seemingly disastrous unintended consequence of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), which will require lab certification that lead and phthalates are not present in toys or clothes -- sounds good, but crafters warn that this means that "a toymaker... who makes wooden cars in his garage in Maine to supplement his income cannot afford the $4,000 fee per toy that testing labs are charging to assure compliance with the CPSIA." The law takes effect on February 10th and the toymakers and small clothing designers are getting very worried indeed.

From the Handmade Toy Alliance:

In 2007, large toy manufacturers who outsource their production to China and other developing countries violated the public's trust. They were selling toys with dangerously high lead content, toys with unsafe small part, toys with improperly secured and easily swallowed small magnets, and toys made from chemicals that made kids sick. Almost every problem toy in 2007 was made in China.

The United States Congress rightly recognized that the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) lacked the authority and staffing to prevent dangerous toys from being imported into the US. So, they passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) in August, 2008. Among other things, the CPSIA bans lead and phthalates in toys, mandates third-party testing and certification for all toys and requires toy makers to permanently label each toy with a date and batch number.

All of these changes will be fairly easy for large, multinational toy manufacturers to comply with. Large manufacturers who make thousands of units of each toy have very little incremental cost to pay for testing and update their molds to include batch labels.

For small American, Canadian, and European toymakers, however, the costs of mandatory testing will likely drive them out of business.

Also read more at the Fashion Incubator.

November 18, 2008

Online Craft Business Seminar

Here's an interesting online teleseminar coming up on November 20:

Are you looking for some ways to market your craft business - without going broke? If so, this seminar is for you. You'll learn how to market online - even if you don't have a website, find out how to get your products featured on shopping sites, learn how to promote your business through social networking, how writing a few articles can help you strengthen your sales, and more!

The Craft Business Seminar, hosted by Crissy Herron of Indie Biz Chicks, will be held on November 20 at 9pm Eastern. If you can't make the live call, don't worry. It will be recorded and everyone who registers will receive the Mp3. You'll also be able to submit your own questions in advance and have them answered live on the teleseminar!

Registration's only a dollar; might be worth checking out!

October 30, 2008

Maura Madden Q & A and CRAFTERNOON Book Giveaway

CRAFTERNOON: A Guide to Getting Artsy and Crafty With Your Friends All Year Long by Maura Madden
Buy the Book ($16.95)
CRAFTERNOON: The Web site
CRAFTERNOON: The Blog

CRAFTERNOON is a book that speaks directly to the heart and soul of what I love about crafting: connecting with other people while engaged in the creative process. Maura Madden's new book, CRAFTERNOON: A Guide to Getting Artsy and Crafty With Your Friends All Year Long, lays out the tools, projects, tips and even snack recipes so readers can easily put together their own Crafternoon groups and get to makin' stuff with friends and family in a relaxed, fun setting.

Initially, I just loved the idea of an actual guide that motivates people to craft together for the simple pleasure of having fun and connecting with one another. Creating community through crafting is one of my mantras. But as I started reading the book, I fell in love with Madden's wit, her glowing stories of crafting with her mom, and - mostly - with her preaching of pressure-free crafting and an embrace of imperfection.

Crafternoon is all about being around friends who support your work, who encourage your growing craftiness, and who inspire and get inspired by you. Crafternoon is about getting back to the roots of crafting. It's about getting pleasure out of the process as much as the product. It's about making room for the input of other crafter and allowing yourself to be open to new ideas. It's about the contentment you feel when you are surrounded by happily crafting friends, friends who can see the beauty in imperfection, the pleasure of happy mistakes.

A philosophy on crafting and community doesn't get much better than that.

Each month in the CRAFTERNOON book outlines everything from project supplies, tips and resources, to recipes for snacks and even provides a sample email you can send to friends to get them to come to your Crafternoon gathering. It's a great source of inspiration (not to mention humor - Madden's writing is easy to read and hilarious) and a nice departure from typical project-only craft books.

Another important presence in the book is Madden's mother - whose warm personality and gentle guidance is what brought heart to the initial Crafternoon gathering. Reading Madden's account of crafting with her mom, and the influence her mother had on Madden's work and perspective is sweet without being corny and leaves me wishing I could sit in on a Crafternoon with Madden and her mom.

So often, I hear friends saying they want to get together and get crafty, but never seem to pull it off. CRAFTERNOON is the perfect remedy to all that. It takes the guesswork out of planning the event and serves as a fantastic catalyst to get your craft on, community style. And for that, it's one of my all-time favorite craft books.

And Craftzine readers are in luck! We've got a copy of CRAFTERNOON to giveaway to one lucky winner. Just leave a comment to this post and tell us why you need this book. (Please make sure your email address is in your profile so we can contact you if you win.) All comments will be closed at 9PM PST on Friday, October 31. The lucky winner will be announced on the Craftzine blog on Monday, November 3. Good luck, have fun, and tell your friends!

Here's a little more background on author, Maura Madden, and why she wrote the book.

What made you decide to take your Crafternoons and translate them into a book?
My dear friend Emilie thought that it would be a good idea for a book. It was really all her idea! But once I started thinking about it, I really got excited. The goal of the book is to inspire people everywhere to host their own Crafternoons. If I can do that, I will be so happy.

How does hosting/attending Crafternoons make you feel?
Crafternoons are mentally refreshing. But if you're the host, they take a lot of energy, too. Being a good host of a Crafternoon is the same as being a good host at any party - you run around a lot, you make sure that everyone has something to craft, someone to talk to and something to drink. And that can be a little bit tiring, but so very worth it, 'cause you get love and good times in return.

What's the most common excuse you hear people make on why they can't come to a Crafternoon, and how do you overcome those excuses?
It's usually some form of "I'm not really a crafty person" or "I'm just not creative." It can be really hard to convince certain people that everyone has the potential to be creative and crafty. I just try to be encouraging, and I explain that Crafternoon is not about competitive, perfectionist crafting - it's about having fun and letting your imagination take the spotlight for a few hours. I also let them know that Crafternoon is more about the process of communal crafting than about some perfectly crafted end product. If all else fails, I just tell them there will be lots of cool folks there. And if they're single, I like to remind them that there will be lots of cool single folks there. That often seals the deal.

How do guests usually respond to their time at Crafternoons? People have an overwhelmingly positive response to Crafternoon. They leave happy and inspired. The experience is really gratifying. And I know they're not just saying so, because they come back, and they bring friends.

Describe your favorite Crafternoon experience you've had:
It's impossible for me to pick just one experience, because each Crafternoon is so unique and cool, and there are so many great moments every time. But watching any self-described "uncreative" person try their hand at a craft project and really get into it - that's satisfying every time.

What tips do you have for folks who are interested in starting a Crafternoon group, but aren't sure if they are quite ready to commit to it?
You certainly don't have to do a Crafternoon every month. You can start out by throwing one to see how it goes, and even then you can just throw them whenever you feel like throwing them. And if you do want to make it a monthly gathering, but you don't want to have all the responsibility of choosing the date, hosting the afternoon and being the point person, you can recruit a group of friends to be rotating Crafternoon hosts. And that way you get to experience new craft environments each time!

How do you maintain playful crafting time in your busy work schedule?
You just have to make time. It can be very hard, and believe me, there have been periods when I thought I would never have time to host another Crafternoon. But important things like crafting and spending time with those you love - you just have to set aside time for that.

How would you describe your philosophy on living a creative, independent life vs. working for "The Man?"
It's funny, because technically I work for "The Man." I have a full time job in an office, and it's a very creative company and a great place to work, but it definitely qualifies as working for "The Man". But I'd like to think that I can inspire other "Employees of The Man" that you can find time in your life to be creative, and, in fact, it's imperative to find that time. Because humans are creative creatures - isn't that what distinguishes us from the other animals that roam the earth? It's not just our creation of governments and currency - it's our creation of ritual, of art, of writing, of performance. It's our desire to express something. I firmly believe that we humans must express ourselves to feel whole and happy. So my philosophy is just lead an independent, creative life in your own independent way, which may include working for "The Man" to put food on the table, or may mean living off the grid, growing your own food. As long as you prioritize your creativity and community, you can live a creative life.

How does your relationship with your mom affect how/why you craft? My mom is the reason why I craft. She is an incredibly creative person, and, obviously, an incredibly crafty person. It's kind of astonishing how many types of crafts she is good at, but she is an especially phenomenal knitter and seamstress. And we really get along, so it's fun for us to hang out together and craft. I wouldn't have begun hosting these parties if it wasn't for my mom. She inspired them!

As for how the relationship affects how I craft? Well, it's funny, because my mom is actually a very precise and patient crafter, the polar opposite of my crafting style. But maybe that's where the rebel in me comes out. I like to do things my way, and maybe I don't always want to do what my mom tells me. Besides, I know she'll love whatever I make, so I can't go wrong when I'm crafting with my mom. I also try to impart that feeling to my Crafternooners - nothing is wrong at Crafternoon.

What's the one crafting supply you can't live without and why?
My imagination. Oh, and glue sticks. I love a good glue stick. Liquid glue is great, but paper collages, which I love to make, require a glue stick. And every craft requires your imagination. I cannot live without that.

October 17, 2008

Fabric 2.0 Blogger Meet and Greet Set for Houston Quilt Show

The Houston Quilt Show starts next weekend, and kicking off the massive event is an opportunity for bloggers to meet and network with some of the biggest names in the fabric and quilting industry. Caroline Devoy of J. Caroline Creative and Kathy Miller of Michael Miller Fabrics organized the first Fabric 2.0 gathering for Portland's Spring Quilt Show in an effort to bring together bloggers and fabric designers to share ideas and network. The event was such a success that they decided to do it again, and this time are adding even more big names to their host roster. Attendees can connect with other fabric and craft bloggers, and hear from folks like Project Runway winner, Jay McCarrol, who has a new fabric line coming out for Westminster. Also scheduled to participate are representatives from Moda Fabric, Etsy, Better Homes and Gardens, Robert Kaufman, Home Companion and Country Living.

If you'll be at the Houston Quilt Market, or are in the area and available to attend the event, you can RSVP to Caroline Devoy at cdevoy at jcaroline dot com by October 20. Here are all the details:

Fabric 2.0 Meet and Greet
Friday, October 24, 2008
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Skyline Bar & Grill Terrace Hilton Americas
Downtown Houston, Texas
RSVP by Oct. 20 to cdevoy at jcaroline dot com

October 2, 2008

HOW TO - Fancy Up Mailers

Here's an excellent video tutorial by Julie at Etsy on fancying up your mailers for customers or friends. So many great ideas!

Maker Faire Sponsor Highlight: Freelancers Union

Maker Faire sponsor, Freelancers Union, is an organization established to support the independent workforce. They offer everything from insurance, advocacy, networking events, discounts and educational seminars (both in-person and online). There are more than 85,000 members nationwide that include people who are freelance, self-employed, consultants, part-time, and temporary. Perhaps the best way to get a good overview of what they do is to watch the video on the home page of their web site. It's under one minute, and even has a crafty vibe to it!

Members of Freelancers Union will be at Maker Faire Austin with information about the group and handmade letterpress bookmarks to distribute.

October 1, 2008

Upcycle With the Etsy Texas Crafters at Maker Faire

The Etsy Texas Crafters, a group of more than 500 shops on Etsy.com, will have a booth at Maker Faire where they'll be demonstrating several upcycling projects and will be handing out goodie bags from ETC members. Here's a little background on the group and more information on what you can expect from their Maker activities.

Can you give a little background on your organization (mission/history, etc)
Etsy Texas Crafters is a group of more than 500 shops on Etsy.com (an online marketplace for handmade items, as well as crafting supplies and vintage treasures), dedicated to spreading the word about Etsy to Texans everywhere.

Etsy lauched in June, 2005, and they created Street Teams the following February. The original purpose of the Street Teams was to promote Etsy on a local, grass-roots level. While the scope of Etsy's Teams has evolved over the past 3+ years, they are still a vital part of Etsy's overall marketing strategy.

Originally, Etsy created 4 Street Teams for Texas -- basically, North, South, East, and West. Those of us who were members of Etsy at that time and wanting to be involved in Etsy's Street Teams simply did not feel that this organization fit us very well. So, we decided to band together, bridge the state & form one big team open to all Texans, regardless of whether they lived in major metropolitan areas or tiny specks of towns.

Our goals are simple -- promote Etsy, our team, our team members, and ourselves.

What project(s) will you be demonstrating at Maker Faire?
The theme for our booth will be upcycling -- the practice of taking something that is disposable and transforming it into something of greater use and value. Many of our members already focus on upcycling in their crafting, so it was a natural selection for us.

Specifically, we will be offering demonstrations on creating jewelry using new and old components, creating 4 bags from 1 pair of jeans, turning a milk carton into a bird feeder, and creating T-Shirt pillows. We will also be offering several make-and-take projects, including Bamboo Tile Decoupage, Crackled CD Pendants, Denim Tote or Water Bottle Carrier, Felted Wool & Fabric Brooches, a variety of Gift Boxes created from Greeting Cards, Magazines, and Lightweight Cardboard, Puzzling Halloween Pins, Stemware Tags, T-Shirt Tote Bags, and Upcycled ACEOs (Art Cards).

We will also be distributing two different goodie bags -- one for anyone who stops by our booth, and a very special mini version of our Taste of Texas goodie bags for those who sign up for our team's monthly newsletter. Our Taste of Texas goodie bags are stuffed full of coupons, promotional items, and samples from our team members -- and "samples" is a bit misleading, as they include jewelry, light switch covers, pincushions, and other full-size items in addition to sample-size items. The mini versions we will be offering at Maker Faire will have few items in them, but we promise they will still be full of awesome ETC treasures!

What do you hope to impart to Maker Faire visitors this year?
A new way of looking at things they might normally throw away. An introduction to Etsy, as well as to our Team and Team Members. And lots of really great projects that they can take home with them!

Did you participate in Maker Faire Austin last year?
As a team, no. Several of our members attended or participated last year, which has helped build the excitement of our team being there this year. We are really looking forward to this!!!

If not, what drew you to want to participate this year?
As I mentioned, several of us were there last year, some as Makers, some as Volunteers, and some as Visitors. And we all loved it! So, when the Call for Makers went out this year, we jumped on the opportunity to be a part of such an amazing and one-of-a-kind event and to spread the word about Etsy & ETC in such a creative environment.

How would you describe the Austin craft scene? What do you think makes the Austin craft scene unique?
Diverse. Unexpected. Eclectic. Indie.

There is an amazing creative spirit in Austin that simply is not present in many other Texas locales. Austin thrives on individuality and encourages creativity in all aspects of life. There are no rules in Austin's craft scene, and there is absolutely something for everyone!

September 23, 2008

Rose & Duke: Growing a Business in the Texas Sunshine

Jessica Dunlap of Rose & Duke has lived on both coasts of the United States, but it seems the sunshine of central Texas is what's kicked her crafty business in to high gear. Warmed by the Texas heat and supported by the friendly crafting community of Austin, she's stitching up fun, cute and hip items for tiny tots. She'll be selling her kid creations at Bazaar Bizarre, and shared her thoughts on the event and the Austin crafting community.

What is the name of your business?
Rose & Duke

How long have you been in business?
Three years

What kinds of goods do you make/sell?
Hand embroidered, appliqued, and printed clothing for babies and children. I'm also starting a new line of clothing that is sewn from vintage hand embroidered linens.

How did you get started in the indie crafting business?
When I was pregnant with my son I was making a lot of hand embroidered clothing for him as well as for gifts, and I got the idea to start selling them. I knew that I was going to try to stay home with my son as long as possible, so this seemed like a good way to have some income at the same time.

What other shows have you participated in?
Stitch Austin last year, and various street markets back in Brooklyn, from where I moved to Austin.

What drew you to apply for the Bazaar Bizarre show?
I love Craft and Make magazines, and I wanted to be part of the amazing faire.

Have you lived in other cities and worked as an independent craft business person? If so, how did that experience compare to living/working in Austin as an independent craft person?
I have lived in NYC (where I'm from) as well as Portland, Oregon for five years, and San Francisco for a year. It's definitely easier living in Austin than NYC on a crafter's income, that's for sure. I can always find a good community of crafters anywhere I have lived, though. The internet really makes a huge difference, because through blogs it's pretty easy to get in touch with people whose work you admire.

How does living in Austin influence your work?
The low cost of living here means that I can work on Rose & Duke full time without having to stress too much. Also, there are so many fantastic thrift stores and vintage clothing stores in Austin. It's really easy to go out and get inspiration for designs.

The constantly glowing sun in that amazing big Texas sky also really influences my work, because I'm in a good mood every day. I'm pretty sure that I suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, and when I can step out and see blue skies and giant white marshmallow clouds, I have no problem walking back in and picking up a sewing machine or needle and thread, and making happy looking outfits for children to enjoy wearing.

How would you describe the Austin craft scene? What do you think makes the Austin craft scene unique?
One of my best friends here has been on the Austin indie craft scene for a while now. Jenifer Nakatsu Arnston and I met when I lived here about ten years ago and have stayed close since then. She's turned me on to a lot of great local resources like the Babes in Biz group. She's also filled me in on the local craft shows and venues for trying to sell my work. I'm not sure what makes the Austin craft scene unique, but I have made friends with other local women who sell their work, and there does seem to be a sense of commraderie here, rather than of strict competition.

What do you think Maker Faire Austin visitors can expect from Bazaar Bizarre this year?
Hopefully a great time, and some fantastic unique items to keep or save for Christmas gifts! I've seen the vendor list and I'm going to have really do my best not to spend all my earnings.

What kind of "Austin flavor" do you think Maker Faire visitors will take away from Maker Faire Austin this year?
I bet there will be jalapenos and Arnold Palmers at the food stand! Austin is a city that is filled with artists and musicians, and I'm sure this will be apparent at the Maker Faire. There is a lot of talent in this town.

What do you hope you get out of participating in Bazaar Bizarre and Maker Faire Austin?
I want to represent the Austin craft scene and show the visitors what a creative megaforce we have here.

Craft Business Home | Next >

Craft:

Checkin' In: Crafty Chica Kathy Cano-Murillo

Crafting a Business with Jenny Hart

How-To: Make a Craft Fair Banner

Starting an Etsy Business

Crafting advice from Thelonius Monk

CPSIA Lead-Testing Law is Delayed

More Harm than Good? More on the CPSIA

Last Day to Vote on the CPSIA at Change.org

Calculating the True Cost of CPSIA Third Party Component Testing

The NY Times on Craft Sales & the Recession

Protests Against Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act

A Leather Crafter's Story

Consumer Safety Rules Could Drive Crafters Out of Business

Online Craft Business Seminar

Maura Madden Q & A and CRAFTERNOON Book Giveaway

Fabric 2.0 Blogger Meet and Greet Set for Houston Quilt Show

HOW TO - Fancy Up Mailers

Maker Faire Sponsor Highlight: Freelancers Union

Upcycle With the Etsy Texas Crafters at Maker Faire

Rose & Duke: Growing a Business in the Texas Sunshine

Tweet a Tip

Get the CRAFT Daily Email

CRAFT: Features & More

Current Podcast

Craft Categories

Craft Archives

Recent Posts in the MAKE Blog

	CRAFT on Facebook Visit our Facebook page and become a fan of CRAFT!
	CRAFT on Twitter Follow our CRAFT tweets!
	CRAFT on Flickr Join our CRAFT Flickr Pool and your photo could be featured in Becky's Sunday CRAFT Flickr Roundup!