A recent post about the culture of cheap on the new Crafting an MBA blog got me thinking – A LOT – about the importance of talking about handmade and its essential role in our lives.

As craft-makers and lovers, we sometimes think the act of making a craft is the most important part of then selling it.  But, it’s essential that you talk about the story behind the piece: inspiration, materials chosen, process, setbacks, resolution, etc.  Tara Gentile has great insight on the PA Crafts blog today about sharing your space in pictures.

The story of the work’s creation is why someone wants to buy the piece. Sure they may want to buy it simply because its red and matches their shoes.  But that story is why I, for example, bought a $30 woodturned dish for my son’s first food bowl instead of a $1 piece of plastic.  I want it to last, I want it to matter and I want to care about what it is.  I didn’t want it to just fill my immediate need of having a bowl.

I want us all to commit to talking about craft more often, more openly, being open about pricing and explaining the real cost of handmade goods.

If you’re a craft-maker and have neighbors or friends or family members that don’t know what you do, tell them what you do. Show them how you do it! And state why your work costs what it does. It’ll go a long way. If you love craft, share it. Make the norm to give handmade and include a business card of the maker. It connects the person behind the work with its new home.

Yes, handmade craft costs more than plastic junk (or craft imports), but its actually a real cost. It pays a living wage. Not just a ‘fair trade’ wage but a living wage. And one worth paying.

Thanks for listening to my little rant.  I hope you share in the comments below about your thoughts on the subject.  I’m leaving you with this video from Craft Scotland called ‘The C Word.’ I hope it’ll inspire you to share your craft.

by Elizabeth Sterling

It’s show time…are you ready?

A great way to make sure that you are prepared for a show is to develop a pre-show checklist. This generally takes experience and probably doing a few shows regretting what has been left behind before it is perfected. But I thought I would share our pre-show checklist and a couple of organizing tips in hopes that others might benefit without having to learn the hard way.

We have a small 3-drawer organizer that we use for all our sales materials and miscellany that we find we often need throughout the show. It contains the following:

• Business cards, postcards, brochures
• Pens, sharpies
• Calculator
• Price tags
• Stapler
• Scissors
• Receipt book
• Credit card machine and charger (We keep this in a separate waterproof container.)
• Portfolio
• Sunscreen
• Mints
• Tylenol
• Some emergency food (energy bar, crackers, etc.)
• Coins for change (we keep cash on us)

We have a tool organizer that is on wheels that we affectionately call Mary Poppins. Mary Poppins has everything but the kitchen sink in it that we need to clean or repair our furniture and jewelry boxes and general booth set-up supplies. Depending on your medium, what goes in the clean/repair/set-up box would be totally different obvisouly. Some of the items in our Mary Poppins are:

• Drill (Both battery operated and a hand drill because some show do not allow artists to use power tools due to union rules.)
• Nuts and bolts for our wall assembly
• Screws and picture/shelf hanging supplies
• Glass cleaner
• Furniture cleaner
• Zip-ties (We use these to deter vandal and thieves by “locking” the tent zippers to the gussets.)

We have a plastic tub with a lid that we use to hold all our packaging materials:

• Bags of different sizes
• Boxes
• Bubblewrap
• Tissue paper
• Extra business cards/postcards

Prepare for the worst when it comes to weather at an outdoor show. These are the general supplies we take along for outdoor show regardless of the weather forecast:

• Sunshade
• Chairs
• Change of clothes (or 2 if you take along a toddler like we do)
• Raincoat
• Lightweight jacket
• Cooler with water, food
• Battery operated fans (The brand O2 Cool makes a battery operated fan that works great for outdoor shows. We hang one in the top of the tent to circulate the air and keep one in back to keep us cool.)
• Tent with all its parts
• Rugs that fit the booth size (I’ve had to run out to get rugs when our rugs were smaller than the booth and the blue floor clashed with our booth display. Now we have dark brown outdoor rugs that will cover a 10 x15’ booth that we put under our bamboo rugs)
• Weights for the tent (We’ve seen a few disasters from people not weighting their tents down at shows. Use weights… it’s worth the trouble.)
• Cart

If the show is indoors or if it is an outdoor show that has electric and show hours run until dark, we take the following:

• Power strips
• Extension cords
• Lights

And to avoid the stress of traveling and check-in make sure you take along:

• Maps or GPS
• Hotel/Campground confirmation with the phone number
• Show packet
• Cell phone with charger

And of course, you need your product and display materials. We inevitably leave behind a prop or something we planned to sell because this is an ever evolving list of items.

If you do shows, what do you make sure you don’t leave home without?

Elizabeth Sterling and her husband John market their one-of a kind furniture and jewelry boxes at shows in the Northeast and Midwest, through their web site, and their etsy shop, so wabi sabi. Elizabeth shares her life and love of all things handmade, homemade, and homegrown in her blog so wabi sabi.

Elizabeth will be bringing you this series on marketing your craft business through shows, fairs, and markets for the next 2 Fridays! You can find the first installment in her craft show series here.

by Elizabeth Sterling

There is nothing better than presenting your craft at a show and receiving accolades for your creativity and craftsmanship…and nothing worse than sitting all day in the hot sun or pouring rain watching the crowd pass your booth right by. The way to make the first scenario your reality is to know your demographic and find & do the shows that they will attend.

Depending on your product, your demographic may take some time to figure out but even if you are just starting out you should give this some thought. Who would likely buy your work? This might feel a little bit like stereotyping, but what are their ages, gender? Where do they live? How much money do they make a year?

Once you have a good idea what your demographic is either by experience or by doing some thinking or research, you need to find the shows that you might expect this demographic to attend. This will take some research and thought on your part. Research shows to find out the average artist income, the number of people that attend the show, and the focus of the show.

photo by I Made It! Market Pittsburgh (Guerrero Ceramics)

Additionally find out how many years the show has been in existence and the artists that have done the show in the past. Consider contacting some of the show’s past exhibitors via email to get their impression of the show and thoughts on whether your work is a good match for the demographic that usually attends the show. Most artists I know are generous with their advice in these regards.

Also, consider the focus of the shows you are consideringconsider the focus of the shows you are considering. Is music the main attraction to attendees? If so, your beautiful pottery may not be flying out your booth, but if handmade guitars are your craft this might be the perfect show for you. Is food the focus? The Christkindl Market in Mifflinburg, PA draws a significant crowd for an outdoor show in December, but most of the people come to the market to eat, drink, and enjoy the festive atmosphere. They are not there to buy expensive artwork.

photo by Alex McCarty (Stephanie Corfee @ Crafty by Nature)

Don’t get lured in by an organizer’s hype or their flattery. Just because a show’s website has a picture of a street with a crowd of people doesn’t mean this is a picture of the show you will be doing. It always pays to do your research. Besides talking directly to other artists about a show, another really great resource is the Art Fair Sourcebook which reviews 800 art and craft shows across the country every year. It costs money, but in the long run when you consider the time and expense of doing a show it may be worth it to have this resource at your fingertips.

The time you take to consider your demographic and research the shows you do is time well spent. Matching your show schedule to your demographic’s will make your shows the positive experience they should be and give you perfect opportunities to meet the people who love your work and want to buy it!

Elizabeth Sterling and her husband John market their one-of a kind furniture and jewelry boxes at shows in the Northeast and Midwest, through their web site, and their etsy shop, so wabi sabi. Elizabeth shares her life and love of all things handmade, homemade, and homegrown in her blog so wabi sabi.

Elizabeth will be bringing you this series on marketing your craft business through shows, fairs, and markets for the next 3 Fridays!

Rosie’s Whimsy

Blossom Boutique/Hello Bluebird

Brookiellen Designs

Stephanie Corfee

Ruju

Super de Duper

Thank you to all the amazing vendors that were at the first Crafty by Nature! With our first show under our belts, we’re looking to make a few improvements and have an even better show next month!

Most of these photos are via the Handmade in PA Flickr pool. What? You’re not a member? Join today!

If you have other pics from Sunday, please put a link to them in the comments! I would love to see them.

I received this message from Amy Biasco, the organizer of Crafty Balboa:

CRAFTY BALBOA will be held August 2nd, 2009 around the fountain at the intersection of Tasker and Passyunk Ave. The craft market will be held in conjunction with East Passyunk Business Improvement District’s 4th Annual Doo Wop. Passyunk Ave will be closed to traffic from McKean St. to Dickinson St. The event will run from 12pm to 5pm.

We are looking for 20 vendors from different artistic backgrounds, jewelers, printmakers, clothing designers, potters, glass artists, etc.
There will be a $20 vendor fee due once you are accepted.

Set up will begin at 11am and all tables will need to be removed by 6pm. We ask that you provide your own table and chairs. Tables must be under 6ft long, space is limited. Be aware that this is an outdoor event so if you want to bring an umbrella or tent please feel free.

We will be advertising the event on facebook.com, myspace.com, flickr.com, as well as email blasts and blogs. We will provide you with flyers upon your request. We ask that you help to advertise the event through your online outlets, email lists, etc. The East Passyunk Business Improvement District will also be adding the event to their newsletter, advertising plan for the DooWop and radio spots.

Event Specifics:

When: August 2, 2009
Set up :11am
Breakdown : Starting at 5pm
Show time :12-5pm

Where: Intersection of Tasker St. and Passyunk Ave.

Cost: $20.00 per vendor.

If you are interested in applying please email me with your name, contact info, media, and three examples of your work or link to your website.

I am so pleased to announce a BRAND NEW, totally great, super awesome indie craft market: Crafty By Nature.

Why, might you ask, is this event so spectacular? Well, because I’m helping to organize the thing!

I met Alex McCarty through Facebook, where she found the Handmade in PA group. Oddly enough, she lived about 5 minutes from my house and had been instrumental in organizing indie craft in the Reading area a few years ago.

Unfortunately, “real life” caught up with her and her crafty business & organizing fell a bit to the side.

But after Handmade in PA.net helped Alex realize that craft was, in fact, alive & well in Pennsylvania – and NOT just in Philly & Pittsburgh – she got her crafty mojo working and sought to organize something bigger & better than she had ever done before!

And so, Crafty By Nature – an outdoor indie craft market – was born!

Of course, I jumped at the chance to help her organize & promote what is sure to be the next big thing in craft in Pennsylvania. So now, I’m sure you want some details!

When: the first Sunday of every month (May – October)
Where: Shupp’s Grove (Adamstown, Lancaster County)
How: crafters can apply through the Crafty By Nature journal or the Crafty By Nature homepage.

If you’re unfamiliar with Shupp’s Grove, it is a huge and extremely popular antiques & collectibles market that occurs every weekend May – October. It attracts buyers & sellers alike from all over Pennsylvania & the north east.

If you have any questions, please email Alex – events@craftybynature.net

I’m extremely happy to bring you this message from Carrie – founder & organizer of the I Made It! Market. Carrie is also one of Pittsburgh’s 40 under 40, a freelance marketing & PR consultant, and an organizer with the Pittsburgh Craft Collective. All this – and now she lives in Philly! Watch out!

Be sure to read all the way to the end of this post to find a special offer from ME!

I Made It! Market returns to the Union Project in Pittsburgh’s Highland Park neighborhood for another craftacular event. More than 50 vendors will be selling their handmade wares. Vendor bios are up and more to come on the I Made It! Market’s new blog. Be sure that you can pick up one-of-a-kind handbags and hats, custom ceramic tableware, handmade books, awesome monster t-shirts, plush, jewelry, organic bath & body products and more.

The Union Project is located in a beautiful former church and now houses a number of projects including a ceramics studio in the basement – their unique mugs, plates, pitchers, bowls and more will be for sale on the stage during the event – as well as the Eat Up Cafe which is staffed by students of the Union Project’s Youth Barista program. Visitors can take in the stained glass windows that have been lovingly replaced as a part of the Glass Action program. To learn more about the innovative programs and community development taking place at the Union Project.

So what is I Made It! Market?
I Made It! Market is a nomadic indie crafts marketplace that travels into the unique and vibrant neighborhoods of Pittsburgh (and soon to enter new PA territories) bringing opportunities for local vendors to sell their wares and engage with communities. I Made It! Market also partners with non-profit, arts and community organizations to raise awareness and funds for their cause. You can join the Facebook Group, become a Fan of their Page, or sign up on their homepage for the e-newsletter to learn what is coming next for I Made It!

advertising sale – through Tuesday only!

Are you new to internet advertising? Handmade in PA.net is a great place to start! Your ad will be in front of readers who are interested in buying handmade & shopping locally. Our weekly giveaways also bring in readers from all over the country.

In the last 30 days, HiP has received over 5,600 page views and over 1,900 unique visitors.

Advertising is already a great deal – as low as $8.33 per month when you sign-up for 3 months – but from today until Tuesday, March 31, it gets even better.

When you purchase 1 month of advertising, you’ll receive a 5th week for FREE.

When you purchase 2 months of advertising, you’ll receive a 9th & 10th week for FREE.

When you purchase 3 months of advertising, you’ll receive an extra month for FREE!

You can visit our advertising page for more information & to purchase a spot.

By the way – HiP is always open for a trade of goods/services for advertising space. Email me – tara@handmadeinpa.net!

Penny, from Spot On Designs, is a murrini glass artist out of Philadelphia. These pieces are made by creating layered glass rods and then fusing them together. It’s then cut in cross-sections to reveal the pattern. She has many colorful pieces in her shop, but I love these neutral pendants. Ask my mother or my husband, I have a real soft spot for neutrals! [Read more →]