CRAFTNICITY

I'm Excited About ARTbundance Coach Training

Years ago, I took life coaching classes.  I picked the school because I'd heard it was one of the best. Life lesson: that isn't necessarily the best criteria to pick things. It was a great school, but it just wasn't a good fit for me.

Years later (tonight), I'm excited that my friend Marney from Artella is hosting a sample workshop for her new ARTbundance Coach Training program.  Creativity + inspiration = good fit.

I've taken several classes from Artella, and I've never been disappointed. I'm looking forward to see if or how this kind of coaching could be incorporated into Craftnicity.

Interested in becoming a new kind of coach?
Sign up for the free sample teleclass about Artella's
ARTbundance Coach Training Program
on July 14!

Taking the Leap: A Designer's Journey

I know you've thought about it. But, have you done it?

Have you sketched, swatched and submitted a design for publication?

If youre still in the thinking about it, analyzing it, procrastinating stage, read on. It's just what Rhonda Davis, aka TurquoizBlue experienced until she took a leap of faith.

How did you finally shift from being an information gatherer to submitting a design?
I had thought about attempting to design crochet professionally for a long time.  I always told myself that "one day" I would do it.  It wasn't fear that held me back.  It was procrastination, overanalyzing the situation, and a lack of impetus to take action.

The thing that lit my fire was one Sunday at church when the pastor said that the first part of turning a dream into reality was to have a vision and that the next step was to write your vision down in order to make it a reality.  He said there is something about writing it down and creating a plan that sets things in motion and that talking about it is not enough. He kept saying "write it down and it will be made plain to you."   At that point I told myself I was going to stop just talking about it and actually do it.

So I decided I was going to go for it, put my designs in writing and prepare a submission.  At that point I didn't have mentor so I read the guidelines thoroughly, prepared my submission package, and prayed I'd done it correctly and that the editors would like my work.

After I sent off that package, I had to wait months before I knew whether my design was accepted.  During that waiting period, I changed, and I became flooded with ideas for submissions.  I continued to put everything in writing.  I no longer had any hesitations, and I started sending out lots designs.  I even had some rejections before my first submission was accepted.  I didn't let that deter me.

Now, I have more ideas than I could ever possibly use.  I try to write them all down before I lose them.  I now have journals full of idea, sketches, potential proposals, half-written patterns, etc.  Unfortunately, my new battle is the lack of time to create.  Once I tackle that, I expect to produce lots more work.

Since having her Mulled Spices Afghan pattern published, TurquoizBlue is sharing her experiences as a new designer and has outlined 8 tips to preparing a crochet submission package. Her tips are fantastic and can be modified to fit almost any needlecraft.

I look forward to following her journey and hope it encourages you to start yours.

(Photo courtesy of Jayel Aheram)

Sell Your Work: That Depends

At one time or another, we've all heard it -- "You should sell your work!" Well, maybe or maybe not. It depends.

When I close my eyes and consider the benefits of a craft show, I see myself meeting people, enjoying the creative process, and of course selling work created by my hands.

And then I open my eyes.

What I see then is months of creating possibly many, many versions of the same item, standing for long periods of time, setting up and breaking down, long hours and the inevitable shuffle of how to get my children to and fro while I do something I...love. 

So craft shows don't exactly work for my life right now. But you may be ready. Here are some things to consider before taking the craft show plunge:

• Can you stand the rain (read: pain)? Although there are chairs in most booths or tables, the most engaged crafters stand and greet people coming to their booths. You may be surprised that something as simple as standing can be kind of painful, if you're not used to standing for long periods of time. Anti-fatigue mat and comfortable shoes can do wonders in preventing back pain.
• Copyright. If you want to start a heated conversation with designers, whisper the word "copyright" and then duck. And rightfully so. Imagine doing test after test after swatch after swatch, then spending hours working up detailed instructions and much more, and then having someone rip you off by copying your work and profiting from it. It's no joke. The best bet is to sell only your original designs. If you plan to duplicate someone else's work, write them to ask for permission. And read up on copyright basics for crafters.
• Do the research. Determine which type of craft show will work best for you, whether it is a juried show or one that is open to all; a one-day event or one that lasts only a few hours; or online markets. I've even heard of shows that don't require the crafters to attend the event.

So selling your work could be all that you expect, or maybe not. But the larger issue is finding a way to harness the feelings associated with craft shows --  of being able to connect with people, have your work appreciated, and possibly earn from it.

Do you sell your work? What has been your experience with craft shows?

So You Wanna Write a Craft Book?

  Here's what my friend Deborah Robson of Nomad Press had to say:

Book shelves are full of craft/knitting/quilting books. How do you find that untapped niche (or niche within a niche) to pitch to an editor?

Mostly you need to make sure you're following your own interests: to sustain the effort of making a book, you'll need to be at least mildly passionate about your topic. The more passion the better. Think of what *you* would like to see a book about.

Then cruise the shelves at a well-stocked bookstore and check the online sellers (both specialist and of books) for related titles released within the last one to two years (or, if you have access to inside information, upcoming). Editors like to see enough activity similar to your book that they can be convinced that there's a market for your topic, but not anything exactly like it. There's a sweet spot involved.

Next, make sure you're pitching the correct press: you need to be able to feel that your topic and approach will fit the publisher's list (or selection of books on related topics). It's like finding a neighborhood where your book will feel at home--also, like when you're looking for a place to live, it's good to have several possibilities in mind! You might need to adjust your pitch slightly for each potential buyer, reflecting your understanding of what they're publishing and how your idea would fit--sort of like figuring out different furniture arrangements for different housing options.

In the Spotlight with Shannon Riffe

I will often interview crafters, writers, artists and creative spirits who combine passion and craft in an intriguing way. Today's interview is with silkscreen artist Shannon Riffe. Shannon discusses her techniques, business goals and the person for whom she'd most like to design a special gift.

Craftnicity:  Describe the kind of work you do, that is, the techniques you use and what kinds of items you make.
Shannon:  I design and screenprint paper products with my original patterns.  I silkscreen all the items myself on Michigan-made papers. Products include gift tags, cards, gift wrap and journals, among others.

Craftnicity: What inspires your drawings? In other words, where does your muse visit you most often?
Shannon:  Hmm, inspiration comes when I just doodle and draw without any purpose. Sometimes I'll carve a stamp for block printing. Sometimes I'll use my X-Acto knife and cut designs out of paper. I'm always open to looking at one of my creations in a new way. Lately I've started to return to some block prints I made a few years ago and thinking of ways to reinterpret them for silkscreening.

Craftnicity:  Your drawings seem to have a playful geometric nature. Do you consider this your trademark?
Shannon:  I do. My drawings always start with a hand-drawn doodle or handmade stamp. I try not to start my process on the computer, though I do use the computer to tweak my drawings and create pattern repeats. Starting with a handmade image ensures that my work never looks too perfect. I like the irregularities that come with working in this way.