Wow!

I recently joined Flickr and started posting, along with some travel photos, my jewelry and needlework.  Mostly, I'm looking for feedback on my creations.

I woke up this morning to find that my Madison by Day needlepoint has 333 (and counting) views.  Wow!

It's pretty exciting to find that people are as enthusiastic about my needlework paintings as I am.

You can see my Flickr photos here.

My New Favorite Blog of the Week: Etsy Bitch

I read a bunch of crafty blogs.  I love seeing what people have created, where they get inspiration and learning a bit about them.  Reading their sites makes me feel closer to the craft community as I find other crafting people are sharing similar experiences to my own.  These blogs are also great for providing tips, asking questions about common issues and sharing frustrations. 

I recently stumbled across Etsy Bitch, it was mentioned on another blog site.  And I have to admit that I'm hooked.  This blog, tagged "Biting The Hand That Feeds" and "Calling Out For Change" offers tips and advice for online selling.  It breaks down new selling sites listing their strong points, limitations and opening a forum for people to comment about their own experiences.  The author also breaks down new Etsy promotions and myths so the reader knows if these are really of benefit.

The best part of the site is the tone.  Each post is seasoned with a snarky, sarcastic humor.  It's not a dry read.  Information includes side comments, real opinions and some really good laughs.  I encourage everyone doing online sales ... or anyone looking for a good laugh to check it out.

Feltidermy: My latest obsession

I've noticed some very creative feltwork lately.  It's thrilling.  I've never worked in felt myself and am thrilled to see how people are reinventing the craft. While reading some craft blogs this morning I came across a new one: Feltidermy.

This is truly unique and actually made me giggle (and that's always a good thing). Girl Savage recreates the old-school animal head taxidermy ... but with felt.  It's pure genius.  I encourage you to check out her store and her blog.

Five Reasons to Shop Handmade This Weekend: Spring Handmade Cavalcade May 9-10

Five Reasons to Shop Handmade This Weekend:
May 9 + 10 10am-4pm
The Bell House, Brooklyn

Yes! The Spring Handmade Cavalcade is this weekend!

1. Buying Handmade makes for better gift-giving.
2. Avoid the long lines of the big chain stores in favor of something more meaningful.
3. Support an artist or crafter directly.
4. Recipients of handmade gifts get something one-of-a-kind and made with care and attention that can be seen and touched.
5. Handmade goods are the result of skill and craftsmanship that is absent in the world of large-scale manufacturing.

On May 9 and 10, cast your vote against the ascendancy of chain store culture and global manufacturing. Come to the Bell House for the Spring Handmade Cavalcade and shop handmade. Support great local crafters like Dirty Loves Clean, AdornmentsNYC, The Original Beadscarf, Molly Shoelace, Citybitz, DewOnAPetal, Pulp Sushi, and Lingua Nigra.

Online Crafting Communities

Working from home, I've missed the camaraderie of office life.  By the time I left, I spent most of my time IMing the people sitting around me.  Occasionally, we would stand up to punctuate a point. Frequently, we would out around lunch.  I miss having the feedback, brainstorming and sharing ideas.

Working craft sales, networking events and workshops has been a wonderful solution to this, but it's not constant.  So I decided to look into Crafting communities.   With the advent of Ning, they seem to have popped up everywhere.  There are now community sites for everything!

The craft community is generally a sharing one.  Forums and groups exists so sellers can share what they've learned (apparently, my approach to Etsy was all wrong).  We can post and comment on each others' new items and work. We can discuss what kind of marketing is and isn't working for us.  We can get sites and creations in front of new eyes and hopefully new buyers.

I'm really enjoying it so far.  Here are my favorite communities (and I'm sure I'll find more):

• American Craft Guide community This free community is home to supporters of all things handmade.
• indiepublic Indiepublic is an independent art and design community.
• Made it Myself community Community for Made it Myself sellers
• Cafe Handmade community Love Handmade, Buy Handmade, Sell Handmade