We here at the Etsy Labs are often asked questions about what the Labs are and how the community can get involved.  We realize there isn't really any published material about the Etsy Labs on the site other than our Merchandise shop, so we hope that we can clear up a few of the most frequently asked questions concerning the Etsy Labs in this article.

For more on this All About Etsy FAQ series, check out the intro, the All About the Teams post or the All About The Storque post.

What are the Etsy Labs?
The Etsy Labs are the physical Etsy offices located in Brooklyn, New York: Etsy central! Within the offices, the Labs functions as a community workspace where we hold Craft Nights and occasional events. The Etsy Labs folks run the community workspace, host events and visiting members of the press, design and make handmade Etsy merchandise and press kits and promos, manage the Etsy Labs shop, host online workshops and tutorials each week and represent Etsy at craft shows. We also work as Admin who are here to help you whenever you need shop advice. Whenever we have an event here at our offices, we try to broadcast it via webcam to the Virtual Labs. In short, Etsy Labs is much more than an office: We work to bridge the online and offline worlds of Etsy. 

Can I come visit the Etsy Labs?
We welcome visitors at the Etsy Labs and love putting faces with names and avatars! The best time to come by and say hello is on Mondays from 4 - 8 p.m., when the community space is open to the public for Craft Night. We are now located at 55 Washington Street, Suite 512, Brooklyn NY, 11201. (We moved from our 325 Gold St, Brooklyn location in August 2009.)

How do I keep up with what's going on at Etsy Labs, like finding out about events and online workshops?
To find out about events at the Labs and any online workshops that are coming soon, we'd recommend joining the Etsy Labs mailing list to receive occasional updates from the Etsy Labs straight to your inbox.

Also, you may wish to keep an eye on the Etsy Labs column of the Storque or the Events section of the Storque. We're always updating what's going on and how you can be a part of it!

If you're a member of Meetup.com, please do join the Etsy Labs Meetup group. If you're a fan of flickr.com, you can keep track of what's going on at Etsy on our flickr page and our Etsy Labs Show & Tell group.

What is Craft Night and how can I get involved?
Every Monday from 4 - 8 p.m. we hold a free weekly, walk-in Craft Night where the community space in our offices is open to the public. Each week the Etsy Labs organize a skill-sharing project. We provide supplies, tools, and know-how. Participants are also welcome to bring their own projects to work on. This is the perfect time to see the space, use the equipment and supplies free of charge, and learn a new skill. Just stop on by!

If you're not in the area, visit the Virtual Labs where we fire up the webcam and share in the fun.

If you would like to lead a Craft Night or have a suggestion for a project, send your ideas to labs@etsy.com with "Craft Night Idea" as the subject line. Have you participated in Craft Night? Share your photos with the Etsy Labs Show and Tell Flickr group!

The first Sunday of each month from 2 - 6 p.m. the Church of Craft meets at the Labs, which also serves as an open crafting time, and you are welcome to join in. 

Do you still offer classes at the Etsy Labs?
At the beginning of 2009, we discontinued our class program here at the Etsy Labs and embarked on a collaboration with the Brooklyn artist facility, 3rd Ward. This collaboration is called Etsy at 3rd Ward, and it is a craft education program born from Etsy and 3rd Ward's shared spirit of hands-on innovation. Together we present the opportunity to learn skills to expand creative know-how and craft a handmade life. Check out this program for a host of exciting craft classes. 

May I rent equipment from Etsy Labs?
Tools and supplies are available for use during our weekly Craft Nights. We have a slew of crafty equipment on hand and open for use during Craft Night, including sewing machines, sergers, a one-inch button maker, paper cutters, fabric, paper, sewing notions, rubber stamps, linoleum carving tools, irons, cutting mats, and a whole lot more. To use specialized equipment at the Etsy Labs, like sergers, we ask that you have demonstrated previous experience. To use the button maker, please bring your own button one-inch parts.

At this time, our screenprinting equipment is reserved for use by Etsy for in-house production of promotional materials.

What are the Virtual Labs and how do I participate in an online workshop?
The Virtual Labs are Etsy's online, interactive, multi-user chat room.  We use the Virtual Labs to connect with our community, host events, live webcam how-to's, Team meetings, newbie chats, show and tell, shop critiques, and more! To find out what is happening in the Virtual Labs this week, just visit the lobby of the Virtual Labs for a schedule or check out the  Virtual Labs Storque articles for the details. More info about the Virtual Labs here.

Apply to host a workshop in the Virtual Labs here.

Why is your Blogspot blog so out of date?
Our Etsy Labs blog is what we used to communicate with the community before The Storque made its debut on Etsy. Now that The Storque is here, we now keep in touch with you guys over here. However, since there is so much useful information and so many resource links over at our old blog, we wanted to leave it up for you all to access everything that still lives over there.

Do you accept donations of crafting supplies?
Through your generosity we have a full house of donated craft supplies and equipment at the Etsy Labs, and we are pretty much filled to the brim. We are limiting what we can take at this time, so if you would like to send a donation, just send us an email to labs@etsy.com to work out the details.

Can we have an Etsy Labs in our city/area?
It would be wonderful to have an Etsy Labs in every state or in non-U.S. countries. It is our hope that through the Etsy Teams and partnerships, people will be able to meet up and form their own community workspaces in their areas where they host skill shares, get donations, and generally help each other spread the Etsy love. If you'd like to take on a project like this, please keep send your idea to labs@etsy.com.

Soooooo...all you ever wanted to know about the Etsy Labs! Didn't see the answer to your question in this article? Send us an email to labs@etsy.com or post in the comments below, and we will be sure to get back to you with your answer!

Love,

The Etsy Labs