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. More to come too!

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 offer classes, open crafting times, 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! 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 4pm-8pm, when the community space is open to the public for Craft Night. Can't make it on a Monday?  Just send us and email to labs@etsy.com or a conversation to etsylabs.etsy.com to schedule another time to come by. We are located at 325 Gold Street, 3rd Floor, Brooklyn NY, 11201.

View Larger Map  

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, just keep an eye on the Etsy Labs column of the Storque by clicking on the link under Featured Columns. We're always updating what's going on and how you can be a part of it! Also, you may join the Etsy Labs mailing list to receive updates from the Etsy Labs straight to your inbox.

What is Craft Night and how can I get involved?
Every Monday from 4pm-8pm 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 project 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 would like to lead a craft night 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 2pm-6pm 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 known as 3rd Ward. This collaboration is called Etsy at 3rd Ward and it is a craft education program born from Etsy.com 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!

Can I rent equipment from Etsy Labs?
Due to Etsy's recent growth, we have discontinued equipment rentals, so be sure to come by on Mondays during open crafting night to use what you need then! We have sewing machines, paper cutters, a buttonmaker, and more available. If you have a question about our equipment, just send us an email.

What are the Virtual Labs and how do I participate in an Online Workshop?
You know Jared, the admin who made all the amazing flash features on Etsy? He also created an online community space! The Virtual Labs are a multi-user online representation of the Etsy Labs using Workshop rooms. The homepage of the Virtual Labs represents an imaginary mapped spacial layout of the Labs offices in Brooklyn. Click on any of the rooms to gain access inside that particular workshop 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 weekly 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 blog so out of date?
Our Etsy Labs blog is what we used to communicate with the commmunity before the Storque made it's 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 still accept donations?
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 I have a trunk show or host my event at Etsy Labs?
With Etsy's recent growth, we've decided to discontinue trunk shows and limit the amount of events held in our office space. 

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-US countries, but at this time we are focusing all of our energies on the Etsy website. It is our hope that through the Etsy Teams, 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 take on a project like this, please keep us in the loop by sending us your progress to labs@etsy.com so we can cover it in the Storque!

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!

xoxoxoxoxo,

The Etsy Labs