Etsy's Handmade Blog
Crafting a Community of Awesome: Be Part of the Summit
Story by tinaseamonster
Published on April 23, 2009 in Events

Five years ago I totally didn’t have any crafty friends. I toiled away in my living room each night, making stuff without any clue what I would do with it. And when I finished something, I stored it in our extra bedroom until the spare bed became this weird pile of strange stuff. I felt like my making had no purpose and I had absolutely no one to talk to about this. There were no support groups for the likes of me: people who were addicted to making with no real end game for the products. I remember being obsessed with picking up trash to make into collage art, stealing rubber fishing lures from my dad to make into necklaces, looking at a seat belt from a junked car as if it were a prize. I was upcycling before I had a word for it, and to my non-crafty friends, I was just a little wonky.

I had no idea then that my life would totally change, and that not only would I meet someone like me, but that my life would end up full of friends like me. These are not just acquaintances, but real, amazing friends: collaborators and co-conspirators and comrades and colleagues. The importance of these friends to my craft is one thing. I love that I know who to ask when I can’t find Gocco supplies or where to go if I need advice on a craft show application. I love that my friend Beth knows just want to do with an old sweater and that my friend Sara knits me the best scarves with bumpy yarn every year.

But it is the importance of these friends to my actual life that has taken me so by surprise. When my family recently went through a tough medical diagnosis, my crafty friends were delivering groceries and stopping by to teach my twins to sew and sending me encouraging text messages. I never imagined it, but I have found myself surrounded by community, and that is the most fabulous part of the handmade revolution for me. I’m not just a weirdo making things while I watch TV anymore. I’m one of many weirdos making things while we watch TV.

And this is why I am so excited about the Summit of Awesome, my latest project with Hello Craft. After years selling at and organizing craft shows, I wanted to help create an event that is about more than just gathering to sell our wares. It seemed to me that selling at craft shows leaves little time to actually socialize, forge friendships and learn from each other. And my attempts at gathering crafty friends to just "hang out" always seemed to be foiled by the business of real life.  I am so excited that I get to help provide other people with the venue to infuse their lives with new crafty friends; to hang out with neat people, while learning from some of the most inspiring speakers in the crafting community.

The Craftnotes with Sublime Stitching’s Jenny Hart and Etsy’s CEO Maria Thomas are in themselves exciting, but we also have 30 more speakers lined up for seminars, workshops and demos. And if you can't make the event, the Etsy Virtual Labs will be covering several of our seminars. We've also just added single day passes if you cannot make the whole weekend of awesome.

Here are the details:
Hello Craft’s Summit of Awesome will take place in Washington, D.C., May 1-3.  The Summit is designed for artists and crafters, from dabblers to business owners, and includes the D.C. premiere of the Indie Craft Documentary, Handmade Nation. We also have fun social "making areas" planned, as well as the first ever Handmade White Elephant Gift Exchange and Swap! You can check out the complete line-up of speakers and register online at hellocraft.com.

I can't stress enough the importance of gathering together to learn and share in the same space; how I think these types of events will help deepen the bond of the crafting community and spark new and innovative ideas on the direction of the handmade movement. And dude, you need more cool friends, right?

I’d love to hear your stories of how the handmade community has made your life better. Please put them in the comments below! I may contact you to record your story for the Hello Craft Podcast!

Tags conferences, crafting, DC, documentaries, documentary, Etsy Community Projects, films, Handmade Nation, Hello Craft, Jenny Hart, movies, premiers, real life, social networking, speakers, Summit of Awesome, supplies, tinaseamonster, upcycling, Washington
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88 comments     Login to add your own!

April 23, 2009 at 2:22 p.m. daniellexo

Very excited about the Summit of Awesome! I'll be there with bells on. :)

April 23, 2009 at 2:23 p.m. LaveMeSoapCo

oh i *wish* i could go!

April 23, 2009 at 2:26 p.m. Ryanplz

i wish i could go to. sounds grand!

April 23, 2009 at 2:29 p.m. FlanneryCrane

Sounds fantastic. Wish I could join...

April 23, 2009 at 2:32 p.m. redyellowandblueink

Wow-great article and the Summit sounds......Awesome. So glad to see that word used in such a big way-now I won't feel like such a geek when I use it. I am doing my first craft show-something I thought I would never do-on May 2, the Indie Craft Fair in Sacramento CA. I am excited and hope it is, well, awesome!

April 23, 2009 at 2:36 p.m. VintageEyeFashion

Smashing idea!

April 23, 2009 at 2:37 p.m. MelissasMelange

Ooh, this sounds exciting, and I actually live in the DC area, so I have no excuse to attend at least part of it...I already have plans for the 2nd, but maybe I can squeeze something in on the 1st or 3rd! Thanks for organizing!

April 23, 2009 at 2:39 p.m. Krystyna81

while I can't attend the summit, I applaud your efforts to rally a community together. I truly feel that my life drawing groups are my life-line, and that selling on Etsy has helped me as a SAHM. I can now create AND sell and still be a good mom. Keep up the great work! Art and artists cannot exist in a vaccuum!

April 23, 2009 at 2:39 p.m. TickledPinkAndBlue

Wonderful post, thank you! I got all misty-eyed when you talked about connecting with fellow "weirdos". I'm in Oregon, so I won't be attending! But... the crafting community has done much for those in my little circle. I am more aware of what it has done for my friend Dott of Dazzledott.etsy.com . She struggles with a 9-5 job and has no crafty outlets outside of her soap-making endeavors in her little kitchen. (I pushed her to open and Etsy shop and it has been very rewarding for her.) When she comes to me all frazzled that she thinks there is something wrong with her because she suddenly has a new idea and has to go out and buy things for it, or that she can't stand to make another batch of marshmallow soap again, I am her shoulder. I tell her that she's an artist, and we can be flighty and that that is okay, and normal! I do the same thing. I have half-finished projects all over my studio. I believe in her and I am glad that I can give her a sense of stability in an un-stable world. Artists must stick together! Because if we don't believe in and support eachother, who will?! Have an amazing day everyone!

April 23, 2009 at 2:40 p.m. bittersweetdesign

I live close by too - WHY are we hearing about this so late????

April 23, 2009 at 2:58 p.m. Nomsa

I am going! I am going! I am going!

I am soooooo excited!

Eeeeekkkkk!!!

April 23, 2009 at 3:01 p.m. enhabiten

I can so identify with this. I brought my son to a intro meeting yesterday at the art school he will attend in the fall. It made me (an artist myself) think and feel a lot of things. At first I felt sad that I wasn't the one going to art school (I did get a degree in studio art but it wasn't in the kind of environment my son will be in). Then I started to think that it's not that I want to be in school again, per se, but it is that I want to be in that sort of environment where "making" is so important and so respected and so very necessary. Isolation is part of being an artist because there is no substitute for being in your studio and putting the time in but you have to have an environment that feeds you.
I do think the internet and etsy has helped me a great deal to overcome this lack of support and inspiration and that fertile environment of art or craft school.
I do wish I'd known about the summit of awesomeness earlier. I love your story.

April 23, 2009 at 3:17 p.m. TeacupAdventure

ahh so soon! I go to college relatively close by and am going to try and make it even if I have to take the train!

April 23, 2009 at 3:17 p.m. LabyrinthLeather

Thank you so much for this article, it is all so exciting!

April 23, 2009 at 3:20 p.m. Cheerupcherup

I wish this article would have been published sooner-- May 1 is only one week away.

April 23, 2009 at 3:29 p.m. YANDEBRIDAL

Sounds so awesome I wish I could go! I hope it is a huge success and events like this will pop up around the country! =D

April 23, 2009 at 3:34 p.m. EJPcreations

I wish I could go!!!!! It sounds like so much fun!!!!! I know exactly what Enhabiten is saying!! When I graduated with an art degree last year I didn't know what I would do. My day job is bookkeeping, and though my sister and a friend make things I didn't want to be like my fellow graduates who once left school never made anythig again. Mostly cuz the "real" world just seems to step on your creativity util you gasp what's the point. Finding Etsy has been the only thing that has kept me going at times. Now to find even more venues to find like minded people just makes my little heart swell with joy! YAYYYYYYY crafting community!!!!

April 23, 2009 at 3:38 p.m. LoveYourBling

We nned a crafters summit on the west coast!

April 23, 2009 at 3:44 p.m. OffTheHooks

wow- thanks for this article, it is so inspiring! I can totally identify with the first part. I wish i could make it to the summit of awesome, i will definately try and catch some of the online version on etsy. I am slowly starting to have a group of like-minded crafty friends- we are hoping to do some craft fairs or farmers markets this summer. I think its really important for us crafters and artists to surround ourselves with community & support each other. I really like the teams I've joined here on etsy, they've definately helped me feel more connected to a larger community.

April 23, 2009 at 3:44 p.m. zombuki

That Nessie is amazing <3 and I totally agree, the Summit is Awesome is the only thing it could be called!!

April 23, 2009 at 3:45 p.m. Illusio

I am unable to come all the way to America sadly. But, I can tell you that Etsy has revolutionised my buying focus. I no longer if I can help it buy mass produced goods. This Christmas I bought only TWO items from a shop that had been factory made. Everything I bought had been handmade, beaufifully crafted, carefully wrapped and more often than not included a thoughtfull little extra.

Etsy has provided me with an impetus to sell my art online, and has also furnished me with a group of supportive and encouraging friends, who are also like me for the most part, busy Mums with families, work, chores and under numerous real life commitments to contend with as well as create. They have been wonderfully kind and supportive in my low moments and full of good advice.

April 23, 2009 at 3:45 p.m. stephaniemiller13

can't believe i just found this now!! so sad. the hibs is away that weekend and i'm on toddler patrol!!! but i want crafty friends!! where do i sign up for that? i have just recently become more involved (or trying to) in the etsy community an i have a lot to learn.
So glad people are out there planning this sort of thing!!

April 23, 2009 at 3:49 p.m. SudsNSuch

I'm so glad I live near DC!

April 23, 2009 at 3:56 p.m. GoldhawkPotteryEtc

I'll be volunteering at the Summit so looking forward to seeing so many of you there!

April 23, 2009 at 4:03 p.m. waysideviolet

"I’m one of many weirdos making things while we watch TV." YES!!! I love this!

April 23, 2009 at 4:14 p.m. JAdamsDesigns

I wish I could get to DC, that would be so sweet!! What a great idea!! I wonder if we could start these events all over the country (or the world??) to bring this to as many people as possible!?.

April 23, 2009 at 4:26 p.m. thestapeliacompany

Gosh I wish I could get there May 1st. This looks like it's going to be really good. I love how the handmade movement is BLOWING UP! Love it!

April 23, 2009 at 4:30 p.m. CurlyGirlCrafts

I am very excited about the summit. I am really looking forward to it because it will give me the opportunity to be part of a crafting community and meet other like minded people. Since I discovered etsy and the crafting movement I have gained confidence about being a crafter. It sounds crazy but for the longest time I was embarrassed about making crafts rather than high art. I went to art school and studied Fine Arts. It was an incrediable experience and I learned a great deal, but was also left with this feeling that I sould be making paintings and sculptures for mueseums and galleries. However, I found more joy in crafting beautiful useful items and decided thats what I wanted to pursue. I still consider my self an artists, because I hand make quality objects. Now if I can only convince other crafters to consider themselves artist and eliminate the stigma of art vs. craft.

April 23, 2009 at 4:30 p.m. worksofwhimsy

Sounds like a great time.

April 23, 2009 at 4:37 p.m. lovelygifts

Nice post wish I could go

April 23, 2009 at 4:43 p.m. tinaseamonster

i love to hear all of the stories of how knowing other crafty people is important. even if you can't make the summit. we will have podcasts of some of the talks. plus you can join in via the virtual labs next weekend. we also have a contest on the hellocraft.com right now and are giving away two saturday day passes (if you are close to DC).

April 23, 2009 at 5:02 p.m. rebounddesigns

I can't wait to see you all there, it's going to be...wait for it...AWESOME!!! (especially my talks!)

April 23, 2009 at 5:08 p.m. Nomsa

I am so excited, I have to squeal again!

Yipppeeee!!

Hooray for crafty friends!

April 23, 2009 at 5:10 p.m. baconsquarefarm

Wish I lived closer, I'd be there with bells on my toes~ but I can join via the virtual labs and after I hit send off to check out hellocraft.com.

Thanks to everyone who made this event possible, lots of work involved, plus kiddo's to those behind the scenes as well.

April 23, 2009 at 5:31 p.m. LemonLollipop

Outstanding article, thank you!

April 23, 2009 at 6:10 p.m. HarrietsHaven

Oh, I really wish I could go...just seems to be too many miles between D.C. and Michigan. :( Sounds very exciting, I'm sure it'll be an awesome event!!!

April 23, 2009 at 6:10 p.m. FlanneryO

Won't be able to cross the Atlantic in order to attend, but I might have to bring that Nessie on wheels over to Scotland (where she obviously belongs!).

April 23, 2009 at 6:17 p.m. jodieflowers

I can totally relate to this article! LOL!

April 23, 2009 at 6:45 p.m. glueandglitter

I'm super-excited about going to the Summit and meeting all of these folks in real life that I only know now through the internet!

April 23, 2009 at 7:20 p.m. pistachiopress

I sadly won't be able to make it this, but I'm definitely going to keep my schedule open next year!

April 23, 2009 at 7:23 p.m. PearsonMaron

We will be there!
It won't just be awesome it will probably be rad too. Please introduce yourself if you see us. Just look for the most curmudgeonly couple in the room.

April 23, 2009 at 7:49 p.m. isewcute

I wish I could be there... might have to tickle my kids more to make myself feel better for missing it! Their giggles are the best!

April 23, 2009 at 7:56 p.m. MayaBella

How awesome! I wish we were closer. But so glad that the labs will be covering some of the greatness.

April 23, 2009 at 8:25 p.m. tigerflight

aww tina! I'm lucky to have you as a friend. Also, i still have one of the stuffies your girls made for me on my desk at work.

April 23, 2009 at 9:11 p.m. breadandroses2

There's a time to everything & this is it! Wish I could be there.

April 23, 2009 at 9:13 p.m. pocketcarnival

That's so cool! Also, I wish I could go.

April 23, 2009 at 9:14 p.m. bagladiesinpa

Your event sounds so exciting! Isn't it wonderful to have friends in the crafting community that 'get it'? As artists/crafters we can become so isolated.

I met up with some artists/crafters in my area and we created a group that we call 'Burning Down The House Creative Collective'. We meet once a month, share ideas, advice and support. We have a blog, have gotten some local press, and our group has grown! Last September we even hosted our first event (we called it the 'Opulent Art Show') and it was a great success. We'll be doing it again this September.

We've even talked about hosting some workshops, similar to what you're doing, to help other entrepreneurs.

April 23, 2009 at 10:42 p.m. BlueSkyStudios

i wish i could go! it sounds awesome!

April 23, 2009 at 11:06 p.m. littlepinkpebble

that's a sweet story : )

April 24, 2009 at 12:34 a.m. yummyandcompany

can't wait to see everyone!

April 24, 2009 at 12:49 a.m. hans1247

Oh I am going to be in DC May 1! I feel like I just won the lotto!

April 24, 2009 at 4:04 a.m. ClareBears

I'd love to go i have to be in London on that day! I know what it's like to find the other bunch of weirdos who make stuff in front of the tv :)

April 24, 2009 at 5 a.m. seedlingsjewelry

Even though my day job is in the design field now, it's web design, and in a corporate environment we are focused on production and most times I feel separated from everything and everyone.

Being crafty has been my outlet but I had no idea apart from my mother and sister that people I knew (and turns out works with) were also so deeply involved.

Once word got out in the office about how many crafty folks there were it's like we were drawn to each other. Then we got online, then we started sharing other resources and it was like a huge wonderful world opened up, at least for me.

April 24, 2009 at 6:16 a.m. Iammie

I wish I could go...

April 24, 2009 at 7:40 a.m. WrenWillow

Very exciting! Wish I could go to but so thrilled that this kind of awesome summit is even happening! Thank you!!

April 24, 2009 at 7:56 a.m. glowgirl16

Getting together with other like-minded folks is inspiring, exilarating and just plain good for the soul. I went to a B.E.S.T. (Baltimore Etsy Street Team)Business of Crafts seminar in Jan. It really revved my engines and gave me a fire to really build my business in 2009.

While I can't make it to the Summit of Awesome (Sheep & Wool Festival committments!) I will be thinking of all those there having wonderful conversations, learning great tips and tools, and feeling oh so good in rubbing shoulders with super creative and stimulating surroundings!!

Will the seminars by Etsy virtual labs be archived for viewing later?

Since getting back into the crafting community after a 15 year absense I have witnessed immense changes within myself. Stress is gone and illnesses have abated. The daily joys of working with mediums I love rather than toiling over things I dis-like. I actually go to bed and dream of colors/designs/patterns - so much nicer than the stress of how best to manage,nuture, reprimand...or fire all the staff I used to oversee.

I love my crafting life!
Get the Summit of Awesome if you can....I'll be there in spirit!

Keep shining and sharing!

April 24, 2009 at 8:29 a.m. twolefthands

I wish I could go, this is such a great idea! Love the article and can totally identify!

April 24, 2009 at 8:35 a.m. DeborahVoizin

Oh....this sounds like such a wonderful event!

I wish there was some way for you to record all of the speakers and the entire event......I would buy a copy!

I just know that everyone attending will be having the best time!

April 24, 2009 at 8:59 a.m. AnniesWearableArt

omgosh..it sounds like so much fun! Hope everyone has a great time and wish I could be there!

April 24, 2009 at 9:08 a.m. tinyisland

it sounds wonderful- but being in the UK and teaching means i can't go! not this time anyway.

but i do try in my little corner of the world to create a craft community- i run a UK Etsy retreat weekend at the boarding school where i work in the summer holidays. it's a weekend of meating, socialising, learning new skills and practicing old ones. we have great fun!!

slightly smaller than the summit of awesome- but we aim high!

April 24, 2009 at 10:22 a.m. bobnstitch

This really sounds fun!

April 24, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. ericawalker

lovely story! best of luck to your fantastic sounding event.

April 24, 2009 at 10:54 a.m. LHogan

Sounds like fun! Any Crafty people in Ireland? It would be great to meet for craft nights!

April 24, 2009 at 11:29 a.m. lissilulu

How exciting to go from not knowing what you will do with all of your handmade things to having a whole community around you!

April 24, 2009 at 1:19 p.m. Irishkatydid

THANK YOU FOR SHARING ABOUT BEING " A LITTLE BIT WONKY", and making things while you watch TV. I am going to show this to my family who does not really understand my impulses to pick up a rusty bit or bob along the roadway, or why I keep an empty tin can, or even (I confess) look at "stuff" piled next to a trash can on trash day. I am a collector and see "art" in almost everything I look at! I can hardly throw away a broken garden pot for fear that I may have an inspiration one day on how to use it and then I won't have it! I have only recently found Etsyland and I love it and I am soaking in all the wonders of it, from buying to the eventuality of selling here, but most importantly to read the stories helps me to not "feel" out of place...because I now feel I have found "my place" in this wonderful community.
p.s. perhaps one day I will be able to get to a "summit" !!!

April 24, 2009 at 1:50 p.m. cutiepiecompany

Wish I could be there! Love your story about toiling away making things and picking up "trash." Reminds me of someone I know--me! It is nice to know that there are others out there like us, isn't it?

April 24, 2009 at 4:44 p.m. Jillie07

Wish I could be there. Sounds really nice!
Hope all of you have a great time!!

April 24, 2009 at 9:13 p.m. prettydreamer

wonderful article...thank you!

April 24, 2009 at 10:19 p.m. Quiltngbug

Great article. I used to hate to have to do "handwork" on Sunday afternoons with my Mom. I wanted to play and get dirty and she wanted to teach me crafts. I liked to help her with quilt pieces when she had the time between working and raising us kids. Embroidery, x-stich and quilting were taught to me and my Grandma taught me knitting and crocheting. I don't think I told them Thank You ! Can you imagine that ? Now, as an adult I work at a craft and sewing store. I have lots of friends with lots of interests. There is never a quiet moment when we get together, and when we all worked together there was fun.
Imagine hating something and then growing up to love it ! And now I consider all of it play !!!!

April 24, 2009 at 10:46 p.m. MeadowbelleMarket

I have to laugh when you talked about making things as you watch TV. It drives my fiance crazy, and it used to drive my mom mad, too. But it's just the way 'we' do things -- I've been blessed with my very own identical me (aka my twin sister)!

We have both been churning out the creative goods since, well, as long as I can remember; from setting up shop at our neighborhood garage sale with a variety of hand made doll clothes to convincing my mom to take us to local stores, peddling our hand crafted jewelry at age twelve. Oh, how I would have longed for an avenue like Etsy as kid!

At least my sis and I were the oddballs out together. It DEFINITELY helps to have strength in numbers. Long live the Summit of Awesome!

April 25, 2009 at 9:28 p.m. Signs

have fun in washington d.c. ... sounds like it will be a great time

:D

April 25, 2009 at 11:14 p.m. BeadsInTheBelfry

what a weekend for me to be headed elsewhere. Waaaaaaah!!!

April 26, 2009 at 1:48 a.m. adornmentdesigns

Gosh--I live so close but I am moving out of my apartment that weekend. Too bad this wasn't promoted more widely.

April 26, 2009 at 3:57 p.m. riricreations

I wish I could go to DC too-this article made me feel better, because I wonder about myself, when I wake up at 6 a.m. with new designs running thru my head "Am I the only one like this?" Then I craft for an hour, go to my other 2 jobs, and can't wait to get back to creating, even if I'm beat 12 hours later. My friends do not understand this almost obsession-even my semi-adult children don't get it, but I'm thankful my sweet husband does. Please let us know sooner about events like this in the future, and thanks for organizing it :)

April 26, 2009 at 7:53 p.m. LainieRoseDesigns

Wish I could go!!!!!

April 26, 2009 at 9:54 p.m. MamaJBoutique

What a beautiful article written about community and sharing!

April 27, 2009 at 12:29 a.m. AnniesWireWorks

I'm so new to Etsy, I don't have my avatar done yet so I look blank, but I'm really not. The TV is off now and my husband has gone to bed, and I'm still plugging away at "making stuff". I didn't know there was a word for taking stuff OUT of the trash can, but I feel better already. My future "banner" is made out of "scrap" wood. I won't be able to make the summit either, but I'm fortunate enough to have a job that allows me to multitask to the max and there's enough information on this website to keep me busy for quite some time. I shall now add my "Etsy" job to the list. Thank you all for sharing. I am NOT a weirdo either. HA!

April 27, 2009 at 6:42 a.m. elisasherejewelry

Good luck with the summit, ladies! It sounds awesome, I wish I didn't have Flower Mart this weekend. I look forward to hearing all about the event from my Baltimore crafty friends.

April 27, 2009 at 2:50 p.m. RubyStudios

Best wishes for an awesome and inspiring summit!!

April 28, 2009 at 12:55 a.m. tinaseamonster

just wanted to thank everyone for the really kind comments. i've enjoyed them. :)

April 28, 2009 at 3:58 p.m. fireflynotes

great story! i am prety new to selling my wares and so when i was approached to join the Etsy BC Artists thread i jumped. It has been a GREAT way to meet like minded people and network. I have found out a great deal about the local scene. And it's to great sound off and get opinions from other kindred folk. Vancouver Indie Crafters also has been great for this.

April 28, 2009 at 5:13 p.m. LindaJayDesigns

Great article. I'm sure the DC summit will be totally fun and inspiring. This whole topic gives me pause, because I feel like I'm working in a vacuum, with only my husband with whom to talk shop. How do you other crafters have time to participate in teams and groups?

April 28, 2009 at 5:53 p.m. artnomadix

Have an AWESOME time meeting other artisans in the flesh ! I am part of the DUST Team Down Under, which has been an incredibly supportive team of local aussies dealing with the same sorts of issues.
We share our work and sales stories, and we also share our home lives, the trials and the joys !!
Will have to have a look and see what time of the colder night, the Summit has events in the Etsylabs ?? It's just starting to get colder here, so staying up into the wee small hours, is much harder.

April 28, 2009 at 9:03 p.m. BlessedRepublic

The article crafting community inspired me and gives me insights. I will look forward to the podcast. Though I'll make sure, I canmake it next time.

April 29, 2009 at 1:05 p.m. catsongstitchery

I so wish I could go! Although I'm fairly new to etsy, making things has always been important in my life and often been the thing that keeps me sane. Etsy has already changed my life for the better by giving me an outlet and something to focus on rather than housework and kid stuff.

April 30, 2009 at 8:33 a.m. GinnyMacksCrafts

This was very interesting to me. It has helped me get some idea on how to transfer my love of crocheting and sewing. About what and why I make things. Any help will be greatly appreciated. I have sold a few things through GinnyMacksCrafts.esty.com but this comp nerd needs all the help I can get.

May 1, 2009 at 5:07 p.m. sterlingsunjewelry

Hey!
Great article - really helps in keeping on moving forward.
I am a jewelry metal smith in Minneapolis and as the result of a relationship ending (personal and business) I have been faced with reconstructing and building a business on my own. This means learning how to take good quality jewelry photos, how to even run and set up a business, taxes, building a website (aaarrrrggghhh!), networking, applying for shows, completely replacing all of the required tools etc., and creating a community of artist friends. It's been very challenging and I'm still very much in the learning/novice phase but have learnt a HUGE amount and the people I've met have been wonderfully helpful. Most artists are very generous with their knowledge - seeing themselves as mentors for the up and coming.
All in all it's been great and fun and hard and painful and lots more but absolutely worth the effort. My focus is on never letting myself doubt that I can make a good living by my art. Never letting myself be overwhelmed (for long) by how much I need to learn and do. Asking for help and putting myself out there for any opportunities that I can find and make.
Thanks for all the articles and info through ETSY - they are very, very helpful.

Oct. 21, 2009 at 3:41 p.m. Spiralmystery

I'm brand new to Etsy and wandering around in the weekly notices that are sent. There is so much info.!! it gets kind of mind-boggling.
I, too, wish there was a group near the area where I live, it would be so great to have the support, fun and laughter. I've, unsuccessfully, tried to start an artists group a few years ago, really no interest. I live in the East Bay, about an hour from San Francisco. Let's have one of these meet-up affairs in the city by the bay!

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