Search results (tags) for: "charity"

Crafting a Cure: Breast Cancer Awareness on Etsy

2009-10-14T10:20:00-05:00

As many of you may have noticed, there are waves of pink on everything from ribbons to tortillas in October. Why? Because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This annual event is dedicated to educating women (and those who love them) about the early signs of breast cancer and prevention. It has grown to celebrate survivors and raise funds for research.

Little fundraisers by scrumptiousdelight, whose mother died of breast cancer

The gentlemen and ladies of the Etsy Plush Team, like so many of you, have been touched by this disease. Mothers, sisters, daughters and friends have all been diagnosed with a disease that can be devastating. I stress the can be. Because of the work done by scientists, doctors, patients and all of us who support them, real progress has been made in the fight against breast cancer. We are at an important crossroads in the medical history of this disease. We are close to the cure. As I write this, Canadian scientists announced they have decoded all three billion letters in the DNA sequence of a metastatic breast cancer tumors: a critical step in understanding both the cause and the cure of breast cancer.

Plush Team member Patti Haskins is my personal hero. She tells her story much better than I do:

"This January is my sixth anniversary of when I started treatment. I did the whole lumpectomy, chemo, radiation thing. I've had better times. Now, every six months I visit doctors to see how I'm doing — so far, so good. But it is never out of my mind. I always wonder when it will be back. Hopefully, when it rears its ugly head again, there will be a cure, and it will be ‘not a big deal.’ Or maybe there will even be something to take to maintain life and keep the cancer cells from growing. It doesn't cure me, but it lets me live with it. I could handle that, living with arrested cancer. It’s that freewheeling cancer, running rampant through my body that scares me."

Plush deer by FollowtheWhiteRabbit for the Plush Team

It was very easy for the Plush Team to choose the charity for our fall fundraiser: the Susan G. Komen Fund for the Cure. Because we are a global team, the Komen Fund is a great match for us. They do outreach and raise funds for research projects in countries all over the globe. The Komen Fund also has a very high rating from Guidestar.org. (Guidestar.org is an independent organization that rates non-profit groups to better inform donors on the success of their missions and the accountability of their fundraising.)

We were curious what other teams and Etsians were doing during Awareness month. The SHETeam (Schooling at Home Etsians) has organized an informal fundraising sale. At the end of October, all proceeds from designated items will be donated to a breast cancer charity of their choice. The SHETeam is 85 members strong and a self-proclaimed “G-Rated” Team. Search the Handmade section for “sheteamoct09” for their items. This cuff is by KimPayne.
Other individual Etsians are motivated to earmark a portion of their sales to breast cancer awareness organizations year round. Jeweler Aimee Golant has created this inspiring brooch symbolizing the power of the feminine spirit. 10% of the proceeds from the sale of the Shin Pin will benefit Sharsheret, a Jewish women's breast cancer organization.
Jeweler LUQ2 has taken her family’s personal struggle and transformed her experiences into this powerful statement of hope. 20% of sales of the Cancer Awareness Bracelet will be sent to Entertainment Industry Foundation's Women's Cancer Programs.
Designer annaaizic has harnessed the healing power of stones in her Majestic Labradorite and Silver necklace. Anna also donates 15% from each sale to Susan G. Komen Fund for the Cure.
Breast cancer also affects the men in our lives. This Pink Ribbon Tie by kjmSILKS is a great way for misters to show their support. 15% of the sale price goes to the Komen Fund.

Celebrate survival and triumph with a Pink Party! I was inspired by paperandcake’s Pink Party for Breast Cancer Awareness Month — Printable Download PDF. What a great idea! This kit contains fun and sophisticated designs for you to decorate in style. And 50% of the sale price goes to the Komen Fund.

So how does a team of plushmakers scattered all over the globe go about launching a project to raise funds for Breast Cancer Awareness month? In a word: boobs!

Pink Puddings from fakeradish

We wanted to challenge ourselves as makers as well as highlight some of the iconic imagery associated with Breast Cancer Awareness month. So we came up with three themes: boobs, pink Ribbon and pink. Team members had a month to come up with items that reflected one of the themes, and I must say, our team created beautiful, funny and fearsome work!

100% of all funds (minus shipping) raised from Breast Cancer Awareness projects sold in the Plush Team shop will be donated to the Komen Fund. We’ve raised over $250.00 so far….and with your help, we hope to raise more! Check some more of our plush items below and in our team shop. Make sure to check the sold listings in our shop because there are some great items you'll get a kick out of!

Further Resources:

PlushTeam Blog
Susan G. Komen Fund for Cure
Entertainment Industry Foundation's Women's Cancer Programs
Sharsheret
GuideStar
I mention this cool crazy thing in the first paragraph of this post — The El Rey Tortilla Factory in Milwaukee is making pink tortillas!

See more Storque posts about cancer awareness.

Our Thoughts Go out to Our Friends in Asia

2009-10-02T08:57:00-05:00

As many of you have no doubt seen on the news, the Samoan Islands were hit hard by an earthquake-induced tsunami and then today another earthquake. Indonesia has been rocked by two huge earthquakes, and typhoon Ketsana has ripped through Laos, the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia. More than 1000 people have died and countless others have had their lives literally turned upside down.

Our thoughts, prayers and well-wishes go out to all the people of these countries and to their friends and family around the world who are anxiously awaiting news that their loved ones are safe.

Shop Local Asia | Read More Craftivism Posts

Retired but Still Bold: Basketmaker John Toft

2009-08-21T13:00:00-05:00

In celebration of today being National Senior Citizens Day, retired Etsian John Toft shares his story of finding basket-making as a young boy and returning to it in his golden years. For John, basket-making has developed into a much-needed meditative outlet when life's everyday stresses wear him down.

A few years before I retired from teaching high school in the remote gold-mining town of Red Lake in N.W. Ontario, I remarked to my wife, Anne, that I should do more than golf and garden when I retire.

I recalled to Anne my early crafting experience, growing up in a beautiful English village called Cheddleton. There, at around the age of nine, the “top class” was introduced to basket-making in the arts and crafts course. Traditionally this class was one not taken seriously by the pupils. However, my twin brother, Frank, and I had other ideas. We took to basket-making as another sports competition. “I will show him how much better at this I am,” I said to myself as he likewise vowed to do better than I. So avidly did we compete, that basketry supplies at the school dwindled to almost zero.

Anne patiently listened to this story as if for the first time. But that Christmas, a book on basket-making appeared beneath the Christmas tree. So my basket-making odyssey began. By the time I retired from teaching, I had found a supplier of basket-making materials (Kilby’s of Toronto, Ontario) and had given friends, relatives and passing strangers what I now recognize as somewhat crudely made baskets. But I was hooked.

At that time, I had been the Chair of Harmony Centre for Community Living in Red Lake for many years. This agency serves all people with developmental, emotional, and physical disabilities. Our adult son, Adrian, a person with autism, was a fully fledged member of that Community Living Centre from the age of sixteen.

We decided to move to Ottawa with Adrian so he would be near his siblings. They could then supervise his life in that community when we were no longer living. Surely, we thought, we could find Adrian similar facilities in “The Nation’s Capital.”

We moved to Ottawa in October 2001. We soon discovered that Ottawa did not have the facilities and programs our son needed. He had to live with us in our basement — this after eight years of supported independent living in his own apartment through the Community Living Centre. It was then that basket-making for me came into its own as a therapeutic occupation.

From 2001, Anne and I battled to get Adrian the facilities and services he had had in Red Lake. We became founding directors of the Families Matters Co-operative Inc., an organization for and about people with developmental disabilities. I made presentations to the Federal House of Commons Finance Committee, the Ontario Legislature’s Finance Committee, and the City of Ottawa. I was the primary author of a position paper called “Dare to Care” that detailed what services should be mandated to all people with developmental disabilities, nationally and provincially. And I registered my basket-making business as John Toft Basketry.

It was this business that kept me fairly sane. My basket-making skills by then were getting better and better. And people were saying fine things about them and even buying them. I enjoy talking to people about my work. I enjoy demonstrating my work, and I enjoy the relaxation that comes as I sit and make another basket. I have to concentrate when I work. My mind cannot focus on the worries of the world when I am weaving. The cares and tribulations about Adrian vanish when I sit down and get on task.

Lobbying, protesting, letter writing, sending emails to politicians of all levels and parties became my life. And the stresses soon began to tell on my health.

By 2008, Adrian was settled in with a wonderful agency, Tamir. He lives in a group home operated by that agency and takes part in their day programs. Families Matter had become a viable organization, receiving funding for three years to engage a paid Executive Director. It was time for both Anne and me to move on and leave the stresses to others. And it became the time when, for me, basket-making became a larger part of my life.

I was making enough money from my basket sales to cover supplies costs and exhibition entry fees, and then I heard about Etsy. “Why don’t you sell your baskets on this world-wide virtual sales system?” suggested Catherine Gutsche, a.k.a gutsche, a local artist and Etsian I often saw at various shows in the Ottawa area. I took up her challenge. Little did I know what a steep learning curve I was to face in working to become a successful Etsian.

I still remember when a computer appeared on my office desk at Red Lake District High School. "You will use this computer to change students' timetables, enter marks, keep track of credits earned, send marks to colleges and universities and register new students.” I gulped and then said, “OK.”

For Etsy, the challenges were different, but the learning curve just as steep. How do I create a banner? What is an avatar, and how do I get it to the right size? For these two problems, and others, the cry was “Anne!!!!!” Anne was a computer programmer from the days of punched cards, but she had kept up and developed her skills and abilities in the intervening years. She formatted my avatar and banner. But I still had to learn about photographs, pricing, descriptions, and tagging.

I soon began developing my blog as a promotional device for my Etsy shop and my baskets. On my blog, I share a great deal about basket-making, and a wide variety of other topics that take my fancy. It also includes occasional posts about our current joys and successes, as well as our trials and tribulations with Adrian as he reaches his 40th birthday this November. The basket-making, the blogging, and Etsy Chat Rooms help me through the day-to-day stresses. When I retired I never thought I would become a chat room addict!

I am a member of the Etsy for Autism Team and I find solace in sharing with members some aspects of our life. I donate 10% of my sales revenue from Etsy to the Geneva Centre for Autism, Toronto. This world-famous research institution for autism is the institution that taught Anne, Adrian and I, his teachers, and the staff at Harmony Centre how to cope with the devastation that autism brings. The donation is one small step I can take to say thanks.

Retirement’s challenges have been many and varied so far. What new challenges will come for us, Adrian, and Etsy? Who can tell? But basket-making will continue to help me survive these challenges as it has done in the past.

Looking for more This Handmade Life posts? Check them out here.

More Posts about Autism or Retirement.

Browse Items from the Etsy for Autism Team.

Process: Beach Glass Jewelry with Wildpen

2009-08-13T18:00:00-05:00

Friend Etsy on Youtube & Blip.tv | Subscribe to Etsy's iTunes Podcast | MP4 Verson

Like all our videos, feel free to re-post and embed the video on your blog!

(music by Eric Beug, animation by JuliaPott)

I have met a few cockatoos in my day, but on this day, in early June, I met Sunny and FlaxMan, two Umbrella Cockatoos who help run wildpen, an Etsy shop where they sell handmade (er... beak- and talon-made) gifts. Unfortunately, Hope, a Moluccan Cockatoo was out during the shoot, but she's the third of three cockatoos that make up wildpen.

Sunny likes green sea glass. With her expert vision, and ability to see a 4th color channel, she can spot tiny pieces of glass darting about in the surf from a ways down the beach.

FlaxMan is mostly into a rock and roll lifestyle, but he takes breaks to work on wildpen. It helps to have a little Ani Difranco, Howling Wolf or PJ Harvey on the stereo to jumpstart his creative genius.

Hope is really into the mud masks. She loves mixing and testing personal batches on her feet. Since she couldn't be in the video, we'll indulge in one of her favorites:

Reviving Dead Sea Mud Mask Therapy

By wildpen, $11.95.

View Item | View Shop

Okay, so there is a fair share of (2) human hands involved, but if you buy from this shop, you can bet that a couple of rare birds had something to do with it.

I say rare, but Kate Haley, the birds' human assistant, informed me during the shoot that thousands of domestic parrots or varieties thereof find themselves without homes each year. Sunny, FlaxMan and Hope were all fortunate enough to by rescued by Kate and her husband who brought the birds into their home — a home that allows them to freely express themselves artistically. At the time this video was shot, the birds were donating a percentage of their earnings to charity and spending the rest on personal pleasures. Since the shooting of this video, Kate, Sunny, FlaxMan, and Hope have decided to donate 100% of the proceeds from wildpen to the shopper's choice of one of two bird sanctuaries and rehabilitation centers, to help ensure that more birds like those of wildpen have a safe and fulfilling life.

I suspect that some lucky shopper will walk (or flap) away with the collectible piece that Sunny found and FlaxMan chose for a wrap in this Process Video Feature:

Flaxman's Pendant from the Etsy Video

By wildpen, $22.

View Item | View Shop

Check out some of the other treasures that wildpen has to offer.

Copper, quartz bead and seaglass pendant

By wildpen, $20.

View Item | View Shop

Sea Glass and Garnet Pendant

By wildpen, $17.

View Item | View Shop

Precise flow of copper

By wildpen, $18.

View Item | View Shop

Citrine and Sea Glass Pendant in Copper

By wildpen, $20.

View Item | View Shop

Some enthused cockatoos!

Umbrella Cockatoo A Scrabble Tile Pendant

By thegildedlily, $6.95.

View Item | View Shop

Cockatoo

By wistfulfancy, $25.

View Item | View Shop

ACEO Cockatoo Painting Watercolor

By carlascreatures, $12.

View Item | View Shop

Elegant Lady Watercolor PRINT

By ellenmorrowarts, $5.

View Item | View Shop

Even if you don't live near the water, you can still gaze into the mist of the foggy, rust-covered, mossy piers, like the one just outside of wildpen's beachfront studio.

Foggy Pier

By schugirl, $20.

View Item | View Shop

Foggy Morning Pier 8x10 photo print

By kwmagnets, $10.

View Item | View Shop

The Three Stalwarts

By tnoble8238, $4.

View Item | View Shop

What Lies Beyond the Fog

By WestCoastEchoes, $2.95.

View Item | View Shop

If you're looking for something a little more tangible, but still can't make it to the beach, there are plenty of shops on Etsy where you can find raw beach glass. Sunny likes the green. It's hard to determine FlaxMan's favorite; he's a wild card with an ever-changing artistic temperament.

Sea Beach Glass Flawless RARE Cobalt Blue

From westcoastseaglass, $26.

View Item | View Shop

Pure Natural Sea Glass Victorian Antique Glass

From TidelineDesigns, $18.

View Item | View Shop

SALE Genuine Sea Glass Pieces

From SeaSideSupply, $15.

View Item | View Shop

GLASS BEACH, CA, ROOT BEER Beachglass

From artbycandice, $9.

View Item | View Shop

Check out our other videos from the Process Series and see how things get done around here!

You might also like this seaglass post & the Etsy Pets series

Browse Items from the Etsy For Animals Team

Design for Development With HAND/EYE

2009-08-12T16:00:00-05:00

I was wandering through the craftivism blogosphere when I discovered the online and print publication, HAND/EYE. HAND/EYE explores the intersection of design, development, culture, commerce, art, craft, environment, and ethics. Featuring inspiring articles on traditional textiles and philanthropic fashion, HAND/EYE seemed like it could not be more relevant to Etsy. Founder and Editor Keith Recker kindly answered some questions for us on responsible consumerism and the future of design. Below the interview, check out "Happy Chaos," an article from their current issue that profiles a studio in Cape Town making housewares from discarded fabric scraps.

Tell us a little bit about HAND/EYE. What do you hope readers will get out of it?
HAND/EYE grew out of 20 years of volunteering, giving, and board service, and consulting with several non-profits devoted to artisan development — including Aid to Artisans, SERRV, The Kentucky Craft Marketing Program, Brandaid Project, and CARE International. I learned about the cultural riches being put to gorgeous use all over the world, and was surprised at how little most North Americans knew about the handmade world. Awareness and understanding are certainly better than they were 20 years ago, but I saw an opportunity to talk about the great intersecting points between art, craft, design, philanthropy and enlightened consumption...and HAND/EYE was born.

I hope that readers will see things that inspire them to create, to learn more, and to support what they are drawn to through their charitable giving or their purchasing.

Why do you think publications like HAND/EYE are important for our society?
We are all yearning for new ways to feel connected to what we eat, what we wear, what we see and hear. Our easy-to-buy and easy-to-toss society has created a strange alienation: we are so separate from the source of what we consume that we are not satisfied by all the buying we do. Quantity and quality have parted ways on many levels. If we can reapproach the things we surround ourselves with through an understanding of the traditions and innovations they express, and of the people and processes who produce them, we will be more thoughtful about what we buy, and better appreciate what we have. On a purely cultural level, learning about how and why people make things can only enhance our own creativity — as we make things ourselves, or even as we problem-solve in our daily lives.

How do you envision the future of design, craft, and retail?
I think that in about 20 years, every discretionary purchasing decision will be accompanied by questions about who makes the goods, how they make them, the cultural and economic background behind the making, and the environmental impact of production and disposal. We will need stories to nourish us and ground us. And we will need answers to justify our purchases.

Where's the most surprisingly eco-friendly place you've visited?
Africa, without a doubt, because the concept of waste is so different from a North American point of view. Refuse becomes fertilizer. Trash becomes treasure. Creativity IS survival.

What can artists and crafters do to make their work more ethically and environmentally friendly?
Paying attention to the materials one uses is, of course, an important step. As is controlling wastes and disposal of them. Supporting other makers whose circumstances are challenging is a fantastic way to connect to other creative souls on the planet. Getting involved as a volunteer is one of the most enriching experiences I have ever had: there is no learning like that which happens side by side with someone whose know-how and perspective is different, but whose goals and desires are so similar.

What have you found to be most inspiring from your work on HAND/EYE?
The creative community, from individual crafters to "big-time" decorators and fashion designers, is hungry for ideas and information. The desire to know and understand is universally human, and it gives me hope for the future. If we reach out to learn about others and their traditions, we build a web of respect which will support deep, meaningful, lasting human progress.

Anything else you'd like to add?
HAND/EYE's most recent issue is all about art, craft, design, and philanthropy unfolding in Africa — and we still have a few copies left, though we will be sold out, at latest, by the end of September. The next issue talks about The Future of Folk — about how folk traditions and processes are evolving to address new ideas, new materials, new influences, new customers, and new relevancies. It will be out in early November 2009. After that...possibly an entire edition devoted to the ancient (yet thriving) artisanry of Central Asia.

We would love to have everyone subscribe online here.

If you have suggestions on articles for future print or online efforts, please email me at keith@handeyemagazine.com. Check us out on Twitter, too: we are about to stage a competition for best folk-influenced outfit. It should be fun.

Happy Chaos

by Karen Gibbs

Photo by Edward Addeo for HAND/EYE

"If we don’t find ways of improving people’s lives, it will affect us negatively. If we do, it gives everyone involved nourishment, learning. And purpose." — Adri Shutz

Spinning straw into gold: that’s what they do at Cape Town’s Mielie Studio. Scraps from South Africa’s fashion and textile industries become hooked rugs, handbags, pillows, and very stylish ottomans like the Fluffball shown above.

Founder Adri Shutz, who defines her style as “happy chaos,” started her business in 2002 as a way of combining her love of color, fibers and fabrics, with her awareness of the need for social change and environmental responsibility. “You can’t live in South African and not be affected by poverty — whether it’s through crime or doing something good or just seeing what’s going on around you.

“But along with the difficulties, you see right away that the most amazing traditions of beading and sewing and design are handed from generation to generation by the poorer people of our country.” Shutz dove into the idea of starting an artisan-based business without any formal business training. Seven years later Mielie now employs 50 South Africans.

The Fluffball is just one of many designs brought to fruition by Adri and the artisans she works with. Their partnership does not stop at fabric and fiber goods, however. The latest joint effort is a plentiful organic garden, whose fruits and vegetables are shared by everyone working at Mielie. “It’s a way of addressing the economic situation right now. If we can’t create demand, we can create a way of making everyone’s cash go further by putting food on the table.

“What really turns us on, though, is creating something beautiful from stuff no one wants anymore. And it really is a turn on. When you see, for example, all the yellow scraps gathered from all the gown makers who work with us, it’s like a humming bird for your eyes. They shimmer.”

But perhaps not as much as Adri and her comrades busy at their work.

Photos by Adri Shutz

To purchase the Fluffball, contact Amaridian Gallery at www.amaridianusa.com.
For more information about Mielie Studios, visit www.mielie.com.

More Craftivism Posts | Environmentally Friendly Gift Guide | Shop Local Africa

Join Etsy in Support of The American Cancer Society

2009-05-04T16:30:00-05:00

Etsy is a proud sponsor of The First Annual Pink & Black Tie Gala of the Brooklyn Regional Office of the American Cancer Society. Hosted by Brooklyn’s own Stacy London of TLC’s What Not to Wear, the event promises to be a fantastic night to remember in the fight against cancer. More than 300 guests are expected to don pink and black, enjoy an elegant dinner highlighted by some classic local specialties, take part in a live auction kicked off by Brooklyn’s own Borough President Marty Markowitz, and join together to dance the night away.

Please join us:

When: Thursday, May 7, 2009 from 6:00 pm 10:30 pm

Where: Stage 6 at Steiner Studios
15 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, New York
Click here for printable directions
Complimentary parking will be provided

Why: Your participation in the Pink & Black Tie Gala will help to ensure that the American Cancer Society can continue to provide hope, support and answers to those touched by cancer. Proceeds go directly to fund services to help local cancer patients and their families, programs for cancer prevention and early detection, as well as national life saving research.

Who: The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service.

If you are in New York City, and want to support a great cause, tickets are still available. Plus, you'll walk away with an eco-friendly tote bag, hand-printed right here at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn. Even if you aren't in NYC, you can still support the fight against cancer.

Search for Cancer Awareness Items | More Craftivism Posts

World Malaria Day: Don't Get Bit!

2009-04-26T14:00:00-05:00

Yesterday, April 25th, was World Malaria Day. The World Health Organization (WHO) first instituted this day at their 60th annual World Health Assembly in 2007. While malaria has a particularly large reach in sub-Saharan Africa, it is also a major health crisis for people in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. According to WHO, about half of the world's population is at risk of malaria, and the disease infects more than 500 million people and kills more than 1 million annually.

The good news is that several organizations, such as the Roll Back Malaria Project, are working hard to ensure there is universal coverage to prevent and treat malaria globally by December 31, 2010. Getting people bed nets treated to ward off mosquitoes is a big part of that effort. While the average person can't donate 10,000 mosquito nets ($100,000) to Malaria No More like Ashton Kutcher did (and he inspired several other celebrities to match him), we here at Etsy can all help raise awareness of the issue.

Thanks for caring and hope you had a "happy" World Malaria Day — let's hope we don't have to celebrate it for too many more years to come!

Etsy International | Search for "insects" on Etsy

Tax Time for Artists: Give Good Deeds Their Due

2009-04-03T16:00:00-05:00

Chuck from DownToTheWireDesigns checked in with us after his New Year's Resolution to donate a piece of his jewelry every week for the entire year. Committing to a project like that is quite an undertaking for any artist, and Chuck wants to share an important message about a new piece of legislation that would improve the way artists are compensated for their charitable donations. 'Tis tax season after all...

There is currently a proposed change to the tax code pending in the U.S. House of Representatives that could have a profound effect on all U.S. artists if passed. The proposal, H.R. 1126, also known as the Artist-Museum Partnership Act of 2009, seeks to address the issue of artists donating their work to charitable groups and institutions. As the law currently stands, any person in the arts donating their art work is only allowed to deduct the cost of the materials involved in producing the art work. This resolution seeks to change that situation and would allow for a fair market value deduction.

You can follow the progress of the resolution at this site, and you can locate and email your representative through this site.

I would encourage everyone to contact their elected representatives in support of this resolution so that it does not languish without getting a floor vote. Getting this passed is a basic issue of fairness. The tax code as it is now written discourages charitable giving in these hard times and it undervalues the work of artists.

To illustrate the absurdity of the current law, consider the following: If I donate a piece that I could normally sell for $100 but that only costs me $10 in materials, I can only deduct that $10 on my tax return. My time, design abilities, and technical skills are not valued at all in the tax code as it now exists. However, if someone else buys that same piece of work for the $100 that I normally charge, they could then donate it to charity and deduct the full $100 market value irrespective of the cost of the materials used in its creation. This is simply not fair, and it hurts both the artists and the groups which rely on those artists in their fundraising efforts.

Again, if you feel that the current law is unfair, please take a moment to send a quick email to your elected representatives encouraging them to support the resolution. All you need to do is write them a single line saying, “I am writing to encourage you to support H.R. 1126, the Artist-Museum Partnership Act of 2009.” If you feel inspired you can elaborate by telling your elected official how the current law affects you, and how the change would be an improvement. Try to keep it short and be respectful.

Seller Handbook | Tax Season-related Posts

News from the Etsy Labs: Sock Monkey Workshop!

2009-03-20T17:31:00-05:00

Join us Saturday, March 28th, 2009 for an afternoon of creating original sock monkeys for Fresh Art's Sock Monkey Program. Fresh Art is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing expanded artistic, personal development, and entrepreneurial opportunities to New York City artists with special needs. The sock monkeys we create this afternoon will be sold to raise funds to support Fresh Art's programs. All skill levels are welcome, though basic hand sewing skills are helpful.

When: Saturday, March 28, 2009; 10am-3pm
Where: 325 Gold St, 3rd floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Who: You!

Please RSVP at rsvp@etsy.com for this free workshop.

See photos from the last Sock Monkey Workshop at the Etsy Labs here.

Not in Brooklyn? Join us on Friday, March 27 at 7pm in the Virtual Labs for a chat with AnnMarie Harris from Fresh Art. In this online workshop, we will discuss how to use crafts to fund your non-profit organization.

See more posts about crafting for good in our Craftivism section.

You might also enjoy this chipmunk project!

Shop Live with Rosie O'Donnell

2009-03-09T15:01:00-05:00

This week's Shop Live host is none other than Rosie O'Donnell! You may know her as a talented television host, comedian, actress, singer, and author, but she is also an avid crafter, as you can see from her Etsy shop. Rosie will be showing items from some of her favorite Etsy sellers, and the proceeds from sales of many of the items will be donated to Rosie's Broadway Kids, an arts education organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children through the arts. Rosie's Broadway Kids provides instruction in dance and music and a professional theater experience for children who might otherwise not have the opportunity.

It's a great cause, so join us live and chat with Rosie in Etsy's Virtual Labs on Friday, March 13, 2009. The doors open at 2:45pm EDT and the event starts at 3pm EDT. There are only 120 seats, so make sure you get there on time!

Gift Guides | Guest Curators | Past Shop Live Participants | Gift Ideas

Mardi Gras: Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?

2009-02-24T16:15:00-05:00

August 29, 2005 was the start of another Labor Day weekend. I was heading to Connecticut to meet up with some friends. Saturday morning when we woke up, we turned on the television and saw the devastation of New Orleans from the onslaught of Hurricane Katrina. We watched in silence, mouths agape, appalled as the hordes of people walked into the Superdome and the Convention Center. What was going on? How could this be happening? We tried to enjoy the rest of our weekend, but the TV stayed on as things just got worse and worse. After I returned home, I continued to watch the coverage of Hurricane Katrina, watching two hours a night of Anderson Cooper as he roamed through the Lower Ninth in his blue Prada shirts and khakis. I read all the magazines and had a pit in my stomach, not understanding how this could be happening in our country, but as the months passed and the TV coverage died down, I too, started to forget.

In February 2006, I received an email with a call for volunteers to go on a service trip to New Orleans. I once again felt that pit in my stomach: this was something I had to do. Without even asking my supervisor for the time off I quickly replied, yes, and bought my plane ticket. This was my spot; I wasn’t losing the chance to go again.

In the weeks before arriving in New Orleans I was nervous: nervous about the trip (I’d never done something like this before), nervous about the people I would be spending the next week with and nervous about what we would find once arriving.

On April 21st, I arrived at MSY airport. The plane was fairly full, but the airport was pretty quiet. I met my group and we said our polite hellos, everyone a little uneasy about this adventure we were about to take. We headed out from the airport, everyone pretty quiet, nervous to be with a group of strangers, and absorbing our surroundings. As we drove down the highway, we could see the damage: stores with blown-out windows and holes in their roofs, blue tarps littering the horizon, the markings spray painted on every house, the water lines running along every building – the bathtub ring around the city. We got off the highway and were amazed by all the abandoned cars under the overpasses. They were caked in mud, missing windows and tires. Where are we? What have we gotten ourselves into?

The first few days were interesting. There were barely any street signs. None of the fast food restaurants were open; most were missing their pole signs and had boarded up windows, and the only things that seemed to be thriving were Wal-Mart and Home Depot. We went to a gospel mass on Sunday morning at St. Peter Claver Church. I was moved to tears by the music and the love you could feel in the room. This was only the second week that St. Peter Claver had been open since Katrina, and many people were reuniting after being apart for the last nine months. After mass we spent the afternoon in the French Quarter visiting a few watering holes. Everywhere we went the bartender or the waitress asked us where we were from and thanked us for coming down. It was a great feeling, The Big Easy, I could get used to this.

Monday morning we started our first day of work on a house that had gotten about 5 feet of water, which — in comparison to other areas of the city — was not too bad. It was a rental unit where the tenants grabbed what they could fit in their cars and left, never returning after Katrina.

Opening the door to the house, the smell was overwhelming. Mushrooms were growing out of the waterlogged couch…boxes and boxes of a comic book collection covered the floor…a set of weights and work out videos were scattered about. We didn’t know what to do, where to start. This was someone’s whole life in this rotting, moldy house. Where were they? Why hadn’t they been back in the last nine months to gather their belongings? Did they make it out of the city ok?

After soaking it in for a few minutes we began unloading – grabbing what we could and hauling it out to the street. Hours passed and it seemed we had barely made a dent, plus it was so hot and humid. Our masks were sweaty, it was hard to breathe beneath them, and we had to keep changing them to protect ourselves from the mold. By the end of day one, we had that house empty and began the demo. We were a group of individuals with no construction experience, not quite sure what we were doing, but we picked up our flat bars and hammers and learned as we went.

In the evenings we got to know each other more and experienced the city. We frequented the French Quarter and often chatted with the locals. Everywhere you turned there was another character ready to tell his story, but there really weren’t many people out on the town. This wasn’t the New Orleans I had seen on the TV in the past with people crowding Bourbon Street, hanging off the balconies and throwing beads. The city was still in mourning.

My week in New Orleans moved me and I thought of it all the time when I returned to Boston. I shared my photos with my friends and told my story to everyone who would listen. I continued to read NOLA.com daily to keep up on the local news. I dreamt about when I could return to the Big Easy. As Labor Day approached and the one-year anniversary loomed, New Orleans was in the front of my thoughts. I watched the programs recounting the anniversary of the storm and Spike Lee’s documentary. New Orleans had become a part of me. A piece of me was still there and I couldn’t shake it.

As the months passed and our group from the service trip continued to stay in touch over email, we decided to plan a return trip, with nine of the twelve from the year before planning to return. I anxiously awaited for April 20th, to be on that plane headed back to the magical city of New Orleans. Stepping off the plane, I felt like I was home. Driving through the city things were looking better. There were more cars on the road, shopping plazas were full of people and there were many more signs of life. I was so happy to be back.

When my second visit was over, I knew I wasn’t done with New Orleans. I boarded the plane to return to Boston, sad to be leaving this city, not looking forward to returning to my desk job. My desire to be in NOLA was much more real now, it was something that I felt I needed to do, and just spending a week a year was not enough for me. I wanted to help these people and work on their behalf to get them back to the homes they love, to the city they love and to rebuild New Orleans for all the world to embrace and return to.

January 5, 2008 I arrived in New Orleans for what was to be a 3-month volunteering position with Catholic Charities. I ended up staying for 6 months and wish I could have stayed longer. I arrived at the start of Carnival season, which culminates with Mardi Gras. I quickly became swept up in the culture and traditions of the season, attending every parade that I could. There are over 50, sometimes up to three a night.

The parades are not about debauchery, as many assume; these parades are family events, full of elaborate costumes, huge dramatic floats, unique collectible throws (beads, doubloons, Frisbees, etc), and the hardest working high school bands and dance crews of all ages.

Mardi Gras is a true celebration of life, love and music. It is a chance for people to forget about their worries and celebrate the jovial and welcoming nature of the city of New Orleans. It's a place unlike anywhere else I have ever traveled in the world, a city so open and welcoming to all walks of life, where it doesn’t matter the color of your skin, what your occupation is, or if you are wearing the latest trendy clothes. New Orleans is about acceptance: it’s about being true to yourself and about loving life.

As I sit here in the Northeast, each day I think of New Orleans and wish I were there to celebrate Mardi Gras this year and hope to be there again one day in the near future. I pray that I will never be faced with the hardships that the city of New Orleans has faced and I know that there is hope that one house at a time, New Orleans will be rebuilt, back to its glory, stronger than it was before Katrina.

Further Resources:
http://www.nola.com
http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com
http://volunteerneworleans.com
http://www.ccano.org/operation_helping_hands.htm

Mardi Gras Posts | Search for Items Tagged "Mardi Gras"

Love is a Movement: The Cora Project

2009-02-20T16:48:00-05:00

In a small town in the middle of Kansas, you get to know people pretty well. Everyone seems to know everyone's aunt, cousin, brother, dog, or teacher. So when we recently learned that Cora, the 10-month-old daughter of our friends, The McClenahans (aka "The Macs") was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, it rocked our community.

Cora's mom, Jessica, is a blogger and word quickly spread throughout the blogging community. Thousands of people began visiting their blog, leaving messages of love and encouragement.

Sadly, Cora Paige passed away only 3 short weeks after her diagnosis, but the strength and faith of her parents has spread and inspired people globally. In lieu of flowers at her memorial, The Macs asked for donations to be made to help build a playground in their baby girl's memory - Cora's Playground.

Etsy seller joyshope recognized a strong need among people who wanted to do something to help, but no one was quite sure what to do. She offered the simple suggestion on her blog, www.joyshope.com, that Etsy sellers make items to help raise money to build the playground. The idea exploded into something beautiful!

Now we are launching The Cora Playground Etsy project. Over fifty shops are donating their time, their love, and their creations to help a sweet family who many have never met, but have changed our lives and our hearts forever.

Please search Cora Paige to see the listings. Know that your purchase will send love to Kansas. It will help build a legacy, a playground for generations of children to enjoy. A legacy for a beautiful girl who's time on earth was much too short.

Cora Paige Items | Jessica McClenahans Blog

Special Delivery: Share Your Love

2009-02-20T11:00:00-05:00

WRAP-UP: So, Valentine's Day has come and gone. We showed up early (for a Saturday) at the West Village location for CityMeals-on-Wheels, ready to rock. The folks at CityMeals were ever so gracious, taking a moment to thank everyone (that means you!) for sending in the cards. Afterward, Vivienne, one of the organizers, came over to thank us again and to say how truly amazed and appreciative they were to have received such a lovely assortment of Valentine cards.

Then, we were given our lists of names, picked up our bags with the meals, and were on our way. It was a cold but sunny day, and it made for good walking. My small group ended up being assigned to a large and somewhat famous building that is a sort of artists' colony. This made for some interesting conversations with the folks to whom we delivered the meals. We spent the next few hours chatting, helping, and delivering.

From my personal perspective, I found it to be a very rewarding experience, which I look forward to repeating. I also encourage you, dear reader, to do so as well if you find yourself with some free time. It's a great way to support people in your community who really need and appreciate it.

In conclusion, thank you thank you thank you to everyone who made and sent the cards! They all found good homes. And a shout out to SwanMountainSoaps, FashionGreenTBags and TimesAndChimes, who were accidentally omitted from the official thank you page due to a (read: my) clerical error. Last but not least, thanks also to the Etsy admins and their friends and family who came out to volunteer. Looking ahead, we will get a head start on this in 2010, so that we can gather even more cards. See you then!

[The following was originally published on February 9, 2009]

UPDATE: I received more mail last week than ever before in my life, cumulatively. We put out a call for folks to donate cards for elderly in need, and we got a total of 1,578 Valentine cards donated from over 150 sellers. A great big Thank You to all who sent them in. It was heart warming to open each one and see each Etsian's interpretation of a valentine. You can find out who sent them on the Special Delivery page. The folks at Citymeals-on-Wheels were delighted, and I'm sure the eventual recipients of the cards will be too. On Valentine's Day, several of us will be suiting up to tromp around Manhattan and deliver them. We'll be sure to add some photos of that day to our flickr group. We plan on doing this again next year, and we'll get started even earlier so that even more people can join in!

[The following is the original call for cards from January 20, 2009]

There is too much love on Etsy for us to keep it to ourselves. So this year, we decided to share the love with a project we're calling Special Delivery. This Valentine's Day, we're teaming up with Citymeals-on-Wheels to bring nutritious meals, handmade greeting cards and companionship to thousands of homebound elderly New Yorkers.

"Gee, that's nice, but how do I get involved?"

Easy! We need your help to supply the cards. Citymeals-on-Wheels serves over 18,000 people, so we need as many as we can get. There are two ways to do this. The first is (you guessed it) to make your own card or send in a vintage card from your shop and fill it out with a nice message. Please craft as many valentines as you would like and send them to us. Before you send them, you can also post photos of your cards in our brand new Special Delivery flickr group.

If you don't have time to make cards, you can buy them and have them delivered to us. The deadline for us to receive the cards is Monday, February 2, 2009. There are a few other important guidelines for this, so please carefully read the FAQ's below.

"Ok, then what happens?"

Special Delivery! We will collect all the cards and bring them to Citymeals-on-Wheels, where each will be delivered along with a meal on Valentine's Day. Several of the Etsy admin will be volunteering that day. We'll be tromping around the city with hot meals and friendly conversation to brighten the day of local seniors.

"Is that all?"

No! Each Etsy member who sends a card (or cards) will be featured on a Special Delivery page that will be linked from a banner on the Etsy home page. When you send your cards, please include a separate note with your username and user ID number. It's a win-win situation for everyone.

"Is there anything else?"

Yes! Here is a badge that you can download and put in your item listings or on blogs. This is a great way to help spread the word and help us reach our goal of 18,000 valentines. Here's the embed code:

You can also help by donating to Citymeals-on-Wheels, or by volunteering or donating to your local organization.

Now stop asking questions, read the FAQ's and get crafting! February 2 is closer than you think. Oh, and thank you very much for helping to spread the love.

FAQ

1. How do I participate in Special Delivery?

Two ways. Either make or purchase a handmade Valentine's Day greeting card (or several). Please mail them to:

Etsy
Attn: Adam Brown
325 Gold St. Floor 6
Brooklyn, NY 11201

If you make the card(s), please be sure to include a note with your Etsy user name and ID number. If you buy the cards, please ask the seller to include a note with your Etsy user name and ID number when they mail the package to the above address.

*To find your user ID number, go to your shop home page. The number is at the end of the web address. It will look like this: etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=123456. So, in this example it's 123456.

2. When do the cards have to arrive at Etsy?

The deadline is Monday, February 2, 2009. This is important!

3. Are there any rules about what the cards should look like?

Yes. Please follow these guidelines, otherwise we can't use your card(s):

No glitter! This creates food safety issues.
Please make your cards cheerful by using bright colors. You can decorate cards using paint, crayons, markers, pastels, collage or anything else you can think of.
Please avoid dark backgrounds and religious symbols.
Please write clearly and in large print, and avoid using the abbreviation “V-day”. Please say, “Valentine's Day”.
You should not give out your address or suggest that the recipients write back to you. Initiating an ongoing correspondence is not appropriate.
Please make sure that the cards are appropriate for the intended audience. That is to say, pretend it's for your elderly grandma, not your snarky, angst-ridden teenage brother.

4. How many cards should I send?

As many as you want!

5. If I buy a card, does the seller get credit too?

No, but you could certainly tell them about Special Delivery and encourage them to send us their handmade cards, too. In that case they should include their own user names and ID's as well.

6. Is this open only to Etsy sellers?

Nope. This is open to anyone who wants to help brighten someone's day. You do have to be an Etsy member to be included on the Special Delivery page, though.

7. Can I send vintage cards?

Sure! The more, the merrier.

8. What's that deadline again?

We need to have all of the cards in our hot little hands by Monday, February 2, 2009. Thanks!

Get started with supplies tagged "valentine"!

Search in Paper Goods | Search for Valentine in the Holiday Category | Vintage Valentines

More Season of Love Posts | The Love Notes & Wrapping Gift Guide

Thinking of Our Friends In Australia

2009-02-10T13:00:00-05:00

On behalf of the Etsy admin and community, we would like to reach out to our friends in Australia during this difficult time. We've all been so saddened to see the terrible news of loss of life and destruction from the forest fires raging in Australia — north of Melbourne, Victoria. Please know that we're sending our thoughts and prayers to everyone in Australia and we hope our friends and their loved ones from down under are safe. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families.

Etsy seller feliciafairy has started a group charity shop, OzBushfireAppeal, to help raise money for victims of the horrible fires. If you want to get involved with that effort, please convo her privately.

One Jeweler's New Year's Resolution Revolution

2009-01-06T10:30:00-05:00

Ever have that feeling like your New Year's resolution (oh, bathing the cat once a year, swearing off cupcakes, not pressing the snooze button for an hour) pales in comparison to others' loftier goals? Chuck from DownToTheWireDesigns has an inspiring one to share with all of us. Think big, people!

The biggest challenge for me as a jeweler has nothing to do with metal, or stones, or using the tools of a metalsmith. Rather, it is reconciling my political beliefs with my chosen field. In some ways, jewelry is an unlikely profession for me—not just because (where I come from) the very idea of making jewelry as a career is simply unheard of, but also because my values rebel against the very thing that I do.

I am not a big consumer. In fact, I believe that our consumer-driven society is responsible for many of the world’s most pressing problems. Yet here I am making my living making jewelry. Handmade jewelry, true, and hopefully not anything that anyone would buy and then consider disposable, to be thrown out as soon as the next fad and fashion sweeps through, but still a luxury item—something that no one honestly needs. I am sometimes bothered by the fact that, to some extent, I need the very consumer society that I reject in order to do what I enjoy and pay my bills in the process. My political values being what they are, I sometimes feel that I should be doing something more meaningful with my life.

It is in this sense that jewelry chose me. I found jewelry entirely by accident—but it was a happy accident because I found out that I was pretty good at it. It is not a stretch to say that it is the thing I am best at doing. It is hardly a perfect match.

But what fun would the world be without fashion? Adornment has been with human beings for tens of thousands of years, with stone and shell beads among the earliest of found human artifacts and metallurgy—mostly for decorative purposes— one of humankind’s earliest technological advancements. I can hardly stop that tide on principle itself. Luckily I have found ways of using my jewelry skills for the greater good.

Several years ago I was approached by a non-profit, the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), about transforming their logo into jewelry pieces that they could sell on their website as a fundraiser. I took on the task thinking that it would probably not amount to much. I designed the pieces for free and then sold them to the group at wholesale prices lower than they had been able to find elsewhere. They placed a small initial order and later requested a few additional pieces to send out to the press to promote their big upcoming week of awareness events. One morning I got a phone call—Dr. Phil had just featured one of the necklaces on his show! It was just a short one minute mention, but already their website was buzzing. They held off on placing an order because the show had not yet aired on the West coast and they had no idea how big the overall response might be. By the next morning they had orders for nearly 300 necklaces! When all was said and done, I had made over 600 of the necklaces to meet the demand created by Dr. Phil’s generosity. I made good money for my time and NEDA had made well over $10,000 to fund their programs. It is an ongoing relationship that provides me with work while supporting an organization whose work I strongly believe in. To date, my work has helped them raise many times that initial amount over a few short years.

Beyond that, I have long donated work to charity auctions—usually a necklace and earring set. It is not a lot, but every donation helps. Having attended a number of these auctions in person, it is fun to see the excitement of those attending as they place their bids and watch the items they are hoping to get. For the organizations putting on the auctions, every individual donation adds up big by the end of the night.

I was recently selling at a show when I was approached by a person soliciting auction donations for a group. In all honesty, I was a bit annoyed at first to be asked in this way. I was busy and this was the only show I do each year—I would have preferred to have been asked in a different setting. But then I considered his dilemma: needing to raise money for an important cause in a tough economy and competing with several other worthy groups in the same situation. I had once dated a woman who was in charge of coordinating one of these auctions for her Public Interest Law group. When they went out to solicit donations, they often found that another group had already canvassed the territory. Businesses were only willing or able to donate so much, so it was a difficult undertaking.

So I reconsidered my thinking, and with a slight change in perspective, I realized that I could easily donate something to one auction a week throughout the year with little hardship to myself. That is 52 donations a year of a necklace and earring set each. The materials cost is minimal, as my biggest expense is my labor—but even that is negligible in the bigger picture. If I invest 1.25 hours in each set (and it would probably be less than that if I include these pieces in my larger workload for the week, with the division of labor reducing the time needed for each piece) that is only 65 hours for the year. But beyond that, the monetary value of these donations is much more than I could ever realistically hope to give as a cash donation. If the average retail price of each donation were $72, the total value of the donations for the year would exceed $3700. While I realize that it is unlikely that each group would get the full $72 value for each set in the auction format, they will make some amount that will be helpful to them both in terms of the money that they raise, and in making their auction a fuller, more exciting event.

What I get out of this is the ability to make the world a slightly better place while doing something I love. I not only get to make jewelry—I get to make a difference.

So this is my New Year’s resolution: I will create pieces to donate to 52 auctions this year. I will donate my time and hopefully do a lot of good in the process. I would love to see other Etsy sellers challenge themselves in similar ways. If you cannot give once a week, how about once every two weeks or once a month? Individually we might not be able to make a big difference, but together the impact could be huge.

Are any of your New Year's resolutions good deeds? Post in the comments below!

Good Projects

2008-12-30T18:00:00-05:00

Many creative types have kids home during winter break right now — or maybe you're just home by yourself and you're itching to be productive. You're not alone! With New Year's resolutions on the horizon, the motivation for craftivism projects should push you over the edge. Below you'll find some inspiration to get crafty and give back. Do you have an idea? Post it in the comments below. Thanks for sharing!

Etsian cloudery told us about her inspiration for starting a new all charity shop:

"I've been running cMaille for a little over a year. I decided to open Cloudery specifically as a way to give back. I have a dedicated charity that I donate to — FirstBook.org. First Book is (from their website) 'a nonprofit organization with a single mission: to give children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books. We provide an ongoing supply of new books to children participating in community-based mentoring, tutoring, and family literacy programs.'"

See also the Etsy for Charity Team, to which Cloudery belongs.

Linda Permann wrote up this post on Craftstylish.com about Crochet for Charity:

"Is your crochet stash uninspiring? Get out of the rut by crocheting for charity.

[Photo: Photo by Linda Permann]

Sometimes I look at my growing stash and wonder what I’ll ever make with it all. Despite choosing all of the yarns myself (or at least letting them in my house), some of them just don’t feel like 'me' or there’s very little left of them. Sometimes, I look at all of that yarn and just know that I don’t actually *need* anything crocheted for a while, but I still feel like making something. I’m sure we’ve all been there.

Next time you’re in a crochet rut and just want to start something, why not crochet for charity? It’s a great way to use up all the loose ends, try a new pattern, plus help save the world. If you don’t already have a favorite charity, check out some of these links for some suggestions.

Crochet Guild of America Charity Roundup
About.com Charity List
Crochet ’n’ More Charity Links

As far as what you’ll be making, many yarn companies offer free patterns on their sites specifically for charitable causes, so check your favorites. Here’s a roundup of charity patterns by Lion Brand. And Bev’s Country Cottage has compiled a huge list of patterns in both knit and crochet—just scroll down past the featured pattern to the 'Click for Bev's Pattern Pages' menu.

And if that doesn't suit you, you could always sell your items or your own original patterns on Etsy and donate the proceeds to a worthy cause of your choice, as these crocheters are doing. Or you know, just support them by using their patterns. Your karma will thank you, and so will your stash."

Linda also goes by lindamade and hopeforjasenn on Etsy.

From Skye Kilaen on CraftingaGreenWorld.com:

"Sometimes I get rid of fabric.

Shocking, right? Fabric is meant to be hoarded, right? But honestly, though those old pastel celestial prints might be useful for insulating my house or making my fridge run more efficiently, I am so over the stars thing and I am never going to use this stuff.

My local quilt guild takes donations of kid-friendly and soldier-friendly fabrics for various community service projects, but what if you don’t have a guild nearby? And more importantly, is there anything I can do to find a new life for the perfectly good yarn that I often see abandoned in thrift stores and at garage sales?

Here are five organizations that accept donations of craft supplies...

If you’re going to donate supplies, please be thoughtful and make sure what you’re donating is appropriate. Someone in our guild once donated vinyl to the baby quilts project… um, ok… thanks, I guess…

The CUREchief Foundation provides scarves to people with cancer, alopecia, and other conditions which may cause hair loss. These CUREchiefs can be worn on the head, or around the neck. They accept donations of cotton, flannel, and polar fleece for their volunteers to use in making CUREchiefs. For their address, see their Volunteer Page.

Care Wear Volunteers has volunteers nationwide who make and donate handmade baby items to hospitals. Founder Bonnie Hagerman sent me this information about what they need: Care Wear Volunteers appreciates receiving donated yarn, fiberfil, quilt batting, narrow white lace, flannel, broadcloth, and other fabrics suitable for children’s toys, apparel, and blankets/quilts. Donated supplies will be distributed to volunteers who request assistance with their projects that are donated to hospitalized children. Contact: Bonnie Hagerman, Care Wear Volunteers, c/o Hood College, 401 Rosemont Avenue, Frederick, MD 21701

Members of the Charity Craft Volunteer Network in Central Texas craft to help infants, children, breast cancer patients, elders with Alzheimer’s, patients in hospice, and others. They can use fabric, yarn, fiberfill, batting, and thread. You can see the types of items they make. Their Donate Page has the address.

Newborns In Need focuses on helping needy families clothe their babies and keep them warm by providing clothing and blankets to families taking their infants home from the hospital. Appropriate donations of fabric, sewing notions, and patterns are welcome. Donations may be sent to Newborns in Need National Office, 3323 Transou Road, Pfafftown, NC 27040.

You can contact the local chapter coordinator for the Project Linus nearest you to find out whether they need fabric for making kids’ blankets. 'Materials must be new, unused and free of contaminants such as mold, mildew and smoke. They should be cotton or cotton/poly blends.'

The Preemie Project has chapters in Iowa and Michigan that make items for the NICU, PICU, and infant bereavement programs. Their Donate Page is up to date with needed supplies, including flannel, fleece, thread, ribbon, and lace."

Beadgirl on Craftster.org had this to share:

"There are lots of local places that would love to have your un-wanted/un-needed craft supplies! Here are some suggestions on where to check: local schools, retirement centers, boys & girls clubs, day care centers, churches etc...

But if you still can't find anyone to donate your crafty stuff to, here is a list of organizations that need or can use craft supplies.

If you know of any more just post it here and I'll add it to the list!"

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital - Pick a craft, collect supplies, write out instructions and place everything in a zip loc bag. Crafts are given to patients and adults of all ages through the Happy Cart. Supplies you should avoid: play dough, live feathers, leaves, moss, dirt, glitter, and any food products like pasta or beans.

The Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery - Bubbles, Pencil cases, Paint, Arts and Crafts supplies - A refuge for young children at risk of abuse and neglect, and a source of support for their parents.

Day of Art - All craft supplies - Assist organizations that aid the elderly, homeless, disabled and at-risk youth by providing informal social and developmental instruction through means of arts and crafts.

Getcrafty.com has a craftivism organizer blog:

See the entries with resources at GetCrafty.com.

Share your ideas too! Post in the comments below and on the individual site above!

Crafting + Activism with Betsy Greer

2008-12-19T16:00:00-05:00

To keep the spirit of the season in perspective, we invited Betsy Greer, author of Knitting for Good! and founder of Craftivism.com to engage in a little Q & A on the topic of changing your life and your world one stitch at a time. Her coinage of the word "craftivism" and the movement it represents inspired this very section of the Etsy blog!

Please introduce yourself and talk a bit about your blog and book.
I'm an overly curious dilettante who is always asking questions and
looking for new adventures. For the past 4 years, I've been writing about craftivism, the place where craft and activism connect, from a cultural perspective. The nerdy stuff began in 2004 when I wrote my master's dissertation on knitting, punk/DIY culture and community.

Craftivism.com started out as a sociology project: What happens when you create a theory/idea using a new word and don't tell anyone about it? Who finds you? Why? I'm so happy to see that so many people also feel that used in tandem, craft and activism can be incredibly strong and powerful.

The main message of the book, Knitting for Good!, is that craft can change yourself, your community and your world. It was written for people who want to get more from their crafting than solely product or sales. I hope that it will encourage readers to expand their own thoughts about what their two hands can make and do.

Can you talk about the inspiration for the book and how it came together?
In late 2006, I was contacted by Shambhala Publications about the possibility of writing a book for their new creativity imprint, Trumpeter. Jennifer Brown, my editor, (who knitted the globe on the cover) was interested in a project that would show where craft could take you... if you let it. We agreed that there needed to be more out in print about the driving forces behind crafts, instead of just craft itself.

I was lucky to have the opportunity to explore where I wanted to go with the text, which includes some sidebars by some of my favorite crafters, makers and thinkers. It was lovely to share some of the dialog I've been having with people, in their own words. The main inspiration was to excite people about craft in deeper ways. We hear all the time about all the cool things we can make, but we don't always hear a lot about how craft can be a catalyst for change.

I had a vision of the intended reader being someone who wondered, "So I know how to knit. I know lots of patterns. Now what do I do with it?" That being said, there are 9 knitting patterns by talented designers in the book, all examples of items you can make for charity, we just didn't want the patterns to be the book's focus.

Can you give an example of an unexpected use of craft for good?
One favorite project I discovered while writing the book was Naomi Dagen Bloom's condom amulets. After discovering that women over 50 were contracting HIV at an alarming rate, Naomi decided something should be done. She made patterns of necklaces that had a place to hold a condom. Not only were they created to promote safer sex, by turning them into jewelry, they were a starting point of conversation.

She has really helped spread the word about the rising illness rate of a demographic people don't often associate with HIV/AIDS, older women, who are often seen as non-sexual entities instead of sensual individuals. I love how Naomi discovered a need for education and then filled that need in such a way that conversation about the issue naturally flows from the crafted item.

How do you plan to give back this holiday season?
This season I've been working on some newborn infant caps to donate to the local hospital, and participated in The Chicago Sun-Times Season of Sharing program.

I also bought handmade gifts for many people on my holiday gift list, buying from local artisans and businesses. (I wish I could buy everyone handmade, but we still have a ways to go before everyone starts to realize that craft does not equal crap, the way that some people still have the idea that making a gift for someone is not as good as buying from the mall.)

[Baby hat by Uproar. Proceeds from the purchase of the yarn went to safe shelter, education, and health care for the women of Nepal.]

As such a stigma about handmade exists, I've been really excited to have the chance to talk to people of varying demographics about the significance and strength of craft! The book has allowed me into conversations I would have otherwise never had. It's my hope that through dialog some people's opinions have changed regarding craft. In a perfect world, people looking for gifts for others would immediately think of a local store or artisan rather than Amazon or Wal-Mart.

[Handspun Suffragette Yarn by WeirdAndTwisted. Donations to Terre de Femmes.]

How can people integrate craftivism into their everyday lives?
Finding something that you're passionate about is a very good first step into activism. It may be craft, it may be soccer, or fishing. If it is craft, then craftivism is something you should look into! If it's fishing, you can take the tenets in the book to apply them to your situation, it just may need a different name?

After you've discovered what makes your heart sing, you can the brainstorm ways you can use it to connect with others and make positive change. One of the nice things about craftivism is that it's based in the idea that one small act can have an enormous impact. For example, if you knit a hat for a homeless shelter, it will go to someone who was previously hatless. You are not only showing them that they are worthy of handmade objects and that someone cares for their welfare, you are also helping make their life a little better in an instant.

[Hand-dyed yarn by Sanguinaria. Donations to a girl's summer camp in Maine.]

Another thing that I think is imperative is to really start opening yourself up to where you live. There are so many things going on in our own lives that strangers often become blurs in our peripheral vision. In order to help make your environment better, you need to start paying attention to its needs, both immediate and long-term. Make eye contact with the homeless man that asks for change, acknowledge his presence, don't just avert your eyes; bake dinner for your neighbor that just got home from the hospital; offer your crafty knowledge and volunteer to teach art classes when the arts funding is cut. We tend to get so into our own little bubbles and shy away from what others around us are going through that we become disconnected from our community and our world, not to mention our own whims and desires. By starting out small and opening your eyes to what's happening around you, you are more apt to see what voids you can fill.

[Photo by localcolorist, who makes paper cranes for peace.]

Once you truly understand that your actions really do make a difference, then in many ways everything you do is a craftivist act. At the end of the day, craftivism is about turning two culturally negated words into something positive that helps towards the greater good. The hard part is finding that place between the vastness of the planet and how you as one person with your specific talents can help. It may take some seeking, but it's worth it.

Anything else you'd like to share?
I'd like to challenge people to learn a new craft in this upcoming year. And then once you've learned it, find new ways to use it to help yourself, your community and your world. In learning from scratch, you allow yourself to make mistakes and explore, something you might not necessarily be able to do in a craft or hobby you've participated in for years. By picking up something new we can begin to not only increase our skillsets, but we can live our lives in a more creative manner by giving ourselves license to discover and question.

Please share your craftivism projects in the comments below!

Project8256: How Etsy is Helping a Family Grow

2008-12-08T15:27:00-05:00

Amy's Etsy shop, Project8256, was created under unusual circumstances. Read on to hear about how Amy (pictured above at the far right) is using her shop to help her sister Katie (middle) and her brother-in-law, Michael (left) make the world a better place.

If you were to come into my home, it would probably only take mere moments to realize that I am a supporter of, and believer in, Etsy. Artwork lines the walls, and other little lovelies can be found nestled throughout my house from the amazing artists and vintage Etsians. But Etsy has, as a tool, impacted my life in a way that extends far beyond material possessions, or even the joy that has come from being an Etsy artist myself. Etsy is helping my family grow.

I have a tiny, close-knit family, and in it only one sister. She is on the older end of the nineteen months that separate us, and we have always been the best of friends, as well as sisters. When Katie and her husband Michael decided to begin to grow their family, I was overcome with excitement and anticipation. The initial journey was not an easy one, though, nor without heartache. They eventually decided to adopt internationally, specifically from Ethiopia.

When Katie told me their decision to adopt, I knew — maybe before she even finished the sentence — that I would do whatever I possibly could to help. International adoption is extremely expensive, and this was not a weight that I wanted them to carry alone. At the time, I was familiar with Etsy as a customer only. Selling on Etsy was something that I had considered, but had not yet pursued. But as I thought of ways that I might be able to help them raise the much needed funding, selling artwork on Etsy seemed like a possible solution. Katie and Michael agreed, and I got to work.

The initial idea was that I would donate all of the profits to their adoption fund. As we continued to research both the orphan and HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa, however, it became impossible for us to ignore that there was a much bigger need. We decided that twenty percent of the profits would be donated to AHOPE, an orphanage in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, that cares for HIV+ children. AHOPE is a tremendous organization whose focus extends beyond basic medical and educational needs. They provide psychological care, further assistance for children with special needs, and music, art and dance lessons as well. They are invested in the community and work towards breaking down the stereotypes and misinformation that is so prevelant in many African communities regarding HIV/AIDS.

From this idea, from this desire to help a family grow, Project 8256 was born. I listed the first item in March of 2007, and since then our project has grown beyond what we could have imagined. I have since opened two Etsy shops of my own — ameliamae and ameliamaepapergoods — and am lucky enough to have my items in local boutiques and galleries. Very recently, Katie and Michael opened their own Etsy shop — thegatherednest. They are selling handmade wreaths and vintage goods. All of the profits go toward their adoption fund. The biggest growth, however, came from their decision to adopt not one, but two children from Ethiopia.

From the very beginning, my only goal was that this plan would work. That's really all I wanted. I just wanted to raise enough money to get Katie and Michael to Ethiopia, to meet their children, and then bring them all home together. And that still is, nearly two years later, my singular goal. What I never could have expected, never could have dreamed of, was the response that we would get from those who have come across this project. I have received emails and messages from individuals who have shared their stories of being adopted, or being adoptive parents, or both. We have received such encouragement and support from the Etsy community and beyond. I know that when we are finally able to meet these children, that we will be able to share this story of the love that brought them here. We may or may not know the story of their birthparents. We might not have a lot of history to give them. But we have lots of stories of love, and of all of the people who couldn't wait for them to arrive.

A huge thank you to Amy for sharing her tremendous story with us. We are sending her and her family tons of e-hugs, and we wish them all the best of luck.

AHOPE Official Website | More Craftivism Posts | Childrens Toys and Holiday Showcase

News from the Etsy Labs: Sock Monkey Workshop!

2008-10-19T10:00:00-05:00

Join us for an afternoon of creating original sock monkeys for fresh art's sock monkey program. fresh art is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing expanded artistic, personal development, and entrepreneurial opportunities to New York City artists with special needs. The sock monkeys we create this afternoon will be sold to raise funds to support fresh art's programs. All skill levels are welcome, though basic hand sewing skills are helpful.

When: Saturday, October 25, 2008; 10am-3pm
Where: 325 Gold St, 3rd floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Who: Ages 12 & up are welcome

Brought to you by fresh art, the {NewNew} York team, and Etsy Labs.

Please RSVP at rsvp@etsy.com for this free workshop.

Not in Brooklyn? Join us on Thursday, October 23 at 6:30pm EDT the Treehouse room of the Virtual Labs for a chat with AnnMarie Harris from fresh art. In this online workshop, we will discuss how to use crafts to fund your non-profit organization.

See more posts about crafting for good in our Craftivism section.

You might also enjoy this chipmunk project!

October Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2008-10-08T15:00:00-05:00

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and this collection of items highlights only a few of the talented Etsy sellers offering items under the theme of "think pink." A portion of proceeds from each sale will be donated to various charities that contribute to breast cancer awareness and research.

Not only can you grab some great items, you'll be helping raise money for a fantastic cause. For more information on National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, visit www.nbcam.org.

Shop for Items Tagged Think Pink

If you like this post, take a look at this one: Craft Takes on Breast Cancer: Clothing the Rebellion

Etsy Teams Digest: Virtual Teams!

2008-09-26T12:06:00-05:00

This week the Etsy Teams program welcomed its 400th Team! Here is a small sampling of some of the wonderful things the Virtual Etsy Teams are doing. Virtual Teams are groups of buyers and sellers who join together based on a common interest, not just based on location. To learn how to join a Team, check the Join page.

Sellers Assisting Sellers is a new Etsy Team we're very excited about. This Team, formed by a group of dedicated sellers in the Etsy Forums, aims to help newbies with the the following aspects of selling on Etsy: Etsy Do's and Dont's, Etsy Terms and Conditions, Shop Critiquing, Photographing small products, Photoshop, Treasuries, and Customer Service. It's so wonderful to see the community pro-actively organizing to help one another.

Congratulations to the Etsy MetalClay Team! Four members of the MetalClay Team are featured in an upcoming calendar titled "The Art And Design of Metal Clay Jewelry". There were over 250 entries and only 39 photos selected.

The Paper Designs for You Team is running a promotion from September 19 - October 24, 2008. The participating shops include designdolcezza, valmade, balsampondsdesign, matdi123, milestonesnmemories, scrappybugsdesign, gojodesigns, distinctivemoments, capturedtimebooks, lotsofbubbles4me, 62cards, papermajekbyann, ravynfaire, thesavvystitcher, and scrapsbydenise. Check their shops for Fall/Halloween related handmade items, such as gift cards, paper piecings, tear bears and more!

The theme for the Creative Glass Guild’s October Challenge is “Thankful For….” It's a good time of year for all of us to think of the things in our lives that we are thankful for: our families, our health, our freedoms, and so much more. Each person’s blessings are as diverse as their individuality. Visualize in your mind a work of art that encompasses those feelings. Head for the studio and create your inspired entry for this month's CGGE Challenge using the theme "Thankful for....". The challenge runs from October 1 and ends promptly at midnight October 25th. Each member may submit one entry only in stained, fused, lampworked or mosaic glass by listing it in their Etsy shop. All entries are to be posted to the CGGE Challenge Group on Flickr. Voting will be open to all Etsy members and the winner of the challenge will be featured on our CGGE Home Page. So CGGE artists, put your thinking caps on again this month and let the world know what you’re especially thankful for in you life.

Etsy Beadweavers Team is helping to fight breast cancer! Twenty five members of the Etsy Beadweavers (EBW) have joined forces to help fight breast cancer and create beaded squares to be included in Jeanette Shanigan’s 2009 Beaded Quilt. Jeanette sews the squares together to form the quilts and then frames them in shadow boxes. Finished quilts are auctioned at the Bead & Button Show in Milwaukee, WI, and the proceeds are donated to the Medical College of Wisconsin Breast Cancer Research Foundation. 100 percent of the donations go directly to research. This year’s theme is “Bead artists have the heart to take on breast cancer” and all squares will include a heart motif. Almost $10,000 has been raised for breast cancer research from the sale of the quilts. EBW members have set an October deadline for themselves in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. You can see photos of quilts from previous years here.

The Edible Arts Team is having a Bake Sale on October 1st, 8pm EST in the Virtual Labs! Come join them for games, giveaways, and great sales! Pre-order now for the Holidays! Why spend all of your free time in the kitchen, when Team EEAT can do it for you! Search "team eeat" to see all the amazing goodies the team has to offer.

It's time for The Spirited Autumn Event! From Monday, September 22nd (the Fall Equinox) until Monday, October 6, Members of the Earthpath Artisans Street Team are offering special promotions on selected items in their shops. The event focuses on Autumn themed and Magical items, just in time for Halloween! Search Etsy using the "TSAE team" tag to find participating items. There are hundreds to choose from! Promotions range from specially made items just for the sale, to discounts on tagged items, free shipping, or free gift with purchase. Each participating shop is offering something special!

Team ESST, the Supply Street Team, is having their "Supply your Holidays Sale", from October 8th through October 12th. Team members' shops can be found here.

The Quiltsy Team held an excellent, successful Trunk Show in the Virtual Labs. Members of the Team took turns displaying their beautiful handcrafted, quilted items. To see some of the gorgeous items by this Team, search "Quiltsy Team".

The Etsy Teams are constantly working on really fantastic projects. For more information on Etsy Teams, visit http://team.etsy.com. You can find a recent update on the local Teams in last week's Teams Digest.

Etsy Teams Digest: Local Teams!

2008-09-19T11:00:00-05:00

Support your Local Etsy Team by checking out some of these upcoming events! Location based Etsy Teams are sellers and buyers who team up based on where they live to encourage their local communities to buy handmade! These dynamic groups of Etsy members are passionate about educating their friends and neighbors about their craft, meeting and networking with other crafty people where they live.

Here's a glimpse of what some Teams are up to in this month. If you're interested in finding a Team where you live, you can check out our list of existing Etsy Teams, learn how to join or start your own!

The CT Etsy Team will be holding their Shake 'n' Bake Indie Craft Fair on October 4, 2008. The show will feature over a dozen Etsy Sellers including soapers, crafters, jewelers, vintage clothing sellers and more. This creative Team has paired up with Trash American Style, a mobile purveyor of fine quality records, LP's, and other hard to find musical goodies for the event, and will also boast a bake sale! All the vendors will be baking delicious treats as a fundraiser. 50% of the money we earn will be donated to Escape to the Arts, a local YMCA community art program located in Danbury, Connecticut. For more information on this wonderful, active Team, check out their Team blog!
As the Arizona Crafty Burrito Collective continues to grow, they are at the important stage of organizing their group to provide the best support and networking possible. Since the temperatures remain extremely hot in the Arizona desert, it's been a great time of year for the Crafty Burritos to get fully prepped for the Holiday Season. They're gearing up for the First Friday Art walk in October, where they'll be spreading the word about Etsy and their Team.
All the details have been set in place for the Uber Crafters of North Central Worcester County's first Holly-Day Craft Fair! Mark your calendar for November 29, 2008 and bring a canned good to help those in need in the community. The Uber Crafters are a small and fairly new Team, located just outside Boston, and they're excited to get together for this holiday selling event. For more information on this Team's inaugural show, check their Facebook blog or member EttiandOttisAdornment's blog.
The NC Triangle Team has had quite a month! Check out their recent featured Team article here in the Storque, and they were also recently featured in the local News & Observer in North Carolina. On Saturday, September 27, 2008 a member is holding a Fall Boutique Open House, where 13 members will be selling their wares! Sellers include VintageScraps, KarensSoaps, BellaMiaDesigns, Scatterbox, SydneyAustinDesigns, FadedBlues, PhroggyDee, CinnamonSpice, Vintage2Creations, TrashyBroad, JessiJeanJewelry, BibsBurpsAndMore, and RippasCustomSilver. Visit their Team blog for more information.
Fifty-four shops will be participating in the European Street Team's upcoming Secret Santa game. To learn more about this International Team, check their Team blog.

Support Etsy Teams by searching "Team", and to learn more about the Etsy Team program, please join us in our weekly round table workshops, held in the Virtual Labs each Thursday! You can also find information about Etsy Teams at http://team.etsy.com.

Etsian and Blogger Critically Injured in Plane Crash: Nienie Recovery Project

2008-09-12T14:43:00-05:00

On Saturday, August 16, 2008, Stephanie Nielson was in a plane crash with her husband, Christian Nielson, and his flight instructor, Doug Kinneard, near St. Johns, Arizona. Doug Kinneard passed away soon after arriving at the Maricopa County Hospital.

Christian and Stephanie remain in critical condition at the Maricopa Burn Center. Christian has sustained burns on over 30% of his body. His wife Stephanie’s body was burned over 80%.

Since 2005, Stephanie has welcomed us into her charming abode through the NieNie Dialogues (nieniedialogues.blogspot.com). Woven into enchanting stories on home décor, vegetarian cooking, and joy filled parenting, a handcrafted life came into focus. Weeknight dinners were carefully conceived, organic celebrations, walls were an opportunity to display needlework or framed artwork by a four-year-old, and Christmas was a time dedicated to exchanging handmade treasures.

Afternoons were often spent crafting home art with her four children, all under the age of 6. The results ranged from portrait silhouettes to Vintage Jane baby blankets. Stephanie was dedicated to a handmade lifestyle because she enjoyed the romance that came from using something that was infused with someone else’s love and talent.

The Etsy community has swarmed to help one of their own since hearing of the tragedy. Stephanie aka stephanienie had purchased on Etsy and made friends. Hundreds of community members have hosted online auctions, dedicated sales to the family’s benefit, or joined in the upcoming Etsy Benefit Sale to be held September 23rd-24th. Check into this Etsy shop for the Benefit. Etsy sellers can use this blog post as a starting point for getting involved or visit www.nierecovery.com or contact nierecovery@gmail.com.

Katie aka katelynjane.etsy.com also suggests checking for updates on Stephanie (Nie Nie) and Christian on Stephanie's sister's blog CJane http://blog.cjanerun.com/. Also see http://www.designmom.com/2008/08/nie-nie-day-is here.htm where all, most of the Nie Day auctions are listed. Their family recently appeared on the Today Show; view video here.

Etsy Teams Digest: Virtual Teams!

2008-09-05T12:50:00-05:00

It's back to school and the beginning of the holiday marketing season for many Etsy Teams! Here's a glimpse of what some of the Virtual Teams have planned for this month:

The Green and Clean Guild is running an Iron Chef Challenge, which is a competition within the EGCG Team during the month of September. EGCG "chefs" will have one month to create and improvise a unique bath and body product around three theme ingredients that must be present in their product. There will be three judges, whose goal will be to determine which chef was able to "best express the unique qualities of the theme ingredients" in their bath and body product.

Studio Art Originals has decided to keep it small. The Team is five fine artists who do original work in studios. They choose to jury the work that is tagged with their Team Tag, including the founding members. At this time, new members are accepted by invitation only, but no new members will be accepted until the Team has redesigned their marketing strategies.

In the EtsyBloggers Team, you will find a global group of artists who offer a wide range of items. This Team is super supportive of each other and has lots of fun too! Some of their regularly scheduled events include a monthly Featured EtsyBlogger, weekly EtsyMini Mondays, Team Treasuries, bi-Weekly Blog Carnivals, EtsyMini birthdays and weekly promo threads! They network at several online locations and are always welcoming new members to their Team of over 150 members. If you would like to become a member of the Bloggers Team, visit EtsyBloggers.com

The Fashion, Design and Lifestyle Team launched a new project called Sharing Hearts and Hands (Shh). They are partnering with Kiva to loan a portion of sales proceeds from their shops to small businesses through Kiva. What they make with their hands, they give with their hearts. Items are tagged as "fdlkiva". Every time $25 is collected, the Team will lend to another business. Check the FDL Team blog for more information.

The Etsy Greetings Team has implemented a number of new ways for Team members to become more involved. Not only do these opportunities promote the group, it promotes the members, too. Volunteers make up sub-committees to help promote the Etsy Greetings Team and its members. From taking turns snagging Treasuries and gathering giveaway items to scheduling member features on the Team blog, the members of Etsy Greetings are working hard to promote in various ways. Look for the upcoming Halloween Promotion: go trick or treating with the Greetings Team to find great Halloween card deals with some treats!

Etsy for Animals is celebrating its first birthday in September and they are organizing a huge celebration with a lot of fun for Etsy buyers. Over 120 sellers (at last count!) around the world will be offering a 20% discount coupon, and they have special, cute logos and avatars to help everyone to find their shops and get discounts. Search "Team EFA" to find items by this active Team.

The Trashion Team is having its first annual Monster Mash! They partnered up to swap unwanted, found and ready-to-upcycle materials. Right now, Team members are making two plush monsters each. Each monster will come with a original Trashion Monster Trading Card. Prints of the ACEO size Monster Trading Cards will also be available for purchase. They will be listing these upcycled creations in two different locations between September 12 and October 11, 2008: first in their own shop, and then donating to H.O.S.T. (Helping Others Street Team). The Trashion Team chose to donate a Monster from each participating member to the Helping Others Street Team in order to raise money for Etsians in need. This goes along with the Trashion Team's philosophy of environmentalism, innovation and embracing creative healing. Be on the look out for Trashion Monsters coming soon! Search "Monster Mash" and "Trashion Team" to find items from this project.

Look for an upcoming Featured Buyer article from the Etsy Patrons Team in the Storque this month! Members have opted to select pieces from shops with five sales or less, in an effort to give new artists some additional exposure to the handmade community. Etsy Patrons is one of only a few Etsy Teams focused on buying, and as such they welcome buyer-only members who love to patronize Etsy shops. Shop owners are also welcome but no self-promotion is allowed within the Team. For more information see their profile or their Team blog.

The votes are in for the Creative Glass Guild's summer challenge. Congratulations to SierraCreations, who won a tie vote between two of her own stained glass entries. Voters had a difficult time selecting just one work out of an incredible 91 entries in various glass mediums that were submitted by 43 member artists. If you who missed out on voting, you may still view the entries in a slide show, and you can read more about SierraCreations on www.cgge.org. The Team's next challenge ends September 25, 2008, and CGGE members will be submitting entries using fall colors as their inspiration.

Thanks to all the wonderful Etsy Teams for all their energy in creating these challenges, events, promotions and projects! It's so inspiring to see the many creative ways Etsy members are getting together to promote handmade worldwide, even when separated by many miles. For current events from location based Etsy Teams, be sure to check last week's Local Teams Digest. To join the Etsy Teams, browse our complete list of Teams and find instructions here.

The Outsiders: Finding a Way into the Art World

2008-09-02T15:00:00-05:00

This article was originally published on September 26, 2007. We are reviving it as part of the Best of the Storque series. Enjoy!

When it comes to the art world, everyone always seems to be looking for the next big thing. If it isn’t an artist, it’s a concept, a style or a shtick. However, if there is one genre that exists solely to contradict the idea of trendiness, it is the often misunderstood, always intriguing, idea of outsider art.

As far as modes of artwork are concerned, "outsider art” (otherwise known as art brut, visionary, contemporary folk, naïve or intuitive art) has become a phenomenon that forces us to rethink the relationship between mainstream society and who is culturally "accepted" as an artist. Michel Thevoz, curator of the Collection de l'Art Brut in Lausanne, defines outsider art as “works produced by people who, for various reasons, have not been culturally indoctrinated or socially conditioned. They are all kinds of dwellers on the fringes of society. Working outside the fine art ‘system’ (schools, galleries, museums and so on), these people have produced, from the depths of their own personalities and for themselves and no one else, works of outstanding originality in concept, subject and techniques. They are works which owe nothing to tradition or fashion.”

Artists typically grouped under the outsider art umbrella are those who exist outside the confines of conventional society, with little to no contact with “high art”: prison inmates, the mentally ill, religious zealots, and the developmentally challenged. These intricate, often compulsive works are typically characterized by a certain “raw” quality: colorful images, recurring idiosyncratic patterns and a childish naïveté usually not present in the works of a “trained” artist.

These works were first documented in 1922 by Dr. Hans Prinzhorn, who collected thousands of works by psychiatric patients (including the incredible Adolf Wolfli) to publish Bildernerei der Geisteskranken (Artistry of the Mentally Ill). According to outsider art journal Raw Vision, struggling French artist Jean Dubuffet was so inspired by the these works that he formed the Compagnie de l'Art Brut in 1948, an organization that “strove to seek out and collect works of extreme individuality and inventiveness by creators who were not only untrained artists but often had little concept of an art gallery or even any other forms of art other than their own.”

Outsider art has since come into the public eye via institutions such as the American Folk Art Museum in New York and the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, showcasing the works of many disenfranchised individuals whose work had long been overlooked, often until after their death. (A prime example being brilliant visionary artist Henry Darger, recently profiled in In the Realms of the Unreal, a documentary of his life and work. An example is shown below.)

However, the idea of outsider art has changed in recent years. Artists that once lived and worked in the relative obscurity of basements and institutions are being brought to light and encouraged to produce via art programs built to foster their work during their lifetimes, such as the Creative Growth facility and National Institute of Art & Disabilities program based in California, as well as Project Onward and Inklude (who have an Etsy store, Inklude.etsy.com) in Chicago.

As a casual art student, I’ve been interested in the eclectic nature of outsider art for a while. When I first read about Art Enables, an arts-and-enterprise program for adults with developmental and/or mental disabilities based in Washington, DC., I decided that I had to visit and see the work that people were producing in the present. The inspiring facility functions as a studio and gallery space to those who are enthusiastic about working toward becoming professional artists. These individuals, affected by an array of disabilities ranging from autism to Down's syndrome to schizophrenia, are encouraged to work in the studio a few days a week to produce work, which is then marketed and featured on the Art Enables website and in their gallery for purchase.

This set-up allows the artists-in-residence to work in the entrepreneurial spirit while cultivating an income from their work during their lifetime. “Artists with disabilities have the same drive, the same ability to create, and the same desire to sell their artwork and earn an income from it as any other artist would. This program was founded on that model – to provide that marketing element so that people could earn money from their artwork, as opposed to just doing it for a recreational activity,” said Jill Scheibler, marketing associate at Art Enables.

Art Enables’ humble beginnings commenced five years ago. As executive director Joyce Muis-Lowery explains, “The program was originally designed as a vocational training program. The arts would be used as an employment training vehicle and people would be prepared for a move off into mainstream employment. [However], no one wanted to leave. They wanted to continue to create art as a permanent part of their lives. We shifted the focus and ultimately redefined ourselves as offering the opportunity for adults with developmental and/or mental disabilities to work toward becoming professional artists.”

Artists tend be referred to the program by other DC area programs, family members or simply by exhibiting the interest and motivation necessary to pursuing their love of art. As Scheibler states, “All of the artists in our program were already creating and working, and they came to us because they wanted a place to commit to their art and create an income from it.”

To the casual observer, the next question that comes to mind is how the Art Enables artists can be considered truly “outsider” if they’re working within the framework of a facility, producing work to market during their lifetime. Scheibler asserts that “[Art Enables] uses the rough heading of 'outsider,' with the caveat that, because people are working in this sort of setting, it doesn’t really fit the definition of outsider art. Traditionally outsider art is defined as working in private, without coming in contact with traditional art modes.”

Director Muis-Lowery was quick to add that “‘Outsider,’ in our case, is probably a more consistently accurate descriptor of the artists themselves than the art. Everyone in the program is in major ways cut off from the mainstream…Also, [it’s important to add that] we don’t teach. We facilitate. The role of staff is to be sure people have access to and are using the correct materials correctly, to help them when they get stuck, to make suggestions or push them out of their comfort zones, but above all, not to intervene in or encroach on the individual way of expressing themselves in images which they brought into the program…What is a constant source of delight and amazement to me is that not a single one of them ever tries to imitate someone else. They are just so wonderfully driven from the inside to make the art the way they make it.”

So just what is it that makes outsider art so interesting, so mysterious, so intriguing to collectors? For many, it’s the back story to the artwork — the fact that each of the artists exists in a unique world seemingly distant from the experiences of the typical audience. As Scheibler explained, “There’s a fascination with sordid stories and artists that are very compulsive…From the gallerists’ perspective, they want that intrigue, that romantic idea applied to artists like Van Gogh with inner demons and cutting off his ears. I think the public is entranced by that. However, there’s a trade-off there: if someone like Van Vogh had been medicated, his art would’ve been much more mainstream, but the quality of his life would have increased.”

Muis-Lowery added that the appeal of outsider art for the contemporary collector is “the biographical element: that so much of [the artwork] is borne of fundamental social, economic or educational deprivation or psychosis. [And] the fact of a lot of it is being legitimately [produced] from the heart rather than the brain.”

Ultimately, outsider art has become increasingly trendy in recent years, for a variety of reasons: the inexpensive nature of the pieces, the excitement and rarity of finding a treasure trove of self-taught work, and the “relatable” quality of the work. Art Enables artists Charles Meissner’s aerial views in watercolor and Paul Lewis’s odes to pop culture icons such as “The Munsters” are big sellers.

As Muis-Lowery put it, “Gallerists are in hot pursuit of new outsider artists because the first ‘discovered’ generation is dead or dying and their well is drying up. I personally think that one is unlikely to find a lot of ‘old school’ outsider artists today in developed countries for the simple reason that we no longer isolate people the way we used to. We have stopped hiding them in the woodshed or the asylums or leaving them to fend for themselves on the farm while everyone else goes off to the fields to work. In that sense we’ve come a long way.”

As of yet, few of the approximately thirty artists that work at Art Enables are self-sufficient. However, many are well on their way, as all of the artists make at least one sale each month, with some making sales of up to $1000 in a single month. There is even talk of certain artists being picked up by galleries. As Muis-Lowery put it, “Everyone makes money, but it isn’t a lot of money — although for about half of them, it’s their only earned income. The point is that they’re making money from their abilities and not by putting in time someplace, or by doing work that is created for people with disabilities of whom little is expected. We expect a lot. This is not a hobby. This is their job and they are wonderfully focused on doing it well.”

Outsider Art Resources
More photos from Alison’s trip to Art Enables
To meet the artists from Art Enables through video and see their work
What is “outsider art”?
What is "visionary art"?

Organizations
Art Enables
NIAD
Project Onward
VSArts
Inklude
Inklude’s Etsy shop
Gateway Arts
Gugging Center
Creative Growth

Museums
American Folk Art Museum
Folk Art Society of America
American Visionary Art Museum

Prominent Outsider Artists of Note
Adolf Wolfli
Howard Finster
Henry Darger
Bill Traylor
Martin Ramirez
William Hawkins

Academic Journals and Written Resources
Raw Vision
“Folk Art Notebook” article
Outsider Art Links
John Maizels, founder of outsider art journal Raw Vision, on raw/outsider art
“On Outsider Art and the Margins of the Mainstream”

Visit The Storque's This Handmade Life section for more inspiring stories, and check out the rest of our Best of the Storque content!

Fresh Shops: UnConventional

2008-08-07T12:28:00-05:00

One of the most fun things about going back to school (besides the higher learning, of course) is the chance to reinvent yourself. It's a fresh start, a time to take stock, and let's be honest—a chance to update your look. Who do you want to be this season?

My pick to elevate your threads to a whole new grade are the bold, eclectic necklaces of UnConventional. Made from recycled materials and natural elements, it seems you could pull just about any old thing from the back of the closet and completely transform it with a funky piece like Stories of the Past or The Music of the World. Love the item names too— scrolling through this shop brings to mind a fresh course catalog, when your schedule is wide open and you can dream about how your world will be expanded for the best with each descriptive offering. New to school? Hello instant conversation piece.

As a noteworthy elective, UnConventional plans to donate 20% of sales to Save the Turtles and The World Land Trust charities. And you thought freespirited idealism was only alive and well on campus!

For extracuricular activity, check out UnConventional's vintage sister shop, LoveItShop. Find your own Fresh Shop through Pounce Undiscovered.

Virtual Team Digest: Interest Based Teams Worldwide!

2008-07-18T11:50:00-05:00

Here's what's new from a small sampling of some of the 300+ Virtual Etsy Teams, groups of members that join up with other members based on their interests or type of craft, to promote Etsy. Last week we caught up with some of our active location-based Teams — you can check that out here!

EtsyMoms have been busy raising money and promoting cancer awareness for their Team Leader, Jodi of HappyHouseQuilts. You can find updates on all the wonderful work they're doing here on their EtsyMoms for a Mom blog. It's so heartwarming to see a Team pool together for a beloved member. Etsy Teams Admin wish Jodi a speedy and successful recovery!
Make-baby-stuff.com and the Natural Kids Team have paired up for a Natural Nursery Decor contest! Go check out how this ambitious Team has found a great site to partner with to bring more people to their Etsy shops! Their collaborative contest runs until August 15, 2008. (Don't forget to check out Etsy's Handmade Kids Challenge, too!)
The Trashion Team is challenging themselves with a Palchemy project. Pam of NatureMadeScents organized a swap of materials, between members of the team. Each participant received an exciting package full of things that could be called "Trash." They are using their skills to remake those items into something new and fantastic! Each item is then listed in the team members' Etsy shop. They will be listing Palchemy creations all through July! Search Etsy for "Trashion Palchemy" to see the amazing creativity of Trashion!
The diverse team of artists known as Etsy Mosaic Artists, or EMA, strives to create unique works that keep the ancient art of mosaics contemporary, new and modern. With a variety of materials and endless possibilities, each member brings their own interpretation to the art form. The group celebrated their one year anniversary in April, and has grown in the past few months to 80 members. The styles of work within the group are incredibly varied and range from cottage chic to retro to whimsical, and everything inbetween. An amazing example of this diversity are the entries to their last group challenge, to mosaic a birdhouse. You can see the entries and many more amazing pieces by EMA in their Flickr pool. For more information, check their Team site or Team blog.
The EarthPath Artisans Street Team (EAST) is having a Gypsy Design Challenge! Team members have taken their interpretation of what the word "Gypsy" conjures up for them, and created new pieces in a variety of media. The purpose of this challenge is not to win prizes or compete with each other. It's a way to build team camaraderie and inspire members to explore new themes and stretch creative muscles. For the winner, it just means a little extra attention from an adoring public! Winners will be posted on the EAST blog. Check out the EAST Challenge page on Flickr to see the entries.

Thanks, Virtual Teams, for continuing to span the globe and dazzle us with your creativity! Check team.etsy.com or more information on Etsy Teams and to learn how to Join a Team!

Etsy Teams Digest: Local Teams Meet Up!

2008-07-11T11:19:00-05:00

Local Etsy Street Teams have been organizing really engaging events this summer! Here's what's new from a small sampling of geographic Etsy Teams, groups of members that join up with other members based on where they live, to promote Etsy. Next week we'll have the latest news on what the Virtual Teams are up to.

The INCrowd, Indiana's Etsy Team, is promoting a team-wide sale to benefit flood relief efforts in Central and Southern Indiana. One of their members, Carrie aka TimeandSand, is the director of the Care and Outreach program at Grace Lutheran Church in Columbus, IN. "At the moment, everyone has been helped and is in temporary housing — they closed the shelter over the weekend. We will continue to take donations for quite awhile; the next phase is to help people rebuild and many did not have insurance and FEMA is not covering everything," she says. Participating shops will be donating a minimum of 10% of their July sales to the church for flood relief assistance. "Our membership is spread across the state of Indiana. Any part of our state that is affected by disasters — natural or otherwise - needs our support. These are our neighbors, our friends, and our families," says Kim aka ThePeachMartini. For a list of participating shops, please visit the INCrowd's blog.
The Florida Etsy Team got a great blog write-up showing off their innovative and crafty recycling ideas for what to do with leftover party beads on the city blog at Tampabay.com. Getting press showcasing your Team's creative ideas is a wonderful way to attract people to your Team members' shops! Congratulations, Florida Team!

[photo by Seattle's EtsyRain Team]

The Seattle Metropolitian Team, EtsyRain, held a big event in June, pictured above. They organized a BBQ / fundraiser to benefit the Ballard NW Senior Center. The event included a fantastic craft show with their membership in the main hall while the volunteers from the senior center had a cookout to raise some much needed funds for their community center. Their event was a huge success, and supporting their local community is one of EtsyRain's main goals as a team! Stay tuned to the EtsyRain blog for EtsyRain's first birthday celebration on August 1st! More info coming soon!
Members of the Baltimore Etsy Street Team channeled their inner models, imagined drinking Slurpees, and otherwise beat the heat to have a group publicity photo shoot on the first day of summer. This picture above is just a teaser, and the rest will be used for all the rockin' promotion the team has been getting locally. Team members are now busy getting ready for their first trunk show and preparing to participate in Artscape.
The Philadelphia Etsy Team is pleased to announce Craftadelphia!, a series of monthly trunk shows in collaboration with the Mew Gallery in Philly's Italian Market. The Philly Team meets on the third Friday of each month, 6pm, at the Mew Gallery — all local Etsy sellers are welcome to attend.

Interested in meeting up with local Etsy members? Find a Team where you live and contact their leader to join today! Thanks for all of these inspiring handmade events, Etsy Teams! Keep up the great work!

Etsy for Animals: Working Together

2008-07-03T15:25:00-05:00

It all started with an idea and an Etsy forum thread. A year and a half later, Etsy for Animals (EFA) has over 530 members, and is one of the largest Teams on Etsy. For EFA's first Storque post, click here. You can get to the team members' items by searching "team efa."

Although the only membership requirement is a love for animals, many members also choose to donate a portion of their proceeds to animal charity: either to the EFA charity of the month (this July, the charities are Dogs for the Deaf and the Vancouver Aquarium's Marine Mammal Rescue Program) or to other animal charities that they individually support. EFA also has a shop, where all items are donated by EFA members, and 100% of proceeds from sales goes to the EFA charity of the month. When contributions from the EFA shop and EFA members are totaled, many small donations add up to large contributions to animal charity.

How does such a large team function? Electronic communication, shared documents, and the EFA Yahoo group, administered by Darktemptations, are essential since team members live all over the world. But, most importantly, many EFA members have volunteered their time to help. Here are just a few of these hard-working people and the EFA projects they're working on.

[Michele aka mvegan5 and her cat, Moses]

Michele aka mvegan5 is the EFA team founder and co-leader. She's a California artist who currently lives and works in Israel. Michele says, "I've always known I wanted to help animals and be an artist, and have now been able to combine the two." Michele is the contact for new members, writes the EFA newsletter, manages the EFA Flickr group, assists with the EFA shop, and promotes EFA wherever she can.

[El aka ElephantDance modeling her blue and white spiraling cloche]

El aka ElephantDance is the EFA co-leader, and administers the Etsy for Animals shop with the help of eight dedicated volunteers. El recently moved to California from Saipan, a small island in the Northern Mariana Islands. El says, "Seeing the poor neglected animals on the streets of Saipan convinced me that I needed to do something, even if it was one animal at a time." El also manages the EFA blog and her own two Etsy shops while working, going to school, creating lovely crochet, and running a Help the Puppies campaign to provide ongoing medical care for animals she rescued in Saipan.

[Poodle Boating Party by haleyshandmades]

Haley aka haleyshandmades contributes many hours of her free time to maintain the EFA website. She also creates wonderful poodle artwork. Her favorite piece, made when she was a student at Washington University in St. Louis, is Poodles Crossing the Delaware, a huge 3 foot by 5 foot print of poodles fighting in the American Revolution, based on the painting by Emanuel Leutze.

[Emerald Kitty by Lynn aka LolaLynn]

The multi-talented LolaLynn organizes the EFA monthly challenges where EFA members vote on a challenge theme each month, and then members submit entries based on that theme. Entries are then showcased on the EFA blog, in forum threads, and in Treasuries. Lynn says, "I so firmly support El and Michele's mission that I took on coordinating and editing the monthly challenge even though I knew nothing about blogs! In the process I have made new friends and learned a lot."

[Etsy for Animals logo, designed by alilsumptinsumptin]

Welsh felt artist and costume designer, Kim aka Midnightrabbits, keeps track of donation requests that EFA receives from animal charity groups for handmade items to be used in fundraising activities. Many EFA members have contributed their time and talent to create items for these fundraisers.

Fiber artist, Marjorie aka WHSKR, is the EFA publicity coordinator. Marjorie, who lives in New Zealand, says that when she first joined EFA, she was concerned that her relatively small contribution would not make a difference but then realized that the small amounts contributed by many sellers "all grow together to make a donation of several hundred dollars each month. People can touch the other side of the world without leaving home — it's an astonishing thought and a powerful motivator."

You can meet EFA members in the lively and fun weekly EFA team chats hosted by Gena aka Dogonwear every Thursday from 10:30 to 11:30 AM ET in the Etsy Virtual Labs. Come on in to network, learn, and have fun! Gena, who designs canine fashions, also organized a cooperative quilt project as an EFA fundraiser. The quilt will be available soon in the EFA shop. Stay tuned!

Further Resources:
Etsyforanimals.com
Etsyforanimals.blogspot.com
EFA Team Interviews:
mvegan5, ElephantDance, haleyshandmades, LolaLynn, Midnightrabbits, WHSKR, Dogonwear

Earth Tones: Craftivism Motions in the Oceans

2008-07-01T12:17:00-05:00

Erin Chan aka designsquid calls to Etsy sellers and buyers to care for our ocean animals, endangered by bad habits and indifference. We give our Etsy Pets series an Earth Tones spin, in this post for animal and nature lovers.

71% of the Earth’s surface is covered in a common chemical substance that is essential to all known forms of life: water. Each year, an estimated 14 billion pounds of trash are dumped into this valuable resource. All around the world, our oceans are in crisis. Though we acknowledge water to be a very important part of all life, we risk our future as well as the future of marine life by turning our oceans into dumping grounds. However, it’s not just pollution that threatens our oceans. Whales continue to be listed as an endangered species because of their continued slaughter. Plastic bags, bottle caps, cigarette butts, food packaging and other waste are harmful to birds, turtles, and other marine animals who mistake these things for food. Fish swallow small bits of plastic which we in turn digest when consuming seafood. Plastics are able to absorb other chemicals around them and thus spread their harmful properties across the world.

[Photograph by djloche]

Only we can help control these disasters. In order to help save polar bears, seals, narwhals, fish, and ultimately ourselves, we must save our oceans. By reducing CO2 emissions on an individual level, you can help. By taking action against industrial fishers who destructively trawl the bottom of the oceans, you can help. By lobbying against offshore oil and gas activities, you can help. Here are some other suggestions:

If you walk or exercise outdoors, pick up litter you might see along the way. Streets and storm drains empty into rivers that lead to the coast.

Avoid using plastic disposables. Use reusable containers and avoid plastic bags and wraps of all kinds.

Volunteer for International Coastal Cleanup Day which is on September 20. Find action in your area by visiting this website.

Support responsible vacationing. Cruise ships dump 90,000 tons of sewage and garbage into our oceans every day.

The most important thing you can do is get educated and get involved. There are many organizations around the world that promote cleaner oceans by saving marine wildlife and helping communities become environmentally aware.

So, how does this impact Etsy? What you could be asking, rather, is how can you make an impact through Etsy? When I started my Etsy shop, I already knew that I wanted to promote environmental awareness. By donating 10% of every purchase to Oceana, I know that I’m making a small step in the right direction.

[Photograph by Shek Graham]

There are already other Etsy shop owners finding ways to help:
JumpingJackDesigns sells personalized sea turtle stationary from which $3.00 goes to help the Wrightsville Beach Sea Turtle Project.

retrowhale generously donates $5.00 to the Heal the Bay organization for each print she sells from her Heal series.

10% of the sales from Dragonfire’s Sea Life jewelry is donated to help clean up our oceans and beaches.

These are only a few of the Etsians who are determined to help save our oceans and marine wildlife. Imagine if every Etsy store promised 10% of their monthly sales to help promote a greener way of life? Imagine the impact that would make on our environment.

Any little bit helps. Offering specific items with proceeds donated that are separate from your other listings is a good way to get started. Joining teams that specifically help causes that interest you and hold monthly donation drives is also a big way to help.

If you don’t own a shop but purchase from Etsy regularly, you can help by searching through donation items first.

If you are interested in helping, but don’t know where to start – here are some websites that can help you determine in what direction you might want to go.

Further Resources:
Oceana
Greenpeace
International Fund for Animal Welfare
Save the Whales
International Year of the Reef
National Marine Life Center

Cruelty Free Etsy | EFA Etsy for Animals |
Earth Tones | Etsy Pets on the Storque | Special Pets Showcase