Hello! I'm Kari Chapin, author of
The Handmade Marketplace: How to Sell Your Crafts Locally, Globally and Online. The book will be available later this month(!!!) and if you're a crafter, artist, or any kind of maker, I hope it will be helpful to you. I cover a big range of topics that can help you figure out how to sell what you make. There is quite a bit about marketing, building community, money, and finding inspirations. Craft fairs are covered from A to Z, and there is a big helpful section about pricing your work, selling on consignment, and wholesale.
I did my first big craft fair over 15 years ago, and around the same time I started selling my work in galleries and small shops in my home town of Denver. Since then times sure have changed! Now we have the Internet, lots of online marketplaces, blogs, and more information about where good shows are and how to apply to them. When I began outlining the kind of book I wanted to write, it was clear to me that we could all benefit from hearing from as many makers as possible. I think asking other creative people about their processes, inspiration, and their tricks and tips adds an additional layer to what is ? at its heart ? a business book. Interacting with the amazing people who agreed to be included in my book was my favorite part of writing it and, with that in mind, I'd like to introduce you to some of the people featured in The Handmade Marketplace.
Please visit these fine folks ? check out their blogs, shops, podcasts. I couldn't have written a book I'm so proud of without them.
Alison Gordon is an amazing all around maker and marketer. She runs The Sampler and her Etsy shop is www.sewmaryann.etsy.com. Alison is also one of the main organizers of my favorite indie craft fair: Boston Bazaar Bizarre and she works at one of my favorite places in the Boston area, Magpie.
Betsy Cross is one of my favorite crafts people and she lives in Portland, Oregon, for all of you local readers. She makes fantastic jewelry which you can check out on her online shop. You can also keep up with Betsy on her blog, which includes a lot of fashion-y stuff or, if you are indeed local, you can visit her studio in person at 1722 NW Raleigh St., PMB #108 Ste. #104. I hear her studio parties are a lot of fun and often include lots of wine and cheese, my favorites!
Amy Karol is also from Portland and has been one of my favorite creative people for just about as long as I can remember. She has written two wonderful books. The first being
Bend-the-Rules Sewing and the second Bend-the-Rules Fabric. Check in with her at her wonderful blog, Angry Chicken.
Caroline Devoy is one of those incredibly lucky people that can easily use both sides of her brain ? her creative side, which runs one of the best fabric websites, as well as being an accountant! I've turned to her for all kinds of help sorting out IRS stuff, tax questions, and bookkeeping ? topics that are often the least favorite of many creative people. She is wickedly funny and a joy to work with. Check out her blog, JCaroline Creative.
Diane Gilleland is someone I met online, through Twitter. You Portlanders may know her better around your local craft scene as Sister Diane, though. She produces one of my most treasured crafty resources, an amazing podcast called CraftyPod. She also wrote a craft book called Kanzashi in Bloom. Diane also writes lots of useful eBooks for crafters or for people who want to try out new crafts ? so check out her eBooks, too. Some of my favorite CraftyPod podcasts are Episode 93: Craft Blogging and Episode 83: Making a Creative Career with Kim Werker, who also happens to be in the book by the way.
I'm going to stop here for today. I have lots more creative folks to introduce you to, and I look forward to spending the week with you.
xo, Kari