The {New New} - Independent Artists, Artisans & Crafters

Where to Find The {NewNew} on July 25, 26 + 27

2008-07-25T01:00:00.000-07:00

Friday, July 25
Tonight you can head on up to Chashama Gallery at 112 West 44th Street between 6th Ave and Broadway for new paintings by Miranda Hellman (who moonlights on Etsy as MiraArtz), opening from 6-9, new work in the Water Progression series.

Saturday July 26
The Brooklyn Indie Market will be in full swing under their stripes tent on Smith Street from 11am to 7pm. Fofolle's feminine summer skirts and WabisabiBrooklyn's vintage inspired decoupage jewelry will be on display this weekend.

Also on Saturday Night from 7pm to 11pm, The McCaig-Welles & Rosenthal Gallery on Roebling between North 4th and 5th in Williamsburg is hosting a silkscreening party. With a donation of $5 for materials, you get an open bar and are able to silkscreen some supplied original artwork from their artists Dave Tree and Jasper Patch on to a shirt or other article of clothing you bring.

Sunday July 17
Our representation a the Brooklyn Flea this weekend will be silkscreened clothing and accessories by BetterThanJam, keepsake albums and cards by Waisze, coasters by LittleTileGnome, artwork by Peppersprouts, jewelry by AdornmentsNYC and hand stenciled shirts by KMStitchery.

Classes at the Etsy Labs at 25 Gold Street 3rd Floor, on Monday July 28 from 6 to 9pm beginning Soap and Toiletry making. And on Wednesday July 30 from 6.30 to 9pm Make an Electric Guitar(!)

-Kimm
KimmChi.etsy.com

NewNewInterview with Liana of Mixed Plate

2008-07-22T13:30:00.000-07:00

Part seven of our indie blogger series and its Liana of Mixed Plate. It's also the second anniversary of Mixed Plate. Woo hoo!!!

1. So tell us a little about your site and how you got started?
Mixed Plate is a site where I share all sorts of things I like that I find online. It is devoted primarily to introducing the readers to independent business owners, artists, designers, etc. and their handmade goods. I started this basically because I was a one-gal business operation of my own and knew how difficult it was to have folks notice your work, especially when there are so many larger corporations out there. I just wanted to show my love and support for all the talented DIY-ers out there. Plus, I’ve always been drawn to the handmade aspect of things. Mixed Plate is actually about to turn 2 on July 22. I can hardly believe it!

2. What do you look for when featuring an artist?
Honestly, if I could do it I would try and feature everyone. I really do wish the best for all the craftspeople out there. Since that isn’t always possible, however, I look for artists who create things with love. What I mean by that is that you can really see their love and passion in their work. When I feature products, it is usually something that I’m attracted to instantly as well. Oh, and the item usually makes me smile!

3. Suggestions on how to generate buzz about your products?
If you have a product that you truly believe in and enjoy creating, that is an excellent start. As far as generating buzz I would say there are a lot of ways. You probably want to be sure that if you are online, your site is easy to navigate and your photos have to be clean. Local art and craft shows are another way to gain exposure in your own community and I think blogging about your crafting process helps as well.

4. What not to do when contacting sites like yours?
I would say that sending just a press release with no note included is not the best way to approach sites in general. Don’t forget the important things when trying to introduce yourself to someone – your name, the name of your business, what you create, website address, etc.

5. What blogs do you follow to stay current?
I wish that I could say I had more time to read all the blogs that I love everyday. Unfortunately, I really don’t. I do, however, adore the ones that are of crafters creating things and showing how they come up with their amazing pieces of work. It’s always nice to see the process and sometimes even get a glimpse into the lives of favorite artists.

6. What trends do you see developing? What products or styles are hot?
Hmmm, I don’t know. I guess I don’t consider myself a “trendy” person, so I may not always be aware of what is going on as far as what is hot and what is not. Maybe I should work on that…Perhaps I don’t necessarily always gravitate towards the latest and greatest, but just towards the things that make me happy. That’s pretty much what ends up on Mixed Plate.

7. Is blogging more of a hobby or do you see this becoming a long term career choice?
Mixed Plate started off as more of a hobby in terms of not being as seriously focused on the direction it was going. While I do still have two day jobs, and two websites (http://www.onafriday.net/ -still working on the re-opening - and http://punknpie.net/), I dedicate many hours each day to the site. It really is like having another full-time job. Of course, the benefits of discovering and meeting so many great online friends is well worth it.

8. Do you see yourself embracing new media to reach your audience (podcasting, video)?
I have thought about learning to do a podcast. But I’m not sure that anyone would actually want to listen to my voice for very long!

9. What do you think sets you apart from other design blogs?
I like to think that even though we may have similar interests and probably overlap a lot on the people and things we feature, we all have something different to offer. I know that I’m not a great writer (I didn’t go to school for it or anything), but I do write what I feel and folks seem to respond to that. They like that it seems like we’re having a conversation.

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Special thanks to Liana for taking the time for this interview. Be sure to check out Liana at Mixed Plate (http://www.mixedplateblog.com) And also check out her shops, On A Friday http://www.onafriday.net/ and Punk N' Pie http://punknpie.net/

Danielle
Collective Elements

NewNewInterview with Sharla & Mei-Lynn of Rare Bird Finds

2008-07-21T09:12:00.000-07:00

It's number six!! And we have Sharla & Mei-Lynn of Rare Bird Finds!

1. So tell us a little about your site and how you got started?
Rare Bird Finds is a shopping blog dedicated to bringing you unusual products from all over the Web.

We started a few years ago because we were frustrated that many of the big-name blogs wouldn’t give the indie designers a second glance. When we started in March 2006, we were one of the first pioneering blogs to feature indie designers. Our goal was to create a dynamite blog that attracted mainstream shoppers and introduce them to talented yet unrecognized designers around the world, the kind of designers who unfortunately were being overlooked by mainstream media.

We love products that are off the beaten path. Our blog is full of quirky finds that make perfect gifts to treat yourself and your hard-to-shop for friends. In a typical day, you’ll find an eclectic mix of the kitsch and the beautiful, a little bit of something for everyone (even men!)

2. What do you look for when featuring an artist?
We love a clean, easy-to-navigate website with high-quality images. If the images are dark or blurry we won’t feature you no matter how much we like your product.

Obviously we love to feature items that are unique. Because our blog strives to keep our readers one step ahead of the pack, we probably won’t feature an item that has been done to death on all the blogs.

3. Suggestions on how to generate buzz about your products?
The best way a designer or artist can generate buzz is to talk up his or her product! Some designers find it hard to toot their own horn, but its part of the business. Many of the products we feature come from designers sending us emails letting us know about it – and we’re so glad, because we may never have stumbled upon it without them putting it on our radar.

4. What not to do when contacting sites like Rare Bird Finds?
After receiving hundreds of emails from designers, here are a few tips:
* If you add us to your mailing list without our permission we will never feature you! We already get bombarded with emails.
* Please don’t send us multiple emails or pretend you are the company’s “friend” emailing for them.
* Remember to include your shop’s URL
* Don’t send a long email. Get to the point.

5. What blogs do you follow to stay current?
Neither of us have a lot of free time to read a ton of blogs. We both spend so much time searching for items to feature that if we are going to indulge ourselves in some blog reading it’s going to be something like Perez, TMZ or Go Fug Yourself.

6. What trends do you see developing? What products or styles are hot?
I joked in a post the other day that even toast is trendy these days. Our readers tend to love our “cute” finds, but even finds about zombies and robots are popular, too!

7. Do you see yourself embracing new media to reach your audience (podcasting, video)?
We got the scoop recently from our readers through correspondence and a survey that our readers enjoy Rare Bird Finds at work. So for our blog it’s best to keep things simple and silent (for when the boss is around..)

8. What do you think sets you apart from other design blogs?
We’re not a design blog, per se. We’re a shopping blog with one goal – to make each find a new discovery for our readers and make them go, “Wow! I didn’t even know there was something like that out there.”

9. Is blogging more of a hobby or do you see this becoming a long term career choice?
For now it’s a hobby. At this point in our lives it wouldn’t be financially feasible for us to make it a career choice. But, who knows what tomorrow will bring!

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Special thanks to Sharla & Mei-Lynn for taking the time for this interview. Be sure to check out Sharla & Mei-Lynn at Rare Bird Finds (http://www.rarebirdfinds.typepad.com/).

Danielle
Collective Elements

NewNewInterview with Jena of Modish

2008-07-20T01:58:00.000-07:00

Our indie blog fifth installment brings us Jena of Modish.

1. So tell us a little about your site and how you got started?
Modish is a celebration of all things handmade, from jewelry to art to home decor. At the time I began, I could not find any design blogs that focused exclusively on small, independent designers and handmade goods, so I started one! It took off really fast and now the the niche is filled with tons of blogs!

2. What do you look for when featuring an artist?
I look for someone who presents themselves professionally and makes good work- it's a shopping blog, so I only feature artists and designers that sell their goods online, whether it's on their own site or an etsy shop. I need to see unique handmade goods that are represented with clear, well balanced photos. I also have to be drawn to the products personally in some way so that what I feature stays in line with my own style/tastes.

3. Suggestions on how to generate buzz about your products?
Oh my gosh, I'm working on a new blog that's purely about this- marketing your art and craft business. There's too much to say here, but some quick tips would be to start your own business blog, contact design blogs you like, use online social networks, write a press release, advertise on blogs that serve your niche...

4. What not to do when contacting sites like Modish?
Hmm, I'd say don't contact us until you're really ready- if we head to your site and find yucky poorly lit images, only a few items, products lacking descriptions, etc, we're not going to feature you and we might not be back again even after you fix those things. Make sure your site is in tip-top shape before you start submitting it to blogs- use forums like the Switchboards to get feedback before you release it to the world.

5. What blogs do you follow to stay current?
I read all the major design blogs like design*sponge, decor8, oh joy and Poppytalk. I also like Heart Handmade, a new-ish blog that also focuses on all handmade goods, but has some fun, unique features, Creature Comforts, Design for Mankind and many others- my feed reader list is long!

6. What trends do you see developing? What products or styles are hot?
It's summer so everything's super saturated and colorful. Mustaches seem to be big right now, masks are popping up in lots of art and I've noticed more Native American imagery and styles in art, jewelry and accessories.

7. Do you see yourself embracing new media to reach your audience (podcasting, video)?

I've been thinking about how to incorporate video into modish... we'll see what pans out. I think podcasting and video will come more into play with the new marketing blog I'm working on, as that's more information based.

8. What do you think sets you apart from other design blogs?

The fact that I feature only handmade goods is the first thing. I try to incorporate new features all the time to see what works and what doesn't, and am ever striving to make Modish a unique experience. I also think everyone's individual voice and style are evident after spending just a few minutes on their blog, and are really what make people come back.

9. Is blogging more of a hobby or do you see this becoming a long term career choice?

For me, it's already a long term career choice. I've been blogging for over 2 years and have been self-employed for a year now (wow!) I also just closed my shop, so right now, blogging is my only source of income. It's a lot of hard work to transform a blog from a hobby into a career, but I've been successful so far, and that's why I'd like to start another, more informational blog so I can use one blog to write write write on and share my advice and experiences, and still have Modish to share all that fun handmade eye candy.

10. Any other thoughts you'd like to share?
If you're an artist, crafter or indie designer, stay tuned for my new blog all about marketing tip and tricks, just for you- it's gonna be great! I hope to have that up and running by mid-August! :)

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Special thanks to Jena for taking the time for this interview. Be sure to check out Jena at Modish (http://modish.typepad.com/).

Danielle
Collective Elements

Karen's Monsters Birthday Party Sale!

2008-07-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

In honor of my birthday (not the monsters') I'm throwing a party, and it's your good luck that it also means a sale!

There are two ways you can benefit from this.

1) July 19th thru July 27th visit my etsy store for free shipping to anywhere in the world on anything in my shop. AND you get a free party goodie bag filled with handmade samples and fun party toys (I couldn't resist).

2) If you're in the NYC area, come to Artists & Fleas in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (On N. 6th at Bedford St) anytime this weekend (July 19th & 20th) for 25% all monsters, shirts, cards, button packs, and more. AND you get a free party goodie bag with each purchase. There will also be some free giveaways just for coming out and having a good time. It is a party after all.

Thanks and hope that you enjoy the party!

Karen

Where to Find The {NewNew} on July 19 + 20

2008-07-18T01:00:00.000-07:00

SATURDAY: The weekend starts with the Brooklyn Indie Market from 11 am to 7pm at Smith and Union Street in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. Look for fun summer skirts and jacket reinventions by Fofolle and funky decoupage jewelry by WabisabiBrooklyn.

KarensMonsters will be at Artist's & Fleas in Williamsburg on both Saturday and Sunday again this weekend with monsters, tees, buttons, and cards.

SUNDAY: Drop by the Brooklyn Flea to see this week's vendor rotation. We're back by the fence and loving it. We'll having several clothing vendors including original designs for women by Vyphuisdesigns, silkscreened designs in women's apparel by BetterThanJam, and silkscreened shirts and dresses by Kimmchi. Rounding out the day will be handcrafted jewelry by Jantar as well as handmade soap by NordeaSoaperie and delicious jewelry by MetalSugar.

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In other Crafty News, Chantel of Junkprints.Etsy.com will be speaking at the American Craft Council on Thursday July 24 about the complicated relationships among the broad spectrum of crafters. Sounds very interesting. Anyone want to go? From 6 to 7 at 72 Spring Street, NYC.

On the Etsy Labs Class front - July 30th they will host an intro to origami on Sunday from 2-5pm - classes still in stock - 325 Gold Street on the 3rd Floor in Brooklyn, NY. And Monday Night Craft Night on Monday July 21 at the Labs will be iron on stencils on freezer paper to clothing. FREE workshop takes place from 4-8pm at the Etsy Labs.

Make workshop in Soho at XYZ will have the Intro to sewing on Monday July 21 from 12 to 2pm.

-Kimm
KimmChi.etsy.com

Indie-pendent Craftepreneurs of the Bahamas Straw Market

2008-07-17T08:06:00.000-07:00

by Lorina of The Original Beadscarf

Who doesn’t love to visit local markets while traveling? Sure you have your usual souvenir suspects: shot glasses, t-shirts, caps, the list goes on. But my favorite is always the local craft, especially when the person who created the item is also the person selling it. The item just seems to have more meaning.

On a recent trip to the Bahamas, I visited the Straw Market. The largest of its kind in the world, the Straw Market houses some 200 vendors selling everything from those ubiquitous tourist t-shirts and counterfeit handbags to figurines and toys.

But just past that knockoff “status” bag, you will find the most prominent of all the items. They are the bags, hats, fans and baskets all made from colorful straw, and their purveyors working tirelessly on these items.

These are the indie-pendent craftepreneurs of the Straw Market. Tourism is the most viable industry of the Bahamas and these craftepreneurs are ready (and eager!) to provide a personalized straw item on-the-spot! For many of the vendors at the Straw Market, this is their primary means of income. You can find them stitching dried palm and sisal plants, which are sometimes dyed, to create beautiful and useful souvenirs every day of the week.

At this market, I also found someone who created toys from recycled soda cans.

A fun day out, the Straw Market in Nassau, The Bahamas is definitely worth the trip!

All text and images
©Lorina Pellach Ladrillono 2008

NewNewInterview with Lynsey of Cuteable

2008-07-16T01:07:00.000-07:00

In our fourth installment of indie style bloggers, let's meet Lynsey of Cuteable.

1. So tell us a little about your site and how you got started?

Well Cuteable is fairly new to us as we only bought the site in January after the previous owner realised they weren't spending as much time as they would like on their own craft business. I'm a WAHM with two girls and I run my own Etsy shop, Swirly Arts too so thought I could combine my love of cute and handmade things with my daughters being at home. Luckily my husband agreed (he does all the technical stuff) and it fits in quite nicely into our lives now.

2. What do you look for when featuring an artist?

Well the site is called Cuteable and the previous owner did a great job of keeping with that feeling but I'm moving it slightly to feature more stuff that isn't traditionally 'cute' - but that's not saying I don't like the cute! I tend to feature things I like myself and if I really like something then I will do a whole post about that ones person's items.

3. Suggestions on how to generate buzz about your products?

It's probably something you have heard before but make your item unique - not necessarily the only one of it's kind because that is pretty rare but have a unique selling point either to do with you or the item itself. Also if you are describing something then make sure you describe it well - people cannot pick the item up and see how much work has gone into it so you have to let them know. Also don't be afraid of contacting people with blogs etc about your work - I'm always on the lookout for new things!

4. What not to do when contacting sites like yours?

Make sure you enter your shop name/flickr name or where ever I need to link too in your email - I have lost count of the number of people I have contact to ask for these details! Don't worry if you do forget though as I will still feature you but just not as quickly!

5. What blogs do you follow to stay current?

Oh my goodness - lots and lots!! I have 370 blogs in my google reader and my favourites are the ones written by crafters themselves - I like to see what the masses are doing and I use these as the basis for my Clinks posts. I do also like having a peek at the Craftzine blog too!

6. What trends do you see developing? What products or styles are hot?

I think eco friendly products are becoming more important with more and more crafters sourcing their materials from charity shops, thrift stores etc and just generally making use of things that would once be thrown away. Birds are always a popular theme too :)

7. Is blogging more of a hobby or do you see this becoming a long term career choice?

Running Cuteable is much more than a hobby - it takes up a great deal of time and at the moment it's about 4 hours a day. That involves all the answering of emails, sending out advertising information as well as writing the posts. I do it though because I love mentioning people, their products and just acknowledging the hard work and time and effort that goes into making things. If I had a pound for every email I have received thanking me for the mention then I would be well on my way to becoming rich!

8. Do you see yourself embracing new media to reach your audience (podcasting, video)?

Eeek - that kind of thing scares me! It took me long enough after we took over Cuteable to get the hang of writing the posts so that's not going to happen in the short term future. Maybe longer term but we will see!

9. What do you think sets you apart from other design blogs?

I think the fact that I am a crafter and maker myself so I know the amount of time and effort that goes into the work I showcase. Also I hope that the passion I have for handmade comes though in my posts.

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Special thanks to Lynsey for taking the time for this interview. Be sure to check out Lynsey at Cuteable (http://www.cuteable.com/) and her shop Swirly Arts on Etsy!

Danielle
Collective Elements

NewNewInterview with Grace of Design*Sponge

2008-07-15T01:03:00.000-07:00

Our third installment from indie style bloggers come from Grace of Design*Sponge. Woo hoo!

1. So tell us a little about your site and how you got started?

d*s is basically a site devoted to all things design-related, whether that's diy projects, home design or individual projects and fine art. i started the site as a hobby and over the past 4 years it's grown into my full time job and supporting a small staff of 5 editors.

2. What do you look for when featuring an artist?

i primarily look for something that grabs me instantly- whether it's a color, a pattern or an overall composition- i need to be really drawn in for me to consider posting it. when i first started i would post things willy nilly because i loved everything i came across in some way or another. but i've tried to cut back and focus on posting more substantive posts (well, compared to my earlier posts) that are distinct because the work is really unique, brand-new, or innovative in some way.

3. Suggestions on how to generate buzz about your products?

i'm rather partial to blogs and local art shows because they reach two distinct markets: blogs are generally run by pretty friendly people looking to showcase great work to a national and international audience. if you're targeted well for a given site, it can be a great way to reach a large audience- including magazine editors who read the site. i also suggest local art and craft shows because they're a great way to build hometown support and find a good network of local shops to carry and support your work. i think both levels are important these days.

4. What not to do when contacting sites like yours?

just the basics: don't lie about your product or any aspect of your work (this happens more than i would like), be polite and personal (always use a blog/editor's name and not a general "dear editor") and try contacting sites/magazines one at a time. you can maximize your story size by giving any given site an exclusive or a small head start on the general blog population. i also think it helps to keep things short and sweet and attach a few pictures- we work in a really visual field so i always love to see a few well, shot pictures of people's work.

5. What blogs do you follow to stay current?

i really love the photography and fashion blogs in the market right now- especially scott at the sartorialist and some of the photography sites that are run by students on the west coast. but i always read sites like oh joy, lena corwin's blog and kelly cooper's "hoping for happy accidents". i also love maria vettese's port2port site. they all have such strong visual points of view (that are different from my own) and i love seeing what they have to say about things on a regular basis. and not a day goes by that i don't read dooce.com. and 101cookbooks.com, mattbites.com and orangette- i love well photographed food sites.

6. What trends do you see developing? What products or styles are hot?

in products? well patterns are big and i think we'll see them stick around for a few more years. magazines seem to be calling it an "ethnic" trend towards things like indian and moroccan patterns. i think we're just moving away from more geometric patterns and towards something more ornate. i'm personally trying to narrow it down a bit and stick to a few key patterns in my house but i'm sure they'll stick around for a while. i also think we'll start to see some progression in the area of eco-friendly design. i'd love to see designers start moving forward with the idea of found materials and using them in interesting ways.

7. Is blogging more of a hobby or do you see this becoming a long term career choice?

it's definitely my full-time job right now but i've been trying to think outside the box when it comes to the next 3-5 years. i'm a little worn out when it comes to the daily product post format so i'm in the process of trying to imagine what the next step should be when it comes to the site. we'll see what happens...

8. Do you see yourself embracing new media to reach your audience (podcasting, video)?

i did podcasts for a year and while i think some people enjoyed them they just really tanked for me. a few thousand people would download each one but as a percentage of my overall audience it was really low- so i'm going to try to do more videos. design is such a visual process it really needs to be seen to be appreciated and understood. it's tough to capture a product or interior with just audio.

9. What do you think sets you apart from other design blogs?

i really try not to think abouit d*s in relation to other sites. i think any site is unique because of the overall voice it projects. i've always tried to stay true to the mission i had when i started and grow as i feel the need to try something different. so i think my voice, and now the voice of our contributing writers, is what makes us different from another site. but overall i think we just try to do our own thing and put as much positive, interesting work out there as we can.

10. Any other thoughts you'd like to share?

just that i'm excited to see where this new media movement goes in relation to design. i think video is really where it's all going and i'm excited to see what new trends and tools we see in blogging in the next 3-5 years.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Special thanks to Grace for taking the time for this interview. Be sure to check out Grace at Design*Sponge (http://www.designspongeonline.com/).

Danielle
Collective Elements

NewNewInterview with Mallory of MissMalaprop

2008-07-14T10:38:00.000-07:00

In the second interview of our indie blogger series, I bring you Mallory of MissMalaprop.com

1. So tell us a little about your site and how you got started?
I write MissMalaprop.com, a blog devoted to independent artists & designers, eco-friendly & recycled products, and charities & organizations that are working to make the world a better place. Whenever possible, I try to spotlight artists and issues related to New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where I'm from. I launched the site in August 2006, a year after Hurricane Katrina forever changed the lives of practically everyone I know. I've always wanted to do my bit in changing the world for the better, and I've always been an environmentalist and a crafter. I just wanted a place to talk about the things I care about.

2. What do you look for when featuring an artist?
If it's handmade AND recycled AND cleverly useful, that's my favorite. I tend to write about things that appeal to me in some way personally. My tastes have always been a little off from center (I love strange, colorful, happy things), but they're pretty diverse as well. Sometimes I write about something I stumble across randomly on Etsy and sometimes I mention designers who have contacted me to let me know about their work. Even if I don't choose to write about someone's work right away, I always add their website information to a list I keep... when I'm uninspired for something to write about, I check that list until I find something that grabs my attention that day and I blog about it.

3. Suggestions on how to generate buzz about your products?
The main thing is to just create good stuff. If it's not well designed, or beautiful, or useful, you can promote the hell out of it and no one will care.

Also, be sure to have a clean, easy to navigate website if you plan on selling online and trying to create a buzz that way. If you can't do it yourself, hire someone who can; it will be worth it. I hate sites with too much Flash, or music and video that starts playing immediately, or navigation that is trying too hard to be clever but in reality is just impossibly tedious to use. If I have problems figuring out how to get to the information I need on your site, as someone who is pretty Internet savvy and grew up using computers, just imagine how someone who is new to shopping online will feel. You just can't retain customers that way.

Other than that, just try to learn as much as you can about the business and marketing side of things. I'm self taught with all I know about business and marketing. There is tons of information out there and plenty of it is free. You just have to do the legwork and be willing to learn.

4. What not to do when contacting sites like yours?
Do your homework before you contact a blogger. Take a look around their site, and see if you can find their real first name mentioned anywhere. When you email them, address them by name -- it shows you took the time to care. Also, make sure that you're contacting someone who will likely be interested in your work. I've had companies contact me about products that obviously have nothing to do with what I write about on my blog. I lose respect for that immediately, and honestly I usually don't even take the time to respond to them, because they clearly didn't take any time to learn about my site before contacting me. A simple, honest email usually works best. I pay MUCH more attention to an email that looks like a real person wrote it versus a press release that gets sent out to tons of people. Also, adding a blogger to your e-mail newsletter without their permission is a REALLY bad idea. When I suddenly start getting newsletters that I never subscribed to I immediately unsubscribe and in some cases I've reported it as spam. Because it is.

5. What blogs do you follow to stay current?
I keep myself so busy that unfortunately I only manage to keep up with a very few design blogs on a regular basis. Modish, Indie Fixx, Indie Shopping, and Bits & Bobbins are the mainstays on my feed reader.

6. What trends do you see developing? What products or styles are hot?
I've always been the kind of person who could really care less about trends. I like what I like, and if other people like it that's great, and if they don't, that's fine too. Sometimes it's kind of fun to see the things I've loved for a long time become trendy (like the recent octopus and seahorse trends), because it makes it easier to find these things.

I also find the steampunk trend really interesting... when I first started seeing it pop up as a "trend" on Etsy and style sites I thought it was interesting that A. there was a name for it in the first place and B. that it was becoming so popular among so many types of people. I've always loved Victorian styles (corsetry, tall lace up boots with fancy heels, bustle skirts) and I hang out with sort of a goth-alternative crowd, so it's really cool that these things are finding a broader audience.

7. Is blogging more of a hobby or do you see this becoming a long term career choice?
Blogging is definitely something that I find enjoyable, but I sort of see it more as a means to an end than as a definitive career path. The other day I told a co-worker that I have "entrepreneurial ADD". I think what I really love is just entrepreneurship in and of itself. I love being an entrepreneur and helping to promote like-minded entrepreneurs. I always have about 10 million ideas going off in my head, it's tough to stay focused sometimes. I have been very lucky to have managed to build a pretty successful blog from the ground up, and in turn it's opened up a lot of other opportunites for me, including a monthly column in a local alternative magazine, Antigravity, and a paid gig blogging for Styledash.com (and formerly for BloggingNewOrleans). I'll probably continue blogging for a long time in some form, but I think I would go crazy if I had to rely on blogging alone as my primary source of income (even if it was from multiple blogs).

8. Do you see yourself embracing new media to reach your audience (podcasting, video)?
I've thought about branching out, but honestly I just don't think I have the time to devote to any of it right now. Like I said, I have a bit of ADD when it comes to business, and I do manage to spread myself thin sometimes. I'm trying to be better about not letting myself overextend in how many projects and types of projects I try to maintain at any given time. That said, if I ever try to branch into video, I'll be set because my boyfriend is a freelance filmmaker and that's pretty much all he does for a living. (www.dreamsonfilm.com)

9. What do you think sets you apart from other design blogs?
Some of the other indie design blogs out there focus a lot on things like seasonal gift guides or big giveaways. And while I think those things can be great for other bloggers (and the artists & readers), it's just not where my focus is. For me personally it's too time-consuming without enough reward. MissMalaprop.com turns two years old in August and I feel like it's definitely been a huge learning process. Personally, I've been trying to take a step back from too much consumerism and over-indulging in my own life , because of concerns for both the toll on the envrioment and financial prudence. So I wouldn't feel right constantly telling my readers to "buy buy buy". On the other hand, just because I don't feel the need to buy every amazing handmade, recycled, fantastic thing out there, that doesn't mean I don't love it just the same and want to share it with other people. Lately I've been trying to take a more laid-back, personal approach with my blog and just write about the things that really appeal to me.

10. Any other thoughts you'd like to share?

I do a feature on Styledash.com called Indie Designer Interviews. It's an ongoing thing and I'll feature just about anyone who takes the time to do the interview. If I get a ton of responses at once, there may be a bit of a backlog and it won't get posted for a few weeks, but eventually I will post all of them. I've posted more info in a thread at The Switchboards forum (a fabulous resource for indie businesses, and if you're not already using it you should be).
http://www.theswitchboards.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=26679

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A special thanks to Mallory for taking the time for this interview. Be sure to check out Mallory at MissMalaprop (http://missmalaprop.com/).

Danielle
Collective Elements

Indie-Pendence from the Mermaid: Indie Coffee Shops

2008-07-13T00:05:00.000-07:00

Often, independent artists and artisans toil for long hours - either at their chosen craft or at another more lucrative endeavor that allows them to then in their "free time" pursue their creative work.

Sometimes this makes us sleepy.

Studies have shown that coffee is good at making you feel less sleepy.

In the spirit of indie-pendence, here are a few notable non-multinational purveyors of the bean:

Across the street from Brooklyn Indie Market,The Fall Café is a friendly venue with good snacks and comfy chairs.
Not quite a huge many-tentacled entity, Joe has four locations in Manhattan - I frequent the one at 9 East 13 Street - and they make a superb latte.
With two locations in the inner borough, Jack's boasts a proprietary stir-brew process that makes a rad beverage. Its 222 Front St location feels like somebody's log cabin, in a good way.
While I have not been there myself, I hear good things about Café Grumpy, which has a location in Greenpoint and one in Chelsea. Their Hearts and Crafts fairs bring together crafters and coffee for fun and profit.
Lula Bean on in Williamsburg boasts a cute and homelike atmosphere.
Klatch offers respite from the corporateness if the Financial District.
Bread Stuy on Lewis Avenue tempts you to have a little cake with your coffee.
Westchester-ites need their brew too: in Tarrytown, head to Coffee Labs (think puppies, not scientists) for the good stuff; Peekskill you say? Try the Peekskill Coffee House. Croton-on-Hudson? Really? Ok- The Black Cow.
For the coffee-loving cinephile, The Archive in Bushwick has both rad flicks and sweet beans.
On the corner of Fifth Avenue and Park Place in Park Slope, Gorilla Coffee roasts their own fair trade beans. Now that's indie-pendent.

-MaryAnne
wabisabi brooklyn
wabisabibrooklyn.etsy.com

NewNewInterview with Jen of Indie Fixx

2008-07-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

In honor of our "Indie-pendence" themed month, I decided to interview some of the best indie style bloggers around. First up is Jen of IndieFixx.com.

1. So tell us a little about your site and how you got started? I run the blog Indie Fixx (http://indiefixx.com/) and the indie boutique called the Indie Fixx Shop (http://indiefixxshop.com/). I’ve pretty much always been into artisan goods, even as a kid when I enjoyed going to craft shows, farmers’ markets, museum shops, local festivals and the beach, all of which are places to find handmade goods. I’ve also been a maker and a seller myself, since the 5th grade when I opened up my ribbon barrette business. Then in 2004, I started my own jewelry line called Tilting Swiftly, so I come by the love of indie-made goods honestly.

2. What do you look for when featuring an artist? Hmm, this is a difficult question and one that I’m not really sure that I have a good answer for. I do have to be inspired to write and feel that I’ve chosen something that my audience would like to read about. Also, good product photography is a must…I actually can’t stress how important good product photography is to getting featured on blogs in general.

3. Suggestions on how to generate buzz about your products? Constantly reinvent yourself and your product line. Good photography. Have a story.

4. What not to do when contacting sites like yours? Don’t send attachments that are 12 million megs in size, instead a url or 1-2 small images will suffice. Don’t just send a press release; make sure to add a little note.

5. What blogs do you follow to stay current? Believe it or not, I don’t actually have time to read a lot of blogs. I used to, but then I decided it would be a good idea to keep adding projects to my life.

6. What trends do you see developing? What products or styles are hot? I’m waiting to see what’s going to be the next pirate/owl/ninja/hedgehog/zombie/octopus/bird myself!

7. Do you see yourself embracing new media to reach your audience (podcasting, video)? Maybe, but I don’t have any plans in the works yet.

8. What do you think sets you apart from other design blogs? Hmm, maybe my goofiness….

9. Is blogging more of a hobby or do you see this becoming a long term career choice? Running the Shop and writing the Blog is my full-time job, and I sure do hope it is a long-term career.

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A special thanks to Jen for taking the time for this interview. Be sure to check out Jen at Indie Fixx (http://indiefixx.com/) and the Indie Fixx Shop (http://indiefixxshop.com/).

Danielle
Collective Elements

Where to Find The {NewNew} on July 12 + 13

2008-07-11T01:00:00.000-07:00

Lots to do in Brooklyn this weekend!

KarensMonsters will be at Artist's & Fleas in Williamsburg on both Saturday and Sunday with her troop of monsters in tow and new tees and buttons.

On Saturday at the Brooklyn Indie Market at Smith and Union Street in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, Fofolle and WabisabiBrooklyn will be selling their wares from 11 am to 7pm - drop by for your fix of skirts and jewelry.

On Sunday bringing handmade to the Brooklyn Flea will be unique accessories made from vintage ties and scarves from Beadscarf, paintings, mixed media and photography from SpinachNPeace, handmade soaps from NordeaSoaperie, city inspired jewelry and mirrors by CityBitz, silskcreened houswares from RedBridge, and eye catching glamourous jewelry from AdornmentsNYC.

-Kimm
KimmChi.etsy.com

S A L E

2008-07-10T08:55:00.000-07:00

July 19 - 27
KarensMonsters Birthday Sale ! visit my etsy store for free shipping to anywhere in the world on anything in my shop. AND you get a free party goodie bag filled with handmade samples and fun party toys. If you're in the NYC area, come to Artists & Fleas in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (On N. 6th at Bedford St) anytime on July 19th & 20th for 25% all monsters, shirts, cards, button packs, and more. AND you get a free party goodie bag with each purchase. There will also be some free giveaways just for coming out and having a good time. It is a party after all.

July 1st - 31st
CHRISTMAS IN JULY SALE !
Beat the holiday rush and get your gift-shopping done early with this fabulous sale on Lipbalms, Soap Stocking Stuffers, Artisan Bath Bars and more, all at 15% off your final purchase. Discount does not apply on custom orders. I will refund the discount thru Paypal after payment has been received. Soap That Makes Scents - KreatedByKarina

Super Christmas in July sale. Most items are more than 50% off so just check out the Christmas in July section over at CollectiveElements.

Christmas in July until August 31!! at WaiSze - enjoy all Christmas cards at a discounted price

S A L E S E C T I O N S

Visit the S A L E section at KimmChi for reduced prices on Men's and Women's tee shirts and long sleeve shirts with bold abstract designs.

Visit the S A L E section at FadingFlowers for sales on handmade gocco card bundles.

Brooklyn Indie Market

2008-07-10T00:00:00.000-07:00

The spirit of "indie"pendence is alive and well on Smith and Union Streets in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. During the week, the carnival-esque red and white tent and its accompanying kiosks are quiet, but every Saturday the tent walls come down and the kiosks fling open to reveal their ice cream colored interior, the setting for Brooklyn Indie Market (BIM): a rotating roster of independent emerging designers and the shoppers who love them.

Rather serendipitously, just as I was feeling ready to start selling my jewelry last year, I started seeing signs for Brooklyn Indie Market pop up all around my neighborhood. I booked some dates and was soon selling there regularly.

This year, I've become a bit more involved in helping to run the market, but the brains behind this operation is fellow designer Kathy Malone, whose handmade, limited edition and one of a kind clothing can be found at fofolle.

I decided to interrogate Kathy about the market for my amusement and edification.

above: Kathy in her element.

below: A shopper takes in Rebecca Shepherd's lovely baubles.

above: wonder threads is a regular presence in the corner kiosk.

below: The scene on Smith Street

How did the idea of BIM come to you, and when did you start it?

BIM began as some shop talk between myself and another designer. I was working in a Park Slope boutique that began to carry more and more indie designers, myself included. First we talked of a list-serve for info sharing and support system, then I began organizing events at various community centers and local parks, then the dream tent came along!

What do you look for when curating a day?

I look for selection balance in design categories, price points and vendor personality - the more personality the merrier! I see the market as a place of entertainment as well as a place to shop for unique, handmade items.

How does being a designer yourself inform the way you run BIM?

As a designer/market organizer, I think I understand my customers who are both the shopping public and the vendors who add their talent to the market. I have a deep respect for the makers and the supporters of indie designers/artisans. I work for them and am not merely a rent collector, I hope that comes through. BIM is different from all other designer and craft markets because we are owned and operated by designers for designers. We are the only market that exists to support one another and share our small business challenges. We don't just collect rent, we offer advice on display, legalities, business resources, other craft markets, website improvement etc.

Talk a bit about the current cooperative structure of BIM.

Going into our second year we gathered together some of our most committed vendors in terms of regularity, input and enthusiasm for what was developing. We really didn't have a road map and grew organically much the way indie businesses grow. The community had been well established by the end of last year and it was clear who would be invited to help develop the business this year. I had some trepidation about getting bogged down as a "committee" and losing flexibility but those fears were very soon put to rest. All 6 market managers fell beautifully and expeditiously into the roles which we were best suited for: marketing, vendor outreach, graphic design, ideation, general management, group morale, public and customer relations and much more. Being a multi talented lot, we also chip in and fill in whenever there is a need. We meet regularly and make decisions democratically with simple up and down voting and I believe in the wisdom of the group. The end result has been a streamlined and well-oiled operation!

How does selling at BIM compare with selling at other local venues?

BIM as a market place has a totally different vibe from some of the markets I have participated in and this has been echoed by many of our vendors. I think being a collection of no more than 20 vendors at any given time allows for more opportunities to connect with shoppers and each other. We trade and share information in a noncompetitive atmosphere. Not that I have anything against the excitement of larger craft shows, that's good too! But ours feels more intimate and has often been described as friendly and safe. I think of it as our down to earth club house. Since many of our vendors are just out of the gate I highly recommend it as a first time vending experience.

How has feedback from vendors affected BIM?

Listening to vendor and shopper feedback is invaluable. It's great to hear the good stuff, and we do, but the suggestions and honest appraisals and even dissatisfaction I am most grateful for. Who wants to get caught walking out of the restroom with toilet paper stuck to your shoe? Not I!

Why should shoppers come to BIM?

I am so pleased with our market offerings and the community of indie designers, artisans and now select artists. I want every shopper and lover of all things handmade and gorgeous to pay us a visit. The value is amazing and you will walk away feeling good having met the maker of your purchase, learning more about the personality and the process behind that object you are going to wear, utilize, gaze at or gift. You can also feel good that your support will go directly to the craft artist and encourage this very human endeavor.

Why is the "indie" important to you and to BIM?

"Indie" means no one is breathing down your neck thinking only of the bottom line for someone else's benefit. Its a celebration of individuality AND the community that supports it!

What are your Future Goals for BIM?

I'd like to: Develop and sponsor career building workshops for emerging designer entrepreneurs; expand another arm of the business, Shoptails, cross promotional fundraising events with other non-profits; administer equipment grants for low income emerging designers in need of specific equipment to expand their business/production; administer subsidy grants for low income designers to participate in increasingly more costly craft festivals/fairs; provide health insurance for uninsured designers starting with market managers; develop other physical markets in other New York Metropolitan neighborhoods modeled on the green markets; expand to other cities.

I'm already developing a marketing 101 workshop with a marketing colleague aimed at emerging designers and am in the process of researching non-profits to collaborate on a Shoptail for the upcoming year.

BIM is flattered to have inspired another emerging market to be born, Buffalo Indie Market Buffalo Indie Market by a vendor of ours and have offered start up advice along the way. We would like to do the same for other future market organizers.

Brooklyn Indie Market is a collective of fashion and product designers. Design categories include accessories, clothing, handbags, housewares, jewelry, kids' wear and more. We provide a connection between emerging designers and consumers, retail buyers, stylists, personal shoppers and the press. BIM aims to connect emerging designers and the greater NYC public to our market, fashion events, trunk shows, workshops and more in and around the New York area. We also welcome non-New York area designers who are interested in our mission.

-MaryAnne, wabisabi brooklyn, wabisabibrooklyn.com

Why Buy Handmade?

2008-07-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

While many of us enjoy buying beautiful, hand-crafted goods, we don’t always think of the positive impact our purchases have on our lives and community. In support of our Indie-pendence theme this month, I have 5 reasons to buy handmade.

1. Supports Local Economies
Buying from local businesses (crafters and artists) that are buying their supplies locally, you are putting your money back into the local economy, instead of large conglomerates that funnel their money to a headquarters across the country or across the world.

Skirt by BetterThanJam

2. Builds Community
Supporting local artists allows a flourishing artistic community. It’s not just the local artists that benefit. It invites more galleries and boutiques as well as community artists projects, gardens, murals, arts education, and more.

Painting by ArtByIris photographed in front of the Brooklyn Bridge

3. Better Quality Goods
You know exactly what’s gone into each product and can speak with the crafter about the why and how of making each piece. In addition to the detailed craftsmanship, many handmade goods are made from natural or recycled materials. This and making the products to last for generations instead of years lessens our impact on the natural world.

Veggie Garden Soap Bar by NordeaSoaperie

4. More Beauty in Your Life
Many mundane and practical pieces used in everyday life can be enhanced by using instead beautifully crafted handmade goods. Beauty makes the soul rest easier and smiles more prevalent.

Cloth Napkins by Cakehouse

5. Responsible Buying
No sweatshops, less than minimum wage workers, nor corporate outsourcing. It feels good to be connected to where our goods come from, to know that each piece was made with joy and completed by one or maybe a handful of people.

Robot Card by MamaRobot

Supporting handcrafted goods means we can become responsible for where our money goes and what we bring into our lives: beauty, health, and community.

Tips on Developing Your Own Elevator Pitch: Part 2

2008-07-08T05:36:00.000-07:00

Fake it 'til you make it…

Developing your own pitch involves writing down what you are about. Start by picking one or two major points about what you want people to know, and come up with sentences you can say aloud.

The idea of the elevator pitch is that you should be able to repeat this effortlessly to someone who knows nothing about your craft, and have them walking away with a clear idea of what you are about.

Like a job interview, you want to tell something about yourself without sounding too rehearsed or long-winded. If you can't say it in a minute, or if they don't understand your statement, then it's too complicated.

Some other points on how to craft a good pitch:

Keep it short and simple (under a minute is good)
Use clear language that anyone can understand
Create an impression for your audience

Once you have come up with several solid sentences describing the core of your work, practice repeating it in front of a mirror or record yourself to hear how you sound. Learn to say it in different ways. Similar to your handmade goods where practice makes perfect, your pitch should be presented in a way that reflects your own voice effortlessly.

Remember, if you can't talk about your own work confidently, then chances are people will not understand the essence of what you do. And the only way to be confident is to practice your presentation and gauge what works for you.

By coming up with your own elevator pitch, not only are you creating a stronger presence for yourself, you are solidifying the concept in the minds of your audience. And you never know who happens to be a part of your audience!

-by Lisa
http://lisafu.info

Tips on Developing Your Own Elevator Pitch: Part 1

2008-07-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

You walk the walk, but can you talk the talk?

You are at your usual market, looking ahead to what you hope would be a great day of sales. Your displays are set up perfectly, and shoppers are slowing down in front of your set up, marveling the beautiful, handmade treasures you have created.

Suddenly you spot a television crew walking towards you. The producer introduces himself and asks for a short interview for tonight's news program. He explains that he will ask a few questions about you and your wares. The camera guy hoists his camera on his shoulder, ready to zoom in on you and your displays. Passersby now stop and stare to see what you will say...

So... What will you say?

For those of you looking to attract media attention, the next few sentences that come out of your mouth can be a catalyst for future opportunities. You put effort into creating your handmade items, but you also need to put effort into talking about your work professionally.

And this is where the elevator pitch comes in.

In the business world, an elevator pitch is a short description of the company, what the company does, who their customers are, and its competitive edge. It's called an elevator pitch, because in theory, the description should be able to be read or heard in the time it takes to ride the elevator.

For the independent artist, developing something along the same line goes to show your audience how professional you are. It also helps your audience perceive you in the way you wish to be perceived.
Notice I use the term "audience" and not "customers." The elevator pitch is not a sales pitch. While the sales pitch is used to sell your items, the elevator pitch is used to sell yourself as an artist and what you do. You use the elevator pitch to pique not only the interest your buyers, but also audiences that may be interested in your creative process.

For example, a buyer may be interested in buying your bag that's handmade of recycled leather, but a magazine may be interested in featuring you as an artist that creates fashion out of recycled materials. If prepared correctly, the elevator pitch has the ability to connect you with an opportunity that you can capitalize on.

Tomorrow's post: An Elevator Pitch Checklist

--
by Lisa
http://lisafu.info

Bent, Bound, & Stitched

2008-07-06T09:00:00.000-07:00

Looking for a great Summer read but not necessarily interested in chick-lit fluff? Why not learn a few new DIY techniques while laying out on the sand? Bent, Bound & Stitched by Giuseppina "Josie" Cirincione is a perfect fit to carry in your beach tote.

Josie is a mixed-media artist, stamp designer, and jewelry maker. In her latest book, she provides 40 different projects and variations creating your own stationery, jewelry, and collage art. This is not a book about scrapbooking! Josie brings ideas that bring new life to unique finds like pages from old anatomy books, colored wire, and vintage photographs.

The beauty of this book is the techniques shown can be applied to a variety of projects (ie: adding texture to paper, silkscreening, wire wrapping) and with Josie's step by step instructions and how-to photos, you will find yourself knocking out new creations in no time!

Weekend Plans for July 5 + 6

2008-07-04T04:56:00.000-07:00

For those of you who DIDN'T go away for the July 4th long weekend - there are tons of Indie things to do in NYC!

SATURDAY

Stop by the Brooklyn Indie Market at Smith and Union Street in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, with stylish skirts by Fofolle and decoupage jewelry by WabisabiBrooklyn as well as ceramics by MayLuk - from 11 am to 7pm.

SUNDAY

Our sellers at this weeks Brooklyn Flea will be AdornmentsNYC, KMStitchery, DewOnAPetal, KarensMonsters, AlmaStoller and WaiSze - with an assortment of HANDMADE goods including jewelry, monsters, cards, albums, candles and stenciled shirts - something for everyone!

So go out and support Indie this Indie*Pendence Day!