Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Vote Early and Often

You all know I love my crafts. Even though I'm only proficient in one (knitting) and semiskilled at another (crochet) and really only in the wishing stage on some others (spinning wheel dusty, sewing machine still in box), I truly admire the crafting world and am continually heartened and amazed by those crafters who can make a living at what they love. Not all of us can do that; I feel lucky that the books we publish can fill that part of my heart and make me enjoy my job so much more.

We're publishing a book next year entitled The Handmade Marketplace by the wonderful Kari Chapin that I've fallen in love with. Kari polls all kinds of crafters on such subjects as "How do you start a craft fair?" "How do you sell your craft on Etsy?" and more. It's really for people who love to do something — felting mittens, spinning yarn, making jewelry — and want to sell their art but not quit their day job. I'm selling it short, but it's a fantastic reference for all of us who yearn for just a little more wonder in our 9-to-5 world.

Which brings me to my plea to all of you loyal readers: I've submitted two proposals for panels on Interactive Craft Marketing to South by Southwest (hereafter known as SXSW), the indie music, film, and interactive conference held yearly in Austin, Texas. Check it out — this is where record labels find the Next Big Thing, where the best new indie films are screened, and where the interactive world comes to meet via the many panels and speakers from the world of Twitter, Digg, FaceBook, Google, and so on. The panels themselves make news, and so do the subjects of those panels. I want all of you to vote and comment on Kari's panels — one is a panel discussion, and one is a speaking gig. Go to this link and cast your vote (or click on the giant Panel Picker Button on the blog sidebar to your right). I'd love for all of you to hear about this book in a news story straight from SXSW! And you'd be casting a vote for letting any craft be a vehicle for financial freedom; isn't that a great idea?

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