Links a la Mode: 2.22.10

Just a few notable notes today...

• This article on TSA, the uh "danger" of knitting needles and NCIS cracked me up.
• Miss Malaprop's got a great guest post from Glitter and Glue on how to set up and maintain your Facebook Fan Page for your craft business.
• Applications are up for BUST's Spring Fling Craftacular. Click here for the details.
  
• Faythe Levie's started up a new project...a movie about sign painters. She's started to blog about it here. If Handmade Nation is any indication, this is gonna be great.
• Clubs have started up at ReFrom school. Check them out and rsvp here.
• I may have linked this before, but it's worth repeating. The VA has some ah-mazing 1940s knitting patterns up. Check out these fishnets!
  

Links a la Mode: 1.26.10

• Handmade for Haiti updates abound over at West Coast Crafty.
  
• You can now participate in Jennifer Marsh's Dream Rocket Project for a mere $25. Similar to the Gas Station Wrap project in which Marsh covered an old gas station, this project seeks to cover a Saturn V missile. I have seen the missile in person people and it is friggin' HUGE. (via International Fiber Collective)
  
• We already knew it...Handmade is the New Black. (via USA Today)
  
• Valentine's Day can strike dread in the heart of the hardiest New Yorker: If you're coupled, there's the delicate dance of aligning your own celebratory expectations with those of your beloved; if you're unhappily single, all the emphasis on romance can be special kind of torture. In response to this, Brooklyn Indie Market and the {NewNew} are joining forces to present "A Valentine Fling: A day of fun, flirting, and handmade shopping on Smith Street," Saturday February 13 from 11-6 at Starting Artists, 211 Smith Street. Take the F/G to the Carroll Street Station. Admission FREE.
• Speaking of NYC happenings, there's a new handmade shop opening in Bushwick. Writes Karin, "So many creative people live here in Bushwick, but we have to travel to other neighborhoods for some good fashion. I want to showcase the handmade work of some local designers, teach workshops, and hold other events, to bring the community a little closer together and hopefully get people to visit Our neighborhood." Better Than Jam opens on the 1st, but there's a party on the 5th that shouldn't be missed. (via Karin)
• Over at Toronto Craft Alert they're looking for writers. "We’ve been working with our fantastic editorial intern Stevie to generate more content and new ideas for columns and editorial features, and we would like to bring on a bunch of new voices to share ideas, entertain, and inspire TCA readers. We will even compensate you for your contribution!" Compensation! Yay! (via TCA)
• For those of us in Lala land, the Urban Craft Center is having their mid-winter yarn sale.
• Chronicle is having a sale, too. Now through Valentine's day enter code "bemine" at checkout for a 25% discount.
  
• Ever wonder what happened to Craft Con? We'll you're about to find out. Head on over and sign up for the mailing list. We've got big plans for 2010.
  

Links a la mode: 1.21.10

The weather here in LA has been so bad over the last week. It's perfect for staying home with a warm laptop and my dear friend the internet. Check out this week's neat links:

• Hell YES I want to make my own cheese! As soon as this rain subsides, I'm heading over to HomeEc!
• I really enjoyed this review of Yarn: Remembering a Way Home over on ModCloth's blog.
• How do you feel about craft magazines covering blogs? Personally, I love love LOVE them. However Jenny makes a point over at Craft Test Dummies. Is a magazine about craft bloggers redundant?
• Make sure you're sitting down for this one LA peeps...Plush You is coming to town! The show isn't until August, but if you want in, you need to get your application in by the 22nd of February.
• The call for makers at Maker Faire in San Mateo is o-p-e-n open! If you haven't already heard, they announced the dates for Maker Faire Detroit and New York too. Check it out on the site here.
• Don't you sometimes wish you were back in school...elementary school? Here's a new reason the kids have it better these days: Craft Club! Craft club "is a new campaign that pioneers craft in schools in the UK. Lucky ducks! (via Craftivism)
  

Links a la mode: Handmade for Haiti

We crafters have a long history of banding together in times of disaster. Recent news from Haiti is grim to say the least, but crafty help is on the way. Check out these links to see how you can help:

• Our friend Jen over at Indie Fixx is doing a silent auction here.
• Etsy posted a list of shops that are pledging items to Indie Fixx's auction over on the Storque.
• Vickie Howell is donating all proceeds from pattern sales to the Red Cross. Hurry though, this benefit is ending soon.
• Susan Beal at West Coast Crafty has a GREAT roundup of fundraisers here. She's updating the list too, so keep checking back.
• You might remember Mama-to-mama's craftivism in Haiti last year with the baby caps and blankets project. I'm going to keep checking for developments...you might too.
• Yarn Harlot threw up the Knit Signal. For more info on Knitters Without Borders go here.
• If you have links to add, please feel free to list them in the comments and I'll post an update shortly.
  

Update:

• The Craft Hope for Haiti shop opened today to benefit Doctors Without Borders.
• SFgirlbybay has another great roundup of fundraisers. Check out the comments for even more.
• Vickie Howell tweets, "100% of profits from my shop and any other Open Sky shop through Sunday, go to Haiti!" Check it out here.
• Ravelry has posted a list of designers who have pledged a portion of the proceeds from their pattern sales to Haiti Relief Efforts. (you need a login for this one)
• Betsy posted a beautiful and realistic piece over on Craftivism.
  

Craft Links a la Mode: 1.6.2010

It's the first Links a la Mode of the year and yet most of this stuff is from last month. Oh well. I've been busy with the holidays, catching up with work and crafting.

• Debbie Stoller's new yarn reviewed here. There's a sale on the yarns here if you're interested in trying them out for yourself.
• It's not news that ex-CEO Rob Kalin is returning to his CEO position over at Etsy, but the discussions amongst Etsians are ongoing. Have you chimed in yet?
• Not sure how I found this link but I love the color-your-own Dress idea. I'm not much of a sewer, but when it comes to coloring, well...that's right up my alley. Check out more of the designer's work here.
• Yokoo was in the NYT a while back. Did you see it? Now that's some great press for makers and crafters everywhere.
• Where will Craftivism as performance art take contemporary art? The Journal of Modern Craft posted an interesting article on Craftivism and Yarn Bombing in Tazmania last month.
  

Craft Links a la Mode: 12.10.09

Sooo much of the focus in craft this time of year is on the shows and shopping. It's really hard to avoid if you're as broke as I am. But does it depress me? Hell no! Just because I can't buy anything, doesn't mean I can't enjoy the amazing parade of inspiration that is seasonal crafts! What do you think? I've tried to gather a few links of the non-shopping variety, but the shows are unavoidable people. Unavoidable. Go forth and at least window-shop all the great inspiration out there. Maybe it will help you make a list of new things to do/attempt in 2010.

• Over at Craftivism, Betsy announced the launch of Make and Meaning. I think this is going to be a really outstanding project: "We believe in making, and we love the fact that the internet allows makers to meet and geek out together, regardless of geography. There are many, many websites that celebrate making in all its forms. We created Make & Meaning to celebrate all the ways making enhances our lives, and all the things it causes us think about."
• American Craft Magazine posted an online exclusive "Crafty Living Online." You can read it here. I was sort of blown away by the comments just now and I'd be interested in hearing what you all think. Is there a place in American Craft for Etsy and Craftster?
  
• Another new project out there on the internets is The Hand Embroidery Network. "The Hand Embroidery Network (HEN) is a new exciting community for hand embroiderers across the globe. The website's aim is to encourage and promote the practice and knowledge of the art of embroidery in all its forms and to bring together like minded people who enjoy needlework and wish to learn and share their knowledge."
• Speaking of embroidery, Jenny Hart is in Los Angeles next week at Home Ec! The class is closed now, but you can still come to the book signing on December 16from 7 to 9. Stop by Home Ec's calendar for the details. And if you did get into the class, let me know...I'll be there too!
• Speaking of classes, the Urban Craft Center has their January Calendar up here. Yudu screen printing looks interesting and not out of range price-wise.
• Maker Faire is headed to the Motor City That's big news for our friends over at Handmade Detriot, and maybe Craft Con too. More as that develops.
  
• ArtFire has announced a huge change in the way crafters may list items in their shop: "As of today, there is no longer a limit on the number of items sellers (Basic or Verified/Pro) can list on ArtFire! There are no limits: no insertion fees, final valuation fees, commissions or hidden fees. Unlimited listing and selling is completely free for all members of ArtFire. "For some time, the ArtFire team has discussed how the cost of hosting a product listing today is dramatically lower than it was just 4-5 years ago. The old-fashioned model, which charges fees and commissions at every step, has been copied by almost every venue since eBay. This model was based on the very real costs of a listing in the late 1990's, however, the model has not kept up with advances in technology and costs of service, and it's time for a change."
• The Marimello Craft Calendar is hard work peoples...especially this time of year. Craft's blog seems to be doing a pretty good job though. I wonder if they have elves or something. Check out this week's list here.
• And finally, speaking of events, if you're not doing anything this weekend, why not volunteer at City of Craft? I got the message via facebook, but it's posted over on the Toronto Craft Alert here.

Craft Links a la Mode: 11.21.09

• Over at Craftivism, Betsey brings us a really interesting story about a WWII prisoner of war who knit a giant rug while imprisoned in Germany. See it here.
  
• Are you using Twitter lists? I am. And I can tell you while there are a lot of good uses for lists, the devil in me wants to make a list called, "hey I'm ignoring y'all." Anyway, Listorious has a good "Handmade Nation" list you might want to check out. Lot of my favorite people are on there.
• Speaking of Handmade Nation, Faythe tells us via the Handmade Nation blog that her presentation to the American Craft Council last month is live on the ACC site. You can download most of the presentations here in case you weren't able to be in Minneapolis in person. Neat!
• Etsy changed the rules. What's new you say? Plenty as usual.
• Speaking of Etsy, Rob Kalin gave an interview to Reader's Digest here. It's always interesting to me to read about something familiar in an article geared toward people to whom it is not familiar at all.
  
• Last week I asked about Regretsy. Well now Regretsy got a book deal. You can read about it, oh, pretty much everywhere, or you can read what April Winchell has to say about it on Regretsy here.
• I also talked about The American Craft Council's big move to Minneapolis next summer. Chair Leilani Duke talks a bit more about why they're moving on the MinnPost here. I know I was curious.
  
• And finally in internal Marimello news, the Craft Calendar is up and running again. I had been taking some time off of maintaining that, but I shall slack no more. If you have any events you'd like to submit, leave a comment and I'll get right on it.
  

Craft links a la mode: 11.14.09

Marimello isn't quite dead, but it sure needs a major overhaul. So while I'm busy thinking about what I want to do with this space, here's some pretties for you to peruse.

• Paper Fashion accessories (ahem, SHOES) from LeCreativeSweatshop. Art? Craft? Design? Whatever. It's certainly inspiration for the paper crafter. (via GreenMuze)
• This cute unicorn is on my list of to do. It reminds me of my mother's knitted creche animals.
  
• These are also AHHHMAZING.
  
• Wool and the Gang (kind of like knitting for hipsters, but cool) opened up a shop in SoHo. I'll be in New York next week and I'm definitely going to check this out. I'll post more about it after I visit, but I'm really looking forward to checking out this new twist (yuk yuk) on the traditional LYS. (via coolhunting)
• I've been recycling a lot of chains to make necklaces lately (see above) and apparently I'm not the only one. Check out this convertable chain project posted on M.I.S.S. this week. (via IFB)
• In case you've been living under a rock, the Handmade Nation DVD is finally shipping from Buy Olympia. I pre-ordered it and when I got it a couple weeks ago, I watched it twice in one night.
  
• Speaking of just out, Powell's tells me that Jane Austen's Sewing Box is out. I don't have a copy for review yet, and I'm not much use when it comes to sewing, but no doubt some bloggers out there will preview some of the projects for you. Ms. Austen seems to be having quite the fall if you ask me. The New York Times tells me that there's a good Jane Austen exhibit at the Morgan Library. Maybe I'll check that out next week too. (via Craft)
• In the Important Craft News category, the American Craft Council has announced that it is moving headquarters from NYC to Minneapolis. This is really interesting and seems to be a move inspired by the high cost of doing business in the city. I wonder if this is part of a larger shift in the focus of the future of the craft movement. What do you think?
• I'm also interested to know what you all think about Regretsy and Badder Homes and Gardens. Both are getting a lot of press. Both are hilarious. Is everyone in on the joke though?
  
• And if you've been missing Marimello, well I'm sorry. I've been posting more inspiration, some of it crafty, over on my tumblr here.
  

Marimello Takes on the Naughty Secretary

Marimello has been taking a bit of a summer vacay here, but not on IndieFixx, where today you can read my review of Jennifer Perkin's Naughty Secretary Club book, The Working Girl's Guide to Handmade Jewelry. Check out the review here.

Craft Business Links: Tres Useful!

Average Jane Crafter posted this ah-mazing list of crafty business links. From general info to blogging and pitching your book ideas, Rachel has gathered the best links and created what will no doubt be one of the most useful and in depth resources for the business-minded craft.

Craft Job Post: Bazaar Bizarre Web Help

Marimello is sick as a sick dog, friends so please excuse the sparse/lazy style postings...we have however been adding to the calendar so check out all the new events.

Here's the post from Bazaar Bizarre:

We hope your summer has started off crafty and cool! The folks here at Bazaar Bizarre San Francisco are looking for a special person to take on some web maintenance for our part of the Bazaar Bizarre Web Site.

What we're looking for:

* A fellow crafter with expertise in HTML and FTPing files. Some graphic design experience is a plus!

* Ability to make minor changes as needed to the site from home. We have an expected rate of 2-3 days turn around. Peak work times are 2 months before a show. SF currently produces 2-3 shows a year.

* Commitment of one year to volunteer your services to us. We really don't anticipate this task taking up a lot of your time, but you have to be responsive and available by e-mail most of the year.

If you're interested in applying please send a message to:

E-mail Address: sf_info [at] bazaarbizarre [dot] org
Subject Heading: BBSF Web Maintenance Application

Include in your E-mail:

• Name
• Contact information
• Vendor Name + Url
• List previous shows you have vended with us
• A link to a resume or portfolio of your work
• What your work schedule is like for the next year
• Why you would be interested in becoming a permanent member of the Bazaar Bizarre Volunteer Team

Applications will be reviewed by several city organizers from Baz Biz. Thanks in advance to any interested parties! We really appreciate all the great support and feedback you have given us over the last year!

Are you looking for some one to help out with your crafty business, or is your company looking for some one interested, talented and experienced in crafting? Posting your job description on Marimello.com entitles you to a Marimello post about your company and the position available. A great investment for just $25. If you are interested in posting your Crafty job, please contact us at marimellodesign at gmail dot com or check out the job board on the right.

Industry Update: Interweave aquires Four New Magazine Titles

Yesterday, via Folio, we learned that Nielsen Business Media has sold four of its titles to Interweave, a unit of Aspire Media. As of yesterday, American Artist, Drawing, Watercolor, and Workshop magazines are all Interweave pubs, and while that may not seem like a big deal, it indicates a strength in the economy of crafting and creativity that is not being exhibited elsewhere in the magazine world.

Nielsen (gigantic! world power! Nielsen!) is shedding a few titles to Aspire, who predominantly publishes enthusiast titles. Enthusiast magazines (think, Dog Fancy or Hot Boats--the ads cater to the reader) typically weather economic downturns well, while regular old glossy magazines (think People, Life--the ads are for a more general audience) do not. Since acquiring Interweave in 2005, Aspire has increased the number of Interweave magazine titles from six to 21. Wowza! Aspire is on a mainline to craft city by creating a huge creative title catalog and clearly sees a huge potential for the genre. All of which is good news for crafters. Craft suppliers will continue to advertise. Project makers and pattern designers will continue to publish. And more importantly, Marimello will continue to have something to read on the train.

Craft Job Post: The Hobby Lobby

It's that time of year again and everyone is hustling their kids into summer activities. You know what that means? It means you can pick up some extra cash teaching crafts in your local shop.

Hobby Lobby Stores are currently seeking Independent Class Instructors.

We are currently seeking Independent Class Instructors. Would you like to share your expertise with other enthusiasts? If you answered yes, then this is the position for you!

Our independent instructors take home 100% of their class fees and there is no charge for the use of the classroom. This is an ideal position with flexible hours, and a great work environment!

Responsibilities:

• Planning the curriculum for classes
• Working with the store to schedule your classes
• In store promotion

Requirements:

• Experience/ Certification with craft or hobby that is being taught
• Works and communicates well with others
• Desire to share your talents with others
• Be self motivated

If you are interested in this position, please apply online for consideration, or you can apply at rebekah [dot] whittaket [at] hobbylobby [dot] com.

Are you looking for some one to help out with your crafty business, or is your company looking for some one interested, talented and experienced in crafting? Posting your job description on Marimello.com entitles you to a Marimello post about your company and the position available. A great investment for just $25. If you are interested in posting your Crafty job, please contact us at marimellodesign at gmail dot com or check out the job board on the right.

Craft Porn: Handmade Movements takes on and whole new meaning in PlayGirl Magazine

If you're on Etsy, you're probably familiar with the current buy-in ad campaigns they are running. It caused a kerfluffle of sorts when not every one who bought in was pleased with Etsy's exclusion of instructions for general searches on the site, but hey, you can't please everyone right?

But not all advertising is paid for and sometimes the best press is free press. So Etsy should be seeing some traffic from a different source very soon because Playgirl (that's right, the magazine) just did a little feature on their blog. Playgirl is also running the Etsy items in their print version which should be arriving in mailboxes very soon (er, not that we would know).

And no one should be surprised.

It's not news that craft sometimes takes a turn for the pervy, and even in the mainstream, porn has a DIY streak a mile wide. So, if Playgirl is reaching out to the Bust-subscribing, Jezebel-reading demographic, this is probably a wise move. This might turn out to be one of those moments when the handmade movement takes a little dip in the legitimizing waters of the mainstream. If G-rated crafters are a little peeved about the association with Playgirl, just think what porn did for VHS.

via the sweetie pie press, and Faythe on Glimmer.

[Image: Shannon Gerard, you can pick up these pins in the Witchfire shop on Etsy, or you can peruse lots more in Shannon's Etsy shop]

Economy Schmeeee-conomy: Etsy Posts Plus Signs

Those of you who have only been reading along for the last year, might not have noticed the frothy edges of Marimello's mouth when speaking about buying handmade. Suffice to type that Marimello toots the importance of buying handmade for a number of reasons, yet begrudges the need to consume and buy anything in almost the same breath.

Let's not get into the complete description here.

We gotta keep it short, because it's time to hit the road for Maker Faire, but we don't want to rub it in that we are going to the most fantastical geek fest, so here's some good news to leave you with:
Not making it to Maker Faire is nothing to be sorry about because there is SO MUCH going on this weekend. Check out the calendar for other options.
OK so what's the good economy news? While news about recession/slow economy growth keeps pouring in, Etsy news looks bright.
One one level, for sellers, maybe Etsy is sending out the "nothing to see here" message of calm. The last month has seen growth, but maybe not as much as projected.
Sales are out of this world though, so on another level it would seem that Etsy is succumbing to the same old slow down that most retailers are experiencing. Which is not as sad as it sounds! This might be the sign that Etsy really is legitimizing the handmade movement as a force to be reckoned with. Sure, Etsy has been making big waves in the smaller realm of the handmade community, but now it looks like some of those waves might be big enough to appear on the larger online consumer economy. Etsy certainly has the mainstream press to prove its influence on a larger social scale and reporting these kinds of numbers might fall on more mathematical ears as a sign of a new type of consumerism.

Your thoughts are welcomed...is Etsy's glass half full? What on earth does that mean? Should the handmade movement necessarily move forward in the mainstream?

Marimello Meetup at Maker Faire

Marie is going to be up at Maker Faire this weekend and would love to see some of your shining faces--like, in person. Drop a note to marimellodesign [at] gmail [dot] com, if you'd like to chat over some suds.

Craft Internship: Plush You/Schmancy

Wow, the jobs just keep rolling in! Marimello promises a serious post soon...in the meantime, if you are looking for experience in an indie shop, here's a good crafty internship. Let us know if you get it. We'll be jealous.

In case you aren't familiar, Plush You is an annual plush show that recently opened up a great brick and mortar up in Seattle called Schmancy. Here's the plea:

Folks, I just can't do it anymore all on my own. Elena is awesome and I wish I could clone her so I would have more of her but I can't. I am looking for an intern here at Schmancy to help with the gallery portion of my job. All the aspects of my job are like one full time job after another. BUT the internship is a part time gig that would help you learn the ins and outs of running a gallery.

Here are more details:

We are looking for an intern to help us manage the gallery side of Schmancy. This would be a part time position with us that can be done mostly from your home.

Description of job duties:
*update blog for gallery
*communicate with artists on a regular basis
*manage preview list
*promote the shows
*contact media about upcoming shows
*hang art with artist on day of openings (second friday of the month)

We are looking for someone right away. Resumes are due by April 25th. Please email me or drop them off directly at Schmancy 1932 2nd ave

Craft Job: Wm. Wright Co.

Wm. Wright Co. is a leading manufacturer of sewing and craft products such as Boye knitting & crochet implements, EZ Quilting tools, as well as trimmings, ribbons, home decorator trimmings and more!
This position is geared for a third or fourth year college student enrolled in a marketing or fashion merchandising program. You will be responsible for assisting the marketing team with preparation of new product presentation materials for the sales team, trade show materials, and assisting the marketing team in the day-to-day activities of the department.

This position will work with the Advertising and PR Manager for approximately 6 weeks and work with the Product Development team for 6 weeks.
Job Requirements:

• Should have working knowledge of Microsoft Office; knowledge of MS Project a plus.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to organize and prioritize work, juggle several projects at once.
• 20 hours per week minimum (2-3 days/week) for a twelve week period. Must have own transportation.

This is a paid position. College credit may be available depending on the requirements of your college or university.

• Location: Antioch, TN
• Compensation: $10 / hour
• This is a part-time job.
• This is an internship job
• Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
• Please, no phone calls about this job!
• Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

See the original post over here.

Craft Internship: Toronto Craft Alert

Read the original post here.

TCA is seeking interns to contribute the development of the project to be a greater resource to readers, and to reach people outside of our current community.

Depending on your area of interest, intern responsibilities may include:

• Research for an exciting new craft resource directory
• Coverage of local craft events
• Identifying creative venues and new ways to spread the word about the TCA
• Researching and posting blog & mailing list content

Perks may include tickets to craft related events, volunteer/internship hours for school programs, credited experience for your CV, and the opportunity to support and become more engaged in your local craft community.

Interested?
Respond to the following questions & attach your resume in an email to torontocraftalert@gmail.com.

1. What is your interest or how are you engaged in craft?
2. What type of work are you interested in doing for the TCA?
3. What skills and experience can you bring to this work?
4. How do you think this internship will serve your needs and interests?

Please reply to this posting by April 25, 2008.

Craft Job Post: The Knitter's Studio

If you love knitting and crocheting and are looking for a job in the fiber arts industry, The Knitter's Studio may be the place for you.

We're looking for an enthusiastic knitter to work full or part time with technical experience who can fix mistakes and help customers with good customer service skills. You must have a flexible schedule and be willing and able to work on weekends and/or weekdays. We are going on line as a retail shopping site very soon and computer literacy is required. Familiarity with Adobe Photoshop would be a plus. Punctuality and being responsible is a must. We need a minimum of a year commitment.

This is a great opportunity to gain experience in knitting, retail, and ecommerce. Please email or fax us your resume if you think you would be a good match.

Phone: 323 655-6487
Fax: 323 655-6480