08 April 09
Presence of mind
I can only hope that when I’m confronted with an earthquake that has me trapped under my home, that I have the presence of mind that this 98-year-old woman had. She literally sat crocheting while her town collapsed. She’s one of my new heroes.
14 March 09
Do It Your Own D*mn Self Show
The Chicago Craft Mafia is hosting a new kind of craft show. During a recent meeting we were talking about how we all have supplies, tools, and books that we just are never going to use. And there’s nothing wrong with them, but we regretted that we just didn’t know anyone who needs what we have so we ended up storing things that we just don’t need. This conversation led to the realization that if we have these extra supplies, then it is likely that other crafters have extra supplies, too. So wouldn’t it be great to get all those crafters and their extra supplies into one room and do a craft supply sale? We all agreed that it would be so we planned the Do It Your Own D*mn Self Show.
On March 28th from 12pm to 4pm we’ll be having this inaugural supplies-only sale at Pulaski Park Fieldhouse (1419 W. Blackhawk). Admission is free, deals will be wild, and the supplies will be fantastic! There are still a few spaces left, too. So if you’ve got a closet full of stuff you’ve been wanting to release into the crafty wild, apply to join.
14 March 09
Resources to help your crafty business
I’m very, very, very fortunate to have the fantastic women of the Chicago Craft Mafia to help me with every business issue that arises in my life. They’re all amazing and inspiring women and I couldn’t be happier that I get to see them and learn from their generosity.
Rebeca Mojica of Blue Buddha Boutique is a fabulously organized and generous woman. She’s so willing to share some great business knowledge that she wrote a piece for her website recently sharing some resources for crafty business owners and I have to agree with almost all of them. The ones that I can’t agree with are books that I haven’t read. So if you’re running or considering starting a small craft related business, check out her post. You’ll be glad you did.
12 March 09
There's something to be said for not being 25 anymore
Venus Magazine’s current issues gives some great shout-outs to some fantastic women who under 25-years-old. But thankfully they don’t leave us old fogey’s completely out of the mix. I’m happy to see my name beside Amy Carlton’s.
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03 March 09
ChicagoCrafty.com
Every time I swear I have a handle on the local craft scene, I end up realizing that I know so very little about what is going on and who is making it happen. Thankfully, Christine Renee of Re-Conceived.com and maker of the Zombie Escape Plan has created Chicago Crafty, where she’ll put up links to all the local makers, shows, boutiques that sell locally-made goods, art exhibits, calls for action, opportunities, networks, and oh my word! so much more. It’s only been up a short time and it’s chock-full of fantastic info already.
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17 February 09
Pins in mah mouf
I was sewing recently and realized that I was putting the pins in my mouth instead of in the magnetic pin "cushion" that was sitting closer to my hand than my mouth was. I don’t know if I do this a lot and just don’t realize it. I think its one of those automatic things that I do without thinking. But realizing that I quite literally had a mouth ful of pins made me think about my mom and how she would always stick pins in her mouth instead of in the pincushion. I loved watching her do it. I loved how she could talk out of half of her mouth without dropping a single pin. I loved how she looked so focused and determined when she sewed. I remember wanting to be just like her when I grew up. In this small way, I guess I am.
12 February 09
How knitting can save a demon's life
The wonderful Roni sent me a link to a Dark Horse Buffy comic where Clem, a fleshy but sweet demon, saves himself from a vampire with his knitting.
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08 February 09
Revolution! KnitGrrl Style! Now!
My day job involves me finding the most efficient and cost-effective way for text and images to exist in InDesign files so that the final product to go to our printers is printed exactly the way we want it to be, and so we don’t have to pay extra for any last-minute alterations. It’s a geeky, geeky job. And I love the joy that comes from making a template or a final pdf and seeing how it will work so easily for anyone who has to use the file. It’s not creative, in the sense that I’m not creating something from scratching. But it is creative in the sense that I’m finding the best way for items to exist together. I get all jittery and dancey when I realize that I’ve discovered a way that will save an editor a few hours of frustration and time. I do another dance when I realize that I can automate something and save a composition person some time.
My heart however is currently invested in the craft world. Seeing people make things by hand, seeing these things have a profound effect on the people who end up with them is what really keeps me motivated. But the craft world isn’t just made up of knitting, and sewing, and decoupage. Oh, no! Unless you’ve avoided the craft section at your local library or bookstore recently, you’re probably aware of a huge resurgence in the number of books that are being published about crafting in general and about specific aspects of crafting. I’ve been lucky to know a few people who have had books published about their crafting skills. And they’re all skilled. They all make great crafts. They’re all talented and great writers. But I’ve heard of so many of them get little to no respect from their publisher once the book is printed. Here is a crafter who just took 6 months to a year out of their life, out of their business, out of their family to create a book that they assumed would be publicized and pushed and advertised. And once the final product is ready and delivered to bookstores they’re left with the publisher expecting them to set up and fund their own book tours, they have to beg to have books sent to magazines and newspapers and bloggers for reviews. They have to do all of the work to make their book sell that they assume their publisher will do for them. I know it isn’t just craft book authors who go through this.
I also know that publshing isn’t making a lot of money right now and hasn’t for a long time, actually. It’s hard to make a profit in publishing books. It’s hard to keep everyone’s pockets filled and still have money to invest in making more money. And in many aspects of publishing (specifically feminism and crafting, since I know the most about them), the expectations of the books that they publish seem to be few. It seems like if an author has a decent standing online and could conceivably sell say 2,000 copies of a book, then a publisher is willing to risk publishing the book. The first printing is likely to be low, maybe around 5,000 copies. So if half of them sell, and if the publisher invests minimal time, then they break even and are able to keep a full roster of new books so their catalog is filled.
Which is why I’m delighted to hear about something that Shannon Okey of KnitGrrl is starting. She’s going to self-publish her books. She has the web presence to attract buyers. She is tapped into the market of people who are interested in her works. She has name recognition. And if she’s going to have to do the work of publicizing and submitting her book for review and sale anyway, why not publish it herself. Now I’ve never heard Shannon complain about any of the companies who have published her books in the past. So I can’t really say how much or how little publicity help she’s gotten from her publisher. But I have to commend her DIY effort and encourage others to join her.
I want to see publishers live. I want to see books printed and published and available all over the place. I love books. I love making books, reading books, sharing books, talking about books, thinking about books. But I also love knowing that people who are creative and smart and talented are going to be able to put their books together themselves and publish them through independent on-demand printers instead of relying on a minimum print run of a few thousand. It may end up being that her books only sell a few hundred copies. Or it may end up that they sell many thousand copies. But either way, Shannon’s books will sell because Shannon is willing to put all the hard work necessary into getting them printed. And if she’s doing all the hard work, she deserves all the profits. Stay tuned for more updates on what her books are and when and where they’re available.
