![[Valid RSS]](/valid-rss.png "Validate my RSS feed")
Okay, then – let’s get down to the big question: where did the online, indie craft community fit into this whole CHA thing?
CHA made some effort to create a presence for indie craft at the show: there was an Indie Craft booth where crafters led demo sessions, and CHA invited folks like Faythe Levine of Handmade Nation and Tina Barseghian of CRAFT Magazine to give presentations. CHA also hosted a public contest, where people could submit samples of indie crafting to be displayed at the show.
So, CHA knows we’re here. But, as you’ll see, there’s still a gulf of understanding to be crossed.
That Indie Craft booth is a good place to start. The photo above shows Ed Roth of Stencil 101 giving a demo session there. It was a mostly empty space, with seating for about a dozen people. To Ed’s right, you can see a couple glass display cases housing the winning Indie Craft Contest entries (more pics of these are below).
Also in the booth was a large display wall, printed with a CHA Trend Report about Indie Crafters. I’d highly recommend that you read the full text of this report online, but I’ll give you some highlights:
As you can see above, Adorn Magazine, which has been out of print for over a year, is cited as one of “our” magazines.
This section talks about the materials we supposedly use. Homeopathy? Aromatherapy? Organic teas?
And who is this “most” that thinks we’re reminiscent of hippies?
…And here’s a list of “our” books. How much do I love that Ed tagged the display with a postcard for his own book?
Anyway – the report is unfortunately riddled with misconception and outright error (and typos). This is my very favorite excerpt:
“Almost all [indie craft] sites include a tag line like “Not your grandmother’s crafts.” Some are even more hip by stating, “For those who really do run with scissors.” These crafters don’t want to be associated with what we consider “normal” arts and crafts.”
Wow.
When I first read the report, I was frankly a bit frustrated. I even posted, “Miss the point much?” on Twitter. But after some thought, I realized that getting upset isn’t productive.
For one thing, we all know that our community is infinitely more rich and varied than this report portrays. But it’s also that very kaleidoscopic nature that makes it challenging to boil us down to a few marketing keywords.
The people who compiled this report may reside outside our community, and perhaps didn’t research us too deeply – but they had a hard task. I sure wouldn’t want to be tasked with describing our whole vibrant movement in two pages to an audience who isn’t all that internet-savvy!
I think that one of the main reasons CHA sees us as this odd little subculture is that they’re an organization whose goal is to help make the craft industry money. And in our online community, we’re much more about connection than money. Consider this telling statement from the report:
“Experts within the craft industry acknowledge that this movement hasn’t been fully embraced due to a lack of awareness. While many of the artists use craft supplies such as paint, glue, embellishments, and beads, a lot of it is recycled and not produced by traditional manufacturers in the craft industry.”
In other words, the perception is that we don’t buy enough stuff from CHA member companies.
Except, we really do! It’s true that we do a lot of reclaiming and recycling, but I think even the most frugal of us has likely bought something from a craft store in the last 30 days. Every recycled-sweater scarf requires a needle and thread. Every recycled paper vase requires glue and varnish.
And what’s even more important is that we are tightly networked online. When we buy craft products and like them, we can spread the word to other crafters with dizzying speed and efficiency. But most craft manufacturers haven’t quite made this realization yet (as you’ll see in an upcoming podcast).
So, we represent huge and untapped potential as an engaged market. But it’s clearly up to us to help the craft industry learn what that means.
I’m working on a couple future podcasts to address how we might go about introducing ourselves properly to CHA. So stay tuned. Meantime, I’d love to hear your comments.
Tomorrow, we’ll be talking about Paris Hilton as Crafter.
Did they seriously just connect me as an indie crafter to HOMEOPATHY! That actually rather infuriates me, I make fun jewelry for people I don’t tell them water will cure their cancer.
Did they seriously just connect me as an indie crafter to HOMEOPATHY! That actually rather infuriates me, I make fun jewelry for people I don’t tell them water will cure their cancer.
Diane, you really ‘hit the nail on it’s head’ (that’s a Dutch expression, but I’m sure you’ll understand). The case with Indie crafting, Bohemian writers, underground artists and all those ‘hippies’ is that they are always ahead of their time. And saying this out loud and proud: ‘good things take time, a lot of time (and hard work)!’
PS.: Paris Hilton as Crafter?
PPS: Just a question I’m wondering about, is there a connection between Craft: magazine and Craft:Stylish?
xoxo
Diane, you really ‘hit the nail on it’s head’ (that’s a Dutch expression, but I’m sure you’ll understand). The case with Indie crafting, Bohemian writers, underground artists and all those ‘hippies’ is that they are always ahead of their time. And saying this out loud and proud: ‘good things take time, a lot of time (and hard work)!’
PS.: Paris Hilton as Crafter?
PPS: Just a question I’m wondering about, is there a connection between Craft: magazine and Craft:Stylish?
xoxo
I’ve been called a hippie a few times in my life and I always smirk and shake my head. Really? A hippie? I really enjoyed reading this, good stuff to ponder. I go to craft stores all the time! But I’m not there to buy the kits or the put our idea together and call it your own stuff. Like you said, I’m there for supplies. All things have their place, though.
I’ve been called a hippie a few times in my life and I always smirk and shake my head. Really? A hippie? I really enjoyed reading this, good stuff to ponder. I go to craft stores all the time! But I’m not there to buy the kits or the put our idea together and call it your own stuff. Like you said, I’m there for supplies. All things have their place, though.
wow, so enlightening. Thanks for this. Look forward to hearing more!
wow, so enlightening. Thanks for this. Look forward to hearing more!
It really does sound like someone with zero connection wrote the report (at least the parts you quoted… I haven’t read it yet). They should have invited one of the “indie crafters” they included in the booth to contribute to the report.
Okay, next year, we all have OUR OWN Indie Crafting booth so we can show them the what what!
It really does sound like someone with zero connection wrote the report (at least the parts you quoted… I haven’t read it yet). They should have invited one of the “indie crafters” they included in the booth to contribute to the report.
Okay, next year, we all have OUR OWN Indie Crafting booth so we can show them the what what!
This has got to be one of the most interesting things I’ve read on the internet in a long time. Thank you for going. Thank you for bringing our perspective there and for sharing their perspective here.
I have often gotten the feeling of a huge disconnect between mainstream crafting companies and those of us doing our own thing out here, and it is even more real than I’d imagined. So fascinating!
This has got to be one of the most interesting things I’ve read on the internet in a long time. Thank you for going. Thank you for bringing our perspective there and for sharing their perspective here.
I have often gotten the feeling of a huge disconnect between mainstream crafting companies and those of us doing our own thing out here, and it is even more real than I’d imagined. So fascinating!
I think the title should have been “CHA Stabs Indie Crafters with Over Priced, Poorly Made In China Knife to the Heart,” or something to that effect.
I am stunned at how “indie crafters” are perseeved. Even the title has a bit of uninformed nastiness to it. Like “Indie Musicians” who are thought of as slightly off-key and out of touch with the mainstream. To them I say Etsy much lately????
I think the title should have been “CHA Stabs Indie Crafters with Over Priced, Poorly Made In China Knife to the Heart,” or something to that effect.
I am stunned at how “indie crafters” are perseeved. Even the title has a bit of uninformed nastiness to it. Like “Indie Musicians” who are thought of as slightly off-key and out of touch with the mainstream. To them I say Etsy much lately????
i’m just confused. who are indie crafters? non-corp people who make stuff to sell? or just people who make stuff? where are all these hippies and how come i don’t know any of them? i don’t make things to sell, so obviously i’m not a corp-crafter, but i don’t make jewelry out of bottle caps, nor do i run with my grandma’s scissors or whatever it was, so maybe i am not a crafter at all, indie or otherwise. was there a booth for “one-hand clapping” crafters like me? if a non-selling crafter falls in the woods, does she make sound?
i’m optimistic that paris hilton will have some answers for me.
mara
kleiosbelly.wordpress.com
i’m just confused. who are indie crafters? non-corp people who make stuff to sell? or just people who make stuff? where are all these hippies and how come i don’t know any of them? i don’t make things to sell, so obviously i’m not a corp-crafter, but i don’t make jewelry out of bottle caps, nor do i run with my grandma’s scissors or whatever it was, so maybe i am not a crafter at all, indie or otherwise. was there a booth for “one-hand clapping” crafters like me? if a non-selling crafter falls in the woods, does she make sound?
i’m optimistic that paris hilton will have some answers for me.
mara
kleiosbelly.wordpress.com
very interesting observations!
very interesting observations!
Diane, this is incredibly insightful and well-put. Come to think of it, some of those company sales reps did look at you like you were an alien when you inquired about recording them for a podcast. What’s that? Does that mean you live in a pod? Anyway, I suspect that someone (intern?) was tasked with putting together the signage and newsletter for that indie craft area, as it seem so ill-conceived and tossed off. Then again, maybe that’s how the mainstream craft industry regards us. If they only knew how much coin I drop at Michael’s and Joann’s.
Diane, this is incredibly insightful and well-put. Come to think of it, some of those company sales reps did look at you like you were an alien when you inquired about recording them for a podcast. What’s that? Does that mean you live in a pod? Anyway, I suspect that someone (intern?) was tasked with putting together the signage and newsletter for that indie craft area, as it seem so ill-conceived and tossed off. Then again, maybe that’s how the mainstream craft industry regards us. If they only knew how much coin I drop at Michael’s and Joann’s.
Oh *rolling* my eyes over here! My favorite are the clear typos on the website list: Idie Craft Documentary? Croq Zone? Adorn? RIP…Really? Poor research. I’m interested to read the rest of the report when I get a chance.
“These crafters don’t want to be associated with what we consider “normal” arts and crafts.” – I love this quote. I want to know who the almighty “we” is that gets to decide what is “normal” arts and crafts. So our crafts aren’t normal? What a statement! Oh my.
Oh *rolling* my eyes over here! My favorite are the clear typos on the website list: Idie Craft Documentary? Croq Zone? Adorn? RIP…Really? Poor research. I’m interested to read the rest of the report when I get a chance.
“These crafters don’t want to be associated with what we consider “normal” arts and crafts.” – I love this quote. I want to know who the almighty “we” is that gets to decide what is “normal” arts and crafts. So our crafts aren’t normal? What a statement! Oh my.
I publish Creative Leisure News, a business newsletter reporting on the art/craft business. It’s published twice a month at my website, http://www.clnonline.com. This recent trade show was my 30th. (The Craft & Hobby Association is the result of a merger between two older associations.)
I sympathize with the CHA staff and the apparent mistakes they made at the show regarding indie crafters. I have tried to write about the indie movement, but it’s difficult to get a handle on it, like catching a cloud. Many facets of the industry feel the same way. We want to help make your work more creative and satisfying, but we don’t know how.
So, if you would like to speak to the retailers, manufacturers, importers, designers, etc., I’ll be happy to publish your thoughts. I publish an issue twice a month, have unlimited space, and don’t accept advertising, so I’m not concerned if someone doesn’t like something I publish. Basically I want to inform my subscribers and give them thought-provoking ideas.
Feel free to email me. mike@clnonline.com
P.S. There may be a nightmare looming on the horizon for any of you who sell your creations. Portions of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act are to go into effect Feb. 10. If you sell anything that would be used by kids or considered a toy, the law requires a lot of expensive testing. The intent of the law was to stop lead in toys, but the law has far, far reaching implications for crafters who sell their creations. The association, CHA, is working with other trade groups to lobby Washington for an intelligent, common-sense implementation of the law.
I publish Creative Leisure News, a business newsletter reporting on the art/craft business. It’s published twice a month at my website, http://www.clnonline.com. This recent trade show was my 30th. (The Craft & Hobby Association is the result of a merger between two older associations.)
I sympathize with the CHA staff and the apparent mistakes they made at the show regarding indie crafters. I have tried to write about the indie movement, but it’s difficult to get a handle on it, like catching a cloud. Many facets of the industry feel the same way. We want to help make your work more creative and satisfying, but we don’t know how.
So, if you would like to speak to the retailers, manufacturers, importers, designers, etc., I’ll be happy to publish your thoughts. I publish an issue twice a month, have unlimited space, and don’t accept advertising, so I’m not concerned if someone doesn’t like something I publish. Basically I want to inform my subscribers and give them thought-provoking ideas.
Feel free to email me. mike@clnonline.com
P.S. There may be a nightmare looming on the horizon for any of you who sell your creations. Portions of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act are to go into effect Feb. 10. If you sell anything that would be used by kids or considered a toy, the law requires a lot of expensive testing. The intent of the law was to stop lead in toys, but the law has far, far reaching implications for crafters who sell their creations. The association, CHA, is working with other trade groups to lobby Washington for an intelligent, common-sense implementation of the law.
The funny thing is, the so-called hippie crafts were embraced by the commercial craft companies- it is probably where some of them started. For example, there were tons of books and kits for macrame, tie-dye, whatever- now all available on Ebay :-)
The funny thing is, the so-called hippie crafts were embraced by the commercial craft companies- it is probably where some of them started. For example, there were tons of books and kits for macrame, tie-dye, whatever- now all available on Ebay :-)
I post over at a mainstream crafting board from one of the big manufacturers that was at CHA. If you saw Hannah Montana & SpongeBob you know what I am talking about. :)
In the last week all I heard about was CHA. Great, couldn’t wait to see what they had until I heard them mention about us Indie Crafters like we were all crafting in a commune. Seriously. I thought the age of racism & judgement was over.
If I sound harsh it was harsh. Made me so mad that because I am a proud Indie Crafter but I have spent literally thousands of dollars on their products. I am one of the long time posters at not one but two of their boards.
Honestly, the way they spoke the only reason they invited indie crafters was to see how big of a threat we were to them profit wise.
Yes, it was shocking & hurtful. I then come over tonight & realized it was just not me who felt this way.
Made me feel a lot better. I did not rant at the board. I am seriously annoyed, lol.
Thank you for the informative post. It was really good. It is all about profit. My DH said the other day that some of these companies are getting too greedy.
I post over at a mainstream crafting board from one of the big manufacturers that was at CHA. If you saw Hannah Montana & SpongeBob you know what I am talking about. :)
In the last week all I heard about was CHA. Great, couldn’t wait to see what they had until I heard them mention about us Indie Crafters like we were all crafting in a commune. Seriously. I thought the age of racism & judgement was over.
If I sound harsh it was harsh. Made me so mad that because I am a proud Indie Crafter but I have spent literally thousands of dollars on their products. I am one of the long time posters at not one but two of their boards.
Honestly, the way they spoke the only reason they invited indie crafters was to see how big of a threat we were to them profit wise.
Yes, it was shocking & hurtful. I then come over tonight & realized it was just not me who felt this way.
Made me feel a lot better. I did not rant at the board. I am seriously annoyed, lol.
Thank you for the informative post. It was really good. It is all about profit. My DH said the other day that some of these companies are getting too greedy.
Diane, thanks so much for your reporting on CHA—I feel like I’m learning just a ton—Generally your podcast and blog is terribly informative and entertaining anyway, but I really really appreciate how readily you go outside what one might call the “indie craft” comfort zone and ask the deeper questions.
I’m also finding others’ reactions here to the CHA’s relative cluelessness quite interesting. I have often been struck in “indie” craft publications and blogs by a equally deep cluelessness about the (social) history of craft; and then of course there is that often repeated rhetoric about how different it all is, the whole “not your grandma’s” and “young and hip” thang—Ok, so a lot of that is marketing anyhow, but now I’m thinking, huh, what is the CHA doing but taking (some of) what is out there at face value? Some voices out there have insisted on and and prided themselves on “difference” and the CHA is picking up on that. And to be a bit more specific much of this making of distinctions has to do with distancing onself from other groups of people, people whom “we” don’t want to be associated with—conservative old ladies? Stodgy and not really creative middleage, middleclass suburban women who >>>shudder<<< scrapbook? Kind of a bit weird to see that people who’ve been looked down at are doing their own looking down in return?
I honestly don’t mean to be all nasty and cynical about this—I can see why some of your readers had their feelings hurt and I certainly don’t want to add to that—just want to say along with all the beauty and creativity and support that is out there, there are less shiney and innocent impulses. It’s really valuable to get a broader perspective.
Diane, thanks so much for your reporting on CHA—I feel like I’m learning just a ton—Generally your podcast and blog is terribly informative and entertaining anyway, but I really really appreciate how readily you go outside what one might call the “indie craft” comfort zone and ask the deeper questions.
I’m also finding others’ reactions here to the CHA’s relative cluelessness quite interesting. I have often been struck in “indie” craft publications and blogs by a equally deep cluelessness about the (social) history of craft; and then of course there is that often repeated rhetoric about how different it all is, the whole “not your grandma’s” and “young and hip” thang—Ok, so a lot of that is marketing anyhow, but now I’m thinking, huh, what is the CHA doing but taking (some of) what is out there at face value? Some voices out there have insisted on and and prided themselves on “difference” and the CHA is picking up on that. And to be a bit more specific much of this making of distinctions has to do with distancing onself from other groups of people, people whom “we” don’t want to be associated with—conservative old ladies? Stodgy and not really creative middleage, middleclass suburban women who >>>shudder<<< scrapbook? Kind of a bit weird to see that people who’ve been looked down at are doing their own looking down in return?
I honestly don’t mean to be all nasty and cynical about this—I can see why some of your readers had their feelings hurt and I certainly don’t want to add to that—just want to say along with all the beauty and creativity and support that is out there, there are less shiney and innocent impulses. It’s really valuable to get a broader perspective.
thanks diane for posting this!
faythe levine told me the the CHA people had a marketing company write the text for that panel. as pointed out so poorly researched – and there is no excuse for some of those typos. it looks to me like that was thrown together by someone’s assistant in an afternoon.
that looks like a big crowd for ed roth. when i went to say hi to leah kramer there was no one in her audience.
the “indie craft” area was in the back corner of the show (very easy to miss and i bet most who attended the show never saw it). my theory is that it was probably a way of filling in space. if they had had more vendors (paying the big bucks for booths) you know for sure they would have given that space up for them.
nice try i guess, but it would have been more beneficial for everyone if they had taken the time to get things right. the CHA people should come over to my house and see the drawers and drawers of craft supplies that i purchase from stores like michaels (you know how much i love the mod podge and aleene’s tacky glue!!).
what it does all boils down to is business. craft supplies have to be sold. any presence of “indie craft” at a show like CHA is to highlight a potential market. and the “indie craft” scene is also a place where designers (for companies that sell at CHA) look at the get (in some cases probably steal) ideas. a friend is works for a mass market company that shows at CHA and she told me that information from natalie zee drieu’s seminar last year “really made the rounds” and appeared in trend reports.
i think it’s safe to say that while we consider ourselves a community others see us as a commodity. it’s really not that different than high fashion designers getting inspiration from street fashion. we can choose to be either flattered or disgusted.
thanks diane for posting this!
faythe levine told me the the CHA people had a marketing company write the text for that panel. as pointed out so poorly researched – and there is no excuse for some of those typos. it looks to me like that was thrown together by someone’s assistant in an afternoon.
that looks like a big crowd for ed roth. when i went to say hi to leah kramer there was no one in her audience.
the “indie craft” area was in the back corner of the show (very easy to miss and i bet most who attended the show never saw it). my theory is that it was probably a way of filling in space. if they had had more vendors (paying the big bucks for booths) you know for sure they would have given that space up for them.
nice try i guess, but it would have been more beneficial for everyone if they had taken the time to get things right. the CHA people should come over to my house and see the drawers and drawers of craft supplies that i purchase from stores like michaels (you know how much i love the mod podge and aleene’s tacky glue!!).
what it does all boils down to is business. craft supplies have to be sold. any presence of “indie craft” at a show like CHA is to highlight a potential market. and the “indie craft” scene is also a place where designers (for companies that sell at CHA) look at the get (in some cases probably steal) ideas. a friend is works for a mass market company that shows at CHA and she told me that information from natalie zee drieu’s seminar last year “really made the rounds” and appeared in trend reports.
i think it’s safe to say that while we consider ourselves a community others see us as a commodity. it’s really not that different than high fashion designers getting inspiration from street fashion. we can choose to be either flattered or disgusted.
This was so edgy and fun to read Diane, you should be angry more often! ;-) And considering that they say it themselves; “hasn’t been fully embraced due to a lack of awareness” – they are not aware of the potential obviously! ;-)
Love the Paris Hilton report too; can a famous face sell anything? Will crafters embrace her products becuase she is she or is it fashion girls start that will start crafting all of a sudden? Hmm… Lots of fun to ponder. Hehe.
This was so edgy and fun to read Diane, you should be angry more often! ;-) And considering that they say it themselves; “hasn’t been fully embraced due to a lack of awareness” – they are not aware of the potential obviously! ;-)
Love the Paris Hilton report too; can a famous face sell anything? Will crafters embrace her products becuase she is she or is it fashion girls start that will start crafting all of a sudden? Hmm… Lots of fun to ponder. Hehe.
Thanks for tweeting about the comments here! Good to come back and read ‘em!
Thanks for tweeting about the comments here! Good to come back and read ‘em!
what the what? did CHA just fall off the organic commune’s turnip truck? (no offense to organic commune turnip farmers)
what the what? did CHA just fall off the organic commune’s turnip truck? (no offense to organic commune turnip farmers)
I find this fascinating. All of it. The truth is, we’re talking about a new movement of crafters that isn’t defined by an age group or an aesthetic or even a single mantra beyond their desire to create unique and original things. These are the same folks who have from the dawn of crafting, been setting the trends and forging new creative pathways and testing the boundaries. So call us Hippies or Beatniks or Tramps or Gypsies or Avant Garde or punk…whatever label makes you feel good…but realize that in order to reach beyond the kit buying crowd, you need to offer them products that allow them room for their own creativity. I consider myself to be an Indie Crafter, I consider a lot of folks far older and younger than myself to be too, it’s really not so easy to categorize or pigeon hole. It’s an attitude and even that attitude has abundant variety.
I know we talked and I think it’s good that CHA is trying to reach out to what it sees as a new audience. I just think talking about them as if they’re exotic animals in a zoo is probably not the best outreach! If the craft industry wants to keep selling product, they have to always be cultivating avenues of connection with the crafter. I’ve blogged this before, it’s not about skulls and tattoos and pin up girls, it’s about unique, interesting, cutting edge materials and tools for creativity.
Great blog post, great topic and hopefully an opening to some very useful discussion.
Cheers,
Madge
I find this fascinating. All of it. The truth is, we’re talking about a new movement of crafters that isn’t defined by an age group or an aesthetic or even a single mantra beyond their desire to create unique and original things. These are the same folks who have from the dawn of crafting, been setting the trends and forging new creative pathways and testing the boundaries. So call us Hippies or Beatniks or Tramps or Gypsies or Avant Garde or punk…whatever label makes you feel good…but realize that in order to reach beyond the kit buying crowd, you need to offer them products that allow them room for their own creativity. I consider myself to be an Indie Crafter, I consider a lot of folks far older and younger than myself to be too, it’s really not so easy to categorize or pigeon hole. It’s an attitude and even that attitude has abundant variety.
I know we talked and I think it’s good that CHA is trying to reach out to what it sees as a new audience. I just think talking about them as if they’re exotic animals in a zoo is probably not the best outreach! If the craft industry wants to keep selling product, they have to always be cultivating avenues of connection with the crafter. I’ve blogged this before, it’s not about skulls and tattoos and pin up girls, it’s about unique, interesting, cutting edge materials and tools for creativity.
Great blog post, great topic and hopefully an opening to some very useful discussion.
Cheers,
Madge
agreed… but typical for the CHA collective. Each year we marvel at how out of touch the marketing group seems to be. Perhaps they should have asked an Indie crafter to write the report… or formed a small indie “Think Tank” to help with their research. Asking one person what they think just won’t cut it.
It’s not much different than the “Hispanic market” report from 2 years back… which was seemingly not written by a Hispanic… and now 2 years later that market is barely being hit.
agreed… but typical for the CHA collective. Each year we marvel at how out of touch the marketing group seems to be. Perhaps they should have asked an Indie crafter to write the report… or formed a small indie “Think Tank” to help with their research. Asking one person what they think just won’t cut it.
It’s not much different than the “Hispanic market” report from 2 years back… which was seemingly not written by a Hispanic… and now 2 years later that market is barely being hit.
interesting because we’ve seen so much movement & momentum within our own sphere, but it must seem so tiny to a behemoth like CHA. i also think one of our key differences is the fundamental ethic of individuality: indie is technically short for “independent,” but I think “individual.” to that end, we look for things that support & benefit individual crafters rather than corporations, which might seem threatening to a group like CHA — but a corporation is made of and serves individuals, and we have many of the same values: self-expression, creativity, quality, connection. we all have crafting at heart.
interesting because we’ve seen so much movement & momentum within our own sphere, but it must seem so tiny to a behemoth like CHA. i also think one of our key differences is the fundamental ethic of individuality: indie is technically short for “independent,” but I think “individual.” to that end, we look for things that support & benefit individual crafters rather than corporations, which might seem threatening to a group like CHA — but a corporation is made of and serves individuals, and we have many of the same values: self-expression, creativity, quality, connection. we all have crafting at heart.
I am excited that this topic which is so dear to my heart from all angles is being brought up for discussion on Sister Diane’s wonderful site. I’m a proud Southern California Indie Crafter and an even prouder CHA member. This was the third expo that I had attended and I went in the category of Professional Crafter but also went as a burgeoning Designer and Retailer because I also sell supplies online. So I was so thrilled to learn that there was finally going to be an Indie presence at the show. Thank God – it’s one thing that had bugged me the previous years. And on top of that here was a once in a lifetime opportunity to have all the Rock Stars of the Indie Craft Movement in one place at one time. How cool is that?! But every time I walked by the area was empty. And I was there all four days. But what I realized is that the Indie Crafters were invited to introduce them as a powerful growing vibrant market with fresh new designs to the Retailers and Manufacturers and not to celebrate the Indie Craft Movement per se. And that’s ok!!!! Think about it – those manufacturers want to make what people want to buy. I spend thousands at Michael’s and Joanne’s every year and it frustrates me to no end when all I can find is pompoms and tired leather lacing. Where is the freshness? Where are the new ideas and motifs? You’d be surprised to see how many of the booths at CHA are manned by tired looking older gentlemen selling yarns and hooked rug patterns featuring windmills. BUT that’s what is so beautiful about it all – these manufacturers want new ideas and here is the perfect opportunity for everyone in the crafting community to step up and tell the big manufacturers what it is that we want to buy!!! Or else step up and become our own manufacturers selling our own supplies and tools and designs! That’s exactly what happened in the 1950′s-1960′s when the Studio Arts Movement happened. Artists reclaimed techniques and tools which up to then had only ever been used by big industries. This is such a wonderful opportunity for big manufacturers and individual artisans to have an open dialog about what is wanted and what is needed. And it’s not just “Crafters” coming together to talk now. I love how we’re seeing more and more Fine Artists and Fine Craftsmen, Designers, Artisans and Crafters dropping those labels to talk openly about the nature of creativity itself and how we each approach it uniquely. It’s a beautiful thing and so exciting to be the the Arts right now.
But back to the contest, I was disappointed as a crafter in implementation of the contest but that seems to have been a miscalculation on the part of the marketing company handling the exhibit. They really should celebrated those artists all of whom were so excited to be chosen and then were so let down. It’s a big deal to win a contest – there should have been prizes. How cool would it have been to have awarded those winners with bags of supplies from those self-same manufacturers. It was just a big goof that could have so easily been avoided.
And by the way, Mike Hartnett who posted earlier is himself a Rock Star in the creative world. I heard him speak that Sunday at CHA about turning ideas into products and he truly is an inspiring generous soul who wants everyone to aspire to greatness. We should all take him up on his kind kind offer to put our ideas in front of the manufacturers. That is like getting the golden ticket into Willie Wonka’s factory. It really is.
And thanks, Diane, I love your podcasts!!!
I am excited that this topic which is so dear to my heart from all angles is being brought up for discussion on Sister Diane’s wonderful site. I’m a proud Southern California Indie Crafter and an even prouder CHA member. This was the third expo that I had attended and I went in the category of Professional Crafter but also went as a burgeoning Designer and Retailer because I also sell supplies online. So I was so thrilled to learn that there was finally going to be an Indie presence at the show. Thank God – it’s one thing that had bugged me the previous years. And on top of that here was a once in a lifetime opportunity to have all the Rock Stars of the Indie Craft Movement in one place at one time. How cool is that?! But every time I walked by the area was empty. And I was there all four days. But what I realized is that the Indie Crafters were invited to introduce them as a powerful growing vibrant market with fresh new designs to the Retailers and Manufacturers and not to celebrate the Indie Craft Movement per se. And that’s ok!!!! Think about it – those manufacturers want to make what people want to buy. I spend thousands at Michael’s and Joanne’s every year and it frustrates me to no end when all I can find is pompoms and tired leather lacing. Where is the freshness? Where are the new ideas and motifs? You’d be surprised to see how many of the booths at CHA are manned by tired looking older gentlemen selling yarns and hooked rug patterns featuring windmills. BUT that’s what is so beautiful about it all – these manufacturers want new ideas and here is the perfect opportunity for everyone in the crafting community to step up and tell the big manufacturers what it is that we want to buy!!! Or else step up and become our own manufacturers selling our own supplies and tools and designs! That’s exactly what happened in the 1950′s-1960′s when the Studio Arts Movement happened. Artists reclaimed techniques and tools which up to then had only ever been used by big industries. This is such a wonderful opportunity for big manufacturers and individual artisans to have an open dialog about what is wanted and what is needed. And it’s not just “Crafters” coming together to talk now. I love how we’re seeing more and more Fine Artists and Fine Craftsmen, Designers, Artisans and Crafters dropping those labels to talk openly about the nature of creativity itself and how we each approach it uniquely. It’s a beautiful thing and so exciting to be the the Arts right now.
But back to the contest, I was disappointed as a crafter in implementation of the contest but that seems to have been a miscalculation on the part of the marketing company handling the exhibit. They really should celebrated those artists all of whom were so excited to be chosen and then were so let down. It’s a big deal to win a contest – there should have been prizes. How cool would it have been to have awarded those winners with bags of supplies from those self-same manufacturers. It was just a big goof that could have so easily been avoided.
And by the way, Mike Hartnett who posted earlier is himself a Rock Star in the creative world. I heard him speak that Sunday at CHA about turning ideas into products and he truly is an inspiring generous soul who wants everyone to aspire to greatness. We should all take him up on his kind kind offer to put our ideas in front of the manufacturers. That is like getting the golden ticket into Willie Wonka’s factory. It really is.
And thanks, Diane, I love your podcasts!!!
Yikes – please let me clarify that when I said “You’d be surprised to see how many of the booths at CHA are manned by tired looking older gentlemen selling yarns and hooked rug patterns featuring windmills” I meant to say “You’d be surprised to see that there are SOME booths manned by tired looking older gentlemen selling yarns and hooked rug patterns featuring windmills”. There must have been at least 800? vendors there, most of whom were selling really cool wonderful modern items. The tired gentlemen are but a small portion. :)
Yikes – please let me clarify that when I said “You’d be surprised to see how many of the booths at CHA are manned by tired looking older gentlemen selling yarns and hooked rug patterns featuring windmills” I meant to say “You’d be surprised to see that there are SOME booths manned by tired looking older gentlemen selling yarns and hooked rug patterns featuring windmills”. There must have been at least 800? vendors there, most of whom were selling really cool wonderful modern items. The tired gentlemen are but a small portion. :)
As one of those odd new “hippie” crafters who gets a lot of her supplies from the side of the road and thrift stores, I agree that the suppliers are missing a HUGE opportunity.
Make me want to buy your items by getting to know more about my INSPIRATION, not just looking at the end result and materials used. I used to work in a Michael’s store and would stuff the silk flowers that fell off the stems and got swept up at night in my purse to take home to decorate hats with – now you can buy little packets of flowers in the scrapbooking aisles. But 20 years went by between my hoarding of trash flowers and the marketing of brand new ones… if they want to keep up with us, they need to engage us, not patronize us.
Funny how I never was sure if I was “indie” or not – but if reading Craft magazine and using repurposed materials is part of the definition, I guess I am!
As one of those odd new “hippie” crafters who gets a lot of her supplies from the side of the road and thrift stores, I agree that the suppliers are missing a HUGE opportunity.
Make me want to buy your items by getting to know more about my INSPIRATION, not just looking at the end result and materials used. I used to work in a Michael’s store and would stuff the silk flowers that fell off the stems and got swept up at night in my purse to take home to decorate hats with – now you can buy little packets of flowers in the scrapbooking aisles. But 20 years went by between my hoarding of trash flowers and the marketing of brand new ones… if they want to keep up with us, they need to engage us, not patronize us.
Funny how I never was sure if I was “indie” or not – but if reading Craft magazine and using repurposed materials is part of the definition, I guess I am!