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Indie Craft Contest winners on display at CHA.
A quick note to let you know that an article I wrote, Understanding Indie Crafters (by an Indie Crafter) has just popped up in the public archives of Creative Leisure News.
(Warning: it’s a long one – pack a snack.)
The most recent podcast features an interview with the publisher of this newsletter, Mike Hartnett – knowledgeable and fascinating guy. He invited me to write a piece for CLN, which reaches a variety of craft-industry people.
I’d love to hear your thoughts. What parts of our story did I miss?
I haven’t listened to the podcast yet and am only partway through your CLN article, but just had to say I let out a huge “hell yeah!” at this bit:
“We aren’t interested, however, in products that merely represent “green,” like recycling-symbol stickers or earth-shaped embroidery templates.”
I just came across a bunch of this stuff at Michael’s the other day and was sooo frustrated. I want my normal awesome crafting tools/supplies to be green, not just to advertise “green” slogans/imagery. I’ve also seen scrapbooking/paperarts supplies with a green emphasis that fall into this trap — Die Cuts With a View Green Stack is (yay!) 70% post-consumer recycled paper, but it’s almost entirely cutesy bird and squirrel images (boo!). K&Company, in comparison is “getting it” better by having normal colors and patterns (plus Amy Butler designs) in their recycled line–which also has environmentally conscious packaging *and* cross-markets a promotion to donate toward trees being planted at Habitat for Humanity Kansas City homes.
DCWV Green Stack: http://www.diecutswithaview.com/search_results.php?keywords=recycled&x=0&y=0
K&Company Recycled Products: http://www.kandcompany.com/shop/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=741
K&Company Plant a Tree: http://www.kandcompany.com/shop/pc/viewContent.asp?idpage=90
Thank you, thank you, thank you for putting this message out there and to Mike for giving you this opportunity to reach the CHA masses :)
I haven’t listened to the podcast yet and am only partway through your CLN article, but just had to say I let out a huge “hell yeah!” at this bit:
“We aren’t interested, however, in products that merely represent “green,” like recycling-symbol stickers or earth-shaped embroidery templates.”
I just came across a bunch of this stuff at Michael’s the other day and was sooo frustrated. I want my normal awesome crafting tools/supplies to be green, not just to advertise “green” slogans/imagery. I’ve also seen scrapbooking/paperarts supplies with a green emphasis that fall into this trap — Die Cuts With a View Green Stack is (yay!) 70% post-consumer recycled paper, but it’s almost entirely cutesy bird and squirrel images (boo!). K&Company, in comparison is “getting it” better by having normal colors and patterns (plus Amy Butler designs) in their recycled line–which also has environmentally conscious packaging *and* cross-markets a promotion to donate toward trees being planted at Habitat for Humanity Kansas City homes.
DCWV Green Stack: http://www.diecutswithaview.com/search_results.php?keywords=recycled&x=0&y=0
K&Company Recycled Products: http://www.kandcompany.com/shop/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=741
K&Company Plant a Tree: http://www.kandcompany.com/shop/pc/viewContent.asp?idpage=90
Thank you, thank you, thank you for putting this message out there and to Mike for giving you this opportunity to reach the CHA masses :)
Diane- your article was so well put! I think you hit the nail on the head when describing what indie crafters are interested in buying, and how to reach us by first reaching out to the individual. I hope lots of people in the biz read and listen to your advice.
Diane- your article was so well put! I think you hit the nail on the head when describing what indie crafters are interested in buying, and how to reach us by first reaching out to the individual. I hope lots of people in the biz read and listen to your advice.
You are my hero, yet again. Your article is perfectly to the point, friendly, cooperative, and *right*. I hope companies listen and that great success comes charging in.
You are my hero, yet again. Your article is perfectly to the point, friendly, cooperative, and *right*. I hope companies listen and that great success comes charging in.
“Another important way to reach indie crafters is to give them some recognition when they use your products. When you find an indie crafter who’s used one of your products in a project posted on his or her blog, why not offer to feature that crafter on your website? Not only is that crafter likely to sing your praises through her online channels, you’ll also be sharing some very creative uses for your products with your own online audience.”
That is SO the truth. When DMC listed me as a resource on their website for my crochet videos, I instantly posted to my blog to talk about how I’ve used their products to make crocheted jewelry and how I’d been using their threads for years. I wouldn’t call that a “feature” but certainly recognition that was greatly appreciated. And to this day, I still get regular hits from their link.
Thanks for the great read about all things indie!
“Another important way to reach indie crafters is to give them some recognition when they use your products. When you find an indie crafter who’s used one of your products in a project posted on his or her blog, why not offer to feature that crafter on your website? Not only is that crafter likely to sing your praises through her online channels, you’ll also be sharing some very creative uses for your products with your own online audience.”
That is SO the truth. When DMC listed me as a resource on their website for my crochet videos, I instantly posted to my blog to talk about how I’ve used their products to make crocheted jewelry and how I’d been using their threads for years. I wouldn’t call that a “feature” but certainly recognition that was greatly appreciated. And to this day, I still get regular hits from their link.
Thanks for the great read about all things indie!
YES! Great article. I particularly laughed at the part about the industry co-opting our imagery. However, when I read that part aloud to my hubby, he made an interesting point. Kits and iron-ons and such with indie imagery in them can be good gateway products to young, first time crafters. Take for example, Jenny Hart. I definitely learned to embroider from a Sublime Stitching kit. As far as creating product lines like that though, I think that the only avenue to take is to engage with individual crafters, (another point in your article). I don’t want the industry’s version of what we want. I want our version! And that will only come about through collaboration…and listening.
Way to go Diane! You’re one heck of an awesome ambassador!
YES! Great article. I particularly laughed at the part about the industry co-opting our imagery. However, when I read that part aloud to my hubby, he made an interesting point. Kits and iron-ons and such with indie imagery in them can be good gateway products to young, first time crafters. Take for example, Jenny Hart. I definitely learned to embroider from a Sublime Stitching kit. As far as creating product lines like that though, I think that the only avenue to take is to engage with individual crafters, (another point in your article). I don’t want the industry’s version of what we want. I want our version! And that will only come about through collaboration…and listening.
Way to go Diane! You’re one heck of an awesome ambassador!
Hooray for getting this message out there, Sister Diane. You’re bang on the money as usual.
Hooray for getting this message out there, Sister Diane. You’re bang on the money as usual.
I tweeted that this was a great post, but I wanted to add more. This really helped me! It’s funny, because I didn’t really realize I why I was an Indie Crafter (TM!) but now I get what mainstream craft is. I guess I assumed most crafters just do what we do, not just buy kits and such. Hell, I think my grandma was an indie crafter!
Cheers!
Dot
I tweeted that this was a great post, but I wanted to add more. This really helped me! It’s funny, because I didn’t really realize I why I was an Indie Crafter (TM!) but now I get what mainstream craft is. I guess I assumed most crafters just do what we do, not just buy kits and such. Hell, I think my grandma was an indie crafter!
Cheers!
Dot
that was a home-run article!!! perfectly said, congrats!!!
that was a home-run article!!! perfectly said, congrats!!!
I’m the guy at Creative Leisure News who asked Diane to write the article explaining indies to the traditional craft industry. And I’m happy to serve as a conduit to manufacturers, retailers, importers, and designers, so by all means feel free to email me (mike@clnonline.com) with suggestions, complaints, and comments which I can pass along to my readers.
Some thoughts: What’s your favorite store for supplies and why? Ever go into a store intending to buy something and walk out frustated? Ever say, “Gosh, I wish some manufacturer would make…..”? Or say, “These designs are too ….”?
The traditional craft industry is doing better (or, I should say, not as badly) than most retail industries, but it can’t afford to ignore you. My subscribers just want to know what you want — and don’t want.
I’m the guy at Creative Leisure News who asked Diane to write the article explaining indies to the traditional craft industry. And I’m happy to serve as a conduit to manufacturers, retailers, importers, and designers, so by all means feel free to email me (mike@clnonline.com) with suggestions, complaints, and comments which I can pass along to my readers.
Some thoughts: What’s your favorite store for supplies and why? Ever go into a store intending to buy something and walk out frustated? Ever say, “Gosh, I wish some manufacturer would make…..”? Or say, “These designs are too ….”?
The traditional craft industry is doing better (or, I should say, not as badly) than most retail industries, but it can’t afford to ignore you. My subscribers just want to know what you want — and don’t want.
this is great diane.
you really summed it all up quite well. people in high places are going to stand up and take notice.
you truly are an influential blogger!!!
xoxo
this is great diane.
you really summed it all up quite well. people in high places are going to stand up and take notice.
you truly are an influential blogger!!!
xoxo
Loved the podcast with Mike from CLN, great stuff!
Loved the podcast with Mike from CLN, great stuff!