Ryan Jones
Publisher, The Crafts Report
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Posts: 25
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« on: December 03, 2009, 08:30:10 AM » |
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In the December issue of the Crafts Report I shared my story of how I became involved with the family publishing business, unwillingly at first, and then becoming gradually more excited about it. And now I've become the publisher of the Crafts Report. I commented that sometimes we are led in directions we didn't expect.
So what's your story? How did you become involved in the crafts business? Was it intentional or "accidental"?
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Luann Udell
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« Reply #1 on: December 03, 2009, 03:12:41 PM » |
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Can I tell my story after Christmas?  |
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Ryan Jones
Publisher, The Crafts Report
Global Moderator
Silver Member
Posts: 25
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« Reply #2 on: December 08, 2009, 06:59:43 PM » |
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I s'poze. If you have to make a living and all...
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TimAllen
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Posts: 6
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« Reply #3 on: December 09, 2009, 08:19:35 PM » |
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My wife throws pots. Lots of pots. More than we can give away to family and friends. But we need room in the house, so I've been helping her exhibit her work at craft fairs, and online. So I am here to try to learn as much as I can about this business.
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jackofalltrades
Bronze Member
Posts: 15
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« Reply #4 on: December 11, 2009, 04:11:48 PM » |
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I think that's great Tim! Whadda guy  I hope it works out! |
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Stephen
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« Reply #5 on: January 25, 2010, 09:39:38 AM » |
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What a great idea...I haven't been on here in a long while. Economy and trying to earn a living and all. We had a slow year last year even after doing more shows. Hopes are that business will get better as this year rolls along. We're planning to do a lot of events this year, maybe even more than last year. Our story...
My wife is a fine artist. She designed the logo for an Indian Summer Festival along the Lake Front in Milwaukee, WI. She then moved to Arizona with the intention of retiring some day an painting paintings out in the desert. Ya gotta watch out what you wish for. The Indian Summer Organization called her after having their first event (successful event) in 1987. They thought it would be neat if she came back and sold something Southwest or American Indian and had a place in the booth where they sold stuff with the Llogo on it.
We decided to attend and she painted on some tees and sweats. She switched from canvas to clothing. We'd hoped to pay for the plane flight and the $100.00 fee. It was supposed to be this little working vacation. We weren't even married then. It was September of 1988. What happened? We sold everything the first night. So all day Saturday and Sunday she painted tees and sweats in front of the booth and we sold everything we had. We were in shock.
We went home with a small box of acrylic paints, brushes and a lot of money. We decided that we should do a couple of little arts & crafts shows on weekends hoping to be able to add a jacuzzi and enclosed patio to our home. However, in February of 1989 we both had quit our corporate careers and went full time into this business.
We now design and make or have our garments made to our specs. Diane paints her designs on the garments and we do shows in the southwest in winter and spring and in Wisconsin in the summer and fall. We are in our 22nd year and are working on a whole new line of womens casual wear for shows beginning in February.
So this whole venture was an accident, a very lucky and fantastic accident. Oh, and just so you all know it ain't all a bed of roses. Anyone in this business for a while knows...it's the toughest job I've ever had and the most fun and rewarding of my life. We are blessed. Oh, and by the way...Diane just won an honorable mention ribbon in acrylics for a painting she entered in the Cultural and Art League contest. Her work, two pieces, hangs along with others at our Community Center in Fountain Hills, AZ. She is just getting back into her passion of painting on canvas. When there is time, she loves to create outside the business of art we do daily for the circuit.
Okay, who's next?
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BlissDesigns
Bronze Member
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« Reply #6 on: February 18, 2010, 11:56:51 AM » |
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My start was an accident, too. I've always been crafty: knit, crochet, cross stick type things. I would always make Christmas gifts every year. Then about 8 years ago, a good friend started a jewelry business and asked for our help (playgroup Moms) I'd stopped working 7 years before to stay home w/kids. We women would hang out at her house while our kids all played together. She taught us how to bead so she could have enough ready for her first show. I fell in love with pearls, and decided to make wine charms with pearls & semi-precious stones for that year's gifts. I got so hooked! I made way more than I needed so did my first show that Spring. I made $550 selling wine charms. Another friend owns a shop, and she asked me to make jewelry for her store. And now - It's a full time job that I totally love. It was very hard to get into some of the local shows when I was new because there are SO many jewelers around, so a couple of us decided to create our own shows. I've now worked on almost 20 shows. Most of them have been fundraisers for local charities and we have raised over $33,000 so far.
I have been a subscriber to The Crafts Report for a few years, and really appreciate all that I've learned. I look forward to it's arrival & read it cover to cover.
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