Published on June 4th, 2009
I am currently a Midwesterner. I stand in line for sweet corn every Saturday at the farmer’s market. Every April, I cheer on my students who ride in the Little 500. Heck, John Cougar Mellancamp lives in my town–is that Midwest enough for you?
As an indie crafter, I’m always bummed that the majority of awesome indie fairs–Maker Faire, most of the Bazaar Bizzare locations, three-fourths of the Renegades–choose to operate on the peripheries of the continental U.S. (it’d probably suck even more if I lived in Hawaii, but I’m willing to bet there are compensations to make up for the inconvenience of living in Hawaii).
So I’m always extra stoked when there are good, national-level indie craft fairs that operate right here in the heartland (occasionally known as the “armpit of America”). Here are two good ones, and how to get involved: Read the rest of this entry »
Published on June 3rd, 2009
Husband and wife team Shawn and Brenda Fletcher of YAVA Glass turn discarded bottles into beautiful housewares and beads. Shawn hunts down screen-printed glass bottles to transform, while Brenda takes care of the business side of things. They love working with recycled glass and “the idea that each of our glasses has been spared the landfill and that an object that might otherwise have been discarded or deemed worthless finds value among our customers and supporters.”
They’ve also got a selection of recycled glass necklaces. Check out this teal one made from a Bombay Sapphire bottle:
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Published on May 29th, 2009
I love Eco-Artware’s wonderful selection of handcrafted goods from many crafty green artists. They have a wide variety of items to choose from including kids stuffed animals made from upcycled sweaters, jewelry made from old pennies, typewriter keys, and watch faces, bowls made from old records and signs, coasters made from old unplayable vinyl records, and my favorite- baskets made from chopsticks. Read the rest of this entry »
Published on May 28th, 2009
Over the past week or so I have been sharing sources for Eco Packaging Handmade For You, because a popular tip for all crafters is to make your packaging creative. But we don’t all have time or our creativity is reserved for our fabulous products. There are however some sellers that truly excel at the packaging ephemera. To wrap up the series I wanted to share with you some of my favorite seller ephemera from purchases I have made on Etsy. Read the rest of this entry »
Published on May 27th, 2009
I hope you are enjoying the Eco Packaging Handmade For You series. In today’s post we will be taking a look at some great handmade bags and boxes perfect for product packaging or even gift wrapping. In all things I believe in the KISS motto - Keep It Simple Silly, and packaging is no exception. You do not need extravagant overdone packaging that will probably be thrown away by the recipient. Instead keep it simple, keep it easy to open, and keep it handmade. Read the rest of this entry »
Published on May 26th, 2009
Tracy Prince of Sea Find Designs transforms pieces of found sea glass into beautiful jewelry and jewelry supplies.
She and her family make daily trips to the beach near their Rhode Island home to hunt down bits of glass shaped by the ocean’s currents. Tracy calls Sea Find Designs “a family affair,” since the whole Prince family is involved in much of her process. She says she’s drawn to sea glass because:
It’s gorgeous, why would you throw anything usable away! It’s free, I get to go to the beach for my work! And…. the end result is… I’m doing my part to save the Earth for my kids….. It’s my responsibility!
What a beautiful way to do your part! Tracy also uses recycled packaging to ship her goodies. Check out some more of her lovely pieces after the jump!
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Published on May 23rd, 2009
Have you been thinking more about crafting with organics this season? A few of the talented folks over at etsy sure have, and are now offering some fresh hot handmade organic sun-dresses. Here are some new organic handmade highlights on etsy:
This “driftwood dress” is simple yet stunning for a day by the sea:
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Published on May 22nd, 2009
One of the simplest ways to embellish your products is to add a beautiful hang tag. You can have professionally printed hang tags made with your logo, but they always seem so sterile and lifeless. Instead consider buying handmade creative hang tags for a unique addition to each product. They also make a great place to jot a quick thank you. Read the rest of this entry »
Published on May 20th, 2009
You are doing your best to use handmade and recycled packaging. You believe in reusing, reducing, and recycling. Let your customers know that your care. Stamp your commitment to the environment on every package you send. Here are my favorite recycling stamps available on Etsy:
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Published on May 19th, 2009
One simple way to make your customers feel special when they open their purchase is to tie it up or tape it up in style. In the first part of this series I showed you a variety of handmade eco packaging envelopes, but your special product packaging doesn’t have to end there. Seal up your envelopes or tie up your package with my top recommendations for decorative tapes and ribbons.
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