Michaels, the Irving, Texas-based craft store chain, launched a new program last month encouraging local makers to teach craft workshops in the stores’ classrooms. Called MAKERS Nation, the program is currently being piloted in five areas: Los Angeles, Chicago, Kansas City, Northwest Florida, and Salt Lake City.
Each year, quilt teachers, judges, quilt shop owners, museum staff, conference/show organizers, and guild representatives gather for regional Meet the Teachers (MTT) programs. Quilt teacher, Sarah Goer, describes MTT as “speed dating for quilt teachers and guild program chairs. It’s a great face-to-face opportunity to meet dozens of people in a short period of time.”
Although ‘trunks’ themselves are virtually a thing of the past, ‘trunk shows’ produced from a multitude of travel bags and boxes containing all sorts of beautiful handmade items are very much a thing of the present.
Online course platforms, of which there are more than three dozen, can be divided into four categories: stand-alone platforms, all-in-one platforms, marketplace platforms and WordPress plug-ins. The ones chosen for this article are those most fitting for craft entrepreneurs.
The landscape of social media is changing, and Facebook’s new focus on fostering relationships and community means that having a Business Page is no longer enough to get noticed and heard. Learn how you can use the power of Facebook Groups to create unforgettable experiences for a captive audience that will generate cash and build community for your shop or brand.
This webinar is a primer on planning a video, writing a script, shooting, and editing for your creative business by expert Joy Macdonnell.
Andrea Tsang Jackson was the 2017 Artist-in-Residence at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 and worked for four months collecting small quilt blocks made by museum visitors. Here, Andrea discusses how to approach a project proposal for a residency program. If you’re considering applying for an artist-residence-program at a museum or arts center, these tips will be helpful to you!
Teaching kids to sew can be both fun and a bit scary. Can a 7-year-old be taught to use a sewing machine independently and safely? Megan Avery says yes! She runs a sewing studio in New Jersey and here she shares her top 6 safety tips to keep in mind when teaching kids to sew.
In this webinar, we’re talking about tips for planning and conducting a great craft workshop with Carole Lyles Shaw. Carole spent over 25 years as an international corporate trainer and a “trainer of trainers” before she started teaching quilting workshops. Carole will share some lessons learned about planning for success and handling challenging situations in your workshops.
Brick-and-mortar retailers are a cornerstone of the craft industry, but the retail environment is going through drastic changes right now. In this panel discussion three brick-and-mortar craft shop owners will give us an honest picture of the challenges and opportunities they’re currently facing, and how designers and suppliers fit into the retail picture.
Who doesn’t dream about getting paid to take a vacation? Teaching your craft on a cruise ship, visiting exotic ports, and eating great food sounds like a frolic, but don’t be deceived – it’s also hard work and is not the right fit for everyone.
Located in Ely, Minn., close to the Canadian border, Ely Folk School offers an eclectic mix of year-round classes to residents and visitors alike.
Before even launching her sewing pattern business, Erin Weisbart was asked to appear on a PBS sewing program. How did it happen? Erin tells us how she got that gig.
Asking for what you want or need is hard. In your personal life, that’s called advocating for yourself, whether it’s for more help around the house or saying no to toxic relationships. In your business life, it’s called negotiating. It’s funny that saying no to a friend that is rude or overbearing makes perfect sense, but asking for better terms from a business partner strikes fear in the hearts of even the savviest entrepreneur.
If you have considered teaching online independent of the large craft platforms, here are some things I have learned that might be worth thinking about.
In the absence of a national platform for assessing craft teachers and class experience, show owners and event organizers are on their own for vetting instructors. Some best practices are emerging, especially as students’ expectations rise and professional teachers raise standards.
Over 1 million people took a class at a Michaels store last year. Michaels is the nation’s largest art and craft retailer and customers can take classes in painting, drawing, scrapbooking, cake decorating, knitting, and crochet at their local stores. But what is it like to teach those classes?
The Handweavers Guild of America (HGA) announced that it will significantly increase teacher compensation in order to keep the conference pay competitive.
The Social Justice Sewing Academy merges the social justice conversation with sewing. It helps build students up and allows them to thrive in a positive setting.
A contract for creative teachers and lecturers protects both parties and prevents surprises since everyone knows what’s expected ahead of time.