How to Choose a Sewing Machine for Your Sewing School
When you’re setting up a sewing school, choosing the right sewing machine can be a daunting task. We look at the features you need most so you can get the best value for your money.
Felicia Thomas Creates a Welcoming Craft Space at FSC Workshop in District Heights, Maryland
Felicia Thomas Creates a Welcoming Craft Space at FSC Workshop where ninety percent of customers are returning customers.
Bringing it Home: COVID-19 Shuts Down Studios, Crafters Adapt
Between work-life separation, following a self-imposed schedule, and staying connected to colleagues, here’s a look at how four pro crafters found their “new normal” working from home in 2020.
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10 Ways to Engage Customers During a Public Health Crisis
Read 10 tips – from what you can do immediately to what you can do when the crisis is over – from Craft Industry Alliance, complete with resources to help you ensure your small craft business stays connected to customers during this public health crisis.
How the Australian Wildfires Are Impacting Creative Business Owners
The Australian bushfires are severely impacting creative small businesses during the busiest tourist season of the year. We talk to a yarn store, cupcake shop, wedding photographer, and illustrator to find out how they’re getting by.
What It’s Like to Be an Artist-In-Residence: My Experience at the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles
Being an artist-in-residence at a museum is a terrific opportunity to expand your skills artistically and professionally, particularly when it comes to the social and community aspects of your practice. Quiltmaker Tricia Royal shares her recent experience at the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles.
Beyond the RASKOG: 10 IKEA Hacks for Your Craft Studio
Clever crafters are hacking IKEA furniture to create organizational solutions for the craft studio. Check out these fun, practical ideas.
Create an Airbnb Experience as Part of Your Business Marketing Plan
Airbnb Experiences are one-of-a-kind activities, hosted by locals, in which people pay to participate. Aritsans and crafters who have Airbnb’s are adding Experiences to their rosters as a way to diversify their income, add an additional teaching venue to their rosters, and meet new people.
Contextural: A Fibre Arts Cooperative
Missing the camaraderie of school, a group of recent graduates from the Alberta College of Art + Design started Contextural: A Fibre Arts Cooperative.
How to Make a Mood Board to Generate Inspiration and Ideas
Mood boards are a wonderful tool to get un-stuck, organized, or inspired. Use a mood board to tighten your vision for a project and refine the aesthetic.
How to Use Trello for Small Business
As small business owners (and individuals for that matter), staying organized is a constant challenge. Trello is a useful tool to help with organization and today Erin Weisbart shares the variety of ways she’s been using it and perhaps you’ll want to begin using Trello for your own small business as well.
When is a Fulfillment Warehouse Right For Your Business?
Fulfillment companies pick, pack, and ship orders on behalf of small businesses, freeing up your time to focus on other areas. Find out if you might be ready to begin using one.
Snip, Cut, Clip: Scissors For All
You can be sure that there is at least one pair of beloved scissors behind every crafter, maker, and artist. Whether the art depends on scissors, like paper cutting, or they are simply an indispensable tool for getting work done, scissors feature prominently in the maker’s tool box. We take a look at the historical development of scissors and the wide variety that exist today.
Creating a Workspace That Works for You
It’s important for a workspace to be functional and inspiring, and set up in a way that prevents the type of repetitive stress injuries common among makers.
I’m Not Productive in My Home Office — Is a Coworking Space the Answer?
WeWork and other coworking companies are popping up all over the place. How can you know if an environment like this might be right for you? Here’s a look at the pros and cons.
Avoiding and Treating Repetitive Stress Injuries
We’ve gathered some expert tips to help prevent and cope with repetitive stress injuries that are common for crafters and creative business owners.
A Studio of One’s Own: Has Your Business Outgrown Your Home?
When the line between one’s living space and workspace becomes increasingly blurry, it’s time to think about transitioning away from the home studio.