Presenting "a nostalgic feeling of romanticism" from Glam Garb. The chic clothing line began after Sweden-born owner Gunlis studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC. Gunlis started the sustainable/green design line in 2003 for women in all sizes and ages. So tell us...
ichelle & Miguel of Attic Journals have come from Portland with their upcycled journals. Their business was born from Michelle's desire to give an original gift while in the midst of garage sale hunting. Long forgotten books are re-purposed into journals to contain new stories, song lyrics, or secret desires. You could even contain the clues to your untimely murder a la Laura Palmer.
akland designer Trinity Cross of Field Day will be hanging out with us all weekend with lots of organic cotton, bamboo and recycled wearables. Not only are her deigns made from sustainable materials, but they feature funky and adorable screen printing to boot! She's got great pieces you can feel great about buying.
at this year's Summer UCU?
Tired of characterless glassware crowding your cupboards? Sandblasting glass duo Bread and Badger will be hauling their original art drinkware all the way from Portland for this weekend's show. Amanda has taken a few minutes to answer our questions.
CU: If you could have any super power, what would it be and why?
Amongst the many vendors who will dazzle you with their wares this weekend, we also have a bundle of talented and published authors who will be at UCU to inspire you with their writing. Meet Kari, author of The Handmade Marketplace, who will be signing her book from 12-4 both Saturday and Sunday! I had the privilege of talking to her a bit and including her in our Giveaway extravaganza!
What inspired you to write this book? Is it based on personal experience?
I was working as a buyer in a small home goods boutique and I was adding a lot more eco-friendly and handmade goods to our stock. Etsy was new on the scene and I was using it as a resource for finding product. I would send requests to artists and crafters I found via Etsy and I soon found that they had lots and lots of questions about selling their work to me as a shop keeper. People wanted to know why I wanted to see an example of their work before I ordered it, they wanted to know how to price for wholesale, they wanted to know why I would need different photos... soon I found myself writing long and lengthy emails, explain these things and more, and after awhile the idea of the book came to me. It wasn't until much later, after I was laid off and the owner closed my store and I found myself unemployed that I thought about writing a book.
I wanted to write a book that addressed all of the kinds of questions sellers had been asking me when I worked in that shop. I wanted to help and inspire people at the same time. I have a pretty strong background in marketing and public relations and I've read lots of books on those topics. While I always learned something, reading them always felt a bit like a chore. I really wanted someone like my sister to understand and relate to what I had to say, as well as my grandmother or the creative teenager next door. I wanted boys and girls to find value in the book and I tried really hard to write to all of those people.
I really believe that anyone can do anything if only they have the right tools. I'm not saying that The Handmade Marketplace has all of the answers, but I hope that is it approachable and understandable to people no matter where they are in their selling journeys. I wanted a book that helped people learn and make them feel good at the same time. My greatest wish for The Handmade Marketplace is that it not only provides useful business advice, but also courage, inspiration and community.
Do you have plans for another book?
Yes I do! I have a little something in the works, but it's still to new to mention publicly. I have received lots and lots of emails from people since The Handmade Marketplace came out, and I use the feedback from these emails to inspire my future projects. I would encourage anyone to write to me at hitherekari at gmail.com and send questions or topics they'd like to see addressed. If I can help, I will.
How did you get involved with UCU?
Last year or maybe even the year before, Kristen Rask put out a call of Twitter, asking if any craft book writers wanted to come to UCU to sign books. I had just signed my deal at the time, and my book wasn't even written, but I contacted her anyhow. One thing led to another and this is the first UCU since the book came out - and now I'll be there signing copies! I'm really excited to be there. Also, I love Twitter and all of the connections I've made there.
Your blog details your travels as you promote your book. What are you looking forward to on your trip to Seattle?
So much! I'm really mostly excited to attend UCU of course, and if time allows I'd like to go to Groundspeak (the geocaching headquarters) and I'd love to take my camera to Pikes Place Market and maybe find a yummy cupcake or two. I'd love to go to CakeSpy Shop and meet Jesse Oleson - we've met before, years ago, but I doubt she'd remember. Also I'd love to eat dinner at Delancey! However, I'm only there for two days really, and I'll be working for most of that time, so I'll be happy with a good cup of coffee and a nice walk around the city and having a blast signing books at UCU.
Leave your nice words in comment form below for your chance to win Kari's book, The Handmade Marketplace. We will get you a copy after the show!
f you're the type who doesn't go for pastels and find yourself drawn to the dark side then we've got the silver-smith for you! Idle Hands Designs caters to those who indulge in the lighter side of the dark side. Lyndsey began making jewelry with a slightly shadowy twist back in 2006. She's bringing all the goods to accessorize your gothic romance.
Today we present to you a crafter for all you crafters. Liz of Blue Diamond Stamp Co. will be bringing her line of original clear polymer art stamps to the second annual summer UCU. Be sure to stop by her booth and get the perfect stamp to spice up your next paper project.
UCU: What do you like best about crafting/creating your product?
UCU vending duo Elijah and Rhonda of Figs & Ginger will be coming back for more fun at this weekend's show. They're making the long trek all the way from Asheville, NC, with all of their adorable bunny, birdie and deer jewelry.
turn into any animal because then I could do loads of cool stuff like fly, breath under water, run super fast or be incredibly strong!
A colorful Crystalyn Kae bag draped on the shoulder of a woman about town is the mark of a sophisticated urbanite. Her line of hobos, clutches, totes and more are not only chic but durable too! Crystalyn got her start making her very first bag back in the 7th grade. She earned her BA in Apparel Merchandising while interning at Liberty of London. She began selling her own designs at the Pike Place Market in 2001. She now sells online, through stores across the country and has been featured in In Style magazine, Cool Mom Picks and Treehugger. I even spotted her work in the movie "World's Greatest Dad".
K: My specialty is making stylish bags that are functional & durable enough to be worn everyday for years. I enjoy the challenge of making style functional.
beautiful that also solves a need in a person's life.
We are only 1 week away from the second annual summer UCU! To mark the countdown we're re-introducing you to three time UCU vendor, Hawaii-born Malia of Lady Konnyaku Designs. Shortly after graduating from UW with a degree in Chinese Malia enrolled in a school for fashion design in Ballard. She says "learning how to sew and make clothing was way more difficult than learning Chinese!"
onestly, I love working my own hours. Oh yeah, making clothing is very satisfying... watching a heap of fabric turn into something colorful and cool! Seeing the miles of smiles as people try on Lady Konnyaku Clothing at UCU!
nnyaku has been churning out those once ubiquitous chubby hair accessories: Scrunchies. We've got one to give away to a lucky reader. Leave a comment below to be eligible. We'll announce the random winner on Friday.
achel of Fused Glass House began her journey creating back in the 80s. Originally formed as Ear Rig her design styles have morphed through the years from simple beading in the 80s to stained glass in the 90s and on to glass fusing and metal-smithy in the last decade. She'll be making the trip up from Portland for our second summer show in just 9 days!
ifferent design directions I've followed. It's also feels crucial as a somewhat solitary artist to be part of the community of people who feed their souls and bellies with their creative selves. Shows tend to offer that artist camaraderie piece, the feeling that we belong to a larger whole.
omething you are hoping to shop for, a treasure you'd like to find at this year's Summer UCU?
Let's play word association. Ready?
ns?
