Make Room

For our first two markets in 2018, we used half of the space at Decatur Recreation Center. April 2019 marked the first time we collapsed the wall and used the entire room. The reality is that even when we were using half the space at the previous markets, we were already in the full room. It was up to us to see it.

My vision is my belief that God placed a deposit in me before I was born to pursue my greatest and wildest dream as a maker. My vision is about my potential and seeing my fullest self without restrictions, hindrances, fear or doubts. My vision is not about my present conditions, but it is about my final destination. For some that might mean vending at a bigger venue or doubling your income, while for others it might be owning a brick and mortar store or developing a global brand.

Sometimes people don’t understand our vision and we spend time too much time trying to convince them of our vision. However our vision is bigger than our present conditions, people’s understanding and even what my eyes can see.

If I plan to go from a half space to a full room, then I better start seeing, believing in and pursuing my vision with everything I got.

Make room.

Behind the Scenes: DIY Photo Backdrop

Hello Makers!

We’re pulling back the curtains behind something that has become near and dear to our heart – our Craft Wall. So, we launched our first craft wall at the second Craft Savvy Market. As makers it was really important to us to include a handmade piece that reflected our love for artistry and provided our attendees an opportunity to capture their time at the market.

Fast forward to our last market. The very first thing we did was search for inspiration pieces. The founders, Charlene, Mina, Jandi and I texted each other possible considerations and cast our vote on our favorite designs. The inspiration piece below from a Pinterest search was the hands down winner. Next we ordered the supplies and mapped out how we would create the wall.

It took at least six hours from start to finish to complete the project. We first spent a lot of time mapping out the look. We then divided the work and completed the wall. We kept in mind that the piece needs to not just look beautiful but also hold up for the entire market. The last thing we needed was to have leaves or our logo signage falling on someone’s head.

We were so proud of the final project. Our Craft Wall was an integral piece of our market that reflected our love for handmade artistry and it gave our attendees an opportunity to capture the market experience.

Hope you will consider adding a handmade craft wall or handmade craft element to your next Maker’s event. If you do and share on social media, please tag us. We would love to see your creation.

by Ciatta-Mae Stubblefield

Shut It Down

“No one likes any of this stuff. You shouldn’t try to make anything new” a voice hissed as I packed up the last of my merchandise at the market. As I tugged my suitcase out the door of the event hall, her voice would not relent. “You wasted your time making all of this and no one bought much of it. I mean, look at all these leftovers. You’re not a real maker”. Ok. I had had enough. I spun around to face this nasty person but I found myself standing alone in the parking lot.

Sometimes we speak to ourselves in a way that if we heard one person speak to another person that way, we would give side eyes all day. So why do we allow such cutting, toxic and negative words to be spoken over ourselves? Sometimes such negative self-talk is an indicator of how we truly see ourselves or how we feel deep down inside. We take such care to craft beautiful hand made designs, let’s take care to speak beautiful words over ourselves.

As makers here are three things we can do to walk away from negative self-talk and kick our inner critic to the curb:

Avoid absolute words such as never because it only sets you up for failure. You have the power to create your best life. You are not defined by absolute words like “never” and “always”.
Focus on the positive. Take a minute and write down things that are going great when you feel the critic in your arise. Focus on the good instead of centering on the bad.
Turn it around by speaking life over yourself – Try saying, “I didn’t sell very many goods today but I will sell more goods at my next market” or “The sale of lack of sale of my goods are not a measure of my talent.”

What will you do to shut down your inner critic?

Image Credit – Jack Canfield

Six Craft Tools Every Crafter Needs

If there’s one thing I really know, it is my favorite crafting tools. When you are doing various quick DIY projects, you quickly start to learn your go to equipment and must have tools for your crafting. Since I am here to encourage you to do more creative DIYs in your own creative space, I thought to share some of my favorite craft tools.

1.Sewing Machine- I own one and use it to make my tote bags, clutch, head bands, and so much more. It’s worth having for a quick DIY projects. It is my go to baby for simple projects.

2.Jewelry pliers and cutter- These are small, but essential for jewelry making. It also can be used for a lot of other projects.

3.Mod Podge- I used it to attach trim to my fabrics,attach a quick hem in place without sewing, and attach embellishments like jewels to my wooden or fabric earrings. I love it because it dries up clearly. If you haven’t used it, please try it. It can be use on all surfaces, and it’s non-toxic.

4.Paint brushes– (I purchase them in multiple sizes and shapes). Having a set always comes in so handy! Whenever I need to paint an earring, I always have the right one for the job. It is beneficial to have multiple sizes on hand for a intricate design. The best part of it is after a quick wash, they can be reused.

5.Fabric Scissors- I use it for cutting fabric, felt, leather, and vinyl. Make sure to have a pair of sharp scissors in your stash because it will make your cutting job easy. Pro Tip: To keep your fabric scissors sharp, do not use your fabric scissors for cutting paper. Get a different pair of scissors and dedicate it to only paper.

6.Rotary Cutter– is basically an x-acto knife. I use it to cut fabric (especially heavier weight fabrics) and leather materials.When you need a long or straight cut, this is tool is the one for you. (You will need to use a cutting board when using the rotary cutter).

Most of these are smaller items and they are cost effective with the exception of the sewing machine. Buying the sewing machine was a bigger investment and it is so useful to my crafting. It won’t hurt to add a few tools at a time to your DIY stash. Don’t wait, find your favorite tools and start creating.

By Mina J. Mantor

Essential Tools – Live. Learn. Love.

Essential Tools – Learn a new tool or fall in love again with your old tool

Makers. What do we do? Make! And what do we use to make our goods? Tools! Here are some highlights of essential tools for makers. Whether you sew, knit, or papercraft, tools can make or break your project. Even if you have every tool you think you need, you never know when you might need another tool. Here are a few resources for upping your craft life by learning new tools or (re) falling in love again with the ones you have.

Whether you are making a beginner’s tote or a jumpsuit, this list of sewing tools from Polka Dot Chair is sure to please!

Have fun knitting away gloves, sweaters or even blankets with the essential tool list from The Blue Elephant.

Create a thank you card or refresh your scrapbook kit with any of the following essential tools from Jill Cameron’s Creations.

By – Ciatta-Mae Stubblefield

Top lessons learned from our first market – Part 2

As crafters, we are all about risks. We take risks when we use new materials, try new projects, mix different mediums, etc. On a warm summer afternoon in June, we crammed into a booth at Panera Bread and took a risk. We agreed to work together to carry out our first Craft Savvy Market.

Here we are almost four months after our first market day and now that we have exhaled we are sharing our top lessons. Read part one of our lessons learned here. Apply to be a part of Craft Savvy Market here.

3. The Power of Working As a Team

I learned a great deal from the first Craft Savvy Market, but one of the things that stuck out was the power of working as a team. I built my first business with tons of support from friends and loved ones, but it often gets lonely and you feel like you’re carrying most of the load. Working with my three co-founders opened me up to multiple ways of skinning the proverbial cat. We thought through potential problems (and opportunities!) as a team and that usually resulted in us coming up with a better path forward.

On the emotional front, it’s easy to get discouraged or fearful when you are doing something new or different. I loved how if I was struggling, one of my Craft Savvy Market teammates could cheer me on and offer help. We prayed together, found scriptures together and I think that shared strength and accountability helped us to finish strong.

Charlene

4. Taking the First Step Anyway

As a creative, I often struggle with the logical side of my brain. I want to be free to create, but I also need to have some control of the process and the outcome. One of my biggest take away from our first Craft Savvy Market is that I do not have to have all the answers in order to take a step. I typically want to make safe decisions that are bound to work out. And while caution is healthy, too much of it prevents us from growing and trying new things.

As we planned for the market, I quickly realized that I didn’t have all the answers and neither did the other ladies. But a great part of this process was about being available to learn and figure things out along the way. I walked away on March 10 knowing that no matter what, I need to take the step. Whether it’s a baby step or a slow drag with me holding on to someone’s leg, I need to be courageous and take steps.

Jandi

Maybe you participated in a craft market for the first time or you took a creative risk for the first time. What new understanding did you possess after the experience? We would love to hear from you.