An Interview With Knitter Emily Davies

June 2, 2015 | Posted in KNITTING | By

Emily Davies modeling "Raz's Hat" from Psychonauts. All images on this page are used with the artist's permission.

Knitter Emily Davies has turned a love for video games – and for knitting – into a growing craft business. Emily knits cool plushie toys and colorful hats inspired by the characters and critters from games including The Legend of Zelda, Psychonauts, Katamari Damacy, Metroid and many more…

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Etiquette for Shopping at and Browsing Craft Fairs and Dealers Halls

April 11, 2015 | Posted in CONVENTIONS, CRAFTING BUSINESS | By

It can be a lot of work setting up this display. Please let me do so in peace.

I have been a vendor at craft fairs and in the dealers’ halls at various conventions and events for over fifteen years. Overall, being a vendor has been a great experience…

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Blackwork – Simple Elegant Embroidery

January 28, 2015 | Posted in CRAFTING, Uncategorized | By

Blackwork embroidery on a Tudor dress sleeve. dating from the 1590s

Blackwork Embroidery – As Easy as Cross-Stitch The enduring appeal of blackwork embroidery, first brought to Europe by men returning from 13th century Crusades, owes much to its simple elegance – black stitching on white or off-white fabric. Even the

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Buying Her A Gift of Jewelry: Shopping Tips and Suggestions for Men

January 26, 2015 | Posted in JEWELRY | By

Tiffany & Co

I managed a jewelry store/art gallery for many years in Philadelphia, and of course one of our busiest sales periods annually was the time leading up to Valentine’s Day. Many men would come in to our store seeking Valentine’s Day gifts for their wives, girlfriends or partners and I would try to help them find just the right gift for the special women in their lives…

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Best Gifts for a Jewelry Maker

January 25, 2015 | Posted in JEWELRY | By

Amethyst and fluorite beaded necklace.

Do you know someone who loves making jewelry and doing beadwork?

Looking for ideas for holiday (or other occasion) gifts for that person? If so, then this guide is for you. Here you will find useful and unique gift ideas for anyone who enjoys making jewelry, either as a hobby or as a livelihood. These are practical gifts that…

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Science Fiction/Fantasy Convention Art Shows: A Guide for Artists

November 3, 2014 | Posted in ART, CONVENTIONS, CRAFTING BUSINESS | By

Star Wars Celebration V - the ACME Art Show area

Visual artists and crafters are always on the lookout for new markets for their work. One type of market which many may not have considered are science fiction and fantasy convention art shows. A long-standing part of many science-fiction conventions is the art show, where artists display their work for either direct sale or auction-style bidding…

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Decoupage – New Life for Old Household Objects

September 10, 2014 | Posted in CRAFTING, Uncategorized | By

Decorative Decoupage Night Stand

Decoupage, that is the craft of cutting out pictures from magazines and other sources and then sticking them on to the surface of a piece of furniture, a picture frame, ceramics, etc, is an excellent way of bringing back to

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Becoming a Craft Show Vendor, Part 5: Do’s and Don’ts when Dealing with Customers

September 1, 2014 | Posted in CRAFTING BUSINESS | By

Art on display - and shoppers - in a vendor's hall. Photograph by the author, sockii.

Successfully interacting with potential customers at craft shows is a critical part of being a vendor. Each vendor will have her own technique, style and personality but there are a few important “do’s and don’ts” you should keep in mind…

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Becoming a Craft Show Vendor, Part 4: How to Set Your Prices

August 30, 2014 | Posted in CRAFTING BUSINESS | By

Pricing your crafts can be a challenging part of the business. Photograph by the author, sockii.

Pricing can be a tricky business, and a definite balancing act especially for beginning craft vendors. You need to set your prices high enough that you get what you feel your work is honestly worth, yet not price yourself out of what can be a highly competitive market…

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Becoming a Craft Show Vendor, Part 3: Finding Craft Events in Your Area

August 29, 2014 | Posted in CRAFTING BUSINESS | By

A craft fair taking place at a winery in New Jersey.

Sources and Ways to Locate Fairs to Start Selling Your Crafts This article is the third in my series on becoming a vendor at craft shows and craft fairs. The first two articles focused on determining if becoming a craft

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