“VH: Do you think that people’s conception when you say, ‘I’m making a living as an artist’ versus, ‘I’m making my living as a crafter’? I’ve been talking a lot with the people I’m interviewing about the difference between the words art and craft. I wonder if the stigma of one word over the other affects how people respond to what you’re doing [running a craft-based website].
LK: Good question. I know there are probably a lot of people who think of crafts as a superfluous, useless part of life. People are used to going to craft fairs and seeing little dishtowels with crocheted tops, and the little scrubbies that the older ladies make. They’re cute, and they’re good little gifty items, but they’re not important to society; whereas, people perceive art as something that is more important.
The fact of the matter is: people love to incorporate fun, unique, one-of-a-kind things into their lives, and crafting is a way you can affordably buy something really unique that makes you happy. Hopefully people’s perceptions have changed, but I do see what you’re saying–people who aren’t fully entrenched in it don’t understand that it’s like tiny little wearable pieces of art. Hopefully that’s changing more and more, especially as sites like Etsy are on the tips of everyone’s tongues these days.”
POST A COMMENT HERE WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS (BY 8AM CT ON TOMORROW). Poster’s will be chosen via drawing at random.
Rules:
Please be sure to include your real, FULL name (not just your screen name) on your post. Winners will be posted on this blog every few days with instructions on getting me your mailing address. Prizes unclaimed will be put up for grabs at the end of the Craft Corps Give-Away-A-Day in May.
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Craft Corps: Celebrating the Creative Community One Story at a Time hits shelves May 4th. Be one of the 1st to get a copy by ordering today from BN.com!
OMG–I need this. I have 2 friends who both gave me “Knit Till You Die” buttons with skulls and crossbones, and I’ve knitted three garmetns with skull and crossbone buttons. I’m a hardcore crafter, and this is my favorite giveaway you’ve had so far. I love it. Bree Gordon
Brenda Price
I love this necklace!
Brenda Price
To vandahlen: Where are you getting the baby stuff with skulls? I have a daughter due in August and would love a skull and cross bones onsie for her!
Great question, Vicki. I have often asked myself the same thing, especially when trying to market goods. I think that “craft” does carry a certain stereotype, although I do believe it is starting to change. “Art” carries it’s own stereotype as well. I love the skull and scissors pendant! Perfect for a ‘Queen Crossbones’ like myself!
Interesting question and fascinating answer. I have been reading a blog recently that has gone into “art” (whether photographs, quilts, etc.) and how it can be made affordable. Tough times for artists and crafters. Karen Lopez
My comment is to Leah. You are right about people not understanding crafting as a form of art. I would take it one more step. It’s up to us, the crafters, to show them how our crafts need to be in their lives.
I have been a professional crafter for fifteen years, and have built a small business venture on not just crafts, but recycled crafts. I have shown them how important it is. Sometimes it’s one person at a time, but we must change their attitude.
We miss you on Craftster, and hope to see you around soon.
Love the necklace! I’m a fan of Craftster.org. It is a great site. Jill Tanaka
Rachael Ingalla
I love this necklace! Hope to win.
I feel ya on the stigma against crafts….I think it’s because it’s hard to relate to. I get really self conscious when people ask me about my art. They think crafting is “cool” until I actually get into the talking about the things they make. If they don’t do crafts themselves they can’t relate to me… which I think is why it’s so much easier to shrug it off as an “old lady thing.”
Jennifer Hall: I absolutely love that graphic. I hope i win! p.s. vickie, i made a pincushion ring for a friend’s birthday and it was a huge hit! so thanks for the tutorial!
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Cool necklace!
please let me win the skull! i need to match my baby who is wearing handmade stuff with skulls every day! 😉
Love the necklace! I may have to purchase it even if I don’t win 🙂
– Meaghan Brander
Good question, Vicki!
looks cool !
I absolutely love that necklace, I have always loved things with skulls and then incorporating the scissors in with it make is so extra cool!!!
OMG–I need this. I have 2 friends who both gave me “Knit Till You Die” buttons with skulls and crossbones, and I’ve knitted three garmetns with skull and crossbone buttons. I’m a hardcore crafter, and this is my favorite giveaway you’ve had so far. I love it. Bree Gordon
I love this necklace!
To vandahlen: Where are you getting the baby stuff with skulls? I have a daughter due in August and would love a skull and cross bones onsie for her!
this necklace has lots of spunk, i would be thrilled to wear it!
Jenny Rekeweg
It’s lovely, i’d love to win it 😀
Autumn Powless, That is the cutest stinkin” necklace ever!!!! Kudos!!!!
I am obsessed with craftster and would love this!
Thanks for the great interview
This is so cool. If I don’t win it, I’ll have to buy one!
Punk Craft Cool and FUN!
Thank you for giving us Craftser.org. Love love love it!!
Love the necklace!!
Love the simplicty and pop of color!
Maybe this will be my lucky day!!
What a great necklace – I’d love to own it!
I’m a self-professed Craftster addict, so naturally I love it! Leah is amazing!
So cool! Thank you for Craftster!
Great question, Vicki. I have often asked myself the same thing, especially when trying to market goods. I think that “craft” does carry a certain stereotype, although I do believe it is starting to change. “Art” carries it’s own stereotype as well.
I love the skull and scissors pendant! Perfect for a ‘Queen Crossbones’ like myself!
That necklace is awesome! Heck, even if I don’t win, I might have to buy one anyways!
thanks for the giveaway
it looks cool and pretty!
i would like to try my luck
^____^
dearbear3 aka Cherry Chen
LOVE. LOVE. LOVE that necklace! Would love to win! 🙂
Nichole Burke
Okay, I have always LOVED that necklace!! (Jessica Lane)
Interesting question and fascinating answer. I have been reading a blog recently that has gone into “art” (whether photographs, quilts, etc.) and how it can be made affordable. Tough times for artists and crafters. Karen Lopez
Awesome necklace!!!
Cool, love it!
Sherri Lucy
I love this necklace! It’s great
My comment is to Leah. You are right about people not understanding crafting as a form of art. I would take it one more step. It’s up to us, the crafters, to show them how our crafts need to be in their lives.
I have been a professional crafter for fifteen years, and have built a small business venture on not just crafts, but recycled crafts. I have shown them how important it is. Sometimes it’s one person at a time, but we must change their attitude.
We miss you on Craftster, and hope to see you around soon.
Coolio!
Annie Terry
I LOVE this necklace! If I don’t win it, lol, Im gonna make my hubby buy me one!
-Jennifer Banks
I would so love to win this!
Christel Hansen
Oh I love it!! I want one!! pick me pick me random number picker!
Denise Layman
Craftster is practically my best friend… Thank you so much Leah! And thanks for the great giveaway!
-Jennie Ingram
Craftster is the ultimate crafting community. I totally changed my life.
Win or not, that is an awesome necklaces!
I love that necklace!!!
want it, want it, want it!
love it, love it, love it!
Namaste!
Jennifer Elliott
This is really cute!
Susan M Hall
great necklace! luv the fun funky crafty skull! turtle/tanya
It’s such a nifty piece of jewelry.
amanda cox
Love the necklace. can hardly wait to see the book!
very awesome! <3 the necklace
-Rita Ferrell
I would loive to have the necklace – Rebecca Boudreaux
love it! thanks for all these giveaways and great interviews.
jessica cheney
This is great!
This is great!
Such a cute necklace!!
Kathy Kitt
I would love to win that cool skull necklace!
Sheila
Another great craft idea
Anne Sampson
What a cool necklace!
Dawn Cheairs LOVES this!
There is some kuhl stuff here. thank you, Marvel Baca
OMG… I want that skull.. I made and sold a skull and knitting needles cape once.. I love the scissors.
Love the necklace. I’m a fan of Craftster.org. It is a great site! Jill Tanaka
Love the necklace! I’m a fan of Craftster.org. It is a great site. Jill Tanaka
I love this necklace! Hope to win.
I feel ya on the stigma against crafts….I think it’s because it’s hard to relate to. I get really self conscious when people ask me about my art. They think crafting is “cool” until I actually get into the talking about the things they make. If they don’t do crafts themselves they can’t relate to me… which I think is why it’s so much easier to shrug it off as an “old lady thing.”
Love it!!
This necklace is very cool. I have just started wearning jewlery and I would love to have this piece.
Eleanor Gona
Oh cool!! It would go with my laptop case.
Dianne Askew
THAT is a really awesome design. As a stitcher…I waaaaaaaant one!
Ruth Molenaar
awesome necklace and i <3 craftster.org!
NEAT!
Three cheers for Craftster!!!
~Shannon M. Morey
love the necklace. always wanted one. thanks for this chance!
-Danielle Harris
Cute!
Shelby Stofle
Jennifer Hall: I absolutely love that graphic. I hope i win! p.s. vickie, i made a pincushion ring for a friend’s birthday and it was a huge hit! so thanks for the tutorial!
Thanks for having this Giveaway♥
i would like to try my luck
thanks alot^^
Cherry Chen (dearbear3)
That is TOO CUTE!!! 🙂
AWESOME!
Kelly Bronsink
Cool necklace!
Joyce Bloom
Luv it! Great color combination!
Ooh, that is wonderful!
Kelli Cree
Love it! Hope I win 🙂
Sarah Hardy
What a cute necklace!
Cute!
Jennifer Cory
Super cute!!
Meghan Barr
Very thought provoking question and good response. It makes me more aware of the way I discuss my “crafts”. Thank you.
Denise Mangini
so cool!!!!
That necklace rocks!
Julie Uslabar
The necklace is awesome!! If I won it,I’d love to see the double-takes and expressions on people I know – that would be classic.
Would love to win this awesome necklace – that is sooooo cool! Michele Timms
please.