Jul
11

Join the Craft Corps!

Calling all crafters! I’m gearing up to write my next book, Craft Corps (pronounced Craft Core) which will focus on the community perpetuated by craft and the designers & hobbyists who feed it. As part of the content, I’m hoping to include 50-60 short profiles of crafters of all types. If you knit, crochet, embroider, decoupage, paint, sew, bead, tat, work with ceramics, collage, etc.—I want to hear from you! Whether you’ve found success selling your handmade sock monkeys on Etsy or you crochet chemo caps for charity, I want to know who you are, what you craft and why you do it.  YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE PROFESSIONAL CRAFTERS (in fact, it’s preferable as the book’s other content will focus on that)!

I’ve been fortunate enough over the years to receive e-mails from people all over the world, sharing their favorite memory of crafting, what crafting has done for them or what got them started and how they’ll never stop. These stories–from hilarious craft mishaps to touching crafty life stories– have inspired me to collect more to share with the public, handmade community.  

If you’re interested in possibly being a part of Craft Corps, please fill out the following questionnaire, cut and paste it into the body of an e-mail, and send it to: craftcorps@gmail.com as soon as possible (but no later than AUGUST 15th.)  If we’re able to use your profile, an editor will contact you directly with more info.

Thank you so much for participating! xo, Vickie


P.S.  Stay tuned for the Craft Corps website

P.P.S.  Please pass this along to every crafter you know!

Craft Corps 
Crafter Profilee Form

Name:

Age:

Location:

Profession (If you’re in school just put what level of student, ie College Student, Middle School Student, ect.):

Craft(s) of Choice:

Blog (if applicable): 

Memory, Story or Anecdote related to crafting in your life (no more than 250 words):

Having trouble?  Here’s an example to give you a little inspiration!
Sample Crafter Profile

Name: Libby Bailey (aka my mom)
Age: 64
Location: Lakewood, California
Profession: High School Special Education Teacher
Craft(s) of choice: Knitting, without a doubt.

“All of my life, the most important thing to me was becoming a mother, in the true sense of the word–not just one who gave birth. When my kids were little, my focus was being the kind of mother that mine wasn’t. Back then in my mind, one way to do this was to home-craft. Knitting made the first connection when for my brand new daughter, I made her a pretty, pink Scandinavian sweater and put it on her little body saying, “Mommy made this, just for you.” After that, every year I repeated the sweater in a different color and size. When her brother joined us, every year there were two sweaters knit by their mother’s hands.

As my children grew, there were many crafts we did together, as a family–with mommy’s hands, teaching little hands. And now, decades later, the little girl all grown up, teaches her mother the advanced intricacies of knitting. The circle is complete.”

filed under Books/How2 Goodness, Crafts/Sewing, Knitting/Crochet.

66 Responses to “Join the Craft Corps!”

  4. jaime

    oh, how awesome! your mom’s teared me up a bit! i’ll be sending an e-mail shortly.

  11. Bead-Mused

    Very cool! I’m posting on my blog today and hopefully you’ll get some responses from my readers!
    Theresa

  15. Fern

    Hey Vickie, I just posted about this but I just wanted to check first, is this open for international crafters as well? We’re an Australian based Craft Blog so I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t letting people know about something they can’t get involved in!

    Thanks very much.

  17. Vickie Howell

    Linda–If you’re on a pc, just highlight all of the text by left clicking and scrolling with your mouse, then right click and select copy. Open up an e-mail, right click and select paste. On a mac, command C is copy and command V is paste. HTH

    Fern–Absolutely international submissions are welcome! Community is community, yo. 😉

    Can’t wait to read everyone’s submissions! xoxo

  19. Anandi

    Very cool! I posted this to our Etsy Seattle street team message board as well, so you might see some other Seattle entries besides mine 🙂

  20. Lydia Hess

    Totally exciting! Is it OK, though, to be a member of the Journal Revolution ART ARMY and also be part of the Craft Corps? Thanks!

  21. Elana

    Yay! Sent! You’re going to get a lot of emails now, Craft put it up on their blog :-).

  23. Dave Lowe

    By applying, am I now also committed to an artistic militia group needing me in a post apocalyptic “road warrior” world that will attempt to keep crafting alive?

    I don’t plan that far in advance.

  24. Carol Browne

    Oh cool. I’d love to submit, but my crafting has been very lean recently. I’ve been spending a lot of time out in the garden and blogging. I will be looking forward to your book, though.

  25. Knit Purl Gurl

    Really cool idea! I sent a submission yesterday. I will post to my blog (though I don’t get too much traffic, sadly).

  27. Girly Girl Bags

    this is great, I am submitting a profile right now. I’ve also informed the Southwest Ohio Etsy team

  29. Alyice Edrich

    Sounds like fun. Sent mine in, too. I can’t wait to read everyone’s stories.

    Alyice
    Book Review, Artist, Writer

  30. paula clare

    Hi Vickie!
    Your submission was actually the first time I’ve ever thought about the “how’d I get here” part of my art! Thanks so much for the opportunity to put it down on “virtual paper!”

    Blessings,
    Paula Clare

  32. ruthilyn

    HOW VERY FANTASTIC!!! I emailed you my info, and posted you on my blog!!! Best of luck to you!!! *kisses* ~ruthilyn

  36. Janet Campbell

    I just sent in my profile! Thanks for the opportunity! Love your blog & your show. I made the little preemie hat which I will be donating! It came out great! I will post this on my blog as well.
    Janet

  38. Anita

    Hello Vickie! I am Anita from São Paulo, Brazil. I love finding crafters like you – beautiful, young and full of joy and creativity. Visiting my blog you will find a post referring to you saying this words but in Portuguese. I will apply to Crafters Corps, it will be my pleasure to join your cause. Best wishes!

  41. Betsy

    Hi Vickie! This is so cool! I’m working on the form right now. I hope I make it to the book, but even if I don’t I’m sure it will be great! 🙂

  46. Anonymous

    Sent it today, Thanks for the opportunity.
    -So Cal Teacher

  49. Chris

    Well, it’s obvious that not enough people are interested in this! so I’m leaving a comment. I found this through Craftstylish, and it sounds fabulous! Of COURSE I’m going to apply! I don’t knit, but I’ve admired your work on Stylecious and Knitty Gritty for a long time, and would love to represent my homies in the collage community.

    Rock on!

  51. oldflowers4me

    iwould just love to say-this is fantastic- ive never seen anything like-i dont know if im 2 late or not- any way im opening a bottle of lemonade-would you like to share-singing and skipping -jo…

  59. Urban Woodswalker

    Oh Man! I missed the deadline ! I just found out about you!

    I make art from found items and trash. Jewelry from aluminum cans, and vessals/ baskets from newspapers for example. I have crafted all my life and becamse an illustrator and animator for my 30 year career. Now I do fine art full time and show my work on Etsy:

    http://urbanwoodswalker.etsy.com

    and my divere portfolio shines on Flickr here:

    http://www.flickr.com/urbanwoodswalker/

    If you are ever in need of a uniquely different vision and ap[proach to materials and techniques…just look me up. ♥

    Mary Anne
    Urban Woodswalker

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