You can’t pick out a ceramic sculpture to paint and take home to mom, and there is no farm stand with homemade apple butter or apricot jam to taste as you’re watching the art of hand blown glass across the way, but between the art fairs, street festivals, and farmer’s markets there is now an opportunity for artisans to showcase their work and for buyers to find that special custom gift, you guessed it..online! 

     There are certain moments that are simply “feel-good” and create a story of their own. Like, finding that secret little shop in the village with amazing old books and handmade gift cards, or stumbling upon an abandoned painting on the side of a cobblestone street in Soho that would look perfect in your living room. One of my favorites was attending the town craft fair just because that fascinating woman who made exquisitely hand-stitched Barbie clothes was still alive. These moments aren’t necessarily over, but there is now a platform that makes them much more effortless and accessible!

     I think we can all admit, there is something special about wearing a necklace that came directly from the person who made it.  This is where the idea came from to create online marketplaces like Etsy.com. It is a new place for buyers and sellers alike to share these magical moments without the overhead costs. These new online marketplaces are forums that anyone can access to purchase items that fall under categories such as art, bags and purses, candles, ceramics and pottery, crochet, glass, jewelry, music, needlecraft, plants and edibles, vintage, woodworking and many more. The idea is to encourage artisans of all levels, all ages, and all backgrounds to take their hobbies and turn it into cash! Sellers can list 3 types of items: handmade goods, supplies or vintage ( vintage – any items that are at least 20 years or older with “vintage appeal”). Buyers perusing the website also have choices when using the website. If you don’t want to browse the traditional way, you can scroll through top featured items that have been hand selected by members, view custom gift guides, search items based on location or even choose from items simply based on a their color!

     According to stats listed in Wired Magazine, “Etsy has 2 million users buying nearly $90 million worth of stuff annually. It’s sales have increased twentyfold in the past two years.”

     The birth of online marketplaces or ecommerce, specifically for handmade goods, are great examples of grass root steps that everyday Americans can take to make money off of their own hard work and unique talent. It is an easy way for anyone to showcase their creative small business without any overhead costs. It also answers that lingering question that many artists have when it comes to selling their work – “where do I begin?”

     So, to all of the crafty entrepreneurs out there, let’s plant some seeds between the oger-like trees of the AIG bailout and Bernie Madoff scandal. So, when it’s all over the sun will reveal our brand new, hand-made, American economy. I look forward to all the magical moments you create.

Featured Item (above):

Love Never Forgets Pendent by Bridgeman Studios, $16             Click here to see the actual hand crafted piece on Etsy.  ”This design has a special story behind it but I hope you will find a situation in your own life where it speaks to you” 

Websites with handmade products for buyers and sellers:

Etsy.com

SupermarketHQ.com

Artfire.com

FreeCraftFair.com

handmadecatalog.com

madeitmyself.com

artsfest.com

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