THIS WEEKS LINKS
From AmEx Open Forum, How Entrepreneurs Can Plan for Retirement
A Guite to Starting Your Small Business Blog
Handmade for Japan
Handmade for Japan is an online auction of unique, handmade art donated by concerned, invited artists. One hundred percent of all net proceeds collected via the auction will be donated to the relief efforts in Japan.
Visit the Handmade for Japan Auction Facebook page for more information.
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Artist Spotlight
Artists, would you like to have your work/studio spotlighted in It's Friday? Email rani@randomactsart.com with up to two paragraphs about you, your studio & your artwork. Please include links to your website or Wholesalecrafts page and up to two pictures to be included. You can send the pictures as attachments or just send links to the pictures on your website.
Artist will be spotlighted on a first come, first serve basis.
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ACW Twitter
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Last year forty states participated, this year we hope for all fifty! Last year 300 plus participants signed on to hold events or just say they were supporting this effort, this year we want to raise that number to 500! Wouldn't it be exciting to see ACW grow in that manner? It is certainly possible! We have just begun to scratch the surface of possibilities for this national event.
Some additional goals for 2011 include:
- increasing media attention
- airing the newest Craft In America series in conjunction with ACW
- getting more museums to partner as participants or sponsors
- having more galleries and organizations work together in their region to hold bigger events
- signing on large craft festivals that are scheduled during the ACW time frame to be "signature events"
But, the first step is to have you participate again! This year signing up has been made easier on the website. Go ahead and do it now on the American Craft Week website. As a CRAFT member, your participation fee is FREE. Under Payment Method, just select "I'm a CRAFT member (fee waived)".
By getting past participants on board it will be easier to sign on new people. You can list your event at a later date. Keep in mind that ACW will always start on the first Friday of October and go through two weekends.
Resources and ideas are being added to the website regularly. If you have pictures from your event last year please send those to acw2010@americancraftweek.com or add them to our Flickr ACW2010 pool. Acquiring more images will help with the press releases and outreach for this year.
Thank you for signing up & helping us make this years American Craft Week even better. |
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Artist Member Spotlight
 Erda Leather
At Erda, a jolly group of women collaborates to bring into being the outside-the-box ideas I generate. We've established a distinctive identity by using vivid, texture-rich fabrics, exotic deerskin, and sculptural shapes.
I started making deerskin bags in 1971, at first for myself, then for friends. I was only planning to do it until I figured out what to be when I grew up. I made VERY funky bags, loaded with fringe, beads, and raggedyedges. I had no training, and frankly my bags had almost no construction - they were sorta Abstract Expressionist bags. Some styles, updated, are still available.
Today, I collect intelligence from the press, the net, the cosmopolitan world, and customers, to bring to our shop in Maine, ten miles from the nearest small town. Drawing upon the creativity and skills of the group, we've added structure, zippers, pockets, and functionality that embodies the spirit of Erda in a fresh, up-to-date form.
 Our bags are made of American deerskin or contemporary fabrics stolen from the upholstery industry. As you can see, they aren't something you'd picture on your couch, though! All of our handbags are available in any of our standard fabrics or in our recycled fabrics.
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