Monthly Archives: June 2011

Connecting to Your Community: Part Two

Posted on June 22, 2011 by Isaac | 3 Comments

This article is part of a series addressing the topics discussed during our March 30 Salon Discussion, Connecting to Your Community.

Previously in this series: Part One, Setting the Stage

Identifying Your Motives

HYPOTHESIS
The best way to balance our commodity-driven culture is to contribute to the community through the open exchange of knowledge, ideas and information.

KNOW YOURSELF

Before jumping into a community blind and flailing around without drive or focus, it’s important to take a step back and identify why you are doing this in the first place. And the key to doing that is knowing yourself.
Continue reading →

→ 3 Comments

Posted in Articles, Salons

Tagged business tips, collaboration, community, give back, isaac watson, professional development, salon discussion, share

A Special Letter from the Museum

Posted on June 21, 2011 by Isaac | Leave a comment

Museum of Contemporary Craft director Jeffrey Thomas would like to offer a special benefit everyone who attended our craft party and to all of our readers.

Hello I Heart Art: Portland,

Thank goodness for Etsy! And for craft parties! And for craft museums!

As the new Director of the Museum of Contemporary Craft, I want to thank you all for showing up and showing the love at Portland’s Craft Party—the all-day extravaganza of making and giving back to the Japan Earthquake Relief Fund. It was absolutely thrilling to see the activity in all the galleries, the spirited sound of creative industry mixed with lighthearted banter and all around good times.

Continue reading →

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Community, Opportunities

Tagged community, craft, culture, discounts, museum of contemporary craft

Registration Open: A World of Free

Posted on June 17, 2011 by Isaac | 2 Comments

Online marketing is often based on sharing various kinds of value with the public for free—blog posts, links, project ideas and tutorials. Historically, this free sharing has been seen as a cornerstone of growing your readership, expanding your customer base, and finding new opportunties for paid work. Continue reading →

→ 2 Comments

Posted in Salons

Tagged community, craft, craftypod, diane gilleland, free, portland, professional development, registration, salon discussion, sister diane

Instructor Profile: The Radish Gals

Posted on June 16, 2011 by Isaac | Leave a comment

This Saturday’s workshop, A Torrid Love Affair: The Designer – Boutique Relationship is sure to be chock full of hilarity paired with sage advise. Taught by Gina Morris & Celestial Sipes, the duo behind Radish Underground, this workshop dives into how handmade artisans and crafters can maximize their retail potential and build strong, lasting relationships with other shop owners.

Meet the Instructors

Celeste made her way to Portland in 1996, and holds two BA’s from Lewis & Clark College, in English and Philosophy. She is the established designer and owner of the Aster Park clothing line, which is currently being carried in Portland, Hood River and Los Angeles boutiques. Continue reading →

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Workshops

Tagged celestial sipes, gina morris, instructor profile, professional development, radish underground, wholesale, workshop

Let Your Hideousness Shine

Posted on June 9, 2011 by Isaac | Leave a comment

We are incredibly excited about what’s in store for tomorrow’s Portland Craft Party. Between all the craft activities, contributing to the Quilts for Quake Survivors project, donating proceeds to Mercy Corps and the INSANE amount of donated prizes we’ve received from the community, we can’t wait to open the doors to Museum of Contemporary Craft and let you all experience it for yourselves.

If you haven’t already bought your ticket, now’s your chance.

One of the craft activities during the day from 4–6 pm is called Mighty Ugly—a project of creatively challenging proportions devised by the ever-fabulous, Vancouver, BC-based Kim Werker. She asks you to think back to the last time you made something ugly. Really, truly, unabashedly ugly.

Most of us haven’t.

While Kim isn’t able to join us for the craft party action here in Portland, our local Rachel Dominguez-Benner will lead the charge and instruct us all in the ways of all things ugly. To prep people for the project and explain its origins, Kim was kind enough to shoot a five-minute intro video. So sit back, hit play and learn all about what it takes to make something MIGHT UGLY.