Storque articles: Craftivism

New Rules: Support Your Local Economy

2009-11-20T15:00:00-05:00

Stacy Mitchell is a senior researcher with the New Rules Project at the Institute for Local Self Reliance (ISLR), an organization started in 1974 to work with citizens, activists, policy makers and entrepreneurs to help communities improve their economies, reduce waste, manage local infrastructure and provide better overall living environments.

The New Rules Project “challenges the wisdom and inevitability of economic consolidation and works to advance policies that support strong local economies and vibrant communities.” In a nutshell, she works to advance many of the same things that Etsy stands for — handmade, local, independent production, and a connection to communities and producers.

I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with Stacy about the growth of local and independent businesses over the past several years, which many people attribute to both a backlash against “big box” retail and an appreciation for knowing one’s maker. Stacy took some time to talk to us about these issues, and her latest book, Big-Box Swindle: The True Cost of Mega-Retailers and the Fight for America's Independent Businesses, goes into much more detail.

Tell us a bit about the New Rules Project.
The New Rules Project is a national initiative started by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. The project's mission is to make the case that bigger isn't necessarily better — that small-scale production and independent businesses nurture community and create a more sustainable and democratic economy.

Our focus is on changing public policy. If you look at the laws and regulations in place today, many of them actively favor big corporations. Federal farm policies subsidize big agribusiness; local zoning rules favor Wal-Mart; banking regulations aid big banks; and the list goes on.

We're calling for New Rules: public policies that support local economies and build strong, self-governing communities.

How did you get involved in the organization and what do you do?
I started working for the New Rules Project when it was founded in 1997. Much of my focus has been looking at the consequences of the rise of big retail chains, like Wal-Mart, Home Depot, and Barnes & Noble. These companies have taken over much of our economy with the promise of delivering good deals, but it turns out that the big-box model has been incredibly expensive. In my recent book, Big-Box Swindle, I document how these companies are fueling many of our most pressing problems, from the shrinking middle class to rising greenhouse gas emissions.

The good news is that there's now a widespread backlash. The New Rules Project has helped hundreds of grassroots groups stop big-box development projects and enact new policies that keep the chains at bay and support local businesses instead.

Even more encouraging, our research is finding growing public support for locally produced goods and independent businesses. Local food is soaring in popularity. Over the last four years, we've seen increasing numbers of new independent businesses, from bookstores to food markets, opening across the country.

Local business alliances — like Stay Local New Orleans, Local First in Salt Lake City, and Portland Buy Local in Portland, Maine — have now formed in over 130 cities and collectively count some 30,000 businesses as members. These alliances are running very creative "buy local" campaigns that are not only changing people's shopping habits, but engaging them in a conversation about community and how to transition to a more sustainable future.

Why should people shop local this holiday season?
One reason is that shopping at an independent business, instead of a chain, generates far more benefit for your local economy. Several recent studies have found that a dollar spent at a locally owned business generates 2-3 times as much local economic activity as a dollar spent at a chain and supports many more local jobs.

Another compelling reason to go local this year is to make the holidays fun again. Who wants to sit in traffic at the mall? It's so much more rewarding to stroll through the small stores in your neighborhood or downtown. You'll not only find unusual gifts that don't come from a sweatshop, but you're bound to run into friends, get into an interesting conversation, enjoy the beauty of historic buildings decked out in lights, take time to savor a hot chocolate at the local café — in short, you'll have a chance to really experience and celebrate the place in which you live.

Of course, you can't always find everything you're looking for in your own backyard, and that's why sites like Etsy and Indiebound are a great way to take advantage of the convenience and diversity of the web while still supporting independent artists and small businesses.

What kind of impact does supporting the local arts have on a community at large?
Buying anything produced locally — food, art, music, fashion — has a sizeable economic benefit for your community. The money you spend stays in the local area and helps to keep your neighbors employed.

These creative professions also contribute to the welfare of the community in so many other ways. They make the places we live interesting. They create focal points for reflection and community.

Artists and craftspeople are great problem-solvers too. As we grapple with big challenges, like climate change, we need their special abilities to help us envision a different way of living.

Do you have any specific examples of cities or towns that are experiencing a positive change?
Thanks largely to the work of Sustainable Connections, a coalition of about 500 local businesses in and around Bellingham, Washington, that community has made huge strides in incubating new businesses, expanding regional food production, and reducing the carbon footprint of buildings.

Local First Utah has changed how residents and elected officials in Salt Lake City think about economic development. A recent survey found that three-quarters of residents want fewer chains in their neighborhoods and more local businesses.

Arizona Local First was instrumental in convincing the state legislature to outlaw the kinds of subsidies that are commonly provided to big-box development projects.

Here in my hometown of Portland, Maine, many local business owners say that Portland Buy Local has made a big difference in terms of galvanizing public support and helping them survive the recession.

What are you doing to support your local community in Portland, ME?
I'm one of many volunteers with Portland Buy Local, which has about 280 members, including local businesses, artists, and nonprofits. We create new poster and advertising campaigns every couple of months that highlight the value of independent businesses and encourage people to support them.

Our posters, which are displayed on hundreds of storefronts all over the city and reproduced as ads in local newspapers, are all designed by local artists, so they are very eye-catching as well as incredibly varied in their style.

Steve Darnley and Arielle Walrath, for example, designed this gorgeous poster (pictured below) for our holiday campaign last year. Sean Wilkinson produced a very powerful graphic for one of our economic messages (shown above).

Poster by Steve Darnley and Arielle Walrath

Etsy seller pineconeandchickadee created this amazing Valentine's Day poster, which was so popular that we turned it into T-shirts that have been selling like hotcakes.

Poster by pineconechickadee

Our latest poster series, by photographer Nathan Eldridge, emphasizes the wide range of products — from the unusual to the everyday — that are available from independent businesses.

How should people get involved with New Rules?
The best way to keep up with what we're doing and learn how you can start some of these initiatives in your own community is to sign up for our monthly email newsletter, The Hometown Advantage.

We publish lots of useful research and information on our website. Take a look and, if you find an idea or an article you like, please forward it to your friends, your neighbors, your elected officials, your local newspaper. We're a small organization, so we need all the help we can get to make our research and ideas part of the public discussion.

Lastly, like any nonprofit, we are dependent almost entirely on donations to keep the lights on and our staff fed. Contributions of any size are gratefully appreciated.

Any Etsy sellers you're particularly fond of?
I adore ferdinandhome — terrific T-shirts, my favorite greeting cards, and fabulous potholders made from vintage fabric.

Another favorite is pineconeandchickadee. I'm smitten with Amy Teh's designs.

I hope my husband is reading this, because one thing I'd be super happy to find under my tree this year is a messenger bag from bobbinstudio.

And, lastly, there's a real gem of a little business in my neighborhood that just became an Etsy seller a few weeks ago: HomegrownHerbandTea. Sarah Richards is a skilled herbalist who has been blending teas for both health and pleasure at her tea shop here on Munjoy Hill for several years. She just made the leap online and her teas are definitely worth checking out.

Further Resources:
The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) proposes a set of new rules that builds community by supporting humanly scaled politics and economics. The rules call for:

Decisions made by those impacted
Communities accepting responsibility for the welfare of their members and the next generation
Households and communities possessing or owning sufficient productive capacity to generate real wealth

NewRules.org discusses the importance of rules and catalogs the best. We make the rules and the rules make us.

The Related Items below are all from Stacy's native Maine!

Find Etsy Sellers in Your Town | Read Our Shop Local Series | Check Out the Etsy Maine Team

Quilting for Peace: Stitch Your Own Shopping Bag

2009-11-06T10:15:00-05:00

Stitch-by-stitch throughout the decades, the art and craft of quilting has long held a quiet power to gather communities together — whether it be through quilting bees, wartime efforts, painstakingly creating heirlooms and gifts, or resourcefully gathering together fabric scraps to mend a garment or create an object of comfort.

Katherine Bell's new book, Quilting for Peace, explores the the stories, social causes, and common threads of making the world a better place one thoughtful stitch at a time. She also includes a plethora of projects and inspiration for reclaiming peace and meaning in our world, using your own two hands and a few basic craft supplies. Below Katherine Bell has generously shared with us the 30 Minute Shopping Bag project from her book.

Purchase Quilting for Peace from Amazon or an independent bookseller.

Project: 30 Minute Shopping Bag

Use recycled fabric or leftover scraps from quilting projects to make this bag extra
eco-friendly. If you want to use small scraps of fabric, read the patchwork instructions at the end of the pattern. Double seams make the bag more durable for heavy groceries, giving it a longer life.

Finished Size:
Approximately 15 4/4" z 16 3/4"

What You'll Need:
- 3/4 yard of 44 inch wide quilting or home decorating weight cotton (preferably recycled)
- Knitting needle or chopstick
- Matching cotton thread

Sewing Instructions:

1. Cut two 18-inch x 20-inch pieces of fabric for the front and back of the shopping bag, and two 18-inch x 4-inch strips for the handles.

2. Fold and press a 1/2-inch hem on one long edge of one handle strip. Fold and press a 1-inch hem on the opposite long edge of this handle strip. Fold and press the side with the narrow hem so it overlaps the side with the wide hem by 1/2 inch (see Diagram A).

3. Edge-stitch the edge of the overlapped hem, and then topstitch 1/4 inch on either side of the ﬁrst seam.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to make the second handle.

5. Working with one of the 18-inch x 20-inch rectangles, fold and press to the wrong side a 1/2-inch hem on one short end. Fold and press this hem edge another 1 1/2 inches to the wrong side. Next position each end of one handle 4 1/2 inches from each side edge of the rectangle and tuck the handle ends under the double-folded hem, snugging them to the base of the hem (the handle will now face into the center of the rectangle), as shown in Diagram B.

Pin the double-folded hem and handle ends in place, and edge-stitch as close to the edge of the hem as you can, taking out the pins as you come to them. Fold the handle up over the hem, and press it in place (see Diagram C).

6. Topstitch a box with an X inside it on each end of the handle, covering the bag’s hem (see Diagram D).

7. Repeat steps 2-6 with the second fabric rectangle and handle.

8. Place the bag’s two sides with wrong sides together and the edges aligned. Sew a 1/4-inch seam along both sides and the boom of the bag, backstitching at the beginning and end of the seam to secure it. Turn the bag wrong side out, using a knitting needle or chopstick to gently push the corners fully out. Press the bag’s edges, and, with a 1/2-inch seam, sew around the three closed sides, again backstitching at the beginning and end of your stitching. Trim any loose threads, turn the bag right side out, and press it again.

Patchwork variation:
Piece together strips or scraps of fabric, and trim your patchwork to create the two -inch x -inch rectangles. Then follow steps 1-8 above to make your shopping bag

Thank you to Katherine Bell and the good people at STC Craft for sharing this project with us. For more ideas on how to improve your world through quilting, check out the website, Quilting for Peace.

More Craftivism Posts | Quilts Category | DIY Made Simple Gift Guide

Come craft with author Katherine Bell at two upcoming events in Brooklyn, NY:

Saturday, November 14 (12-6 p.m.): DIY Design Day at 303 Grand. More details here.

Monday, November 16 (4-8pm): Bag-making Craft Night with Bags for the People at Etsy Labs

October 24 is International Day of Climate Action!

2009-10-23T10:20:00-05:00

If you haven't heard already, tomorrow, October 24, 2009, people all over the world are coming together in places as simple as your local park and diverse as the Taj Mahal and the Great Barrier Reef to send a big, loud, important message to world leaders: "Solutions to climate change must be equitable, they must be grounded in science, and they must meet the scale of the crisis."

In December, world leaders will meet in Copenhagen, Denmark to craft a new global treaty on reducing emissions and stemming global warming. People around the world are encouraging their leaders to consider the 350 parts per million test when making this legislation.

Check out this video animation that explains the concept without words. Or you can read (in at least a dozen languages) more at www.350.org to learn why "350" is such an important number.

So hop on your bike, take public transportation, run or walk to an event and show your support for keeping our planet green. It's not too late to make a difference...yet!

More Craftivism Posts | Earth Tones Blog Series | Environmentally Friendly Gift Guide

Crafting a Cure: Breast Cancer Awareness on Etsy

2009-10-14T10:20:00-05:00

As many of you may have noticed, there are waves of pink on everything from ribbons to tortillas in October. Why? Because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This annual event is dedicated to educating women (and those who love them) about the early signs of breast cancer and prevention. It has grown to celebrate survivors and raise funds for research.

Little fundraisers by scrumptiousdelight, whose mother died of breast cancer

The gentlemen and ladies of the Etsy Plush Team, like so many of you, have been touched by this disease. Mothers, sisters, daughters and friends have all been diagnosed with a disease that can be devastating. I stress the can be. Because of the work done by scientists, doctors, patients and all of us who support them, real progress has been made in the fight against breast cancer. We are at an important crossroads in the medical history of this disease. We are close to the cure. As I write this, Canadian scientists announced they have decoded all three billion letters in the DNA sequence of a metastatic breast cancer tumors: a critical step in understanding both the cause and the cure of breast cancer.

Plush Team member Patti Haskins is my personal hero. She tells her story much better than I do:

"This January is my sixth anniversary of when I started treatment. I did the whole lumpectomy, chemo, radiation thing. I've had better times. Now, every six months I visit doctors to see how I'm doing — so far, so good. But it is never out of my mind. I always wonder when it will be back. Hopefully, when it rears its ugly head again, there will be a cure, and it will be ‘not a big deal.’ Or maybe there will even be something to take to maintain life and keep the cancer cells from growing. It doesn't cure me, but it lets me live with it. I could handle that, living with arrested cancer. It’s that freewheeling cancer, running rampant through my body that scares me."

Plush deer by FollowtheWhiteRabbit for the Plush Team

It was very easy for the Plush Team to choose the charity for our fall fundraiser: the Susan G. Komen Fund for the Cure. Because we are a global team, the Komen Fund is a great match for us. They do outreach and raise funds for research projects in countries all over the globe. The Komen Fund also has a very high rating from Guidestar.org. (Guidestar.org is an independent organization that rates non-profit groups to better inform donors on the success of their missions and the accountability of their fundraising.)

We were curious what other teams and Etsians were doing during Awareness month. The SHETeam (Schooling at Home Etsians) has organized an informal fundraising sale. At the end of October, all proceeds from designated items will be donated to a breast cancer charity of their choice. The SHETeam is 85 members strong and a self-proclaimed “G-Rated” Team. Search the Handmade section for “sheteamoct09” for their items. This cuff is by KimPayne.
Other individual Etsians are motivated to earmark a portion of their sales to breast cancer awareness organizations year round. Jeweler Aimee Golant has created this inspiring brooch symbolizing the power of the feminine spirit. 10% of the proceeds from the sale of the Shin Pin will benefit Sharsheret, a Jewish women's breast cancer organization.
Jeweler LUQ2 has taken her family’s personal struggle and transformed her experiences into this powerful statement of hope. 20% of sales of the Cancer Awareness Bracelet will be sent to Entertainment Industry Foundation's Women's Cancer Programs.
Designer annaaizic has harnessed the healing power of stones in her Majestic Labradorite and Silver necklace. Anna also donates 15% from each sale to Susan G. Komen Fund for the Cure.
Breast cancer also affects the men in our lives. This Pink Ribbon Tie by kjmSILKS is a great way for misters to show their support. 15% of the sale price goes to the Komen Fund.

Celebrate survival and triumph with a Pink Party! I was inspired by paperandcake’s Pink Party for Breast Cancer Awareness Month — Printable Download PDF. What a great idea! This kit contains fun and sophisticated designs for you to decorate in style. And 50% of the sale price goes to the Komen Fund.

So how does a team of plushmakers scattered all over the globe go about launching a project to raise funds for Breast Cancer Awareness month? In a word: boobs!

Pink Puddings from fakeradish

We wanted to challenge ourselves as makers as well as highlight some of the iconic imagery associated with Breast Cancer Awareness month. So we came up with three themes: boobs, pink Ribbon and pink. Team members had a month to come up with items that reflected one of the themes, and I must say, our team created beautiful, funny and fearsome work!

100% of all funds (minus shipping) raised from Breast Cancer Awareness projects sold in the Plush Team shop will be donated to the Komen Fund. We’ve raised over $250.00 so far….and with your help, we hope to raise more! Check some more of our plush items below and in our team shop. Make sure to check the sold listings in our shop because there are some great items you'll get a kick out of!

Further Resources:

PlushTeam Blog
Susan G. Komen Fund for Cure
Entertainment Industry Foundation's Women's Cancer Programs
Sharsheret
GuideStar
I mention this cool crazy thing in the first paragraph of this post — The El Rey Tortilla Factory in Milwaukee is making pink tortillas!

See more Storque posts about cancer awareness.

Our Thoughts Go out to Our Friends in Asia

2009-10-02T08:57:00-05:00

As many of you have no doubt seen on the news, the Samoan Islands were hit hard by an earthquake-induced tsunami and then today another earthquake. Indonesia has been rocked by two huge earthquakes, and typhoon Ketsana has ripped through Laos, the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia. More than 1000 people have died and countless others have had their lives literally turned upside down.

Our thoughts, prayers and well-wishes go out to all the people of these countries and to their friends and family around the world who are anxiously awaiting news that their loved ones are safe.

Shop Local Asia | Read More Craftivism Posts

CPSIA: Overcoming Obstacles and Fighting for Change

2009-09-28T17:00:00-05:00

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) was passed just over a year ago, and since a stay was put in place in February, Etsy makers of children's items have kept the conversation going on the special Etsy Forum. From major newspapers to the blogosphere, from mom and pop stores to multi-national corporations, the CPSIA has continued to provoke confusion and ire. We invited Cecilia Leibovitz, a.k.a. paperdreams, to give us an update on the state of affairs. Cecelia is not only the founder of craftsburykids.com, a shop specializing in unique handmade toys and gifts for children — she is also President of the Handmade Toy Alliance, a grassroots organization advocating for makers of small batch children's products.

Many who produce small batch items for children are well aware of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). You may already know that fabric has been exempted from CPSIA and that crafters are not necessarily required to label their items, but must keep an accurate record system in place in the event of a possible recall. There are very specific stipulations that go along with these exemptions (for example a screen printed T-shirt would not be exempt due to the inks used in this process). I urge you to take a look at the pages linked below for more information.

While many are breathing a sigh of relief now that fabric is exempt from CPSIA, more is needed. Dan Marshall, founder and Vice President of the Handmade Toy Alliance is concerned that while fabric used in a hair bow is exempt, the barrette itself is not, along with zippers, snaps, buttons, etc. used in clothing.

Painted items are not exempt from CPSIA, nor are they part of the one year stay that expires on February 10, 2010. If component testing is not allowed, it will be indefinitely illegal to produce painted items for children without third party testing, unless of course you’re Mattel. The Handmade Toy Alliance has been a strong advocate for component based testing, as the organization recognizes how crucial this point is for crafters and micro businesses, if we are all to survive.

Certain components contain lead that is bound into their structure, and thus not biologically available, even when swallowed. Crystals, some rhinestones and other glass embellishments fall into this category.

In July 2009 the Fashion Jewelry Trade Association (FJTA) requested an exemption from the CPSIA lead limits for crystal and glass embellishments. This request was denied by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in spite of the fact that test data and analysis were presented, showing that ingestion and mouthing of leaded crystal would result in absorption of so small a quantity of lead that it may not even be detectable in a child’s blood stream.

According to CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum, denial of the FJTA’s request was due to CPSIA language, which states that the possibility of *any* (without specification of whether the amount must be determined harmful or not) ingestion of lead renders an item unacceptable under CPSIA standards. In an official CPSC statement, Tenenbaum said that “...while Commission staff recognized that most crystal and glass beads do not appear to pose a serious health risk to children, because ingested crystal beads that leach lead will result in some lead absorption, the request for an exclusion must be denied.”

At this point, various distributors claim to offer low lead and lead-free crystals and rhinestones. If you are using these items on products for children, you will want to be sure they truly comply with the law.

“The test data I’ve seen for these alternative rhinestone products is based on modified EPA Method 3051,” says Sheila Milar, a partner with Keller and Heckman LLP and counsel to the Fashion Jewelry Trade Association. CPSC specifies use of modified EPA Method 3052 to test crystal and glass. Method 3052 uses hydrofluoric acid in the solution to digest crystal, which can’t be completely digested using hydrochloric acid.” Ms. Milar added, “Many laboratories will not handle hydrofluoric acid and the fact that such a strong and dangerous acid is required to fully digest crystal and glass is another indication of how lead is bound into the structure of the material.” It is still not clear whether test results based on Method 3051 would be acceptable, and the jewelry industry is seeking clarification.

Heather Flottman, a board member of the Handmade Toy Alliance and owner of children’s clothing label Liliputians NYC, hasn’t let stringent regulations stop her from creating and selling her work. “I use some flat back buttons that look like jewels. I XRF tested them and they came in less than 10ppm for lead,” says Heather.

“There are safe alternatives to the classic Swarovski crystal out there. People do not have to give up nor do they need to report every sparkly thing they see to CPSC,” adds Heather. She uses plastic button eyes for her appliqués, has certification from the manufacturer that they are lead free, and XRF tested them herself just to be sure.

If as the CPSC has alluded to, component testing is allowed in the near future, items like Heather Flottman’s buttons will be tested by the manufacturer, and it will be affordable and easy for crafters to use them. In the event that this doesn’t happen, Heather says she will switch to buttons made of natural materials exempt from CPSIA, such as unpainted wood and shell.

As we move forward, let’s work together to fix the CPSIA, as well as network and find creative ways to navigate the law. Now more than ever, it is of the utmost importance that we do not turn against each other.

Further Resources:

Join the HTA to effect change in the CPSIA — http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org
Explaining the facts and dispelling the myths about the CPSIA — http://www.whatiscpsia.com
Official CPSIA Website — http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html
Tracking Label Policy (Number 9 refers specifically to crafters) — http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/sect103policy.pdf

Check out the CPSIA Forums for More Discussion

Art and Activism: Etsy Products for People with Disabilities

2009-09-21T17:39:00-05:00

When I was growing up, I was one of those art geeks who went to museums for fun, was always drawing in the margins of my class notes, and took requests from other kids to draw horses, unicorns, mad scientists, and various monsters.

After I went blind, finding new ways to be creative became something of an obsession. I learned to sew. I learned to tie-dye. I'm always searching for tactile art, which can include anything from found object sculpture to costumes to textile arts.

Kestrell in the Slytherin dress robes a friend made for her.

Recently I was searching Etsy for some fingerless gloves (due to my arthritis, I often wear these even indoors), and I was pleased to find that not only did Etsy have these in a variety of lengths and styles, but many of them were fun and fit both my gothic sense of style and offbeat sense of humor. The winner is purple people-eater fleece gloves:

Purple People Eater Gloves by BoysenberryLane, $14.95.

This got me wondering what other Etsy items might be appealing to people with disabilities. Here are some of my discoveries.

I've been thinking about taking up crochet, but my arthritis makes this something of an issue. Here's a possible solution, which promises both added ease of use and a decorative element: a handcrafted steel crochet hook with a modified handle. It's decorated with flowers and butterflies. (Hmmm, wonder if I can get that with crescent moons and bats?)

Polymer Clay Covered Steel Crochet Hook with a Modified Handle by thefancifulfeline, $5.99.

I'm not a big Braille reader (I mostly use a talking laptop for reading and writing and an accessible mp3 player for reading books), but I am fond of items that use Braille as a decorative device. It's tactile, and it's like wearing a secret coded message. Etsy offers more Braille-related items than I can list in a single post, but three of my favorites are:

A Child's Braille Alphabet Quilt by NeedfulThingsofSalem, $150.

Love Braille rings available in silver or gold by Zahour, $85.

This textured Braille painting entitled "Joy" by JMJSTUDIO, $179.

For wheelchair users, there are a number of wheelchair bags, although I think there is a market of younger, more hip wheelchair users, which is being seriously overlooked. My favorite of the wheelchair bags is the Smartie Pak, Jr. arm saddlebag by hodgepodgeia, $23.95.

One particularly happy discovery was that at least one Etsy furniture maker is addressing wheelchair accessible furniture, and this wheelchair accessible reclaimed pine table from an old barn made me wish this table fit in my living space. (Big surprise, I live in the attic of a big old Victorian house, with just enough room for me, the books, and the bats.) The table is by jeffbuildsfurniture, $1050.

There are a number of disabled artists who sell their work on Etsy, but the one that I kept coming back to — and from whom I ultimately bought a couple of necklaces — is Sarahbushka and her family's shop, wiresNpliers. She lists her jewelry that she makes at Art Careers, which is an adaptive educational program offered to persons with developmental disabilities. One of the necklaces I bought was the Art Careers' Sarahbushka's "Oh, Amber!" necklace. Find more in the wiresNpliers shop.

I'm still pretty new to Etsy, but I am hoping to find more tactile crafts, more disability-related items and more disabled artists who are using art and handmade crafts as both a form of self-expression and as a form of social activism.

Kestrell is a disability and technology advocate with an M.S. in media studies. She lives in the Boston area and blogs about media, disability and technology at http://kestrell.livejournal.com

Check out items from the Etsy for Autism Team | More Posts about Disability

Alice Waters' Edible Schoolyard

2009-08-31T15:00:00-05:00

There's one thing that makes me happier than walking by urban gardens, and that's walking by urban gardens tended by youths. The Edible Schoolyard has become a legendary success story. Founded over a decade ago by chef Alice Waters, this one-acre garden and kitchen classroom at Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School in Berkeley, California has helped ignite a national dialogue on school lunch programs, health education, and sustainability for the next generation. In this Craftivism post, we're sharing Principles of Edible Education along with a group-friendly recipe from Alice's book, Edible Schoolyard. For this back to school season, Alice reminds us how much learning can happen outside of the classroom.

Purchase Edible Schoolyard

Principles of Edible Education

Food is an Academic Subject
A school garden, kitchen, and cafeteria are integral to the core academic mission of the school, so that ecology and gastronomy help bring alive every subject, from reading and writing to science and art.

School Provides Lunch for Every Child
From preschool through high school, every child is served a wholesome, delicious meal, every day. Good food is a right not a privilege. Providing it every day brings children into a positive relationship with their health, their community, and the environment.

Schools Support Farms
School cafeterias buy seasonally fresh food from local, sustainable farms and ranches, not only for reasons of health and education, but as a way of strengthening local food economies.

Children Learn by Doing
Hands-on education, in which the children themselves do the work in the vegetable beds and on the cutting boards, awakens their senses and opens their minds, both to their core academic subjects and to the world around them.

Beauty is a Language
A beautifully prepared environment, where deliberate thought has gone into everything from the garden paths to the plates on the tables, communicates to children that we care about them.

Recipe From the Edible Schoolyard Kitchen: Potato Smash With Kale

Mashing keeps many hands busy and the students like the taste and color of potato skins that are added to the "smash." It is delicious made with sweet potatoes. Serves 6-8.

Boil 4 pounds of potatoes (unpeeled), until tender. Drain. Wash 3 bunches of kale, drain, remove the stems, and chop the leaves roughly. Measure 3/4 cup of milk. Peel 7 cloves garlic and chop fine. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large heavy skillet, add the chopped garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the kale and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 10 minutes. Add a little water if the pan gets dry and the greens start to stick. While they are still warm, smash the cooked potatoes in a ricer or with a potato masher. Put into a large bowl and add the milk and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well. Add the cooked kale and stir well to combine.

One of my fondest childhood memories is munching on flower petals at a Brooklyn Botanic Garden family class. Do your kids help you out in the garden? Share in the comments below!

More Craftivism Posts | Slow Food Gift Guide | Gardening and Horticulture Guide

Gingeroni1 Works for Caregivers' Rights

2009-08-17T15:13:00-05:00

UPDATE: We just heard from Kathi, "Just a quick update to let you know the spousal caregiver bill HB39 has been signed by the Governor and should go into effect immediately. Thank you so very much for writing the original article in the Storque and the exposure that it gave to the bill." Congratulations, Kathi!

[The original post below is from November 2007, so you can see democracy works, even if it takes a couple years!]

As admins, we often get emails from people who work from home and how they use Etsy to reach out to the world wide web for income and community. For us, Kathi aka Gingeroni1's voice spoke out from the home in another way. As a fulltime caregiver for her husband, Dennis, who has Lou Gehrig's Disease, Gingeroni1 uses Etsy as one of her main sources of income.

I am a full time caregiver for my husband who was diagnosed in 1999 with A.L.S., better known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. My husband is totally dependent on me.   He survives only by the use of a ventilator, and has done so for 4½ years.

I stumbled upon Etsy in September of '06 as just a buyer and was hooked right away. Since I am not able to go outside my home without arranging for someone to come sit with my husband, I had to do all of my Christmas shopping online.   The site was amazing — so much talent in one space. There were so many choices at fair prices, which is important when you have so very little disposable income. I was already selling some of my jewelry pieces here locally and contemplating using the Internet but, by no means, was I computer savvy. When opportunity knocks, kick that door wide open. I listed my first item in March of this year and said, "Hey, this is easy.   I can do this." Well my pictures of my jewelry were another story. Dennis has always been the photographer. I have been practicing, though, and have become acceptable at it.   Now that I have my own shop on Etsy, it gives me a sense of pride. It has been an amazing journey for me and I have met so many wonderful people on Etsy.   Even my good friend of eighteen years has opened up a shop. It is called Ooh La Lah.

I have done so many wonderful things since my husband's diagnoses. Don't get me wrong, of course, I wish this disease had never entered our lives. However, I believe it not only has made me a stronger person, but also a better person. When you have such a horrific event in your life such as this, you really stop and think about what is truly important.   My husband, Dennis, is my life, my inspiration, and my hero. He has such an amazing attitude and that allows me to do what I do.

Presently, as a spousal caregiver, I get absolutely no help from the government. It is as if I am invisible, yet I save them hundreds of thousands of dollars a year by caring for my husband in our home.   I was informed that if I divorced my husband, the government would pay me to care for him in HIS home. What is wrong with that picture?! That is something that I cannot and will not do!   I am also currently promoting the congressional bill H.R.175 that, if passed, would provide payment for spousal caregivers. I have a meeting this month in our home with Illinois Senator David Koehler to discuss these issues. He has been quoted in a newspaper article as saying there is no program to date, but that he was willing to investigate to see if one could be implemented.   When opportunity knocks, open that door wide. This issue is huge for so many spousal caregivers who feel the same way as I; that the only option is to divorce their spouses to survive.   Well, I do not think that this is an option.

My husband and I, along with a committee of fifteen, have started and chaired our local Walk To Defeat A.L.S. for the last three years. We have raised-to-date a total of $250, 000.00 in that three short years. I also am a mentor to other caregivers. I have done television interviews and newspaper interviews.   Dennis and I have been the profile family for the local MDA telethon. I have initiated the ALS Association Water Bottle Project that sells and distributes drinking water with an A.L.S. label on it. It's currently being distributed In Illinois and Missouri to hundreds of retailers. For every case of water that is sold, fifty cents is donated to the A.L.S. Association for research and patient services.

I have many challenges in my life, but the rewards are much greater. I truly, truly am blessed.

Your Friend,

Kathi

Further Resources:

To learn more about ALS commonly known as Lou Gerhig's Disease go to alsa-stl.org

Kathi's Caretobead blog

Design for Development With HAND/EYE

2009-08-12T16:00:00-05:00

I was wandering through the craftivism blogosphere when I discovered the online and print publication, HAND/EYE. HAND/EYE explores the intersection of design, development, culture, commerce, art, craft, environment, and ethics. Featuring inspiring articles on traditional textiles and philanthropic fashion, HAND/EYE seemed like it could not be more relevant to Etsy. Founder and Editor Keith Recker kindly answered some questions for us on responsible consumerism and the future of design. Below the interview, check out "Happy Chaos," an article from their current issue that profiles a studio in Cape Town making housewares from discarded fabric scraps.

Tell us a little bit about HAND/EYE. What do you hope readers will get out of it?
HAND/EYE grew out of 20 years of volunteering, giving, and board service, and consulting with several non-profits devoted to artisan development — including Aid to Artisans, SERRV, The Kentucky Craft Marketing Program, Brandaid Project, and CARE International. I learned about the cultural riches being put to gorgeous use all over the world, and was surprised at how little most North Americans knew about the handmade world. Awareness and understanding are certainly better than they were 20 years ago, but I saw an opportunity to talk about the great intersecting points between art, craft, design, philanthropy and enlightened consumption...and HAND/EYE was born.

I hope that readers will see things that inspire them to create, to learn more, and to support what they are drawn to through their charitable giving or their purchasing.

Why do you think publications like HAND/EYE are important for our society?
We are all yearning for new ways to feel connected to what we eat, what we wear, what we see and hear. Our easy-to-buy and easy-to-toss society has created a strange alienation: we are so separate from the source of what we consume that we are not satisfied by all the buying we do. Quantity and quality have parted ways on many levels. If we can reapproach the things we surround ourselves with through an understanding of the traditions and innovations they express, and of the people and processes who produce them, we will be more thoughtful about what we buy, and better appreciate what we have. On a purely cultural level, learning about how and why people make things can only enhance our own creativity — as we make things ourselves, or even as we problem-solve in our daily lives.

How do you envision the future of design, craft, and retail?
I think that in about 20 years, every discretionary purchasing decision will be accompanied by questions about who makes the goods, how they make them, the cultural and economic background behind the making, and the environmental impact of production and disposal. We will need stories to nourish us and ground us. And we will need answers to justify our purchases.

Where's the most surprisingly eco-friendly place you've visited?
Africa, without a doubt, because the concept of waste is so different from a North American point of view. Refuse becomes fertilizer. Trash becomes treasure. Creativity IS survival.

What can artists and crafters do to make their work more ethically and environmentally friendly?
Paying attention to the materials one uses is, of course, an important step. As is controlling wastes and disposal of them. Supporting other makers whose circumstances are challenging is a fantastic way to connect to other creative souls on the planet. Getting involved as a volunteer is one of the most enriching experiences I have ever had: there is no learning like that which happens side by side with someone whose know-how and perspective is different, but whose goals and desires are so similar.

What have you found to be most inspiring from your work on HAND/EYE?
The creative community, from individual crafters to "big-time" decorators and fashion designers, is hungry for ideas and information. The desire to know and understand is universally human, and it gives me hope for the future. If we reach out to learn about others and their traditions, we build a web of respect which will support deep, meaningful, lasting human progress.

Anything else you'd like to add?
HAND/EYE's most recent issue is all about art, craft, design, and philanthropy unfolding in Africa — and we still have a few copies left, though we will be sold out, at latest, by the end of September. The next issue talks about The Future of Folk — about how folk traditions and processes are evolving to address new ideas, new materials, new influences, new customers, and new relevancies. It will be out in early November 2009. After that...possibly an entire edition devoted to the ancient (yet thriving) artisanry of Central Asia.

We would love to have everyone subscribe online here.

If you have suggestions on articles for future print or online efforts, please email me at keith@handeyemagazine.com. Check us out on Twitter, too: we are about to stage a competition for best folk-influenced outfit. It should be fun.

Happy Chaos

by Karen Gibbs

Photo by Edward Addeo for HAND/EYE

"If we don’t find ways of improving people’s lives, it will affect us negatively. If we do, it gives everyone involved nourishment, learning. And purpose." — Adri Shutz

Spinning straw into gold: that’s what they do at Cape Town’s Mielie Studio. Scraps from South Africa’s fashion and textile industries become hooked rugs, handbags, pillows, and very stylish ottomans like the Fluffball shown above.

Founder Adri Shutz, who defines her style as “happy chaos,” started her business in 2002 as a way of combining her love of color, fibers and fabrics, with her awareness of the need for social change and environmental responsibility. “You can’t live in South African and not be affected by poverty — whether it’s through crime or doing something good or just seeing what’s going on around you.

“But along with the difficulties, you see right away that the most amazing traditions of beading and sewing and design are handed from generation to generation by the poorer people of our country.” Shutz dove into the idea of starting an artisan-based business without any formal business training. Seven years later Mielie now employs 50 South Africans.

The Fluffball is just one of many designs brought to fruition by Adri and the artisans she works with. Their partnership does not stop at fabric and fiber goods, however. The latest joint effort is a plentiful organic garden, whose fruits and vegetables are shared by everyone working at Mielie. “It’s a way of addressing the economic situation right now. If we can’t create demand, we can create a way of making everyone’s cash go further by putting food on the table.

“What really turns us on, though, is creating something beautiful from stuff no one wants anymore. And it really is a turn on. When you see, for example, all the yellow scraps gathered from all the gown makers who work with us, it’s like a humming bird for your eyes. They shimmer.”

But perhaps not as much as Adri and her comrades busy at their work.

Photos by Adri Shutz

To purchase the Fluffball, contact Amaridian Gallery at www.amaridianusa.com.
For more information about Mielie Studios, visit www.mielie.com.

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