We’d like to invite you to attend Craft Con 2008, a business
development conference for the craft community. This remarkable
gathering of leaders and organizers in the evolving craft and design
movement will be held in San Francisco April 4-6. Last year’s Craft
Congress was the first event of its kind, bringing together an amazing
group of craft promoters from all over the country and as far away as
England to network, share ideas, and discuss the future of the
resurging movement.

Craft Con 2008 heralds huge growth for the project, bringing together
event promoters, internet entrepreneurs, authors, store owners, craft
teachers, and businesspeople to network, talk about the future of
craft, and strengthen the community’s voice. With the explosive
popularity of countless craft-related business ventures, the crafting
world is poised to keep getting bigger and better - the question is,
where do we want to go from here? This is our chance to help shape the
future of the handmade movement and its place in society - we hope
you’ll join us!

Craft Con 2008 | April 4-6 2008, San Francisco CA

http://craftcon.org

Call for Artists & Writers for Largest Plush Show in the World

St. Louis, MO—On June, 6, 13, 20 and 27, you’ll find the largest collection of plushies and stuffies in some of St. Louis’ hottest shops from artists and crafters all around the world. Organizers seek ardent fans of plush to submit essays and hand made plush goods for inclusion in a show and comprehensive book, Crammed Organisms, to be published this spring. Artwork and essays should align with the theme: Fairy, Folk and Fable. The published book will be for sale during the show. What is plush? Plush is the modern word for stuffed animals (no, we’re not talking about taxidermy…), also known as stuffies, plushies and now Crammed Organisms.

Accepted artists will need to submit a minimum four plush items for the show for display in the four venues (described below). Show-goers may purchase the exhibited plush items and pick them up at the completion of the four-week show.

WHAT: Crammed Organisms—the Largest Plush Show in the World

Call for Artists & Writers

WHEN: Fridays, June 6, 13, 20 and 27, from 7 to 11 p.m.

Artist application due: March 29

WHERE:

June 6- Star Clipper Comics

6392 Delmar Avenue, University City Loop, St. Louis

June 13- Cranky Yellow Boutique

2122 Cherokee Street, St. Louis

June 20- Subterranean Books & Gallery

6275 Delmar Avenue, University City Loop, St. Louis

June 27- Apop Records

2831 Cherokee Street, St. Louis

FEES, ETC: Free to apply, $35 fee for accepted artists. No fee for book copy submissions. Visit www.crammedorganisms.com for rules and details. Artists need not be present at the show. Organizers will donate 10% of the show’s proceeds to American Forests (www.americanforests.org). They work to protect, restore and enhance the natural capital of trees and forests because healthy forests filter water, remove air pollution, sequester carbon, and provide homes for wildlife.

Show organizer David Wolk of Cranky Yellow Publications expects submissions from around the world, “I say bring it! This show is going to rock the cosmic world and showcase talented, creative thinkers, hopefully encouraging the public to buy hand made items and patronize individually-owned shops.”

For more information, visit www.crammedorganisms.com

Since we launched in March 2005, the one thing we’ve heard over and over from crafters is that they need help running their businesses but they just don’t have the time to take a class or sit down and read a book. That’s why we’re launching the Craft Revolution Cast- The brand new podcast all about starting, running and growing a successful crafts business. Every episode will feature advice from experts, other professional crafters, and feedback from you, our listeners. The best part? All you have to do is listen.

Starting in August, we’ll bring you a new episode each month that focuses on a specific aspect of running a crafts business. We do have some great topics lined up, but this show is for you. If there’s something you’d like us to talk about, send us an email or leave us a voice mail. We’ll do our best to find the answers you need.

In fact, you can start giving your input now by filing out a simple survey for us.  Just click here and you’ll be off and running! 

Thanks for listening. We’ll see you in August!

 

 Craft Revolution Cast Promo [1:10m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Enterprise - Craft and small enterprises - Events:

Craft and small enterprises represent some 98% of all enterprises in Europe. They employ 40-65% of the workers in the private sector of the Member States, have a share in turnover of the private sector of 25-55%. Their share in deliveries to other Member States and exports to third countries is equivalent to some 10-20%. Some 80% of their activities are offered at local or regional level. The recent enlargement of the EU has considerably changed the challenges for craft and small enterprises. Craft and small businesses in the new Member States need to comply with the European technical standards and the European legislation. They must modernise their production and service equipments and gain access to finance. Craft and small businesses in the old Member States have to face increased competition and need to improve their competitiveness by recourse to innovation, technology, education and training. To a considerable extent craft and small enterprises have to rely on support services offered by their business associations and the public authorities at local, regional, national or European level. Since the last European Conference on Craft & Small Enterprises in Milan 1997, the dynamics of globalisation have fundamental impacts for the business environment of these enterprises and therefore on Europe’s economy as a whole. Time is ripe to launch a new in depth discussion on the strengths and weaknesses of this important economic sector.

This excerpt comes from the Introduction to the 4th European Conference On Craft and Small Enterprises. The website also offers statistical data that, while not being a ‘light read’, is quite interesting to anyone who is a craft professional. Another section addresses Women entrepreneurs- and yet another tackles Young entrepreneurs.

Out of everything on the website this line struck me as the most important:

“Crafts and small enterprises have an important potential for generating growth and employment and there is a need to establish an environment that is favourable to their development.”

As the EU works towards a better understanding of crafts and small enterprises, it leads me to wonder if the United States will step up to the plate and recognize their importance to our economy.