Studio Update

Photo by Lisa Neighbors.

I’ve got lots of interesting things going on so I figured it’s time for a studio update.

1. This week I’m getting ready for Midwest Craft Con which will take place February 19-21 in Columbus, Ohio. I’m the keynote speaker on Friday night. On Saturday I’m on a panel about the future of handmade in the morning and I’m teaching a class on email marketing in the afternoon. Right now I’m making slides and writing talking points and practicing.

I haven’t been to Columbus since my brother graduated from the Columbus School of Law in the late 1990s so I’m excited to see what it’s like. I’m also looking forward to connecting in person with people I’ve followed online for years including Grace Dobush, Kate McKean, and Shannon Okey among others. Are you coming? I’d love to meet you (tickets here).

2. Last week I signed the contract to be the editor of the next edition of Crafter’s Market. I’ll be commissioning 15 articles about topics related to craft business, plus writing my own introductory piece. It’s an interesting project (I’ve never been the editor of a book) and I’m looking forward to working on it. The manuscript is due April 1.

I wanted to share how this opportunity came about because I think it speaks to something I believe in strongly and talk about often: do what you love as though it were your job and it will become your job.

Out of the blue a few weeks ago I got the following email from the editorial director at Interweave:

Hey Abby,

I hope this email finds you well and enjoying winter!

I’m about to start the curation of craft business articles for the next edition of Crafter’s Market and wanted to reach out with a unique proposition. As I began to brainstorm new article ideas and potential contributors, I had this nagging thought that I might not be the best person to curate this collection this time around. I certainly have ideas for articles, but I really think this is a book that would benefit from a fresh perspective. So, I’m wondering if you might be interested in acting as the author/curating editor of this next edition? …Each week I look forward to your newsletter and the valuable articles it contains. Each time I read it I think, “she should be working on Crafter’s Market!” If you could let me know your interest either way, I’d greatly appreciate it.

Writing a weekly newsletter about what’s happening in the craft and home sewing industry and sending it every single Wednesday for over two years as though it was my job has led to me having a job.

3. Craft Industry Alliance now has 715 members including whole publishing houses, the leadership and staff at major craft businesses, amazing designers, writers, and shop owners from around the world, and pro bloggers in the craft space. Kristin Link (from Sew Mama Sew) and I co-founded this new trade organization which launched in mid-October and it’s incredibly satisfying work.

Next week we’ll hold our third webinar for members – Todd Gibson from Oliver + S will lead a workshop on strategic planning for your business.

We’ve published nine issues of our digital journal, each one featuring professionally written articles about topics relevant to craft businesses as well as a downloadable resource. Jaime Jennings from Fancy Tiger wrote about diversifying your business, Melanie Falick explained why she feels it’s still worthwhile to write a craft book, I interviewed the acquisitions editors at the major online class platforms to find out how to successfully pitch a class, and so much more.

Really helpful discussions are taking place in the forums and people are connecting with one another and working together on new projects. Join us!

+++++

I have other projects going, but these are the big ones right now.

I saw this quote on Pinterest today and I think it’s a good one to think about. The more you do, the more people you get to know, and the more things begin to happen.