Take One…It’s Free. The Sustainably of Free.

January 21, 2011

So, I’m still working on issue #3 of Joie, but there won’t be a guest blogger today. Instead, I am sending you away. Well, not actually away, but to another blog and specifically to read a series of posts on Crafty Pod.

Sister Diane of Crafty Pod has been blogging about the sustainability of free in the indie/craft community & on the Internet. Why should you care about that? Well, think about all the things you (and me) enjoy on the Internet that are free. This blog for one, but many other things. Other blogs, forums, patterns, tutorials, printables and lots & lots other free content that adds value to your life. What are the realities and the consequences of all that stuff being free? What does it mean to the producers and to the consumers? What are the benefits, monetary and otherwise? How has it and how will it shape our community? Is it sustainable? Is it bad? Is it good? Is it both?

I’ve been thinking a lot about this dilemma of the Internet (and of our indie/craft/creative/blogging community). The question that if content is free, then how do the content makers get compensated for the creation of that content? And should they be? It’s a timely one for me, as I come up with new projects that add to my workload to create a wonderful world of indie here for you. Honestly, it’s a question I struggle with and I know I am not the only content creator who does. I also struggle with it as a content consumer…

I wish my thoughts around this whole subject of free were more organized and that I’ve had some great epiphany, but alas I fear we are both left wanting in that department. Thank goodness, Sister Diane, who has been around even longer than me in the indie/craft blogging world (since 2005, to my 2006) has done a commendable job of beginning the discussion. Please join her and me in that discussion after reading her posts.

The Sustainably of Free Series at Crafty Pod

Post #1 – How Sustainable is Free? (The start of a series…)

Post #2 – Free and Sustainability and Community and Money

Post #3 - The Non-Monetary Benefits (and Consequences) of Free

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Thanks for nothing cookies

April 06, 2009

Jenn from Just Jenn Designs and Just Jenn Recipes sent me some cookies over the weekend. She wrote on her blog…

Look. Let’s have a talk. We’re all on hard times right now, but it doesn’t mean you have to be a dick about it. I believe that if you send out good vibes, good things will come back to you. It’s not a zen thing or a religious thing, it’s just…a positivity thing. Some people are haters or just plain old mean, but I think it comes back to you in the end.

So I thought I’d try to spread a little happiness. I boxed up a few sweets and sent them out into the world. Some to people who have been very supportive of me and some to people that I barely know at all. Hopefully it will make people happy and inspire them to spread the happiness to others.

I totally love Jenn’s sentiment and she’s a real sweetie. This is not the first time she has sent me sweets in the mail either….I really owe her some return treats!

I also just love the card she included with the goodies. You can buy a set or a single card here.

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Weekly Fixx: a roundup & wrapup of the week

February 20, 2009

Every week there is always more that I want to blog about that I just can’t seem to fit it, so I’m starting a new feature called Weekly Fixx. Weekly Fixx will periodically appear when I have an abundance of stuff I want to share.

Speaking of abundance, frequent quest contributor Jess Gonacha started a new blog called peacannoot. Pecannoot is a celebration, appreciation and recognition of our every day abundance. Jess will be sharing images of abundance that she creates as well as images from others. In fact, I submitted an image and you can see it here.

Some more weekly fixx:

Call for Submissions for A Greener Day Galleria. Deadline to apply is February 28th.

Recipe Cards Free Download by me.

Check out my new food blog Some Clever Spoon.

Read about Feed Your Soul: the free art project.

If you haven’t heard the news, Craft Mag closing down. Luckily the Craftzine blog is sticking around.

Totally Indie Coupons is looking for more contributors for their 10th round of indie savings!

Art Star is accepting applications for their 2009 Art Star Craft Bazaar.

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Handmade Kids Sweepstakes at Etsy

August 29, 2008

Renee from Wolfie and the Sneak wrote to tell me about the Handmade Kids Sweepstakes over at Etsy that she’s participating in. You can vote for your favorite Etsy kid’s stuff and enter to win one of fourteen $350 Etsy shopping sprees. Vote Here!

If you want to vote for Renee, her section is here. Each of the participants have a chance to win a $200 shopping spree if they win their categories.

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Crafty Bastards recap

June 30, 2008

Tofu for Obama Plush from Chris Creatures at Crafty Bastards June 2008. Pic from Laura.

Well, I ended up feeling well enough to go to Crafty Bastards, although I was really glad that my friend Laura drove…even though she inadvertently went the wrong way (because we were talkin’) on the Washington Beltway and we ended up in Virginia, which is totally the wrong direction. I am such a horrible friend, I promised her that I wouldn’t tell anybody and here I just blabbed it to about 50,000 people.

I’m sorry, Laura! I can’t help it, I am a blog whore….My life is fodder for my blog.

Anyway, Crafty Bastards was okay. Lots of folks I’d already seen before, which is not bad at all, since I was able to check in with some peeps that I know….Annie from Imogene, Shawnna and Michael from Spaghetti Kiss, Jess from Art School Drop-out, Caitlin of Rebound Designs and more. I was just looking to find some new artists and designers to add to the Indie Fixx Shop though and I didn’t really discover that many who fit the curated feel of the Shop. I did talk to a couple of people though and I’ll be sure to let you know if I add anyone new to the shop, I always do.

It really was a fun day though, visiting with peeps, listening to bands, checking out indie stuff and hanging with my bestie Laura. I will be planning on visiting the September Crafty Bastards show for sure.

I did buy some soap from Biggs and Featherbell and a crafty motherfucker notepad from Rar Rar Press (pictured below).

***Warning*** Don’t scroll down if you are at work and have people looking over your shoulder.

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The Pile of Craft is totally gonna Charm City Craft Mafia the pants off of you!

June 20, 2008

Remember, if you live in the Baltimore/DC area or close enough, then make sure to attend the 2nd annual Pile of Craft indie craft show tomorrow, Saturday, June 21st, 2008. It’s a free event and there will be 40+ crafty vendors showcasing there wares. It’s held indoors at St. John’s Church located at 2640 St. Paul St, Baltimore, MD 21218, from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM.

Click here for directions. I’m going to be there selling my wares from the Indie Fixx Shop, so stop by, see the goods and say hello.

Here’s a link to pictures from last year’s Pile of Craft on flickr. It was lots of fun and I know this one is going to be as well!

Here are a few goodies I can’t wait to check out (and possibly buy)!