When a craftsperson is serious about his hobby, it’s common to speculate whether or not the hobby could become a business capable of supporting a family. This month, we’ll look at some tips to increase your chances of succeeding at that business.
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Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
Visitors who travel to downtown Brattleboro, Vt., find a small, classic Vermont city with a twist. Located on the Connecticut River at the southern end of the Green Mountains, it offers spectacular views of the mountains and the river flowing along right next to Main Street. Brattleboro is an exciting and vital small art city with the flavor of a college town (without the college). Like many other nineteenth-century industrial cities in New England, it has been given new life by the spirit of the creative people who have chosen to live and work in the peacefulness and physical splendor of southern Vermont.
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Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
Maybe it’s the spirit of Fannie Clary or it could be the picture-perfect setting, or the highly skilled faculty or the super-motivated students or most likely all of the above. Whatever the mix, Snow Farm’s magic is evident to even a casual campus visitor. Snow Farm, originally Horizons, The New England Craft Program, was founded in 1983 by potter Jane Sinauer. Originally located in Maine, the program’s original mission was and continues to be providing high school students with a quality crafts education in a summer-camp setting. The teaching staff, comprised of highly respected craftspeople, soon drew young, crafts-focused attendees from all over the country. The availability of 50 acres, including historic eighteenth-century farm buildings, led to a move to western Massachusetts in 1986.
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There’s nothing as dull as a jury submission image of an unlit candle or lamp. A turned-off light doesn’t impress jurors or Web buyers. Realistically, craftwork that involves lighting sources (objects like candlesticks, candelabras, lanterns, table lamps, etc.) is often difficult to photograph. If you create work that lights up, this column is aimed at you.
Hats off to a young German designer who is making a successful transition from fine quality craft to high fashion. Birgit Sophie Metzger of Esslingen, an ancient town near Stuttgart, Germany, has been making beautiful hats for more than a decade, but her mind is set on something more. With perseverance and creativity, Metzger is working her way into the world of high fashion.
Today, as people face job losses, salary cuts, or other economic woes, it’s worth examining whether or not you can do something extraordinary: make a living and support your family solely by the efforts of your home craft business. It sounds like a fantasy—but can it become a reality? Yes and no.
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Free eBook: Bruce Baker Guide to Handcrafted Success. Click photo above.
Expert advice from Bruce Baker, who has run more than 500 workshops.
