Talk Shop is the series where we interview independent store and gallery owners from across the country, to get their inside take on running an independent business that supports the handmade community.

This Talk Shop interview is with Wholly Craft a super awesome shop in Columbus, Ohio. Read on for our interview with Olivera of Wholly Craft.

Tell us what Wholly Craft is all about.
Wholly Craft is a small shop in Columbus, Ohio featuring a wide variety of handmade goods from over 150 crafters and artists. We carry a little bit of everything—tshirts, jewelry, tote bags, prints, stationery, plush, aprons, baby goods, zines and more. We also host crafty workshops in the space and sell a smattering of vintage craft supplies and DIY Kits. The workshop space sits in the back of the shop next to the wall gallery, a small gallery space featuring work from local artists.

How does your business support independent artists and crafters and/or the handmade community?
We opened in 2005 with the purpose of providing a physical location where crafters could sell their goods. I had met so many local crafters who were making great work but had no place to sell it in Columbus. We stepped in to fill that gap and help the handmade community in Columbus grow.

A few years ago, we also helped found the Columbus Crafty Cotillion, which is a loose collective of local crafters who get together monthly to share ideas and inspirations and support each other’s endeavors. We also dabble in event organizing and this fall we’re co-organizing Viewfinder at Junctionview Studios, a holiday craft show/art sale.

Basically, we love supporting craft in Columbus and strive to serve as a homebase for the crafty community. Over the years, we’ve partnered with local organizations like the Greater Columbus Arts Council, the Ohio State Fair, and the Small Business Beanstalk to help promote the handmade community to a wider audience. And we regularly host special events in the shop with the craft community in mind—everything from trunk shows for local designers to workshops on developing a craft business. And, finally, we’re proud sponsors of awesome local crafty events like Craftin Outlaws and Tiny Canary.

Who are your favorite designers?
I love, love, love:
AmyD: super fun and functional clothing. She invented the beer apron—pure genius!
Stinkybomb Soap: Grenade, cassette, camera and battery soaps. The baby doll head soaps are my favorite!
Flamestitch: Vinyl handbags that will blow your mind. Her wrist wallet changed my life.
Sweet Stella Designs: Intricately detailed food jewelry. I love cake and I love my cake necklace almost as much.
Umbrella Girl Productions and Poshta Stationery: between these two, all of my stationery needs are taken care of. And I wear a hair scarf from Umbrella Girl every single day—no joke.

What’s the most unusual item(s) for sale in your shop?
I’m pretty sure we’re the only handmade store with an adult section! My personal sense of humor leans toward the ribald, so I get a huge kick out of naughty craft. The section contains crocheted genital puppets from Shannon Gerard, love porn buttons from Sweetie Pie Press, all-season valentines from Misanthrope Specialty Co., and glittery felt vulva pins (my creation—it’s actually the first handmade item I ever sold). Not naughty, but vagina related and in the same section are washable menstrual pads from Moonpads and Aunt Flo tampon cases from Abbey Christine.

Any advice for those interested in opening up their own boutique?
Invest in your community. You’re doing this to see independent crafters succeed so find out what your crafters need to make that happen. Their success is your success.

Take advantage of small business resources like free workshops from the Small Business Administration.

Treat your customers well. Neighborhood shops succeed because they are friendly, knowledgeable, and provide a valuable service.

Take the plunge—the timing will never be perfect, you just have to make the decision to do it.

And be flexible—you’ll make big mistakes along the way but you’ll also have opportunities to learn and change.

Any exciting upcoming events or sales going on at Wholly Craft?
Yes—October actually marks our five year anniversary! To celebrate, we’re planning a blow-out party at the shop featuring some of our favorite community partners. And (drumroll please) we’ll finally be opening a web store this fall! It’s been a long time coming, but we really wanted to make sure the brick & mortar was on a solid foundation before branching out online. So, there’s lots of excitement in the air this season at Wholly Craft!

Talk Shop is the series where we interview independent store and gallery owners from across the country, to get their inside take on running an independent business that supports the handmade community.

I’m excited to bring the Talk Shop series back after a short hiatus. This week’s Talk Shop features Pterodactyl — a super cool creative space that offers an awesome line-up of classes and is also used as a gallery space to exhibit shows.

Currently in the gallery is Animal Show, in which animals become “a canvas onto which we humans project our myths, fantasies and ideas, making up our own meanings. In Animal Show, 9 artists explore ways in which animals are transformed into such unwitting actors.”

Here, Catherine Dentino of Pterodactyl talks about how the creative space was conceived, classes available like introduction to taxidermy and their call for curators.

How did the idea for Pterodactyl Philadelphia come about?
My partner Paul and I both have a background in the arts. I have a BFA in photography and am currently pursuing my Masters in Arts and Cultural Management. Paul is the founder and director of Big Art Show, a random and often occurring art carnival that for five years brought together artists and musicians to perform and show their work at locations across the country. We’ve both wanted to do this for a long time. We have a partner company called Fireball Printing, and because of our income and shared resources from Fireball, we were able to acquire the space and funding needed to make Pterodactyl possible.

Was it hard to bring the idea of the creative space to fruition?
It’s still hard. We have to work a lot to get people involved and to let people know about us and about what we’re doing. We’ve had a really great response though, from everyone that’s been involved in our exhibits, events, and classes, and we love doing it.

Can you tell us more about your call for curators in 2010-2011?
The call for curators is because we want to bring more voices and perspectives into our shows, and to democratize the art process a bit by allowing people to organize shows regardless of experience or education.

Is there a set deadline for curatorial proposals?
There’s no deadline; it’s more of a general policy than a single event.

There’s an amazing variation of classes offered at Pterodactyl Philadelphia — including classes focusing on using animal skeletons as materials for art and introductions to taxidermy. Can you tell us more about them?
In organizing the classes, we try to focus on topics that give people basic art-making skills, as well as more obscure information that it’s difficult to find elsewhere.

On your Web site it states plans to increase the number of studios in the future. What are your plans for those creative spaces?
Well, our master plan is to purchase a building and transform it into a multi-faceted art space with studios, shared equipment, exhibitions, performances, and classes.

Pterodactyl is located at 3237 Amber St. Box 3 Fl 5 N Philadelphia, PA 1913.

Check out Pterodactyl online at http://pterodactylphiladelphia.org/.

If you own a boutique, gallery or other place of business that supports the indie craft community, and want it featured in Talk Shop, email Christine at christine[at]hellocraft[dot]com, with Talk Shop in the subject line.

With yarn shops few and far between in the Washington, DC area, knitters, crocheters and spinners can now rejoice in the brand new yarn shop, Fibre Space, owned by Knit-a-gogo founder and Crafty Bastards sponsor, Danielle Romanetti.

Romanetti is a knitter-extraordinaire, who’s love for yarn crafts led her to create Knit-a-gogo – a series of classes and workshops for would-be knitters, hosted at various locations around the DC Metro area.  Her success with Knit-a-gogo has now morphed into her brick and mortar shop, Fibre Space, located in Alexandria, Virginia.

Fibre Space sells an awesome array of yarns, wool, cute gifts, knitting supplies and how-to kits, and also hosts many classes and events for beginners, advanced knitters, and everyone in between.  In this interview,  Romanetti shares how a love for what you do, combined with carfeful planning, can turn into a successful and fun business.

Do you have any sort of background in crafting or the arts?
I do! I ran my company, Knit-a-Gogo, for almost three years before opening this retail shop. I taught knit and crochet classes around the DC metro area.

How does your business support independent artists and crafters and/or the handmade community?
I provide supplies for several independent crafters who sell their finished knit, crochet and weaving objects at local craft shows. I also buy my knitting project bags from local crafter this chickadee, who I met at Crafty Bastards last year.

Who are your favorite yarn spinners and local knitters?
Some of my favorite local yarn dyers are: Three Irish Girls and Woolarina. My favorite local knitwear designer is Olga Buraya-Kefelian.

How can crafters get involved with your shop?
We have a regular “Stitch in Space” night on Thursday evenings from 5-9 p.m. which is a great way for local crafters to network with the shop and with each other.

What’s the most unusual item(s) for sale in your shop?
We have roving! There doesn’t seem to be a source for roving in our area, so we knew that we just had to carry it for spinners or needle felters.

Any advice for those interested in opening up their own boutique?
Planning. I started working on my business plan for this shop last August. It took almost a year to get it open. Careful planning allowed me to manage through the tight economy and still open with a bang. Having had the previous company already set up was a huge help. I already had a customer base and an established business with credit.

Where do you shop, besides your shop, of course?
My local Alexandria favorites are actually featured in the “community” section of my site.  A few from that list: A Show of Hands, Bellacara, La Fromagerie, Potomac Bead Company

Any exciting upcoming events or sales going on at your shop?
This weekend we are hosting a “Dog Days of Summer” event.  To celebrate the amazing new dog sweater patterns we just got from Style Hounds, we are throwing a doggie themed bash.

Bring a PHOTO of your doggie and get a 5% discount on your purchases that day. Meet and greet all day with the local Italian Greyhound rescue, who will be out front with some of their dogs.

Featuring a Contest:
Join us for a dog sweater contest! Knit up a dog sweater with fibre from our shop and be entered to win a $30 gift card. Sweater can be your own design or from a pattern. (extra points for unique versions of an existing pattern or for original design). Entries due by August 22nd and will be judged during the event on August 23rd. Don’t want to enter? Join us and vote for your favorite!

Note: Due to the potential for fibre related disaster, dogs will not be permitted in the shop during this event. We are happy to host them outside with the italian greyhound rescue.

Next month, we are featuring two new “yarn tastings.” These are an opportunity to try out a yarn company and their fibres while enjoying a tasty treat. We will have: Imperial Stock Ranch yarn tasting, September 18, 7-9 p.m. featuring the Columbia sheep yarn and sheep cheeses from La Fromagerie. Blue Sky Alpaca Yarn and ACKC chocolate Tasting, Sept 27, 3-5 p.m. – featuring Blue Sky Alpacas smooth and lucious fibres along with the tasty smooth chocolate of local chocolatier ACKC.

Fibre Space is located at 102 N. Fayette Street, Alexandria, VA 22314

Check out Fibre Space online at fibrespace.com.

If you own a boutique, gallery or other place of business that supports the indie craft community, and want it featured in Talk Shop, email Kimberly at hellocraftinfo@gmail.com, with Talk Shop in the subject line.

Talk Shop is the series where we interview independent store owners from across the country, to get their inside take on running an independent business that supports the handmade community.

The Talk shop series went on a small hiatus since the holidays, but this segment is now back in full swing, and we’ve got some awesome shops lined up to share with you. This week’s Talk Shop features Spacecraft Brooklyn – a totally cool craft supply store and gift shop that also teaches craft classes for kids, dabblers and advanced makers of all ages.

Co-owners Stella Metzner and Cristina Dodd opened up Spacecraft in October 2008.  From eco-conscious and hard-to-find supplies, fluffy yarn, and printmaking materials, to totally freakin’ cute knick-knacks, toys, and crafting kits, this store is THE crafting hub of Williamsburg.

Here, Metzner dishes the goods on Spacecraft, and invites all crafters and handmade connoisseurs to visit this one-of-a-kind, out-of-this-world shop!

Tell us what Spacecraft Brooklyn is all about:
SPACECRAFT is a unique craft-making and supply boutique located in the discreetly stylish Southside of Williamsburg Brooklyn.  We cater to children and adults of all ages and skill levels with our menu of walk-in craft projects, daily and weekly workshops, and sign-up courses.  We also offer private instruction in sewing, crochet, knitting and any other requested subjects that people are interested in.  We have an amazing back yard that serves as an additional venue for hosting parties, barbeques, and outdoor workshops such as tie-dye and batik.   The front of the store is where you’ll find all the fun craft-making materials, books, kits and gifts for purchase to DIY at home.

Do you have any sort of background in crafting or the arts?
Stella Metzner grew up in a family of artists and designers.  She attended the Rudolf Steiner School for 15 years where she learned to sew, knit, crochet, sculpt, paint, book-bind, weave, and much more.  She further developed her love of craft and hand-making objects when she attended the California College of Arts and Crafts.  It was there that she learned to incorporate these childhood talents into fashion designs and later into a career as a stylist and designer.

Cristina Dodd also began creating at an early age, learning traditional crafts like quilting and cross-stitch from her grandmother and making decoupage, macramé, leather crafts and more at summer camp.  Cristina learned set-building and costume making in high school and went on to earn a degree in Photography.  After spending several years as a custom black and white printer and freelance photographer, she moved into the realm of corporate event planning where she was able to successfully combine the use of both creative and business skills.

This combination of over 35 years of arts and crafts experience, and becoming mothers to two energetic boys, has provided Stella and Cristina the amount of experience and determination necessary to open a store like SPACECRAFT.

How does your business support independent artists and crafters and/or the handmade community?
We support this community in many ways:

• Our store sells craft supplies to this community.
• We host craft night events that feature artists/authors as instructors and promote their books, websites, etc.
• We show/sell the work of local artist/crafters as a gallery display in our shop.
• We host many free craft events to just get people together crafting and/or learning new techniques
• We support and promote local for-profits and non-profits such as BAGS FOR THE PEOPLE (www.bagsforthepeople.org), who are furthering the craft movement, but do not have a space to operate out of.
• We network and create connections among many individuals and organizations in order to enrich the “community” aspect of the crafting.
• We work with local school and community groups to ensure that the future of craft continues to grow.

Who are your favorite designers?
Callie Janoff (Church of Craft),
Maura Madden (Crafternoon),
Kayte Terry  (Complete Embellishing),
Faith Blakeney (99 Ways book series),
Faythe Levine (Handmade Nation),
Jenny Hart (Sublime Stitching),
Kathy Cano Murillo (Crafty Chica),
Amy Sedaris (I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence),
Martha Stewart, Stencil 1, Jana Kennedy (Knickers and No Fur Coat). Esther K. Smith (How to Make Books),
Heather Ross (Weekend Sewing),
etc…

How can local designers and crafters get involved with Spacecraft Brooklyn?
They can come by and hang out with us anytime during open hours (M-F 10am-6p/Sa-Su 11am-7pm) or come to one of our evening events and craft with us. They can also call us any time at (718) 599-2718 if they would like to set up a meeting regarding a specific topic.

A good way to check out what we have going on is to go to our website www.spacecraftbrooklyn.com and check out the calendar, or sign up for the weekly newsletter at info@spacecraftbrooklyn.com. Below is a link to see a recent newsletter (you can also subscribe through this link).

What’s the most unusual item(s) for sale in your shop?
The paper and journals made from Elephant Poo.  It’s called Poo Poo Paper.  It’s our thing. We love how it looks and it saves trees!  We also have some other great tree-free papers made from coffee, lemon, mango and bananas.  Another weird favorite is the skull and crossbones latchhook kit.  The light up knitting needles are fun too.

Any advice for those interested in opening up their own boutique?
Make sure it’s something that you love because you will be involved with it all of the time…even in your sleep!

Where do you shop, besides Spacecraft Brooklyn, of course.
Now that we are small business owners, we generally shop at and support other small businesses in our community.  We love Sweet William, Shoe Market, KCDC, Greenpoint Toy Center and Flying Squirrel.  We also buy from friends who have tables at local markets and on the street.

Any exciting upcoming events or sales going on at Spacecraft Brooklyn?
We have a super cool week of prison crafts coming up in honor of Martha Stewarts birthday during the week of July 27-August 2.  We will be making such greats as toilet paper dice jewelry, toothbrush shank sculpting tools, instant coffee paintings and applesauce container oil lamps.  We’re also planning a big birthday bash for Martha for the monthly event CRAFT ON DRAUGHT, which will be on August 6th.  We always have a number of new exciting workshops and craft fun that changes weekly, so make sure to check in with us at www.spacecraftbrooklyn.com or sign up to the newsletter at info@spacecraftbrooklyn.com.

Spacecraft is located at 355 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Check out Spacecraft online at spacecraftbrooklyn.com.

If you own a boutique, gallery or other place of business that supports the indie craft community, and want it featured in Talk Shop, email Kimberly at hellocraftinfo@gmail.com, with Talk Shop in the subject line.

In this Talk Shop, Beth Salvini, co-owner of Greenwich Letterpress in NYC, shares her thoughts on owning a letterpress studio and shop with her sister, selling her parents’ merch, and turning business mistakes into gold.

Beth, and her sister/business partner Amy, come from a family of printers. Although their art backgrounds are slightly different, they turned their shared love and knowledge of letterpress art into a full time business in NYC.  In their Greenwich Letterpress shop you’ll find the sisters’ own designs on a bevy of print goods, all made on their family’s 75-year-old(!) Heidelberg letterpresses. They also help to promote this craft by selling printed paper goods from other talented small presses, and way-cute items from independent artists and designers.

Letterpress is truly a unique form of crafting. For those who choose to indulge in this highly rewarding, but not very well understood craft, it requires patience, attention to detail, and a natural gift for understanding design. Greenwich Letterpress sells and showcases this impressive art-form, and gets respect for mixing traditional techniques with progressive design.

Greenwich Letterpress is a super cool store filled to the brim with intricate prints, unique cards, and lots of humorous finds from the indie craft community. Whether you’re a graphic designer, or just someone who knows the value of making someone laugh out loud from a greeting card, this shop was made for you.

Tell us what Greenwich Letterpress is all about:
Greenwich Letterpress is a letterpress and stationery shop that my sister Amy and I opened in 2006. The concept was to have a retail space that showcased handmade goods both paper and other and to offer custom letterpress printing. Anything from wedding invitations to business cards and beyond.

Do you have any sort of background in crafting or the arts?
Yes. My focus in school was always fine art and I got my degree in painting. Amy started as an English major, but after school she focused on graphic design. We were able to bring the two worlds together when we opened this shop. Both of our parents are also creative, our Mom makes a lot of things we sell in the shop.

How does your business support independent artists and crafters and/or the handmade community?
We were lucky to open the shop while the indie craft movement was kicking into full swing. That meant there were craft fairs, websites, and blogs to scout for great stuff to sell in the shop. Sometimes we get lucky and amazing talent knocks on our door. Those are always great days!

Who are your favorite local designers?
Enormous Champion, My Imaginary Boyfriend, Foxy and Winston

How can local designers and crafters get involved with Greenwich Letterpress?
We encourage people to write us or send samples to show us what they got! I’m always eager to see new and awesome stuff. I have also been toying with the idea of having workshops in our space. If anyone has any ideas, I’m open to it. Getting people in the door to just look around at what we sell, items that they wont see other places in the city is very important. I think its inspiring, it definitely gives me ideas everyday.

What’s the most unusual item(s) for sale in your shop?
Felt “Meat Pillows” by Natalie Wright. We’ve had them from the start, she rules!

Any advice for those interested in opening up their own boutique?
Research. We would have done some things differently had we spent a little more time sorting out the concept in the beginning, but luckily we made mistakes along the way we were quick to remedy. Making mistakes is a big part of business, if you can deal with them and move on you’re gold!

Where do you shop, besides your Greenwich Letterpress, of course.
Kiosk in Soho is amazing. One of the most unique shops I’ve ever been to.

There’s a street fight between a seamstress and a screen printer… who would win?
Well, the seamstress could get cut in the fight and then stitch themselves back up, so they might have the upper hand.

Any exciting upcoming events or sales going on at Greenwich Letterpress?
Valentines Day and lots of new goodies for the spring!

Greenwich Letterpress is located at 39 Christopher Street, New York, NY 10014.

Check out Greenwich Letterpress online at greenwichletterpress.com.
Buy one of their yummy designs right now in their Etsy Shop!

If you own a boutique, gallery or other place of business that supports the indie craft community, and want it featured in Talk Shop, email hellocraftinfo@gmail.com with Talk Shop in the subject line.

Talk Shop is the series where we interview independent store owners from across the country, to get their inside take on running an independent business that supports the handmade community.

In this Talk Shop, Jamie Chan, one half of the husband and wife team who owns Urban Fauna Studio, talks about her one-of-a-kind green craft boutique in San Francisco.

In a refreshing twist on the typical craft shop, Chan, and her husband Blas Herrera, promote environmentally-friendly crafting through their how-to workshops, and by selling green craft supplies and tools, in addition to handmade goods from independent artists.  Many of the products sold at Urban Fauna are not only made from recycled materials or are biodegradable, but also come from companies that engage in ecologically and socially considerate manufacturing practices — A big hooray for both crafters and shoppers who support green living and crafting.

Tell us what Urban Fauna Studio is all about:
Urban Fauna Studio is the brick and mortar incarnation of our online fiber shop Mary Jane’s Attic. Our products focus on ecologically and socially considerate manufacturing practices (i.e. no-petrochemicals used, sustainable organic fibers and woods, biodegradable products, and recycled materials) and indie made goods.  Our craft studio focuses on spinning, weaving, knitting, felting and other fiber arts. We also offer a revolving series of arts and crafts workshops that help other people find their creativity using wool and other fluffy stuff!

Do you have any sort of background in crafting or the arts?
We have been crafting since we were young.  We’re self taught fiber artists who enjoy working with raw wool and experimental handspinning techniques. We have organized several west coast Bazaar Bizarre craft show for the last three years and we teach crafting to children
through our local community centers and public libraries.

How does your business support independent artists and crafters and/or the handmade community?
We carry items on consignment and wholesale from many indie artists. As the business has grown, we have found that we have less time to produce our own products, so UFS was created to carry handmade goods from trusted indie crafters. We have found wonderful products and
artists through local craft shows and online markets such as Etsy.

Who are your favorite local crafters/designers?
Well, we love so many of our local artist and crafters. Many of them are in our shop. Some favorites are handmade soaps and cosmetics from Bathing In Luxury, Girl On The Rocks – with her awesome mustache buttons and stamps,  handmade felt hats from Marie The Bee, fun plush hams from Sweet Meats. The list is endless! The SF Bay Area freaking rocks with indie talent, it never ceases to amaze us how many crafters there are here.

How can local designers and crafters get involved with UFS?
Send us an e-mail! We’re always looking to take on new consignors for our fiber shop! If you can teach a cool craft let us know. We love to meet people who like to share the crafty love with other people!

What’s the most unusual item for sale in your shop?
We’d have to say the Sheep Poo Paper! Made from 100% sheep poo into lovely scented air fresheners. Poo never smelled so good! And the knitware ceramic coasters made by Elyssa Enttinger.

Any advice for those interested in opening up their own boutique?
Make lots of plans, draft a plan A, B, C and a “shit, what do we do now!” plan for your business because you can never be too prepared. Look at your goals for the next 5-7 years and really map out where you want to be financially. Think big but plan conscientiously and sustainably. Our economy (globally and locally) is going through rough times. You have to make your shop into something you’ve dreamed about, but also be realistic about the market you’re getting into.

Where do you shop, besides UFS, of course.
We love to shop in the SF Bay Area because it’s filled with small business owners. The Curiosity Shoppe, Paxton Gate, Needles and Pens, and Wells Gallery in Oakland are some of our top rated indie shops!

There’s a street fight between a seamstress and a jewelry designer… who would win?
Oh my. Well from a craft show organizer’s POV we’ll tell you that jewelry designers will get down and dirty to secure their space in a show. We can’t blame them since there are such a large number of emerging jewelry designers in the market. So yes, the jewelry designer will clamp your ears with some needle nose pliers and probably solder a red hot jump ring to your bum if you don’t watch out!

Any upcoming events or sales going on at UFS?
UFS will be vending at Stitches West 2009. This is the fiber arts mecca for the west coast and will draw thousands of crazed fiber crafters. Visit us at booth 1036 and experience the largest yarn market on our coast! http://www.knittinguniverse.com/.

We’ll also be at the next Bazaar Bizarre in Maker Faire 2009. For the latest information about products and in store sales subscribe to our mailing list at http://www.maryjanesattic.net/lists/?p=subscribe&id=2, or check our blog maryjanesattic.net/blog.

Urban Fauna Studio is located at 1311 16th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94122.

Check out their artists and latest happenings at urbanfaunastudio.com.

If you own a boutique, gallery or other place of business that supports the indie craft community, and want it featured in Talk Shop, email hellocraftinfo@gmail.com with Talk Shop in the subject line.

The Talk Shop series is where we interview independent store owners from across the country, to get their inside take on their running an independent business.

This week, Dave Sakowski, co-owner of the crafty haven Magpie, talks about his famously rad Massachusetts shop, which he owns alongside animator/playing card designer/knitter/DJ Emily Arkin, craftster.org founder and author Leah Kramer, and illustrator/designer Dave McMahon.

Sakowski, Arkin and Kramer are all organizers of popular inde craft fair, Bazaar Bizarre, which has been growing and going strong since 2001.  It was through organizing this massive fair that these crafty-minded friends decided they needed a place for both local and national artists and crafters to sell their wares year-round.

From the first day it opened its doors in Cambridge in 2004, to its eventual move to Davis Square, Magpie has always been a supporter of local Massachusetts artists. Stop on by for cute vintage housewares, as well as a tremendous collection of handmade items from more than 150 crafters!

Tell us what Magpie is all about
Magpie is all about the handmade revolution.

Do you have any sort of background in crafting or the arts?
Magpie is owned and operated by five people who are all musicians, crafters and artists.

How does your business support independent artists and crafters and/or the handmade community?
We give artists and crafters a place to display and sell their work. For many artists and crafters the internet is the only outlet for them to reach the public.

Who are your favorite local designers?
There are so many great local designers it’s hard to choose. Some that come to mind are Happy Owl Glassworks, Wonderland Q, Bias Designs and Fussy Gussy.

How can local designers and crafters get involved with Magpie?
They can submit their products through our website at http://magpie-store.com/consign.html.

What’s the most unusual item(s) for sale in your shop?
Right now I would say that would be robots made from used bicycle parts, clocks made from old 45s and lamps made from tiny drink umbrellas.

Any advice for those interested in opening up their own boutique?
Do research on the area you want to open the shop in. We made the mistake of opening in a neighborhood that had the wrong demographic for us and we moved after 6 months to our current neighborhood which
has been great.

Where do you shop, besides Magpie, of course.
There’s a few cool shops right near us, D-Squared, Poor Little Rich Girl, and Artifaktori. I also do a lot of thrifting at local Goodwill stores and other consignment shops.

There’s a street fight between a seamstress and a screen-printer… who would win?
No contest – the seamstress would win.

Any exciting upcoming events or holiday sales going on at Magpie?
We’re about to start a 25% off red tag sale that will last through the end of the year.

Magpie is located in Davis Square at 416 Highland Avenue, Somerville, Massachusetts 02144.
For store information and to shop online, go to magpie-store.com.

If you own a boutique, gallery or other place of business that supports the indie craft community, and want it featured in Talk Shop, email hellocraftinfo@gmail.com with Talk Shop in the subject line.

In this Talk Shop, Sue Daly gives us lowdown on Renegade Handmade, an indie craft haven in Chicago, IL, which boasts an awesome array of handmade goods, and supports many local and national independent artists and crafters.

Daly, with long-time friend and business parter Kathleen Habbley, has been running the wildly popular Renegade Craft Fair since 2003 in Chicago, IL, as well as in the Brookln, NY and San Francisco, CA markets. It seems only natural that Daly and Habbley open up a shop to bring all the indie craft goodness into one location, where people can get their hands on unique, handmade goods year round.  Since opening Renegade Handmade in 2007, the Renegade brand is showing no signs of slowing down; with a Chicago Holiday Sale coming up in early December, and a soon-to-launch Renegade Handmade online shop, it’s clear that these gals have created one heck of a successful indie craft business model.

Tell us what  Renegade Handmade is all about:
Renegade Handmade is a brick + mortar shop in Chicago that serves as a permanent location for people to buy and sell unique handmade items.The store came about as an extension of our Renegade Craft Fairs, which are held several times per year across the country.  At Renegade Handmade, we feature over 200 artists from all over the country and abroad, and carry all sorts of items including jewelry, stationery, prints, clothing, housewares, bath + body, kids stuff and more.

Do you have any sort of background in crafting or the arts?
Yes, I make jewelry and accessories at timberhandmade.com. Jewelry-making was a childhood hobby I reclaimed after college, and wanted to take to the next level by selling online and thru local fairs.  When I couldn’t find an art or craft fair that appealed to myaesthetic, and the aesthetic of other DIYers out there, I decided to start my own event.

How does your business support independent artists and crafters and/or the handmade community?
Renegade Handmade allows an opportunity for artists and crafters to make more of a go at what they’re doing.  The shop puts this kind of work in the hands of people who would otherwise not know how to find these items, therefore growing the community at large.  We also give all of our artists a logo on our website, which drives a lot of traffic to them directly.  We’re going to be launching an online version of our shop too, so hopefully everybody will start benefitting from that in the very new future!

Who are your favorite local designers?
This one is tough – there are so many!  Some of my favorite Chicago designers include Abbey Christine, Cursive Design, Essimar, Intimidnation, Megan Lee Designs, Owly Shadow Puppets, Qylaar and tons of poster/print artists that are way too many to name.

How can local designers and crafters get involved with Renegade Handmade?
They can fill out a consignment application on our website @ Renegadehandmade.com.

What’s the most unusual item(s) for sale in your shop?
The Damned Dollies are pretty unique, which are handmade dolls with insane facial expressions, crazy hairdos and outfits, and sometimessporting a beer/cigarette/eye patch/gold tooth.  We also have some pretty neat plush taxidermy animal mounts by artists Cherry Box and T&A Friendly, that include a unicorn, autumn deer, cow, boar, goldfish and others.

Any exciting upcoming events or holiday sales going on at Renegade Handmade?
The Renegade Holiday Sale is December 6 + 7 in Chicago, at the Pulaski Park Fieldhouse from 11am – 7pm each day.  There will be over 150 booths, great food, goodie bags for the first 100 shoppers each day, and a special performance by Mucca Pazza on Saturday afternoon.  An after-party will follow at the Bottom Lounge that night too. Renegade Handmade will be launching an online store sometime in the very near future!  Keep tuned to our website for the grand opening – Renegadehandmade.com.

If you own a boutique, gallery or other place of business that supports the indie craft community, and want it featured in Talk Shop, email hellocraftinfo@gmail.com with Talk Shop in the subject line.