Crafters Unite

The battle cry of crafters everywhere has been heard. From the domestic plastic bag covering, pot holder making crafter to the “gotta” have whatever it is nobody else has “something” crafter to the sophisticated, specialty jewelry and hand-made stenciled stationary crafter. They are here, they are creative, they are unique, and they are wanting to save us from our dreary, mass productive and sweat-shop product receiving lives. Can they do it? Yes they can? Well, we may want them to, but they only really want to get together, share stories, creative ideas, and just have a little fun because for them, crafting is a passion and not really a mission.

The Internet is bringing these people together through such sites as Sacramento based Handmade Parade, which is a little more intimate than Etsy “offering a more modern interpretation of vintage crafts, while providing a place for members to sell kits and patterns along with their finished pieces.”

Crafters know others crafters because they frequent similar circles offline through crafting “parties,” project gatherings, and fairs. The new and more popular meeting place is now online where crafters are not only making new friends, but also developing business relationships and opening up shop as have the ladies of the Sacramento Craft Mafia (SCM). The SCM is a branch off of the original Texas-based Craft Mafia, which was formed in 2003 by nine (9) crafty ladies. With a few more ladies, dreams of crafting all of the time, and a little business ingenuity, the ladies of SCM are blogging and have opened up individual as well as group online stores allowing them to promote their wares to a larger audience. These California women are extremely crafty and very talented.

Talented is a modest word to describe Amy, a mother of three, who was an Athletic Trainer in her former life (before marriage, children, and life happened). The last six years have been filled with creative ventures that have included sewing, painting, and scrapbooking, just to name a few. A certain sense of accomplishment has been achieved, but nothing compares to the pleasure she receives from spending time with her children. It was the love of doing for them that birthed Bella Bows. “Sweet and sassy” pretty and unique hair accessories decorated using ribbon, flowers, buttons, and any other beautiful accessory is what makes her designs so special. Visit Bella Bows' Web site and her Etsy store that features product for sale. Be sure to check out the 4th of July specials.