Showing posts with label Indie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Indie. Show all posts

March 1, 2009

March is Indie Wedding Month!

Throughout the month of March, The {NewNew} will bring you the best in NYC handmade weddings. From planning your own DIY wedding to product features on unique customizable gifts for the newlyweds or bridal party.

That's right, for all you DIYers planning your wedding, our tips will include; wedding favors, decorations, advice on gift registry, melt and pour soap favors and how to make your own veil and other diy projects to help you personalize your wedding day.

Check back daily for new content!

-Kimm
KimmChi.etsy.com

November 11, 2008

The {NewNew} At the Brooklyn Indie Market

The {NewNew} York Street Team fills the tent of the Brooklyn Indie Market this Sunday, November 16 - bringing locally handcrafted goods ranging from soaps to gemstone jewelry and silkscreened refashioned housewares and clothing.
At Smith and Union streets - under the red and white striped tent 11am to 7pm. [MAP]

Shop local NYC!

Participating artists include:
Wooden bookmarks using high-quality woods and scrap hardwood by
BeaconBookmarks
BetterThanJam
BlueStitchBooks
Cakehouse
CollectiveElements
DewOnAPetal
Fofolle
Fubabee
JDavisstudio
KarensMonsters
KnitKnit
MayLuk
NewYorkClocks
NordeaSoaperie
PulpSushi
RedBridge
WabisabiBrooklyn
Yaniamor


-Kimm
KimmChi.etsy.com


July 17, 2008

Indie-pendent Craftepreneurs of the Bahamas Straw Market

by Lorina of The Original Beadscarf

Who doesn’t love to visit local markets while traveling? Sure you have your usual souvenir suspects: shot glasses, t-shirts, caps, the list goes on. But my favorite is always the local craft, especially when the person who created the item is also the person selling it. The item just seems to have more meaning.

On a recent trip to the Bahamas, I visited the Straw Market. The largest of its kind in the world, the Straw Market houses some 200 vendors selling everything from those ubiquitous tourist t-shirts and counterfeit handbags to figurines and toys.

But just past that knockoff “status” bag, you will find the most prominent of all the items. They are the bags, hats, fans and baskets all made from colorful straw, and their purveyors working tirelessly on these items.

These are the indie-pendent craftepreneurs of the Straw Market. Tourism is the most viable industry of the Bahamas and these craftepreneurs are ready (and eager!) to provide a personalized straw item on-the-spot! For many of the vendors at the Straw Market, this is their primary means of income. You can find them stitching dried palm and sisal plants, which are sometimes dyed, to create beautiful and useful souvenirs every day of the week.

At this market, I also found someone who created toys from recycled soda cans.

A fun day out, the Straw Market in Nassau, The Bahamas is definitely worth the trip!

All text and images
©Lorina Pellach Ladrillono 2008

July 13, 2008

Indie-Pendence from the Mermaid: Indie Coffee Shops



Often, independent artists and artisans toil for long hours - either at their chosen craft or at another more lucrative endeavor that allows them to then in their "free time" pursue their creative work.

Sometimes this makes us sleepy.

Studies have shown that coffee is good at making you feel less sleepy.

In the spirit of indie-pendence, here are a few notable non-multinational purveyors of the bean:

  • Across the street from Brooklyn Indie Market,The Fall Café is a friendly venue with good snacks and comfy chairs.
  • Not quite a huge many-tentacled entity, Joe has four locations in Manhattan - I frequent the one at 9 East 13 Street - and they make a superb latte.
  • With two locations in the inner borough, Jack's boasts a proprietary stir-brew process that makes a rad beverage. Its 222 Front St location feels like somebody's log cabin, in a good way.
  • While I have not been there myself, I hear good things about Café Grumpy, which has a location in Greenpoint and one in Chelsea. Their Hearts and Crafts fairs bring together crafters and coffee for fun and profit.
  • Lula Bean on in Williamsburg boasts a cute and homelike atmosphere.
  • Klatch offers respite from the corporateness if the Financial District.
  • Bread Stuy on Lewis Avenue tempts you to have a little cake with your coffee.
  • Westchester-ites need their brew too: in Tarrytown, head to Coffee Labs (think puppies, not scientists) for the good stuff; Peekskill you say? Try the Peekskill Coffee House. Croton-on-Hudson? Really? Ok- The Black Cow.
  • For the coffee-loving cinephile, The Archive in Bushwick has both rad flicks and sweet beans.
  • On the corner of Fifth Avenue and Park Place in Park Slope, Gorilla Coffee roasts their own fair trade beans. Now that's indie-pendent.
-MaryAnne
wabisabi brooklyn

wabisabibrooklyn.etsy.com

July 10, 2008

Brooklyn Indie Market

The spirit of "indie"pendence is alive and well on Smith and Union Streets in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. During the week, the carnival-esque red and white tent and its accompanying kiosks are quiet, but every Saturday the tent walls come down and the kiosks fling open to reveal their ice cream colored interior, the setting for Brooklyn Indie Market (BIM): a rotating roster of independent emerging designers and the shoppers who love them.

Rather serendipitously, just as I was feeling ready to start selling my jewelry last year, I started seeing signs for Brooklyn Indie Market pop up all around my neighborhood. I booked some dates and was soon selling there regularly.

This year, I've become a bit more involved in helping to run the market, but the brains behind this operation is fellow designer Kathy Malone, whose handmade, limited edition and one of a kind clothing can be found at fofolle.

I decided to interrogate Kathy about the market for my amusement and edification.



above: Kathy in her element.

below: A shopper takes in Rebecca Shepherd's lovely baubles.




above: wonder threads is a regular presence in the corner kiosk.

below: The scene on Smith Street


How did the idea of BIM come to you, and when did you start it?

BIM began as some shop talk between myself and another designer. I was working in a Park Slope boutique that began to carry more and more indie designers, myself included. First we talked of a list-serve for info sharing and support system, then I began organizing events at various community centers and local parks, then the dream tent came along!

What do you look for when curating a day?

I look for selection balance in design categories, price points and vendor personality - the more personality the merrier! I see the market as a place of entertainment as well as a place to shop for unique, handmade items.

How does being a designer yourself inform the way you run BIM?

As a designer/market organizer, I think I understand my customers who are both the shopping public and the vendors who add their talent to the market. I have a deep respect for the makers and the supporters of indie designers/artisans. I work for them and am not merely a rent collector, I hope that comes through. BIM is different from all other designer and craft markets because we are owned and operated by designers for designers. We are the only market that exists to support one another and share our small business challenges. We don't just collect rent, we offer advice on display, legalities, business resources, other craft markets, website improvement etc.

Talk a bit about the current cooperative structure of BIM.

Going into our second year we gathered together some of our most committed vendors in terms of regularity, input and enthusiasm for what was developing. We really didn't have a road map and grew organically much the way indie businesses grow. The community had been well established by the end of last year and it was clear who would be invited to help develop the business this year. I had some trepidation about getting bogged down as a "committee" and losing flexibility but those fears were very soon put to rest. All 6 market managers fell beautifully and expeditiously into the roles which we were best suited for: marketing, vendor outreach, graphic design, ideation, general management, group morale, public and customer relations and much more. Being a multi talented lot, we also chip in and fill in whenever there is a need. We meet regularly and make decisions democratically with simple up and down voting and I believe in the wisdom of the group. The end result has been a streamlined and well-oiled operation!

How does selling at BIM compare with selling at other local venues?

BIM as a market place has a totally different vibe from some of the markets I have participated in and this has been echoed by many of our vendors. I think being a collection of no more than 20 vendors at any given time allows for more opportunities to connect with shoppers and each other. We trade and share information in a noncompetitive atmosphere. Not that I have anything against the excitement of larger craft shows, that's good too! But ours feels more intimate and has often been described as friendly and safe. I think of it as our down to earth club house. Since many of our vendors are just out of the gate I highly recommend it as a first time vending experience.

How has feedback from vendors affected BIM?

Listening to vendor and shopper feedback is invaluable. It's great to hear the good stuff, and we do, but the suggestions and honest appraisals and even dissatisfaction I am most grateful for. Who wants to get caught walking out of the restroom with toilet paper stuck to your shoe? Not I!

Why should shoppers come to BIM?

I am so pleased with our market offerings and the community of indie designers, artisans and now select artists. I want every shopper and lover of all things handmade and gorgeous to pay us a visit. The value is amazing and you will walk away feeling good having met the maker of your purchase, learning more about the personality and the process behind that object you are going to wear, utilize, gaze at or gift. You can also feel good that your support will go directly to the craft artist and encourage this very human endeavor.

Why is the "indie" important to you and to BIM?

"Indie" means no one is breathing down your neck thinking only of the bottom line for someone else's benefit. Its a celebration of individuality AND the community that supports it!

What are your Future Goals for BIM?

I'd like to: Develop and sponsor career building workshops for emerging designer entrepreneurs; expand another arm of the business, Shoptails, cross promotional fundraising events with other non-profits; administer equipment grants for low income emerging designers in need of specific equipment to expand their business/production; administer subsidy grants for low income designers to participate in increasingly more costly craft festivals/fairs; provide health insurance for uninsured designers starting with market managers; develop other physical markets in other New York Metropolitan neighborhoods modeled on the green markets; expand to other cities.

I'm already developing a marketing 101 workshop with a marketing colleague aimed at emerging designers and am in the process of researching non-profits to collaborate on a Shoptail for the upcoming year.

BIM is flattered to have inspired another emerging market to be born, Buffalo Indie Market Buffalo Indie Market by a vendor of ours and have offered start up advice along the way. We would like to do the same for other future market organizers.

Brooklyn Indie Market is a collective of fashion and product designers. Design categories include accessories, clothing, handbags, housewares, jewelry, kids' wear and more. We provide a connection between emerging designers and consumers, retail buyers, stylists, personal shoppers and the press. BIM aims to connect emerging designers and the greater NYC public to our market, fashion events, trunk shows, workshops and more in and around the New York area. We also welcome non-New York area designers who are interested in our mission.




May 1, 2008

alternative gift registries

i figured that registering for my wedding would be a blast. we would get to pick out things that we loved, and people would buy them for us! what could be bad about that?

then i found myself standing in the middle of bloomingdales, registry pricing gun in hand, at a total loss. i had already breezed through the kitchen section, zapping mixers and saute pans and knives with abandon. and now there didn't seem to be one other thing in the store that i would actually want in my home.

what i wanted was vintage things! handmade things! things with personality! things, in short, that would never find their way into bloomingdales. and there was no way to register for those things.

but now, there is a way. a whole bunch of ways, in fact.

alternaive gift registry networks are now all over the web. they allow you to register for virtually any item sold on line. so now you're not limited to big department stores or housewares shops that have their own registries. you can register just as easily on sites that sell more unique, handcrafted goods—like etsy!

below is a list of some of these registry networks. the features vary, as do the philosophies behind them—some are from a more eco-conscious, anti-corporate stance, some just want people to be able to get presents that they actually want. :) some function more as wishlists (like the popular amazon function), and some function more like traditional registries, so keep that in mind if you think some of your guests might be less than computer savvy. i've put an * next to those that are more like wishlists than traditional registries.

felicite
the alternative gift registry
myregistry
thethingsiwant
wishpot*
wists*
kaboodle*

- cakehouse



April 30, 2008

The {NewNew} In April - wrap up

The {NewNew} York Street Team has been very busy this spring combining their resources to promote Earthday, sell together at the new Brooklyn Flea market, donate team gift baskets to two local schools and meet up on April 14 for the team's first ever Team SWAP.

The {NewNew} live and in person!
Kristen of Cakehouse has done a fantastic job of leading the team's Brooklyn Flea efforts. Coordinating tables and tents for the 14 or so vendors that will be rotating participation throughout the month of April. Despite freezing cold weather the first Brooklyn Flea group sold on April 6, with more participants rotating in and out on April 13, 20 and 27. The Brooklyn Flea is located in Fort Green Brooklyn at 176 Lafayette Ave. Rotating shops include: cakehouse, Citybiz, DewOnAPetalHome, Dripstick, EmilyEJewelry, Fubabee, JTSTitches, KarensMonsters , Kimmchi, MetalSugar, MiraArtz, MTLopez9, NordeaSoaperie, Vyphuisdesigns, and wabisabi brooklyn.

Besides the shared table at the Flea, the team had a shared table with Etsy at the inaugural BUST Spring Fling Craftacular where Kimm of KimmChi and Josh of Dripstick manned a table full of Team and Etsy goodies, some giveaways and an eclectic mix of handmade merchandise - necklaces, tee shirts, tote bags, wristlets, art and jewelry.

Ania of Honorata and Danielle of CollectiveElements did the first ever Handmade Faire in Waretown, New Jersey on April 20th.

The generous Joanne of JoanneTracyDesigns kindly opened up her house to the April team meeting which was designated a supply, clothes and merchandise SWAP. It fit right in with the theme of recycling and conserving for Earthday with members bringing everything from ribbon to wine bottles [empty of course *wink*]. http://www.flickr.com/photos/joannetracy/

The {NewNew} loves the Earth

To promote Earthday and Green living in general the team filled their blog during the entire month of April with various tutorials, tips, and products that emphasized green living and materials. YoursTrulyxoxo, BeadScarf and Cakehouse featured their product's green appeal and KimmChi, BrooklynSoul, Hamsa Custom Crafts , MTLopez9, PulpSushi and Cakehouse gave us tutorials on re-using materials like junk mail, scrap fabrics or aluminum cans and transforming them into something new and totally usable. And NordeaSoaperie, WabisabiBrooklyn and Cakehouse all gave us great natural solutions for kitchen and personal cleansers.

The {NewNew} hearts Schools
Kristen of Cakehouse, Kimm of Kimmchi, Wai Sze of WaiSze, Iris of ArtByIris, MaryAnne of wabisabi brooklyn, Ania of Honorata, Karen of KarensMonsters all joined together to create a donation basket of their products that was included in as silent auction to benefit Hannah Senesh Community Day School.

The {NewNew} in the Press
Craftzine picked up Kimm of KimmChi's tutorial on paper making that highlighted the group's Earthday promotion on re-using materials on April 3.

10 Days later, they picked up Angie of BrooklynSoul's craft tutorial on turning aluminum cans into elegant jewelry.

9 Days after that they featured wabisabi brooklyn's tips on using making green cleaning agents.

And then 3 days after THAT they picked up PulpSushi's great tutorial on re-using old magazines and bottle caps to make magnets.

Kristen of Cakehouse was featured on DesignSponge which made me realize that DesignSponge, like Kristen, does not use capitals.

wabisabi brooklyn was mentioned in a Brooklyn Flea review by Only The Blog Knows Brooklyn on April 28.

Kristen of Cakehouse was reviewed on Docce.

And Lisa of of Fubabee's notecard's were listed under Mother's Day Gifts in the Chicago Tribune.


-----------------------
Beth Shorr of bshorr has volunteered to learn the ins and outs of code copying and keep up our myspace presence.

MaryAnne of wabisabi brooklyn has volunteered to be a blog admin, doing general maintenance, adding tags as well as helping to organize blog promotions.

Marilyn of PulpSushi will be helping out with web graphics to advertise the group and promotions, like our great "We Ship Internationally" badge.

Stephanie of Bungaloe has offered to help with any hand drawn graphics as well as the mailing out of press releases.

And Jen of JTStitches has assumed more new member responsibilities; checking the team email as well as sorting their Etsy Minis into the appropriate categories.

-----------------------

For May, look for the {NewNew} at the new May Brooklyn Homeshow on May 17 at 170 Tillary Street, Suite 706 as well as Sundays throughout may at the Fort Green Brooklyn Flea. As well as at the Hoboken Art and Music Festival on May 4 and Spring Crafts at Lyndhurston May 2, 3 and 4 and the Village Crafts and Small Artwork Fair on May 17 . May 16 and 17 mark this summer's Etsy Weekend at Williamsburg's Artist's and Fleas, so check us out there as well. Check back for our month-long wedding promotion with lots of tips, tricks and personal stories, as well as our match up the the California Crafters of Etsy for a nice little mash up.


-Kimm
KimmChi.etsy.com

March 9, 2008

Re-cap of the Brooklyn Homeshow


Yesterday was the Brooklyn Homeshow, a unique event brought together by Michelle of Chelleline who graciously offered up her apartment to nine other vendors to host a one day shopping event. We set up shop early in the day, and opened the doors to shoppers by 10.

Despite pouring rain, many people came from New Jersey, Queens, and even Conneticut to support the indie community. It was really great. It was fun to chat with people and find out about how they heard about the show.

The vendors offered products ranging from original photography, gocco prints, collage cards, hand made jewelry, felted pin cushions, crocheted pins, scarves, neckwarmers, silkscreened shirts, unique dresses and bags, and even original photography. It really was quite a range, that all worked really well together, something for everyone.

AnnWilkinsonPhotography - Original Photography
BetterThanJam - Silkscreened Apparel & Accessories
Chelleline - Collaged cards
FadingFlowers - Gocco Prints
feille - Crocheted Accessories
Fubabee - Stationary & Invitations
joannetracydesigns - Jewelry
Kimmchi - Silkscreened Apparel
KreatedByKarina - Soap
MsKittyFantastico - Crafts & Accessories
TheHandOfFatima - Vintage Jewelry

March 3, 2008

Connecticut Team at the Brooklyn Homeshow

Woooo! It has been quite an afternoon! I have been a busy little beaver, working on all sorts of exciting new projects. One of them being my table display for the Brooklyn Home Show! I think if I were any more excited about this I'd wet myself.
Aside from being a devoted member of the {NewNew} York Etsy Street Team, I am also team leader of the CT Team. So my little fantasy is to have these teams work in conjunction with each other. One big happy Etsy Team family! In my efforts to do that, I have offered the CT team my table to display some of their handiwork at this upcoming event, as well as my own. It took a lot of blood sweat and tears, but I think I am finally getting somewhere with this.
I have included some pictures as a sneak peek of what my table will offer! But by all means stop by the show! The ladies on this New York team are incredibly talented and saavy crafters! I am constantly inspired to make my work better. So stop in and say hello! We'd love to see you there! (More details are available at http://www.freewebs.com/bkhomeshow)


February 23, 2008

Brooklyn Homeshow Treasury


The fabulously awesome MsKittyFantastico snagged an Etsy Treasury for our Brooklyn Homeshow participants.

You'll find shirts from KimmChi, jewelry from JoanneTracyDesigns, soaps by KreatedByKarina, that great monkey brooch as well as knits and accessories from MsKittyFantastico, botanicals by HamsaCustomCrafts and illustrations by FadingFlowers.

The show itself will take place in Park Slope Brooklyn on March 8 - mark your calendars and check out the Brooklyn Homeshow website for more information and to register for a free gift bag. More to come as the date approaches.

-Kimm aka KimmChi.Etsy.com

December 9, 2007

NYC Shopping Sunday Dec 9

Didn't get your Fill at the BUST Craftacular or 3rd Ward's Holiday Craft Fair. Their still Indie Shopping events going on around the city! Today is the last day of La Superrette's Shopping event at Chashama at 112 West 44th Street, between 6th and seventh avenues, from Noon until 8pm. There you can find great unique screen printed bags, ties, neck warmers, dresses and skirts by BetterThanJam.Etsy.com

Also a wide selection of silkscreened tee shirts and long sleeve shirts by KimmChi.etsy.com - incorporating Art Deco forms and patterns into elegant and urban designs for men and women.

Also available will be a selection of handmade jewelry by our very own miraartz.etsy.com


If you are still feeling the itch for some more Indie Goodness, you can drop by BetterThanJam.Etsy.com at the Williamsburg Brooklyn Artist's and Fleas at 129 N 6th between Bedford + Berry.

Have Fun Shopping

December 8, 2007

NYC Saturday Dec 8 EVENTS

It's a busy Shopping Weekend in NYC
The {NewNew} York Street Team will be busy at various events

SATURDAY DEC 8

Bust Craftacular
10am-8pm. 125 West 18th Street at the Metropolitan Pavillion. Event price is $1.
BetterThanJam.Etsy.com

BeadScarf.Etsy.com

KartDesign.Etsy.com

NinaDinoff.Etsy.com

Stereoette.Etsy.com


You can Continue on UpTown to LaSuperrette's final Shopping weekend at Chashama at 112 West 44th Street, Noon until 8pm
BetterThanJam.Etsy.com

KimmChi.etsy.com

miraartz.etsy.com


After that you can take the L train over to Brooklyn, and Go to another Etsy sponsored event, 3rd Ward's Holiday Craft Fair at 195 Morgan Ave in Brooklyn
charlieandsarah.etsy.com

MamaRobot.etsy.com


Alright now go out and SHOP!