Win a free copy of Craft Inc.!

Hello out there ! I have been lucky enough to end up with TWO copies of Craft Inc., the new book by Meg Mateo Ilasco. So, what to do with the second copy you ask? Give it away to another artist/crafter of course! That's right, it could be your lucky day :)

This book is packed with great information about how to name your business, getting publicity, developing products and lots more. One of the best things about the book is all the great interviews with established crafty entrepeneurs. They are humble enough to tell about their mistakes as well as their successes and how they established their businesses. I've already read my copy cover to cover and plan to start again this weekend to absorb more details.

So, I bet you want to know how to win this little gem! All I ask is that you introduce yourself in my comments section and tell a little about your art/craft and your business dreams. It doesn't have to be fancy....a few sentences will do the trick. I love to connect with other creative people so this will be fun for me too! Also, feel free to leave a link to your website/blog (if you have one).

I will "collect" comments until next Tuesday October 23rd at 8pm and will choose the winner by putting all the comments in a hat and picking one! I will announce the lucky person on my blog on Thursday October 25th so keep your eyes peeled :) Good Luck!

~Andrea

Comments

[Bobbelur]

Well, since it seems I will have to find another occupation within the year, I have been wondering if I'd find a niche for my hobby.
I can't seem to keep focus on one thing only though - I sew, knit and like to make jewelery. And I see an opportunity to redesign/recreate old clothing, blankets, boxes, wrapping paper etc etc.
A book like that might be helpful in order to see if I've got what it takes...

[Robin]

Me! I wanna read it!

[Maggie]

I quilt & love teaching others to quilt. I want to set up a home-based teaching studio and cut back hours on my other job !

[Jesse]

I'd love to be able to figure out what to focus on... At the moment I'm printing fabric and making things from it, but I haven't given up knitting toys. I'm also an illustrator. I suppose my dream is to be able to make a bit of money from crafting so that I'm able to be picky about illustration jobs, and take on jobs that connect, ever so slightly, with the kind of designs I make when I do more crafty things. Ultimately I'd be happy if the craft and the illustration 'fed' each other a bit, instead of being completely separate things!

[Christina]

Well to be honest, although I've been making bath and body care products casually for myself and friends (to a pretty extensive degree) for the last year as well as slings and a whole bunch of baby products as well recently I was given the opportunity to play florist for a wedding and I don't know... things just seem to be coming together in terms of the creative side and just nailing it down a bit more, expanding the vision and allowing myself to figure out the logistics without forgetting it's about making it fun would be great. I love the sound of the book!

[Mimi]

I have been lucky enough to be able to focus full-time on crafting starting in about 3 weeks and this book sounds like it will be perfect to help me take the next step from part-time to full-time!

[chinamama]

Hi. Would be great to make a little money to pay for materials for projects - and maybe even to allow less dayjob work and more time with munchkin 1 and 2. Have considered creating a charity craft biz to raise funds for orphans. Not sure how to get started.
thanx for the raffle, andrea! you've got me thinking about my options again. cheers!

[robyn]

robyn here. my craft? well, mainly i knit and crochet. as for business dreams, i'd love for my little website "craft and found" (linked here) to take off and become a viable income source! i'd also love to write a book about charity knitting and crocheting, following the same sort of train as my personal blog (warmwithlove.com) ... but for now, i'm stuck writing in my spare time and working as a slave to THE MAN!

argh.

[Badger]

After a chance "loan" from my father in law of his fathers old wood lathe, I've been working on turning pens, ornaments, toys, and other items. It started out as just a hobby, and a way to make cute handmade Christmas presents. I've decided to try and take it to the next level, and I am hoping to take my sustainable woodworking idea to a craft fair next year. It would have been this year, but my son to be sort of put a stall in the plans.

I can't stop thinking about it though, and I'm hoping to be able to put something together for next summer. The items I'm thinking of for making are all hand turned, and all using recycled woods, sustainably harvested woods, or eco-freindly woods. I think I'll have things like pens, needle cases, fridge magnets, hand mirrors, and more. Still working on ideas.

Thank you for your generosity to the Crafting scene. Good idea!

-- Badger

[Chris]

I sew. A lot. I make hats, bags, and costumes. I've had a couple of theatrical companies use my costumes I'd love to be able to move this from a hobby to a buisness- that way I can afford to keep doing it!

[Cristina]

Hello. I do crochet, knit, work a little with felt fabric, and all the new ideas that may came in the net! It would be nice to have a idea how to make my hobby in to business :)

[Marsha]

Most of my crafting revolves around knitting and photography, and I'm hoping to add sewing to that mix soon.

I'd love to be able to make a living by being creative. There's something so satisfying about making something with my own hands, and then seeing someone else find joy in it.

Thanks for offering this book to your readers--very generous of you. :)

[Krissy]

My mom taught me to crochet when I was 5. Making that first crochet chain necklace was great fun. Recently, mom taught me to knit and I've been selling scarves at work. In elementary school I sold lanyards. I really like making scarves, sewing tote bags and pouches. It's nice to see a person's face light up when they realize what they are holding actually is hand made. I'd like to be one of the lucky ones to do what I love.

[Susan]

Thanks for the opportunity to read the intro's from everyone. That was a great idea! I've had this book marked as a favorite on Amazon for a while.

I have a shop on Etsy right now featuring sterling silver crochet earrings along with beadwoven jewelry and even some amigurumi and a mini quilt. I also love to sew and work with felt. I can't find one art/craft that holds my attention, so I tend to jump around. My earrings have been fairly successful, but it's not really the direction I want my business to take. I'd like to put more time into the beadwoven jewelry and market to high-end buyers.

Thanks again!

[meg]

I make mostly soft toys and would like to start a little online shop next year. I would really like to do custom pieces and little things for the home as well.

[Angie H.]

I cannot wait to get this book. Thank you so much for letting me enter the drawing. I am just trying to get started with this!

[patty]

Hi there! Thanks for sharing this wonderful book with us! I'm a stamper, and it's gotten more competitive now than it did 10 years ago. Would definitely like to learn more. :)

[Rhiannon]

I'm glad to read the other comments and see that other people have a problem focusing on one kind of craft. I'm all over the map.
With a couple friends I've started doing a few craft fairs and putting some things up on etsy. My dream is to eventually have a space that provides supplies but it mostly a teaching space for all sorts of crafts. Everything from how to sew a zippered pouch to how to dye recycled yarn. Hopefully one day . . . .

[Maura]

I make little bird ornaments, do paper-cuts, gocco ... all sorts of little crafty items. I sell on etsy and have a craft blog, but I would love for this to take off someday - to be able to really make a business out of this. I love crafting and do it every chance I get.

[Vicki]

I've enjoyed reading all the intros, too. I've thought a few times about starting my own crafty business... I can't seem to pick a focus. I like to make handbags, stitch markers, crochet, design clothes for my kids, designer dish gloves & aprons.

[Revolverkiller]

Hello My name is Shawn and I belong to a Craft Collective called CraftyPanda. I make Bamboo quill pens, Sculpey craft stuff and what ever else I/we can think of. I am interested in learning what the book could do to help turn my craft ideas into Profit. your site is awesome BTW.

Revo

[Michelle]

I've always dabbled in crafty things, usually going from project to project.

A few years ago I starting playing around with sock toys. I made a few stupid sock creatures for friends and eventually it bloomed into a teeny tiny business. I make and sell different sock toys, from cats to octopuses and everything in between.

[Joni]

I would like to start an indie art-fashion and comic business and need some direction on where to start. This book would definitely offer lots of guidance.

[Chrysanthemum]

Hello. My name is Sarah, and I am the proprietor of Chrysanthemum Press, a letterpress shop. I would love to have a copy, especially for free! Thanks for having such a lovely contest!

[Alicia Kachmar]

Hello! I have an Etsy shop and sell my wares in one shop thus far, but I haven't made the transition to "full-time" at all. Perhaps this book will help me learn about what is involved in that!