why, hello etsy!

I had the great luck to attend Hello Etsy this past weekend in San Francisco. Vanessa was kind enough to invite me, and since a lot of the day-long event focused on local manufacturing and product design, Mike happily kept me company. I have a keen interest in all of that because I’ve been along for the ride while he brought Jimi into existence (proudly made in Massachusetts, so he knows a thing or two about local manufacturing!).

Mark Breitenberg, provost of California College of the Arts, kicked everything off. A phrase of his that keeps tumbling around in my mind is “thinking with your hands” – he described it as developing an idea through the process of making. I love that. So often, I need to escape the churn of my brain and just make something. It restores my equilibrium.

You can watch his talk here, and the panel that follows “From Prototype to Product” is worth sticking around for. Such a rich blend of personalities and experience, with Allison Arieff, Woolly Pockets, DODOcase and SF Made. 

I couldn’t stay for the last panel “Startup Stories”, but I heard it was plenty inspiring. How could it not be? It was moderated by Rena Tom of Rare Device, and featured Catherine Bailey of Heath Ceramics, Ryan Mies and Sarah Labieniec of Lab Partners, and Heather Moore of Skinny laMinx. On a personal note, it was great to meet Heather – especially since I used her tea towel for my apron in Weekend Handmade (bought at Heath in Sausalito, see how the world goes round and round?) I am such a big fan of Heather's gorgeous textiles and I just read about her beautiful new collaboration with a couple other fave designers of mine, called Cloth Paper Clay.

Comments

[Cathy]

That sounds like an educational and eye opening event. I've recently started selling on Etsy and am still trying to get the hang of it. Thanks for the links!

[sdfer]

<h1>cheap designer bags</h1> 2012 new on the market

<h1>cheap designer handbags</h1> 2012 snapping up

<h1>nike shox r4</h1> 2012 new online sales

<h1>super street</h1> Low sales processing

<h1>mario shoes</h1> New online sales at a discount

<h1>air max tn</h1> New Year's theme song
<h1>cheap puma shoes</h1> Online ultra low-cost

<h1>cheap gucci shoes</h1> New fund listed low

<h1>gucci shoes cheap</h1> Fashionable new shining

<h1>louis vuitton handbags outlet</h1> Young, stylish

<h1>air max 90</h1> Low price online sale don't miss

[fghfgh]

<h1>nfl jerseys suppliers</h1> Fashion
<h1>wholesale coach bags</h1> well known great
<h1>coach outlet</h1> Overall discount in 2012
<h1>coach outlet store</h1> Price satisfaction
<h1>wholesale designer handbags</h1> Happy rules
<h1>coach handbags outlet</h1> real Bull New
<h1>cheap coach</h1> Beautiful and unusual
<h1>coach outlet store</h1> Very good things
<h1>coach handbag outlet</h1> very substantial
<h1>authentic nfl jerseys</h1> very beautiful
<h1>cheap authentic nfl jerseys</h1> Cheap and fine