vote for cincinnati’s visualingual!

Visualingual, a local design duo that has sold at a couple Crafty Supermarkets, needs your help!

We are thrilled and honored to announce that we’re in the running for the American Made Awards presented by Martha Stewart Omnimedia. Out of 2000 entries, we are among 100 finalists, and now the public gets to decide the winner. Our competition is stiff, and we need your help. Please cast your vote today and every day through 24 Sep.

Why should you vote for us? Well, because we want to win! If you have a few minutes, I’d like to tell you a bit about us and our journey thus far. The winner will receive a feature in Martha Stewart Living, a trip to NYC to participate in an artisanal fair at Grand Central Terminal and, most importantly, $10,000 for business development. In our case, we are currently looking for a larger, better studio space, and we’re trying to stay in Over-the-Rhine, where we’ve been based since moving to Cincinnati 6 years ago.

If you want to help them out, vote on the American Made site every day until Sept. 24!

grace’s new craft business book is out!

Fun fact: The very first Crafty Supermarket was also the debut of Grace’s first book! Now, three years later, an updated and expanded version of her craft business book, The Crafty Superstar Ultimate Craft Business Guide, is now in bookstores everywhere!

Crafty Superstar is just the ticket if you’re starting a craft business, thinking of selling on Etsy and/or trying to balance your craft life and the rest of your life! The business guide for part-time crafters, based on Grace’s experiences and the true stories of dozens of crafters she interviewed. The new edition includes oodles of worksheets, checklists and updated resources to help you get your craft business off the ground.

There will be some copies at Fabricate very soon (hopefully by the time our Etsy craft party happens on Aug. 23!), but if you just can’t wait: Order a signed copy of the Crafty Superstar Ultimate Craft Business Guide direct from Grace or get it on Amazon!

etsy world craft party in cincinnati!

Come hang out with all your crafty friends in Northside on Friday, Aug. 24, for an evening of crafting and camaraderie. This is a FREE event for all friends of craft!

wanna support a new studio & store in OTR?

As you’ve read, Crafty Supermarket co-founder Alisha is starting up Smartfish Studio & Sustainable Supply, a new store and workshop in Over-the-Rhine! In preparation for opening up shop, she’s reaching out to the community in an effort she’s calling Swimming Upstream.

It’s like Kickstarter — if you make a pledge to Swimming Upstream, you get the satisfaction of helping a woman-owned small business get off the ground, and expand the local options for sustainable art and design supplies:

This design and art supply store will focus on materials, tools, and resources made in the US, produced sustainably … The space will also house a studio area for workshops and classes, and the workspace for Smartfish Footwear.

If you chip in $10, you get your name on the store wall and a photo of opening night. At higher levels, you can pick a workshop topic for the store or even name a Smartfish shoe style! Even if you can’t pitch in monetarily, you should definitely check out the grand opening of the store August 26.

Applications are open!

Want to sell your handmade wares at the holiday Crafty Supermarket on Nov. 19, 2011? Show us what you’ve got: Applications are open from July 15 to Sept. 1!

calling all crafters!

Applications are now open for Crafty Supermarket’s holiday show! It’ll be at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center in Cincinnati on Saturday, Nov. 20, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The table fee is $65 for the day. We’ll provide 8-foot tables and two chairs. If you want to share the table with a friend, include information for both of you in the form, and we’ll judge you as a group.

The deadline to apply is Sept. 15, 2010. We’ll notify you whether you’re accepted by Sept. 25. When you’re accepted, you’ll have until Oct. 1 to pay the $65 table fee. If you don’t submit the table fee by Oct. 1, we’ll offer the space to another crafter.

Click here to apply! Applications are now closed.

FAQ

What kind of crafters are you looking for?

Unconventional crafters, artist-poets, upcycling freaks, hipster types, cutesy makers, punk artists, do-it-yourselfers, bike-cozy crocheters — all y’all are welcome. The most important thing is that you’re selling things you made yourself!

Can I share a table with a friend?

Sure! Just mark that box in the application and include that person’s info. No more than two craft businesses to a table, though!

I sell Avon/OxyClean/other manufactured stuff — can I be in the show?

Nope, sorry. We only deal in the handmade.

Does every crafter who applies get into the show?

Because we receive so many applications, we can only accept a small percentage of people to be vendors. We consider a lot of things in the judging process: price range, quality of work, overall style, and how many vendors are selling similar objects. We can’t offer feedback on whether your crafts will be accepted — check out our last show’s crafter list to get an idea of what kind of stuff we like!

upcoming craft shows!

There are a few big craft shows gearing up for this fall in nearby cities as well as here in Cincinnati. All of these indie craft shows are big and within driving distance of Cincinnati, so if you’re into a road trip, you should totally go!

The Pittsburgh Craft Collective’s Crafts N’At
Soldiers & Sailors Hall, Pittsburgh, PA
noon to 5 p.m., Sunday, August 29, 2010
Crafter applications due August 1

Chicago Renegade Craft Fair
Wicker Park, Chicago, IL
11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sept. 11 and 12, 2010
Crafter applications  have already closed

INDIEana Handicraft Exchange
Harrison Center for the Arts, Indianapolis, IN
Friday and Saturday, Oct. 1 and 2, 2010
Crafter application info hasn’t been posted yet

Craftin’ Outlaws
South Campus Gateway complex, Columbus, OH
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct.16, 2010
Crafter applications due July 25 — note: you have to apply via snail mail!

Crafty Supermarket (of course!)
Clifton Cultural Arts Center, Cincinnati, OH
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010
Crafter application goes live August 1!

Chicago Renegade Holiday Show
Pulaski Park Fieldhouse, Chicago, IL
11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Dec. 4 and 5, 2010
Crafter applications open Sept. 17

Detroit Urban Craft Fair
The Fillmore, Detroit, MI
Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 4 and 5, 2010
Crafter application info hasn’t been posted yet

Free screening of Handmade Nation!

We’re kicking off the opening of applications for the Crafty Supermarket holiday show with a screening of the indie craft documentary “Handmade Nation” on Sunday, August 1! Bring a friend and crash on the comfy couches of Red Polly to watch the movie and have a snack or two. Fabricate will be open as well, in case you need an indie craft fix. Before you even ask — yes, it is totally FREE to come! You can RSVP to the Facebook event right here.

Date: Sunday, August 1, 2010
Time: 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Location: Fabricate/Red Polly
Address: 4016 Hamilton Ave., Cincinnati, OH

ABOUT THE MOVIE
Handmade Nation documents the new wave of art, craft and design that is capturing the attention of the nation. It is the feature film debut of director, author, artist and curator Faythe Levine. Levine traveled to 15 cities and covered more than 19,000 miles to interview artists, crafters, makers, curators and community members.

Today’s craft world has emerged as a synthesis of historical technique, punk culture, and the DIY ethos, also influenced by traditional handiwork, modern aesthetics, politics, feminism and art.

Director Faythe Levine captured the tightly knit community that exists through websites, blogs, and online stores that connect to the greater public through independent boutiques, galleries and craft fairs.

Interviews were conducted on-location in artist studios, homes, boutiques, offices and craft fairs, giving the public an exclusive and rarely seen look into the lives of these creative individuals.