The Culture of Craft

Location

If you are a crafter who attends fairs regularly or an Etsy seller, (or both), or if you are simply a lover of handmade goods, you probably know the indie craft market is growing. All across the country little pockets of like minded people are banding together to put on events which are truly one-of-a-kind for attendees. Stores selling only handmade goods are popping up all over. Craft fairs are garnering record attendance, and now three cities across the country will be hosting conferences created specifically for crafters.

Each of these events draw on local and national talent and create an experience for attendees that means each event will never be the same.

Now, as crafters, we are going beyond the craft fair and the brick and mortar and coming out of our tiny craft rooms where we work all alone late night after late night… We are coming together to share our collective knowledge and individual know-how. Because of this, the scene is now growing in new ways that haven’t been experienced before at this level.

This documentary will be about sharing the story of a culture.

In the following months blogger and crafter, Sunday Afternoon Housewife (Martha Latta) is going to hit the road and take to the skies and document on video and blog, and a full ebook, this new side of the indie craft revolution: the indie craft conferences.

Starting in June with the Midwest Craft Caucus in Columbus, OH she will begin a journey documenting the new culture of the craft scene. In September she will head to Seattle for School House Craft, and in October to Baltimore for the Summit of Awesome. 

When she returns she will be taking all of the video she collects and all of the blogs she writes along the way and compile a documentary-style film on the craft scenes across the country and focus on the largeness of the conferences as well as the individualism of crafters she meets along the way, presenting in the end a new look at the growing culture of craft and the business savvy women (and men!) behind it.

Part of what she hopes to show in the documentary about the indie craft scene is the kindness and support crafters get from strangers, the friendships forged across state lines, and the community of support surrounding thousands of individual businesses.

She wants to document it all and share with everyone what it means to be a part of the indie craft community.

Before this Kickstarter project even ends, she will travel to the Midwest Craft Caucus in Columbus and begin documenting. She will be able to begin giving you updates on filming progress, a short video from Columbus, and several blog posts within the next month. All she needs from you is help to keep the ball rolling.