We are deep into the spring craft fair season and daily I learn about festivals that have an eco-conscious section. The 33rd annual Union Street Festival in San Francisco will have a whole section dedicated to crafts created with recycled and sustainable materials and eco-friendly exhibits. 

The Eugene, Oregon Saturday market features recycled wares, but that’s no surprise in the “Greenest City”. 

There’s the Crafty Feast Indi Fair in Columbia, SC featuring alternative and experimental  crafts made from re-purposed materials including handbags made form recycled inner tubes, scrap monsters made from recycledsocks and sweaters, and lapel pins made from recycled ties and vintage buttons.

At Handmade Mart in Silversprings Md., you’ll see recycled hard bound books turned into one of a kind purses, paperbacks repurposed into wallets, and skirts made from re-purposed t-shirts.

At the Annual Haddonfield, NJ Crafts and Fine Art Festival July 11 & 12, you’ll find bracelets made from recycled soda can pull tabs, clocks and lamps made from recycled cookware, jewelry made from recycled silver, antique buttons and bottle caps and quilts from recycled clothing. 

According to the artists and crafts people I’ve spoken with, buyers are getting more eco-savvy and starting to appreciate green crafts more. 

So, what does this mean for you as an artist? It means if you already have at least part of your line that is made from recycled material or is recyclable, kudos to you. If you aren’t already doing something earth-friendly with your craft, it’s time to get on the green wagon. If you are using toxic substances in the processing of your craft, it’s time to visit alternative materials, both for the environment, your own health and your image. 

I’m not suggesting “greenwashing” or going green strictly for marketing purposes. However, it does seem that finally consumers, or at least buyers of handmade crafts, care. They finally get it. 

It means that part of your story on your hangtags and promotional material should contain language about how your crafts re-use materials and the benefits to the consumer and the environment. Target your press releases to publications and websites with a more progressive readership and learn to talk about how what you do benefits the universe. 

Get into the conversation with conscious consumers and start hanging out with people who care about the footprint they leave on our earth. Put the word out that you will help people dispose of their unwanted items-but be specific. If you do strictly metal art, you don’t want neighbors dropping off used clothing as if you were the Goodwill depot. If you get the word out that you make purses out of old sweaters, you may never have to peruse the thrift shops again. 

While everyone is whining about the state of the economy, I find it hopeful that we as a nation are growing more committed to saving our planet. 

How has your art changed and what has been your experience with greening your craft?  I’d love to hear your green stories and so would our readers.  ]]> http://www.inspiredlivelihood.com/crafting-a-living/have-you-noticed-the-green-trend-in-craft-fairs-2/feed/ 0 http://www.inspiredlivelihood.com/crafting-a-living/have-you-noticed-the-green-trend-in-craft-fairs/ http://www.inspiredlivelihood.com/crafting-a-living/have-you-noticed-the-green-trend-in-craft-fairs/#comments Thu, 21 May 2009 13:47:14 +0000 Terri http://www.inspiredlivelihood.com/?p=344 We are deep into the spring craft fair season and daily I learn about festivals that have an eco-conscious section. The 33rd annual Union Street Festival in San Francisco will have a whole section dedicated to crafts created with recycled and sustainable materials and eco-friendly exhibits. 

The Eugene, Oregon Saturday market features recycled wares, but that’s no surprise in the “Greenest City”. 

There’s the Crafty Feast Indi Fair in Columbia, SC featuring alternative and experimental  crafts made from re-purposed materials including handbags made form recycled inner tubes, scrap monsters made from recycled socks and sweaters, and lapel pins made from recycled ties and vintage buttons.

At Handmade Mart in Silversprings Md., you’ll see recycled hard bound books turned into one of a kind purses, paperbacks repurposed into wallets, and skirts made from re-purposed t-shirts.

At the Annual Haddonfield, NJ Crafts and Fine Art Festival July 11 & 12, you’ll find bracelets made from recycled soda can pull tabs, clocks and lamps made from recycled cookware, jewelry made from recycled silver, antique buttons and bottle caps and quilts from recycled clothing. 

According to the artists and crafts people I’ve spoken with, buyers are getting more eco-savvy and starting to appreciate green crafts more. 

So, what does this mean for you as an artist? It means if you already have at least part of your line that is made from recycled material or is recyclable, kudos to you. If you aren’t already doing something earth-friendly with your craft, it’s time to get on the green wagon. If you are using toxic substances in the processing of your craft, it’s time to visit alternative materials, both for the environment, your own health and your image. 

I’m not suggesting “greenwashing” or going green strictly for marketing purposes. However, it does seem that finally consumers, or at least buyers of handmade crafts, care. They finally get it. 

It means that part of your story on your hangtags and promotional material should contain language about how your crafts re-use materials and the benefits to the consumer and the environment. Target your press releases to publications and websites with a more progressive readership and learn to talk about how what you do benefits the universe. 

Get into the conversation with conscious consumers and start hanging out with people who care about the footprint they leave on our earth. Put the word out that you will help people dispose of their unwanted items-but be specific. If you do strictly metal art, you don’t want neighbors dropping off used clothing as if you were the Goodwill depot. If you get the word out that you make purses out of old sweaters, you may never have to peruse the thrift shops again. 

While everyone is whining about the state of the economy, I find it hopeful that we as a nation are growing more committed to saving our planet. 

How has your art changed and what has been your experience with greening your craft?  I’d love to hear your green stories and so would our readers. 

I’d love to believe I’m not alone in frequently waiting until the eleventh hour to make or purchase the perfect gift. It’s not that I don’t think about it ahead of time.  It’s just that tomorrow is always here before I expect it. (that alone is a topic for a future post.) So, for those of you who haven’t yet crafted or purchased a gift for mom, or even if you have but haven’t wrapped or carded, let’s look at some ideas for giving mom a sustainable gift.

If you are efficient and have mom’s gift wrapped and shipped, these ideas work just as well for birthdays and other occasions for green giving.

I’m sad when I see those piles of wrapping paper, boxes and ribbon that are part of most holidays, birthdays, bridal or baby showers, and disappointed that so few people even notice. I made a commitment last holiday season to only give something that had been recycled or could be recycled and to only use for wrapping material that is used or can be used.  There are of course lots of organic, recycled and earth friendly gifts on the market and there are some simple eco-conscious steps each of us can take in gift giving.

Those of us who love paper have difficulty sending e-cards and e-gift certificates, and some of our mother’s are not web savvy. My mom loves books and I used to send her gift certificates to a bookstore when she could get out and about. (she has started using the library now that they deliver, but she has to wait so long for new books.)  It’s difficult to get Mom to appreciate or understand recycling when she’s always associated “used” with “can’t afford new”  rather than earth-friendly. I’d considered giving my mom a Kindle both to cut down on paper waste and for the “instant gratification” factor of “get it now”. But the idea of teaching my eighty year old mother to use a Kindle is daunting-she still struggles with voice-mail. So, I do still buy her books but ask her to save them for my next visit after she has read them. That way, I know they won’t end up in a landfill. I’ve started always including a handcrafted re-purposed bookmark. Last December, I noticed how many boxes of Kleenex we go through and found they were the perfect weight cardboard to make book marks. Now, when I stand at the recycle been at the post office, rather than dump all the catalogs I receive, I keep the ones that have cool patterns or graphics to make cards. I have a friend who never buys envelopes. She uses those return address envelopes that come with solicitations.

If you’ve already made or purchased a gift, consider making the wrapping part of the gift. Is there a scarf you have that your mom’s admired? Do you have a tea towel or apron that she’d enjoy? Wrap her gift with them.  Are there pieces of hand dyed silk or handmade paper that you haven’t used for a project? She’d appreciate  it more than commercial wrapping paper and could then use it for her own project is she’s crafty.

I’d love to hear about the earth- friendly crafts you’ve made for your mom or the eco-conscious way you’ve packaged her gift. Please post and share your green genius with all of us.

 Kindle. But there are certain publications, like Somerset Press that I am just not willing to give up the paper version.

How do you reconcile the desire to be earth-friendly with a lust for the feel of parchment?  Particularly since we want to  support everyone in the craft industry, including the manufacturers and designers of supplies.  How can we create with recycled materials and still keep our friends, the suppliers, in business? 

The good news is that more and more companies are using recycled materials in the production of papers and other craft supplies. Let’s make sure and support them. Also, we can combine some re-used and some new material in our crafts. 

If you are like I am about dumping work you aren’t pleased with, you probably throw out lots of paper or other material. I know I sure used to waste a lot until I recognized that one of the best parts of working alongside fellow crafters is swapping materials. Why not include our “rejected” projects in the pool of supplies to trade. It’s likely that a piece you aren’t happy with could be just the color, texture or shape that a craft buddy needs. It’s fun to take apart  someone else’s art and re-use some parts or materials. 

 We need to educate our customers on why re-using, recycling and repurposing is so important, and  why it costs so much more to go green. Many eco responsible products like building materials cost the consumer more than conventional,  but the good news is that using earth friendly materials in your craft can actually save you money.

What are YOU doing to make your crafts more earth-friendly? Do you struggle with balancing your love of paper, paint and chemical art supplies with a desire to be a responsible, green consumer? I’ d love to hear how you reconcile these values so please do comment here or email me with your solutions and dilemmas. I’m looking forward to hearing about your greening.

You’re probably tired of hearing me say this, and I’m by no means going to stop saying it. Your crafts will sell much better if you SHARE the STORY.  ON your hangtags,  on your website and any brochures or signage, including little mini easels,  show your face an the story of your craft