As a designer-maker with my own website business I am very aware how important it is to promote my work in order to draw new people to my site; no browsers equals no orders after all. Fortunately for me the handmade business community is one which, unlike that of the mass produced marketplace, is generous, works together to help promote each other and as a whole is supportive of each other. I cannot count the times some other maker has come to my aid with marketing/website/anything-you-can-think-of advice, all for free, all with no agenda other than to be helpful.
Small businesses specialising in the handmade are also very lucky to have wonderful resources on hand in the shape of UK Handmade and makers-online which is currently running a Spotlight campaign on its blog. This enables people like myself to raise the profile of each other's websites by offering links on our blogs. What a great way to hopefully introduce you to some new designers in the world of handmade! As well as running the Spotlights, makers online has a great range of handmade accessories including some from many of the makers featured in this post (and yes, that does include me too!).
So, to start you off...
Seventyseventyone
Seventyseventyone is a designer/maker working with felt to create the most gorgeous felt brooches. Her designs are highly sculptural and are heavily inspired by the designs and colourways of Scandinavian ceramics and fabrics of the mid 1960’s. I really want the funky lime green Loopy Corsage!
Handmade Crafts Directory
Rachel Lucie
Rachel Lucie designs and makes the most beautiful handmade silver jewellery & works with semi-precious gemstones, pearls and Swarovski crystal to create truly gorgeous pieces. Her website is packed full of delicate images which perfectly capture the ephemeral quality of her work, much of which is inspired by her Grandma's 1920's jewellery and the Art Deco style of the 30's.
Dig The Earth
For truly contemporary designer cards you can do no better than to pop over to the Dig The Earth website. Here you will find bright cards and giclee prints using 100% recycled card, and museum quality inks to ensure the best quality possible. Anyone of these works would brighten the darkest winter day.
Milomade
Evie Milo is based in Scotland and has a serious love of stationery! She takes the unused and the unwanted as a basis for her work, turning it into beautiful upcycled stationery with a range which includes envelopes, notebooks, paper garlands and greeting cards. She also designs and produces upcycled jewellery using the same ethos of turning something no longer used into something to be loved.
The Handmade Crafts Directory
The handmade crafts directory from handmade-crafts.co.uk aims to provide a high quality crafts directory for makers from all craft disciplines. It works to get makers seen and also to help find others in your area working in the creative field. Well worth a look.
So, there you have it. All these sites have blogs which can be found by clicking onto the links above. They really are full of wonderful things and information as well as providing a lovely read. Please do find some time to pop over and support the world of Handmade. Oh and don't forget me either!
Thank you x
