These monthly newsletters force me to reflect on the past month’s accomplishments. I usually find myself thinking, “Wow, that was really great”!

In February, we researched a lot of reader questions and posted responses. Ho-hum. Then we received feedback to some of our responses from other crafters with value-adding information. This was one of those unexpected mileposts.

In addition, our network of expert consultants is growing. When reader questions are too technical or craft-specific for our small staff to answer, we reach out to the community of artists we’ve encountered along the way, both locally and on the Internet.

This makes us a real network of crafters helping other crafters. Now, when you write to The Artful Crafter, you have a gateway to a worldwide network of professional crafters ready, willing and able to help you perfect your art or project or business.

Can I say it often enough? “The Artful Crafter – Helping Crafters to Be.”

Eileen

Help from a Better Shopper

In last month’s newsletter, we told you about our efforts to assist a reader who is finding herself priced out of the market by the rising cost of dye sublimation inks.

In addition to filling her in on the patent battle waging over dye sub inks, we suggested alternate materials to start experimenting with and a source for dye sub ink at 1/3 less ($89 for 125ml). Read the letter and response by clicking here.

After posting our response, we received this note from Aamon letting us in on his source for bulk dye sub inks. “In your article about Dye Sublimation Inks, you list TOG as the lowest price for bulk sublimation inks. Check out this link. They charge $65 per 4oz (119 ml) bottle of sublimation ink. Just an FYI . . .”

If you visit ShopDyeSub using Aamon’s link, be sure to check out their “Missions” page. Not only do they endeavor to offer good value to their customers, but they also donate part of their profits to the victims of Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters. I’m proud to consider them part of our network.

Help from Other For-Profit Crafters

I had trouble deciding whether to put this story in with the For-Profit Pros story below. Then I thought, “No, this is from another crafter very much like me. She’s still in somewhat of a start-up mode – trying to grow her craft business to some goal level. Though Lola Lim is definitely a crafting pro – as you’ll see from looking at her website (www.reddragonflycard.com), she is still trying to expand her craft business.

In reading through our “Four M’s” of home-based craft businesses, Lola felt we missed an important option for growing your business. She shared her idea with us and we’d like to share it with you here.

Help from the For-Profit Pros

When we recommended Barbara Brabec’s books on how to build a profitable craft business from home, we received a very nice thank you from the author herself. As well, she commended The Artful Crafter for the quality business information on our site.

What a compliment from someone who has over 15 published books on crafting to her credit! Read more about Barbara here.

Barbara offered us some of her articles to post on The Artful Crafter. Take a few minutes to read one or two. I think you will agree: they are first rate.

No Market Exists for Handmade Products Made from Kits – how these scams work and how to recognize them.

Overcoming Your Fear of the Unknown – how to overcome the fear that frequently keeps a successful home-based business just beyond reach.

Pricing: What’s Your Time Worth? – don’t sell yourself short; your time is of value.

Reconsidering Your Pricing Strategy – you not only need to raise prices with inflation; sometimes it’s just a matter of principle.

To Be Legal or Not: That is the Question – no business can grow if it remains hidden; consider the many advantages of going legal.

Help Expanding Your Market

We received two letters in February from crafters looking to expand beyond their local markets.

The first was from Ruth, who lives in the Pacific Northwest. She has more cleaned and debugged pine cones than she can possibly ever use! If you use (or could use) pine cones in your crafting, contact Ruth at marden105[at]hotmail.com - substitute @ for the "at". Pine cones are a great addition to wreaths, garlands, centerpieces and potpourri – just to name a few possibilities.

The second letter was the one from Lola Lim cited above. In addition to making an excellent suggestion on how a crafter can expand her supply beyond what she herself can produce, Lola is looking for wholesale buyers for her darling handmade greeting and note cards.

If you have a retail shop where you sell your crafts, some of Lola’s Red Dragonfly Cards might be just the thing to dress up your display or fill some sad-looking empty corner. Not to mention the exotic cachet of carrying handmade cards imported from Malaysia …

Can You Help This Crafter?

Sometimes our best efforts fall short. We received this letter regarding some inherited “cameo molds”: ……… We could only guess as to their age or use. Marjorie at www.MadAboutMolds.com couldn’t help either. Maybe one of you can tell us a bit more about these unusual molds. Let’s see if this networking thing really works!