What’s New: Current News, Events,& Opportunities

Community Supported Art Now Selling Shares!

CSA Shares must be picked up in person at events. If shareholders are unable to attend, pickup arrangements can be made with Megan Kirby.

PAY BY CREDIT CARD: You will be directed to our PayPal page. Note: you don’t need to have a PayPal account to pay via credit card.
PAY BY CHECK: You can mail or drop off a check to Handmade in America, 125 S. Lexington Avenue, Suite 101, Asheville, NC 28801.

Product Description: Each shareholder will receive six unique pieces, representing a variety of disciplines, that have been crafted especially for the Handmade in America CSA program. In addition, shareholders will receive a special invitation to attend two pick-up events, each featuring food, entertainment, and the opportunity to meet the CSA artists in person!

One share comprises an item from each of the following:

Wood – Christopher Perryman
A serving board from a mix of domestic hardwoods (cherry, walnut, and maple), 7” x 12”
www.goldsplinter.com

Ceramics – Sue Grier
A hand-thrown and altered mug with custom mixed glaze
www.suegrierpottery.com

Fiber – Greg and Carla Filippelli
A small, twined, open-weave garlic basket, 3”dia x 4”high
www.southernhighlandguild.org/pages/members/member-gallery.php?id=113

Jewelry – Susan Q Evon
A 100% recycled, acid-etched and 14k gold vermeil-plated “Tree of Life” metal pendant
www.qevon.com

Glass – Ben Elliot
A handblown pint glass
www.benelliottglass.com

Book Arts – Mary Carol Koester
A leather bound book with blind embossed cover, headband and ribbon marker, marbled paper end sheets, and coordinated headband, 5”x7”
www.azaleabindery.com

The two pickup events will be held in September and October at Handmade in America.

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS

Born in the Piedmont, Christopher Perryman is part of a lineage that includes of three generations of NC woodworkers. After graduating with a BFA from UNCA in 2000, he opened a small woodworking studio specializing in one-of-a-kind pieces. He closed the studio in 2002, to live and work in Italy, the US Virgin Islands, and ultimately New Orleans, where he worked with architects, renovators and homeowners on a number of historic renovations. He returned to Asheville to establish a permanent studio, citing the unique creative environment of the city, the variety of resources for makers, and the rich cultural traditions of woodworking in the WNC region.
www.goldsplinter.com

Originally from New Mexico, Sue Grier began work as a self-taught production potter after moving to South Carolina in 1984. She attended professional workshops at both Arrowmont and Penland, and received her MFA from Clemson University in 2004. Sue was juried into the Southern Highland Craft Guild in 2011, and is an exhibiting member of Number 7 Arts & Crafts Gallery in Brevard, NC.
www.suegrierpottery.com

Greg and Carla Filippelli have been weaving baskets and sculpture for over 30 years. Their fluid forms result from an original weaving style called random weave. Each piece incorporates a variety of hand dyed reeds and wild vines, woven into contemporary shapes and styles. Their work is exhibited nationwide in galleries, exhibitions and internationally in the Artist in Embassies Program. They hold workshops and classes in basketry and sculpture in area schools and in their home studio in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
www.southernhighlandguild.org/pages/members/member-gallery.php?id=113

Susan Q Evon discovered wax carving while attending Parsons School of Design. With this skill, she began a small production business that grew to several hundred galleries and catalog accounts worldwide. He work, inspired by ancient metalwork and architecture, includes fabrication, granulation, acid etching, reticulation, and casting of gold, silver, and argentium. Current collections combine both gold and silver along with the techniques of reticulation, anti-clastic raising, acid etching, granulation, roller printing and the ancient art of keum-boo, which she uses to create rich metal tapestries with an emphasis on texture.
www.qevon.com

Ben Elliot is a glass artist living in rural Western North Carolina, in the same mountain region where Harvey Littleton’s glass studio movement originated. Ben received an MFA in glass from Kent State University and a BA in sculpture from UNCA. He has also studied and worked at Penland School of Craft. He attributes the colors, tones, and forms of his work to his life in rural Western North Carolina. In addition to smaller flameworked glass, Ben is passionate about sculptural work. His works have been shown in galleries throughout Ohio and North Carolina.
www.benelliottglass.com

Mary Carol Koester is a book artist living and working and Western North Carolina. She trained with professional book artists and book conservators, mastering the skills of traditional bookbinding. Her work incorporates fine silk, linen, or leather; delicately marbled papers; and meticulous construction. Her designs incorporate architectural, floral, and geometric elements. She opened her Asheville studio in 2003. She is a juried member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, mentors new binders, and occasionally teaches workshops on book and box making.
www.azaleabindery.com

GuideStar Exchange Seal Award

HandMade in America has received the GuideStar Exchange Seal, a leading symbol of transparency and accountability provided by GuideStar USA, Inc., the premier source of nonprofit information. The Seal demonstrates to you, our vast support-base, our deep commitment has in nonprofit transparency and accountability.

In order to be awarded the GuideStar Exchange Seal, HandMade in America had to fill out every required field of our report page on www.guidestar.org, including our audits, annual report, program details, etc.

Click Here to check us out and tell us what you think!

HandMade in America’s New Membership

HandMade in America has officially launched our Membership Program. We are excited about our new chapter, and we can’t wait to provide you with better, stronger, and more effective programs while simultaneously securing HandMade’s future.

New features include a new craft registry, a members-only website, and starting at the Professional Artists level we have partnered with BB&T Bank to offer a BB&T bank bundle that includes a BB&T @Work checking account, a business credit card, and a special merchant services program. We have secured the lowest % fees available AND .05% of each swipe gets donated to HandMade. Joining this BB&T program is a win-win; it not only saves you money on your credit cards fees, but also helps HandMade’s future!

2013 HandMade in America Membership Levels

Basic $25
• Listing on our new WNC craft registry (soon to be a fee for listing for non-members)
• Up to two free hours of technical assistance
• Receive special, members-only e-newsletters
• Access to members only areas containing: resources, webinars, videos, and forum
• 50% discount on Craft Labs

Artist $45 (Student $30, Household for two adults $75)
• All the benefits at the Basic Level and:
• Unlimited Free Craft Labs
• Free AWE membership
• Discount on workshops and technical assistance
• Discount on exhibition entry fees

Professional Artist – $125
• All the benefits at the Artist Level and:
• Free exhibition entry fees
• Ability to be juried into the Design Source
• BB&T bundle (includes discount on insurance, a business credit card, and checking and merchant accounts)
• Reduced rental rates at HandMade in America offices
• Access to Business Incubator opportunities
• Use of the HandMade logo for marketing purposes

Community Organizations and Small Towns – $250 (Existing Small Towns, Community Organizations and friends)
• BB&T Bundle (includes discount on insurance, a business credit card, and checking/merchant accounts)
• Reduced rental rates at HandMade in America offices
• Use of the HandMade logo for marketing purposes
• Small Town Conversations (workshops) discount (up to 10 people)
• Small Town Summit discount (up to 10 people)
• Invitation to leadership training programs and workshops
• All Members of your organization receive a 20% discount on HandMade membership levels (code provided in membership welcome letter)

Supporter – $500 +
• All the benefits at the Community Orgs Level and:
• Name/logo on website
• Name/Logo on sponsor wall at HandMade in America offices
• Name /logo in e-newsletters

All of the benefits above A la carte cost:
Listing on our new Craft Registry: $25/year
Craft Labs: $20/class
One-on-one consulting: $35/hour
Exhibition entry fee: $15 each entry
Small town conversation: $30 each
Small towns summit: $75 each

First 200 members at any level receive: · CERF+ Studio Protector – CERF+ has developed an emergency preparedness and response toolkit for artists called the Studio Protector: The Artist’s Guide to Emergencies. It consists of an interactive ready-reference wall guide that provides easy-to-follow checklists for emergency preparation and response. A companion (free) online guide provides in-depth information including articles, interviews with artists and experts, tips, and annotated resource lists.
· Be Cool Buy Craft Member vinyl sticker
· Be Cool, Buy Craft poster and set of 50 stickers

New Craft Registry and Calendar

HandMade in America has a new Craft Registry and Calendar. Click here to access to the new site The fee for this listing is $25/year, and is featured at the Basic Membership level.(The current craft registry will stay online through the end of 2013, when it will then be permanently deleted.)

You can create an Artist Gallery, post events to the Calendar and share your information to the Community page. The HandMade in America Craft Registry is on a network of sites which means you have access to a highly-targeted audience of 8.5 million hand-raisers who live or who are coming to your area.

FAQs

Q-How can I promote the Craft Registry?
A-Add link to Craft Registry from your website. Share link information using social media outlets like FaceBook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. Keep you information up to date and remember to add calendar events regularly!

Small Town Events

See what towns are participating in the Small Towns Program

Find out more from our Small Towns Brochure! Click to access the HandMade Small Towns Brochure in pdf format!