Craftspeople In Their Own Words - BOOK Project

[Brigitte Martin]

Craftspeople In Their Own Words brings together 75 stories written by 70 craftspeople telling of their lives in the studio, on the road, or at American craft shows from the 1960s to the present. 

Covering a wide range of topics, from selling leather work at the Woodstock music festival in 1969, to surviving a microburst at an outdoor show in Denver, to conversing with a homeless person in Washington, DC, the book provides an insider’s view into the lives, experiences and philosophies of highly creative people. http://www.craftspeoplebook.net/index.html

The wife had been at my booth for at least twenty minutes, trying on earrings, brooches, and cuffs. Her face exuded happiness every time she looked into the mirror…but no decision and no credit card showing thus far. Finally she seemed to have found exactly what she was looking for, one of my most expensive necklaces; at the mirror she lit up with joy as she inspected herself. She turned toward her husband, modeling the necklace for him and smilingly seeking consent for purchase.
That was when the husband, who hadn’t said a word throughout the entire 20-minute try-on session, decided to make his presence and his point of view known. Turning away from her and toward me, his first and only words were, “That’s my wife…she has the ugliest taste!” 
Without a second’s hesitation, onto my lips came the phrase, “And that certainly includes her choice of husband!” No esprit de l’escalier this time!

​Excerpt from story by
​- Elise Winter

Lavishly illustrated with approximately 240 color and black-and-white photos of craftspeople and their work, the volume is edited by David Bacharach and Valerie Hector, with the assistance of Ken Girardini and Susan Levi-Goerlich. Michael Monroe, esteemed curator and longtime champion of the American craft community, contributed the Preface.

Help make this book happen: https://www.generosity.com/community-fundraising/craftspeople-book-for-craft-emergency-relief-fund

All proceeds from the first edition will benefit the Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF). Visit www.craftemergency.org for more information on CERF.

CERF+ is a 501(c)(3) public charity; all donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

[Brigitte Martin]

I took part in the fundraiser for this book. Hope lots of you will join in too. What fun! Love a good story.

[Roxy Lentz]

Once a woman was in my booth, and I could tell she didn't like the wabi-sabi look I go for.  She asked how I determine my prices, and being in a mood that day, I said, "whatever I think I can get away with". Out she went! But, it is true for everything, people charge what they think they can get away with, after factoring in overhead.

[Linda Kaye-Moses]

And how many of we members of crafthaus are represented in this book? Lots I'm guessing. Time to get on board for CERF!