Is there such a thing as Question Etiquette? What to ask and not to ask the Handmade Artist and Crafter about Techniques, Supplies, and Business Practices

This is a subject that I have been pondering for a while now.  What is the etiquette for asking an artist or crafter about their handmade items, techniques, suppliers, and business in general.  I actually get quite a few questions on a weekly basis on a wide range of subjects.  I don't mind the questions.  I love to communicate with fellow fiber artists and the public in general.  But...(of course there is a "but" here!) Some of the questions that I get asked can be a little, um, forward and even strange at times.

So my question is... What is okay to ask a professional artist or crafter and what is just taboo?

Here's my take on the subject...
I usually answer questions pertaining to my felting techniques.  It is all on a question-by-question basis of course.  And, unfortunately, no, I don't have time to type out detailed written instructions for you on how to make something.  I get this question once in a while - "Could you give me detailed instructions on how you make (fill in the blank here)?"  I'm happy to give you some pointers, but I feel like there are enough online resources and books out there to adequately teach you about in-depth felting techniques.  If I get this kind of question, I usually point the individual to free online felting resources and tutorials.

I usually don't answer questions about where I buy my supplies or get my materials.  Ordinarily, it is a competitor asking the question.  I personally do not feel obligated to share my well researched sources with the competition.  Call me crazy, but I feel that is just bad business practice - no matter how nicely you might ask or if we've crossed paths before.  I try to be gracious about my knowledge and not stupid.  I've decided that you have to draw the line somewhere.

It is a toss up whether or not I answer questions pertaining specifically to my business and business practices.  I usually share this kind of information and resources on my blog in posts like this one if I feel it is something that will help the arts and crafts community as a whole.  If I feel a business oriented question is too prying into the personal realm, then I politely decline the question and usually give some online resources for the person to research on their own.

Well, that is the sum of how I currently handle questions.  How do you dish out answers to questions pertaining to your art/craft, technique, suppliers, and business in general?  Do you have an established etiquette or do you take it as it comes?  I'd love to know!  (Oh, there I go asking you questions... Ha!)

A Recap of Some Feltmaking Resource Info and a Little Show-and-Tell Nuno Felted Scarf

Being preoccupied (to say the least!) with baby on the way, I haven't been a very good blogger when it comes to feltmaking and fiber arts. My apologies! Hopefully, today I can rectify that a bit by posting a recap of some useful feltmaking resources as well as sharing a nuno felted scarf that I completed a few weeks ago.

On to the resource info............
As some of you might have read in my previous post, I was suppose to do a feltmaking demo for a fiber arts class on Wednesday, but due to my contractions and order of rest by the doctor's office, I just couldn't physically do the tutorial that I had planned. I did however make a little info sheet for the class with some feltmaking resources listed. I thought that I'd share those with you. Some of the info, I have posted before, but it has been several months so I thought that a recap might be appreciated, and perhaps it will redeem myself for being so very neglectful in not posting more fiber art and feltmaking related things. Below you'll find some of my favorite resources - both in print and online. Please be aware that what you see below are just a few of the numerous good sources to go to for information and supplies. There are many, many more! And, if you are interested in expanding your horizons, I also suggest that you check out my blog roll in the right hand side bar. It is filled with fiber art and feltmaking related blogs. Also, please feel free to leave a comment with your favorite information and supply resources. I love it when readers share, and I learn so much!

Suggested Book Resources
Uniquely Felt by Christine White (my favorite of all time!)
Felt to Stitch by Sheila Smith
Feltmaking - Fabulous Wearables, Jewelry & Home Accents by Chad Alice Hagen
The Art of Feltmaking by Anne Vickrey
(These are just a few of my favorites, but really any feltmaking book that you can get your hands on will be inspiring and helpful so check out your local library or bookstore!)

Suggested Online Resources
The Felting Forum
Feltmaker’s List FAQ
Craftster’s Fiber Art Forum
Craft Gossip’s Felting Blog
(Once again, these are just a few of my favorites. There is an amazing amount of free online resources for feltmakers out there so search and browse the net. It is worth your time!)


Suggested Supply Sources

BULK ROVING & FIBERS
The Sheep Shed Studio
R.H. Lindsay Company

TOOLS & FIBERS
The Yarn Barn
Halcyon Yarn
Outback Fibers
Mielke’s Fiber Arts

SILK & DYES
Thai Silks
Dharma Trading Co.


I was also scheduled to do demonstrations on wet felting for the class. I had planned to show students both the roll or bubble wrap method for a nuno felted scarf as well as the resist method for a purse base. Obviously, this didn't happen, but I did find some wonderful online tutorials for both and was able to pass that information along to the students. I thought that you might be interested as well. (I have the greatest admiration for both feltmakers, Pat Spark and Nicola Brown, who have provided such wonderful and free online information. They are professionals to aspire to. Thanks to them for sharing!)

Suggested Online Tutorials
Making a Flat Sheet of Felt by Pat Spark
How to Make a Nuno Felted Scarf by Nicola Brown
3-D Feltmaking Enlosed Resist Technique by Pat Spark

So that's my little recap of feltmaking information and supply resources. I hope that you find it to be somewhat useful and decide to add your own suggestions in the comments.


Now on to my Show-and-Tell for the day........ a nuno felted scarf. I made this scarf a few weeks ago and had forgotten to post it until today. As you might notice, I am also working on my photos. I've decided to clean up the backgrounds and stick to a basic white. So far, I think it is working well and looks more professional, but you can let me know what you think.

National and Local Arts and Crafts Shows: So how do you find them? And how do you participate?

This past Saturday, my husband and I woke up early (well, early enough for me anyway) and went to a local area art festival. It is called the Plaza Art Fair and is a long standing tradition here in Kansas City. It is considered one of the top five art fairs in the country with highly competitive jurying for artists to participate. And, it gathers over 200,000 visitors during its three days. The mood and quality of artists and their work is very upscale and professional in every respect. Of all the wonderful things that there are to do here in Kansas City, the Plaza Art Fair is one of my favorites that I look forward to every year. It is inspiring and intimidating because of all the extraordinary displays of art from ceramics, to textiles, to mixed media, and beyond. I don't know that I'll ever be that caliber of artist to compete for such a coveted spot in a show like the Plaza Art Fair, but I certainly love to go see who this year's artists are and what exquisite things they make.

Personally, participating in public venue shows can be a bit nerve racking to me. I consider myself an introvert in such settings so it is more difficult for me to comfortably chat with browsers and handle the crowds. Usually, I choose to only do a few arts and crafts fairs during the year, but I would like to step out of my comfort zone and start doing more. In Fall of 2007, I participated in my largest show yet, the Strange Folk Festival in the St. Louis area, and had a wonderful time! I also learned a lot about selling in a large public venue, but unfortunately, this year, my schedule did not permit me to do that show again. (If you are in the area, I do highly recommend that you go check it out!) I am however thrilled to have been accepted as a vendor in the No Coast Craft-o-Rama in Minneapolis on December 5th & 6th! You may have read my previous post about it. This is really the only large public venue show that I've planned to do this year, and I am in full force making things for it. I hope it turns out to be a fabulous event for everyone involved.

Whether or not you choose to be a vendor at local or national shows, I always encourage artists and crafters to attend as many of them as they can - just to browse and chat with the vendors. These events are food for the artist's soul and can be quite eye-opening to what is currently popular in the world of arts, crafts, and design. Below you'll find a list of resource information on where to look for local shows and other artsy events. You'll also helpful to links arts and crafts show preparation.

And, before I sign off for this post, for those fiber artists out there, I just wanted to share two fellow fiber artists that I found at the Plaza Art Fair this past weekend. Annaesthetic, a.k.a. Anna Shapiro, is a woven textile designer that produces the most lovely scarves, shawls, and other clothing accessories - just amazing! Also her booth display was terrific. It was like a little boutique. And, Miriam Carter is a traditional feltmaker who had a variety of scarves, hats, and other clothing. Her lattice style felted scarves in many different colors are a classic.

Now on to some resource info . . .

Where to find event listings:
www.indiecraftshows.com
www.eventlister.com
www.craftlister.com
www.lunacraft.com
www.zapplication.org
www.juriedartservices.com
www.hpifestivals.com
www.bazaarbizarre.org
www.sunshineartist.com
www.festivalnet.com
www.artandcraftshows.net
www.craftmasternews.com
www.artfaircalendar.com
www.midwestartfairs.com

How to prepare for an arts & crafts fair:
Attending a Craft Show - All Fiber
Preparing for an Art or Craft Festival - Squidoo
How To: Prepare for a craft fair - GetCrafty
A Craft Show Check List - The Crafts Report
Craft Show Booth Ideas - Craft Show Success
Do a Craft Show w/o Breaking the Bank - The Storque
Arts & Crafts Fair & Shows Flickr Group
Craft Fair Goodies & Ideas Flickr Group
Photos of my own craft show table displays

**The image is a screen shot of some handy dandy craft show aprons that I found doing an Etsy search for "craft show apron" - these would be very useful and are super cute!

Looks like a watercolor paiting and little candy rolls to me - my recent nuno felted scarf creations

This is another one of those "I just had to share" moments. I took a few collage photos of my most recent nuno felted scarves. I thought that they looked like a bright, abstract watercolor painting in one and little candy or sushi rolls in the other. This is my silly interpretation of them, but it does make the photos more interesting (I think).


Nuno felting, or laminated felt, is the combining of silk or another fabric and wool. This is a new technique for me, although it has been around for years. I have a slightly different method for it than the one provided in the link above, but there are usually several roads to the same result when it comes to feltmaking or any other fiber art. You eventually just make a technique your own by developing your own style and the process of creation to achieve good results.

I didn't think that I would enjoy nuno felting so very much, but I really do! I had hesitated to try it since I had many other felting projects going on. I am very glad that I decided to branch out though and plan to develop more nuno felted pieces over time. As you can see, I'm already putting it to good use for some scarves in my Fall line of fashion accessories.

If you'd like to learn more about the process of nuno felting or laminated felt, here are a few instructional links to explore:
How to make nuno felt (on Rey Reynold's blog)
Nuno felt a purse (video on YouTube)
Nuno Felt (on kneek's blog)

You can also just do an internet search for "nuno felting" or "laminated felt" to find many more resources on the web.