Do Mother's Day the Handmade Way This Year!

The Handmade in KC collective has a wide selection of handmade gifts sure to suit your mama while supporting local mamas too! 

This smart phone case/ wallet by Ni-Chern Designs is a must have for on-the-go Mom!

The Earth friendly Mother will be over the moon about this upycled cross body bag by Gypsy Soup.

The music lover in your life will adore this Guitar String Heart Pendant by Hang Ups in KC

For the flavorful woman in your world, how about some delightful, all natural jams and jellies from Aunt Christy's Country Kitchen?

If your Mama is the queen of decorating The Tulle Box is the place to shop!

For the wine lover, grab a bottle of her favorite local wine & top it with a wine sign from Life's Gems.  After the gift is given the wine signs can be reused at parties!

For the Mom's with gorgeous hair, these Upcycled Flower Clips by Violet's Buds help dress up a hairdo. Put several together on stems for a bouquet that is functional & never dies!  A big thank you and Happy Mother's Day to Cody from Lu & Ed for creating this post.  

Earth Day the Handmade in Kansas City Way

Earth Day is celebrated around the world on April 22nd every year.  Did you know that many of our Handmade in Kansas City community members celebrate Earth Day every day by creating products made from repurposed items?  This is a sampling earth-friendly items handmade right here in Kansas City:

From left to right:

Little Wing:  Nicholas The Rabbit

Violet's Buds:  Lavender Fields Handmade Flower Hoop Art

Lu & Ed:  Toy Storage Mon-stor - Paulson

Kiser Krafts:  Glitter Gloria Lion

Remnants by RJ:  Dart the Rocking Horse

Life's Gems:  Tutti Fruti Extra Large- Short- Fabric Storage Bin

Ni-Chern Designs:  Upholstery Oval Fushia Key Fob

Little Wing:  Hi Hoop #2

   

From left to right:



Nuggets of Goodness:  Rhinestone Studded Copper Locket

Hang Ups in KC:  Violin Wood Heart Pendant

FabTabulous:  Guitar String Charm Necklace

Gypsy Soup:  Kneck Tie Wrist Cuff

By Wicked Red:  Vintage Hand-Rolled Sheet Music Beads

 

Although Handmade in Kansas City member, Christy, from Aunt Christy's Country Kitchen can't recycle her delicious jellies, jams or chutneys she offers customers a discount when they return empty glass jars. 

 

Ivory Isis is another of our community members who creates items from hemp as well as repurposed items.  This Glass Bead Hemp Necklace is so pretty.

 

Jenny from Ugly Glass & Co not only makes gorgeous jewelry like this upcycled Circuit Board Necklace, she owns and operates Ugly Glass & Co located on the 4th floor of the Fou Flea in the West Bottoms of Kansas City.  Ugly Glass & Co carries a large variety of handmade items made in the USA and many specifically in Kansas City.  A large variety of these stunning items are made from repurposed materials.

 

Handmade in Kansas City member Cody from Lu & Ed has organized a clean-up of Hill Park in Independence, Missouri.  This is an open event.  If you'd like to join the clean-up crew please click here. 





We can all make a difference!  We'd love to hear how you celebrate Earth Day, whether it's on April 22nd or every day. 

Thank you to Melanie from Violet's Buds for creating these beautiful collages.

Nourishing A Creative Soul

People who love handmade items are often creative themselves.  Sometimes their creativity is still in the heart, yet to appear in the form of a handmade item.  Others have made something that they deem unworthy and declare themselves "not creative".  Most artists start by creating items that they later look back upon and cringe.  Creativity is like a muscle that becomes stronger with use.

There are many ways that you can strengthen that muscle but the main way is to create.  Start making stuff.  Don't pigeon-hole yourself.  Paint, crochet, sew, make jewelry - try everything that you've always wanted to try.  Have fun and make new friends who support you and inspire you creatively.  That is one of the main functions of this amazing community, Handmade in Kansas City.

Another way to continue to grow is to take classes or attend a creative conference.  Recently two of our Handmade in Kansas City Members, Ni-Chern Designs and Hang Ups in KC, traveled to Ventura California to attend Craftcation, a business and makers conference.  This was a great chance to meet and learn from our favorite authors and bloggers.

Nicole from Ni-Chern Designs showing her love for Kari Chapin author of The Handmade Marketplace and Grow Your Handmade Business.

Carolyn & Kristi from Hang Ups in KC hanging out with Kim Werker author of  Make it Mighty Ugly and multiple crochet books.
 

Kristi & Nicole with handmade artist, marketing guru, author and blogger Tara Swiger

 

We spent 5 days learning how to grow our business through classes such as pricing, social media, crafting a brand identity, creating effective blogs & newsletters, craft writing and wholesaling.  We also broadened our creative skills by learning how to screen print, ombre dye, make gluten free pasta, a scrunchie scarf and stamped metal pendants. 

 



Nicole's first attempt at Screen Printing turned out great!  Notice her shout out to Kansas City via her Made in Kansas City t-shirt. 

 

Christine Street from Chocolate and Steel leading a Stamped Clay Metal Pendant workshop.

 Cara Reed cookbook author from Fork and Beans teaching how to make gluten free pasta.

Author and maker Jenelle Montilone from TrashN2Tees led a scrunchie scarf creative session.

Bernina is one of the major sponsors of the conference.

 

It's OK if you can't make it to California to attend this awesome conference.  You can learn from "handmade" experts via Creative Live.  They have an incredibly diverse offering of courses for small business owners or people considering starting a small business. 

 

There is nothing as satisfying as making a business doing something you are passionate about.  We'd love to support you in your creative journey by sharing ours.  Check out our events page and drop by and see us in person sometime!