Etsy's CEO, Maria Thomas

As a member of Boston Handmade, I had the chance to meet Etsy's CEO, Maria Thomas this past Friday.

For those who do not know what Etsy is, who Maria Thomas is, or why you should care...the shortest version of an explanation is that Etsy is an online site that basically revolutionized the sale of handmade goods by individual artists and crafters. After three years of explosive growth, and many, many highs and lows, Etsy got it's first post-founder CEO, Maria Thomas.

This was a HUGE deal...imagine if the CEO of pretty much anything you rely on for a portion of your living came to visit YOU and ask YOU what you think of their service? Such an opportunity!

And such an opportunity it was. Maria really took it like a champ...we Boston Handmade gals have many thing we love about Etsy but we had a lot of concerns too and a lot of questions. Maria really did take the time to try to answer as many of our questions as possible, and she seemed to welcome our criticism as a learning opportunity.

It was a long, intensive meeting and I really came away with a lot to think about. With muchacha K handmade in a time of many changes (for the better, I believe) it was a good time to really get my own mind thinking about how I sell, what I sell, what my own focus is as a business...and how Etsy might fit into the future of muchacha K.

(pics courtesy of Kerry Hawkins and Jessica Burko)

I'm at Downtown Crossing today!

I'm staffing the Boston Handmade Downtown Crossing shop today...if you haven't visited, here's a peek:



Photo by Kerry Hawkins Photography.

This is HUUUUUUUGE!

Okay so, I am a member of Boston Handmade, a juried collaboration of artists, based in Massachusetts. Yes, I am based in NH, it's a long story, yes, I'm an anomaly. My point though, AHEM...the City of Boston just gave Boston Handmade it's own STOREFRONT for the holiday season!!!

That's right...a whole shop, right in the middle of Boston, at Downtown Crossing, full to the brim with great art and artisan work...knitted goods, handbags, children's clothing, cast-metal jewelry, beaded jewelry, encaustic works, paper goods, art dolls...TONS of great stuff.

Here is our announcement WEB PAGE for the event...
And here is our BLOG so you can learn more about our member artists and our work...

(necklace and photo by Betsy Baker/Stonehouse Studio, member of Boston Handmade)

Selling in Somerville, MA!

Hey everyone,

If you'll be in the greater Boston area this weekend, come say hello as a sell my wares at the Boston Handmade Marketplace, in Somerville, MA. Today, Saturday, June 28, 2008 from 3-7. A gaggle of high quality New England handcrafts will be there for you to browse and buy and two live bands will be performing.

More info: Boston Handmade Marketplace!