Grown-Up Gigs AND Great Giveaway: Craftonista/World-Famous Writer Kari Chapin
That’s Kari! I stole this pic from her website.
If you’re a crafter, chances are you’ve heard of the amazeballs Kari Chapin, author of The Handmade Marketplace. As if the #1 Craft book of the Year (ranked by Amazon!) wasn’t enough, she’s now offering a brand spankin’ new e-course, Fresh Start. I was able to get to know Kari better when she participated in The Declaration of You this October, and I think she’s gonna have one heck of an e-course of her own! Read on to learn how she got to be a craftonista/world-famous writer & find out how you can win your very own spot in Fresh Start, which’ll help ya with goal-setting, organization, time management & motivation! Rock!
What did you wanna be when you grew up? I wanted to be so many things when I was growing up! I think having so many varied interests as a kid, made it kind of hard on me as I grew older, because I couldn’t really settle on one thing. Now I look back on that and can see it differently, but in my early 20’s it was pretty confusing. However, the short list of things I wanted to be when I grew up goes a little like this:
- Solid Gold Dancer (I heard that the dancers had to be able to weave in and out of ladders and I was bummed that we had no ladder for me to practice with)
- Dancer on American Bandstand and/or Soul Train (I designed several outfits for this, which I asked my grandmother to make for me)
- Academy Award Winning Actress
- Archeologist (This is after I read a story in the 4th grade called Dog of Pompeii)
- Librarian
- Artist
- Journalist
- Furniture designer
- Vintage store owner (I planned on selling all kinds of vintage items, while playing records and making coffee. This was during my Pretty In Pink phase)
Of course, while I never became any of these things, looking back over this list, I can see where parts of all of these interests have incorporated themselves into what I do now and other jobs I’ve held as an adult.
How did you discover that craftonista (I just made that word up. I’m keeping it!) / writer was gonna be your grown-up career? I just decided one day. I really, really love the craft community. Once I discovered craft blogs and then Etsy hit the scene, I knew I wanted to be a part of it, but I didn’t know exactly how for awhile. I mean, I’ve always loved making things, and I often sold them, but I knew that I didn’t want to make and sell crafts for my living. I spent a lot of time working while I was at my day job, thinking about how I could make a positive contribution to the community I was in love with. Much time passed. I was onto another job, one I was actually happy with, working as a buyer for a home goods store. I was trying to stock more and more handmade items, and as a result, I spent a lot of time sending long emails to makers and designers, teaching them how to work with people like me. From this came a sort of collection of lengthly emails, that were the basis of The Handmade Marketplace. When I lost that awesome job, due to the economy tanking, I took stock of my life. The job I had lost had been my most favorite – and I knew that if I was EVER going to have a career that made me happy, I would have to create it myself.
Viola! Enter writing about what I knew best, and a way to be a part of the community I hold so dear.
What’s your favorite part of being a craftonista/world-famous writer (and no, I’m not taking it back! It’s true! You’re Amazon’s #1!)? Oh, this is a tough one! There are so many parts of what I do now that are so wonderful. I love that I made my one of my big dreams come true. I love that I have actually helped people. I love that people responded to me in such a positive way. I love that I was able to provide people with something they needed and want. I love that I can work from anywhere at any time. I love that doing what I love has enabled me to do other things I love, like traveling and meeting people. I guess all the parts are my favorite parts!
I’m so excited for your first e-course, Fresh Start! I think I remember you mentioning that it’s something you needed to do for your business, and then realized it would make a helpful e-course for the rest of us! You’re covering a lot of ground, with weeks devoted to goals/intentions, business organization, time management, and motivation. Such great stuff! What are you most excited about in regards to the course? I love working with people! I’m really looking forward to making one-on-one connections with the participants – working with them to clarify their creative business goals and dreams. I can’t wait to meet them and get to know them. I have lots of good stuff planned!
If you could have your present self give your pre-writer/craftonista self one piece of advice, what would it be? Stop talking about it and just do it already.
As if those nuggest of wisdom above ain’t enough, Kari’s gonna give away one of the spots in Fresh Start to a commenter right here! It’s a quick giveaway because the e-course starts this Sunday, but you have until 11:59p Eastern tonight to leave a comment saying whatever the heck you want to be entered! I’ll pick the winner via Random.org & will post it tomorrow morning. Good luck everyone!
Tags: Great Giveaway, Grown-Up Gigs
January 5th, 2011 at 10:38 pm
Wow! This is an awesome success story. I love it when
people (specially women) take charge of their own destiny and
design the life of their dreams. Thanks for sharing your
experiences they are very encouraging and inspiring! On a second
note: I would love to win the Fresh Start spot!
January 6th, 2011 at 12:38 am
I'd love to be part of the ecourse! Sounds so inspirational
and exactly what is needed at the start of the year!
January 6th, 2011 at 3:21 am
I love how many great e-courses are out there now!
January 6th, 2011 at 4:09 am
The thing that is thrilling to me about this interview is
that there's someone out there who had a job working for someone
else and loved it, then found a way to use that experience when she
branched out on her own. I feel as if, too often, the impetus for
going your own way is complete misery at your old spot. Given that
my old spot had a lot of misery and a lot of joy, it's nice to see
someone openly talking about taking the good parts of "the old way"
and using them.
January 6th, 2011 at 4:13 am
"…and I knew that if I was EVER going to have a career
that made me happy, I would have to create it myself." LOVE that
statement! So powerful! Would love to take the Fresh Start
e-course!
January 6th, 2011 at 5:06 am
Would love to take this! Thanks for sharing Kari!
January 6th, 2011 at 5:21 am
I would love love love the opportunity to take Kari's course! What an awesome way that would be to kick off 2011 creatively!
Cheers! SaraEllen
January 6th, 2011 at 5:23 am
Very inspirational. Love that your focus is on helping others, but in the end it helps you fulfill your dreams. Yay good karma! I would love a Fresh Start!
January 6th, 2011 at 5:27 am
First off Michelle.. you are so the bomb diggity. Thank you for being you. You are like a piece of chocolate cake (with a glass of red of course!) Exciting to dive into at first sight, a balance of sweet and savory, your wisdom melts in my mind like the cake in my mouth as I take in all the yummy spirit that is you… leaving me feeling, if I allow myself to, like I just won the lottery. (i.e. HUGE take aways!) Mind, Body and Soul.
My greeting cards are in the front row of a Justin Beiber concert screaming for Kari to pick me to go up on stage to be serenated to! (Here they are! http://www.etsy.com/shop/thisdreamergirl) I am crossing my fingers HOPING to catch her eye….
Good Luck All!!!
January 6th, 2011 at 6:21 am
Pick me! pick me! I'm starting a DIY blog, not because I know how to DIY anything but because I really REALLY want to! Like Kari, I love the online crafting community and I'm super psyched to DIY most of my wedding next fall. Plus, I've always loved school….
January 6th, 2011 at 6:22 am
Ooh, how fun. What a lovely inspiring interview. Thanks!
January 6th, 2011 at 6:30 am
Two amazing/motivating people on one website! Michelle/Kari, you ladies rock!
January 6th, 2011 at 6:33 am
I've been crafting forever, but definitely need a fresh start! Kari is awesome and I would love her help.
January 6th, 2011 at 6:39 am
Michelle, I agree with Kerilyn, you are awesome! Kari, you are just as awesome for other great reasons! Your ecourse sounds like a great follow up to the Declaration of You. I would love to be chosen to help me kick start my new creative life. Cheers to everyone and 2011!
January 6th, 2011 at 7:10 am
I felt like I was reading an interview from "future Rita" talking to the "present Rita".
My sentiments exactly on 99% of the interview. VERY VERY HELPFUL!
January 6th, 2011 at 7:40 am
My sister bought me 'The Handmade Marketplace' for Christmas and I've read it twice already. Love, love, love all the great ideas and stories that Kari included in it
January 6th, 2011 at 7:42 am
I am a creative person at heart, but I keep letting fear and other things get in the way. I want to get rid of that baggage once and for all, and this looks like a great way to clear the path ahead of me! Really cool.
January 6th, 2011 at 7:49 am
Michelle, thanks for the opportunity to check out Kari's awesome work! Kari, I am in love with your website! And, Congrads on writing such an awesome book!!!
January 6th, 2011 at 8:15 am
What a great post. Encouraging, inspiring, motivating. I'm jumping up right now to go make some things happen! – and sending good vibrations to the universe about giveaway winning.
January 6th, 2011 at 8:29 am
It has been fun and inspiring watching Kari's career blossom. I have her book and have bought dozens for their inspiring crafters who want to take their craft to another level.
Looking forward to seeing the e-course.
January 6th, 2011 at 9:18 am
I love Kari!
What an inspiring interview. So encouraging.
Thank you!!
January 6th, 2011 at 9:20 am
Very inspiring read!
Hopefully I can be like this:)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/msformaldehyde
January 6th, 2011 at 11:55 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by BerkshireMade . BerkshireMade said: Check out When I Grow Up's interview with author of The Handmade Marketplace How to Sell Your Crafts Locally,…… http://fb.me/OZ41jUug [...]
January 6th, 2011 at 12:56 pm
I'm hoping to start freelancing and open my own Etsy shop in a couple weeks so pick me! Pick me!
January 6th, 2011 at 1:16 pm
Oo oo! Pick me!
Congrats on your book making it to #1
January 6th, 2011 at 2:23 pm
I love Kari's book. I picked it up earlier this year because I have a huge desire to be earning money online through crafting. However, the last six months have been so hectic that all those ideas and desires have been pushed aside.
Today I left my job, in ten days I move to a new city for a totally fresh start so I think a place on Kari's course would be a wonderful way to get my creative juices flowing again.
Great interview!!
January 6th, 2011 at 2:31 pm
OOh I'd love to try an e-course, having quit my job to go for the dream, and there is no point in dreaming small!!
January 6th, 2011 at 3:17 pm
I just listened to her on Craftypod and have read her book! Love her ideas!
I have started my crafty business, it's in it's infant stages right now though. Any help and advice would certainly be a great thing for me at this point!
Fingers are crossed!!!!
January 6th, 2011 at 3:33 pm
Congratulations on your book being NUMBER 1!!!! Thank you so much for all the inspiration Kari!
January 6th, 2011 at 3:38 pm
Wow! What a great opportunity! I would LOVE to be able to take part in this course!
January 6th, 2011 at 3:42 pm
How fun! Thanks for the giveaway Michelle and Kari!
January 6th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
A fresh start is exactly what I need. I love the book and as a recovering attorney aspirational something or other, I am working to figure out how I can fit into this lovely handmade world that I cherish.
January 6th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
I finally got her book for christmas this year and am so inspired. I just found out about this e-course and am totally psyched for it.
January 6th, 2011 at 3:56 pm
this is amazing! thank you for being so awsome and letting someone have the chance to win!
January 6th, 2011 at 4:11 pm
I would like to take my etsy site and website to another level and feel like I could use some guidance to get there.I would greatly appreciate this amazing opportunity!
January 6th, 2011 at 4:41 pm
This sounds like fun!
January 6th, 2011 at 4:44 pm
Congratulations on the book! I had to check it out after I saw it listed as a must read by April Olin, I believe.
January 6th, 2011 at 4:45 pm
This sounds amazing! I am having the need to kick myself in the pants new years reality check, this could be just what I need! to really get things going!
January 6th, 2011 at 5:07 pm
Yay!! That ecourse would rock to be a part of!! Ok that's all I got been a very long day…
January 6th, 2011 at 6:04 pm
Wow, what an incredible opportunity! I'd love to kick my crafty work into a higher gear.
January 6th, 2011 at 6:34 pm
Sounds amazing and inspiring. And I can ALWAYS use help getting my act together =)
January 6th, 2011 at 6:34 pm
I would love this – I need CHANGE and INSPIRATION!
January 6th, 2011 at 6:59 pm
this book changed my life!
January 6th, 2011 at 7:08 pm
Oh, it's like we were separated at birth and just found eachother! An e-course designed by an artist who gets how the creative side of our brains work is a huge relief. I may have to take it even if I don't win. (but I hope I do!)
January 6th, 2011 at 7:28 pm
I actually found about Kari's class and When I Grow Up today on twitter. I would love an opportunity to take Kari's class. She's awesome.