2008 Crafty Bastards Vendor Spotlight: My Right 2 Write

Get to know this year’s Crafty Bastards vendors! We’re posting a series of interviews of crafters who will be at the CB festival Saturday, June 28, at the Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center in Silver Spring, MD.

My Right 2 Write takes handmade journals to another level. Not only do their designs capture the adorable universal symbols of our hi-tech culture, they also donate part of their proceeds to benefit local public schools in need! It’s ingenious! Check out all of their books at myright2write.com

1. Using just three words, how would you describe your work?

Socially conscious fun!

2. What are you doing to prepare for Crafty Bastards? Are there any new products or techniques that you will be trying out for this show?

We are working on new products every day from now until the show! We introduced our company at our first crafts show last month and are broadening our product line (both up and down) based on that test. We find it really useful to have our products span a price-point from the quick-pick-up $5 item up to the pricier high end of the line… maintaining our design and crafts integrity every step of the way. This way there is something for every budget. We are also covering a lot of bases style-wise, making goodies for kids and for grown-ups. I’ve found with other businesses that it’s good to balance consistency (ie, you have your own little brand) with variety (within the brand there are loads of great choices for customers).

3. Is your craft widespread in the handmade community? What makes your stuff different from others in your craft genre?

There are tons of decorated handmade journals out there, for sure, so we worked hard to differentiate. While we do think ours are very beautiful and special, we also think they stand out for two additional reasons. First, because we are using mostly recycled materials (old wallpaper). Second, and most importantly, because we donate unadorned composition books to a local public school in need for each journal we sell. So there’s a buy-one give-one thing going on.

4. Starting an independent shop takes a lot of dedication, planning and hard work. At what point did you realize you had the chops to start your own indie craft business?

We are experienced artists, crafts persons and business people so we already had a lot under our belts before launching MyRight2Write.com. MR2W is actually a side project of our successful graphics firm, designfarm, and I also have another successful online business called so-charmed.com. In addition to designing and selling products independently on the Web and at live events, Etsy has been a big marketing and sales tool for us.

5. Where are your favorite places to find your supplies?

For MyRight2Write, we’ve been on the hunt for these big old vintage wallpaper sample books. They can be tough to come by, but our treasure hunting skills run deep. I look for wallpaper everywhere I go; actually found a nice old unused roll at the thrift store last week. All of the shirts and other clothing we use is thrifted as well.

6. Crafting is a grassroots revolution of sorts. It’s catching on as people appreciate all things handmade, original, recycled and environmentally/socially conscious. Does this influence/inspire your work? If so, how do you incorporate it into your craft?

Absolutely, it’s hard not to think about these aspects of crafting nowadays… the DIY explosion is huge and really impacting even mainstream product development. But to be honest. I think the most important thing for us is to answer yes to the following question: Is it fun designing and making these things? As professional graphic designers we spend long days in front of a computer… and going too many days without really using my hands, getting sticky and messy, throwing some spray paint and glitter around… just doesn’t feel right. But I do think it’s important to acknowledge that the movement you allude to has gained such momentum that it’s increasingly important to be unique, true to yourself, and to keep growing in your work all the time.

7. After seeing your work, many would-be crafters are inspired to start their own creations. Will you have any DIY kits available for sale at Crafty this year? Could you provide any simple how-to’s or tips for readers who want to get started on their own designs?

We don’t sell kits; it doesn’t really work for our product but we do encourage our customers to interact with us by sending writing or drawings from their journals to our blog. As far as advice to those who feel inspired to join the crafts revolution, I’d say this: Be as original as possible with your concept and design, and then get really good at your execution. For the journals, we want things to look and feel perfect… if imperfection is part of your aesthetic that’s fine too, but it’s all got to integrate together into something irresistible. The competition out there is fierce and getting more so all the time.