I have to beg to differ, ClassAct, about the younger generation. Wander over to Etsy.com or Craftster.org and take a look around. You'll find tons of things made and sewn by the younger crowd, you'll find out about what's popular with them and what they're buying or wanting or selling or making. Check out whipup.net daily, you'll find ideas, tutorials, fabric sources, etc. I have my yahoo home page set up to show me what's newly posted at about 5 different crafting sites, daily. I read craft blogs and I see so many things that I want to make, try, learn, etc.

I haven't been to a craft show in ages because I burned out on them long ago, plus I don't want to clutter up my house with stuff that doesn't serve a purpose, but that doesn't mean there isn't a market for the stuff. I just lean towards useful crafts. Like sewn things that aren't just pretty. Purses, instead of dolls. Clothing instead of knick-knacks. Like that.

When the market changes, you have to go along with it. Instead of making kitchen witches, make hot pads and micro potato bags, coffee cozies and tea wallets. Make what they want and what sells. And maybe make a couple of the things that you like, in hopes they sell, but don't count on what was popular 15 years ago to stay in forever.

I'm a crafter thru and thru and I refuse to give up or stop, I just wouldn't be happy making nothing. I hope you find something to inspire you! Don't give up on peeps, just take into acct the economy and make useful, pretty things.

I totally agree with Flamingo.
I can always find something new to make. There are more things to make than I could possibly find time for.
You really should check out Etsy.
There is some very cute, very creative things there, and start with looking at Flamingos listings!!
She is one of the most creative people I know!

Crafting may not be out....but the craft shows like we used to know have been out for about 10 years...

I don't miss all the painted wood crafts...but I do miss the country decorating...

It's not gone..but just not being "pushed" by the decorating shows anymore...But there is still lots of crafting to be done.

patti

Well, I think you are all right in varying degrees. I think the craft show trend has petered out in a lot of areas due to dollar stores and other retailers tapping in to that market and pirating the "flower pot angel" or the "cutlery windchime" that one would only find at a craft show in the past. Not very many consumers will buy a handcrafted item at a craft show when they know they can find one very similar at a dollar store or Walmart or similar. Yes, the handcrafted one is likely better put together, but so many consumers can forgive a small difference in workmanship if the price saving is significant.
So, in part all of us that do or did craft shows can thank stores like these for their pirating ways. Did you know that dollar stores in particular send out scouts to craft shows who will either surriptiously take a picture of your craft or more often buy one so it can be taken back to the warehouse, dissected, and duplicated?
Another reason craft shows have slowed down is so much of the stuff is so very dated as flamingo pointed out, and decorative as opposed to useful.
Courses in crafting do seem to be a dying thing, which is a shame. However, a craft class could be as simple as a few people getting together once a week to share a talent, one week I'll teach you how to make this, next week you teach me how to make that - doesn't have to be structured through Michael's or Joanne's or any retailer - an ad on Kijiji or Craigslist would probably set you up with some like minds who miss the comradarie of a weekly craft afternoon or evening.
And Etsy - well - there are just so many amazing things on there that are being created and sold for a very good price.
Up here in BC where I live the craft show market has certainly changed, but it evolves like everything else in life. Economic up turns and down turns affect craft shows, too, dictating how much extra money people have to splurge on something they may not have budgeted for.
I wouldn't give up on crafting, ClassAct, especially if you do it because it's enjoyable. If you are in it as a source of income, perhaps you need to update or change what you are making to follow the trends and the times.
Off topic-ish: Flamingo, I'd love to see your etsy store if you would share your name with me...
Suzan J

It was mentioned on the Craft Forum that buyers are leaning towards buying from artisans. Some folks over there are doing quite well.

People do buy crafts but they tend not to buy items that are dust collectors. Practical, useful ideas seem to go well.

Also, look at your market. I noticed last year that there's hardly anything for the teenaged boy. I made up some magnets from pictures of cockroaches and sure enough they bought them. Study trends and look to fill voids.

Sorry MingO. I sort of echoed you. That's what I get for not reading the replies first.

I love to do beadwork, quilting, sewing, and scrap booking.

For some time thought I've been too busy trying to beat the house into shape to actually work on any of these projects.

I've recently joined a "Crazy About Pincushions" group on Yahoo. They're great bunch of people. I thought I might have just enough time and mental energy left to do a few simple pincushions.

Maybe.

Of course, the group is filled with amazingly wonderful and complicated pincushions too. Peoples' creativity never ceases to amaze me.

And, to include with a sewing basket gift, I bought a pincushion (recycled from a felted angora sweater) from an Etsy seller. I have a box full of carded wool roving, ground emery sand, felted wool fabric scraps, etc., sitting on the shelf in my craft room. But I knew I'd probably never get one completed in a month, no matter how good my intentions.

I like to buy "useful" crafts...pot holders, placemats, bookends, containers, candle holders, etc. My next purchase is going to be an insulated tea cozy. A needful thing here in North Dakota!

No sjarz, I never did crafting for an income. But I do remember not too long ago making xmas tree ornaments, and selling them for between $3 - $5. Now you can buy them at the dollar store.

Well I don't come up with any new crafts but I do steal everyone elses. lol Flamingo posted the craftster link and I really like that one.

I have a GF that does a ton of new crafts as she can paint and I cannot but she does a lot of cute and original things that she sells at craft shows.

bet you'll see a turn around..the longer the recession lasts the more creative people will become...

I am a cross stitcher and trust me- there are tons of new designers and patterns out there. There is not a week that goes by that I don't lust for something new. I am sure I can not be alone!

Trish

Hey, dudettes! would you be willing to post a link to the sites you have mentioned? I would love to see the pincushion site, and oh, I guess maybe the flaming zero's blog yahoo thingymabob... and stuff.

yeah, yeah, I know I can google craft whatever, but comeone, give me a break, I'm an OLD sickly woman!

a ahahahahahahhaha

I don't know what I'd do without Etsy.com!!! I LOVE that site! Crafting is alive and well in my neck of the woods. :) It's jut gotten a lot sleeker and crafts aren't frilly, lacey blue gooses anymore. :) Soap/candle making, beading, scrapbooking, papermaking, jewelery making, etc. are really popular right now.

Blessings,
Haley

I LOVE Etsy!! As a matter of fact, I think I'm ordering a cute purse from there today! I craft as much as I can and so do alot of my friends (all late 20's to mid 30 year olds). We knit, do card making, mosaics, make drink coasters, etc.) I think crafting is alive and well! There is an event in Seattle called I HEART RUMMAGE. It's usually once a month and tons of local crafters bring everything from clothes, to paintings, to jewelry and sell it. Stuff is usually a little pricey since it's handmade, but I would rather pay more for something homemade than something mass produced from a chain store.

I can't seem to post the Crazy About Pincushions info here.

You have to go to the site I mentioned above, then search the pincushions, and then register. It's free, but you have to be a member to see the pictures and post.

I've been a member for months. I use my alternate email address, but the site has not generated any spam.

I can't post a link...I got a warning that I can't post to that certain site.

Send me an email an I'll send you the link and info.

Hey Kat...I sent you an email through your link here.

I'll try to post Etsy. There's a search engine tool on the Etsy page to make it easier to find just what you're looking for, too.

I check ALL ITEMS: Tags, and Titles, and then type in pincushion, or apron, or tea cozy, or book thong, or whatever I want to look at.

You can choose to look at the most recently listed, or several diffenent options.

It's amazaing.

Here is a link that might be useful: Etsy for all sorts of lovey, homemade items.

Jenni,you are too sweet and kind to me. And back atcha, too, you come up with fabulous and clever ideas yourself, like those Croc-A-Doodle-Doo-Dads, 'member them?

Kat, you're sick alright. lolol In the head, mostly! (((((Kat)))))

I'm not going to post a link to my Etsy shop because I don't want to be accused of selling things here. Suffice it to say, though, if a person was AT Etsy and searched for condiment wallets, they'd find me. As far as I know, I'm the only one making those. However, Etsy period is the most fun, inspiring sites out there, just go and browse, search for things you like and you'll find so many to choose from, I promise you can spend hours there, just looking, getting ideas or shopping. It's a blast!

Here is a link that might be useful: Here's a link to Craftster....

Oh Flamingo...LOL...I misread your wallet title and almost spit all over the screen. LOL

Ahhh, now see, there is a new and unique idea, Caroline. LOL

P.S. I hearted you. Lovely, lovely, things.

I promise to stay off this thread for a while now! LOL

I'm going to sell my Celtic Knot paintings at a fair in May. I also make greeting cards with my Spirograph. I think it's just a matter of what people are interested in buying.

SamKaren
your resident DJ

Flamey, I saved you as a favorite too on etsy. cute stuff!!! If anyone else on here is selling stuff there, let us know so we can keep an eye on your crafty delights! :)

But..I know what you are saying. Years ago, there seemed to be something new coming out all the time...I've done most all of it, but times have sort of changed. The crafts shows around here last year were very small and I doubt that they even have them again this year. A lot of people have gotten into scrapbooking and that is the one craft that I still do...and I've gotten away from the painted wood things and dust collectors also....I know where you're coming from when you say this. And..the biggie is the computer. My computer has taken over most of my crafting time. I love to make gifs with my name and design my own...and read, read, read about computers

I used to love to do crafts with my hands. Embroidery, knitting, candlewick, I tried to learn tatting. First all the Lee Wards closed, now Michaels isn't teaching classes anymore, except Wilton Cake Decorating. My local adult ed night schools have very little in the way of handicraft classes. My daughters aren't interested in learning anything like this, they don't even teach Home Economics at my local high school. Fortunately I found a knitting store that has classes. I'm learning Aran knitting one night a month.

Thank you Caroline! I will go check my email there. I always forget I set it up with not my normal email... I forget

thanks, flaming zero!

well, darn, Caroline... yahoo says I don't have any new mail! pooh! lol

Thank you Jenn and Caroline! You're very sweet, both of ya's!

Kat_wa email me at wesandcarol@q.com

I really did send you an email through your link on the "My Page." LOL

I love to knit and crochet, but I live in a warm climate. So I use my needle craft to make all sorts of baby things and give them to friends or the kids' friends when a baby or grandbaby arrives. I don't have the patience for quilting, but how I drool at people's quilting projects!

Flamey...I SO agree with all you posted and although I have never been to 'Etsy'..I'm headed there to see what's up. I also agree w/Susanjf as to the fact-perhaps with the state our country is in-job losses, etc..may be we'll all strap in & start making more useful gifts & quit spending $$ at the stores for gifting.
I, like the 'pink bird'...tend to craft towards useful home dec things vs.."dust catchers"..more to my liking. So many of the big, annual craft shows here in FL are basically 'the same old things-just more of them'-to the point I quit attending them.
About 7 yrs ago-I held annual Xmas craft parties here in my home, for the gals in my park...women who NEVER even crafted nor thought they could-are gung ho now..many even bought glue guns! LOL! Methinks all some folks need is to be shown how to do one craft & it may spur their creative juices to spread their imagination into bigger & different creative ideas.
I really wish the tv networks would increase crafting shows.

You probably don't realize that NEW is often OLD. For instance, the art of quilling. This is an old craft, made new, that I use for creating greeting cards. They don't sit on a shelf and gather dust, rather, make someone happy. Many of my friends say my cards are keepers, though.

I love quilling! I'm still into card making, scrapbooking and do a lot of teaching in those areas. Informal teaching, with get-togethers with friends or at all day crops. I used to teach a lot at scrapbook stores but rarely do it now as I prefer a more informal setting. The computer age has taken over and one can find all sorts of instructions free on the Internet. You no longer have to take classes as it is all there at your fingertips.

Part of the reason why a lot of crafts have gone by the wayside is that the cluttered look in decorating has gone by the wayside. With the recession though, I think that there will be more and more handcrafting done. I can make a unique card for pennies compared to spending money for store bought ones.

I used to love to do crewel projects and stamped cross stitch, but I never find interesting kits anymore. What I do find is simplistic or hokey. Trishaw I'm sure you probably do counted cross stitch, where do find your supplies? Also what decade of life are you in? In other words, any tricks of the trade for being able to see well enough to do detailed work?