BS: Mudcat Crafters

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: Homeless
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 08:09 PM

I'll see what kind of site I can put together over the next few days. Starting tomorrow, because I'm getting ready to go run errands tonight. Anyone who wants in on the vendor side, PM me with your medium, contact info, URL, etc.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: Hawker
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 07:54 PM

Great idea! I can offer a few corn dollies ! Its gotta be worth a try - and Max has asked for a little financial help - a small percentage would be better than nothing - I'm game (that's GAME gargoyle NOT GAY!) !
Lucy

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Jan 02 - 07:09 PM

Time to revisit this and see what we all can do to help the Mudcat, imo.

Anyone have any more thoughts to add or want to take the ball and run with it?

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: Homeless
Date: 10 Nov 01 - 09:33 PM

It looks like I'm a few days late, but here's a link to some of my photography.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: Bill D
Date: 07 Nov 01 - 09:27 PM

*big smile*...why, thank you, sir. You obviously have taste and discernment...

..I wish I'd discovered how neat polishing wood can be when I was 40 years younger.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 07 Nov 01 - 09:03 PM

BillD!

That is some seriously beautiful wood mate!

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Nov 01 - 08:13 PM

Thanks, Ferrara, but I have to take my name off the list of volunteers. It has been brought to my attention that I've overextended myself and need to pull in my horns a bit to concentrate on other things. Sorry, folks, just a lot going on already.:-)

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: GUEST,Kim C no cookie
Date: 06 Nov 01 - 09:47 AM

Don, I need a new kilt pin. I have a cheapie one that came with a skirt, which I bought a long time ago, and it needs replacing. :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: DonMeixner
Date: 05 Nov 01 - 11:32 PM

This is certainly what I had hoped it might become, maybe better than I hoped.

As far as book keeping is concerned, simplist is bestest. I think the honor system may be best. If I sell a $100.00 dollar bracelet to Mudcatters or through the Market, I'd simply send the agreed upon spiff (10% ? ) back to Max.

Of course a bartered deal creats a problem but not insurmountable I'm sure. We have too much imagination amongst us to fail at this because of details.

I hope to have my scanner up and running soon. When I am I'll scan in a selection of my stuff. Everything from Kilt pins to 14K Gold bracelets.

Don Meixner

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: Ferrara
Date: 05 Nov 01 - 03:05 PM

A Mudcat Market is a very appealing idea. I'd like to see it take shape. This year we had a Marketplace at the FSGW Getaway and I'm hearing that there will be a lot more crafts there next year.

Here's my 2cents worth which may actually be worth considerably less....

1. I don't expect it (the Mudcat Market) to be a source of lots of sales, because musicians are interested in music first and foremost and will read all the music threads before they even look at the crafts market for the most part. Furthermore, many serious musicians, like serious crafters, are always broke.... It just seems to work that way.... Barter, now, I think that's very likely to happen.

2. I'd like to see something simple and maintainable. For example, a perma thread with links to photos and info about Mudcatters' crafts, including info if any of it is for sale.

3. For those who already have web sites, we should have a link to their site.

4. For those who don't, if you can get a digital or scanned pic of your work, you can set it up in one of the free album displays such as PictureTrail or PhotoPoint and the MM can link to it.

5. Whatever we do, we need a maven (katlaughing has volunteered) to help keep track. And we need to make sure that IT DOESN'T Make Any More Work for Max.

6. If we specifically set up that a percentage goes to Mudcat, I'd like to see a simple, foolproof way to have that happen. How is it done with the auction? If it's done by having the donor send Max a check, we can do that anyway, on a voluntary basis, no need for any mechanism or formal structure....

Or, have the BUYER send two checks, one to the crafter for x% of the price, the other, Mudcat's percentage. This way the buyer gets a write-off, which would be no use to the crafter anyway since it would have to offset an equal amount of income if you follow me....

Hope this at least stirs up some more discussion....

Rita

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 03 Nov 01 - 12:13 PM

Refresh, Some nice ideas being exchanged here, and it would be nice to develop this into some sort of Mudcat Market. I'm not a craftperson myself but I do appreciate good craftwork, and some of the examples shown on the links look very good indeed.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Nov 01 - 12:06 PM

Bill Sables does fine work! I like those pictures...and..if Rick Fielding ever gets tired of playing the guitar, HE could make a living doing leather. The case his little Martin came to the Getaway in was wonderful!

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 02 Nov 01 - 11:49 AM

Some of Bill Sables leatherwork is included under his member photo on Mudcat Resources so check it out.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Nov 01 - 11:29 AM

I went ahead and uploaded an assorted batch of turned wood pictures in response to a couple of requests. I am thinking about how to set aside an item now & then for Mudcat auction or a crafts venue....who knows, we might surprise some 'guest' yet!

here is the address Turned wood

(a few of these things are current..some are long gone, I tried to pick decent photos)

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: GUEST,Kim C no cookie
Date: 02 Nov 01 - 10:02 AM

Well I think it would be fun to try, especially with the holidays coming on. All of my jewelry is girly stuff, but I have some nice soaps in Bay Rum and Spicy Lime - very nice for the gentlemens. :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 02 Nov 01 - 01:51 AM

And women!! And yes, I know I owe you... am trying to find the right design, because the original one I did for you got... appropriated by someone.....

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: mouldy
Date: 02 Nov 01 - 01:46 AM

Here am I, up before dawn to have time to finish off some more doughcraft for the fair in Tadcaster tomorrow. I am just thankful that I don't need to make a living doing what I do: last weekend I was one of the fortunate few who DID sell something during the 8 hours we sat and got bored - just enough to cover the stall rent of £20! Yesterday I did a small stall for the local playgroup and cleared £60 in 2 hours.

I make all sorts of things, but LTS and Tig will vouch for my Green Men!

Andrea (Mouldy Old Dough)

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 02 Nov 01 - 01:19 AM

Guest is in for some big meals this weekend then...

BITE ME AS WELL you old pessimistic spoilsport!

Could we call it the Mudcat Market maybe?? If the auction works online, then surely a market can....

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: DonMeixner
Date: 02 Nov 01 - 12:07 AM

Guest, my intial thought is this,

"Bite Me."

My idea was to market our individual crafts among ourselves, maybe supply Max with some funding. As simple as Me sending photos to anyone interested or as grand as all of us sending scans of crafts and prices to a central location. Anyway you look at it it works on that level, I sell a bracelet or earrings to Kat. John sells me a Raku charger. Max gets some funding.

On second thought,

"Bite me."

Don

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Nov 01 - 07:38 PM

yet another mudcat idea that won't come to fruition...

a shame

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Nov 01 - 07:33 PM

If we wanted to get really serious, we could open a Mudcat store on eBay, BUT ya gotta have volume or make they know they are getting a ONE OF! No reason Camsco and Folk Legacy couldn't be part of it, which might help them out, too.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 01 Nov 01 - 06:53 PM

my craftwork can be seen in the Blacksmith section of dragonshearth.com... unfortunatly the site itself is still non functional as far as ordering and such... but the pics are there...

:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: Bill D
Date: 01 Nov 01 - 06:18 PM

he sings, he turns wood!..a sterling fellow, indeed!

(got any pictures??)

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: Deckman
Date: 01 Nov 01 - 04:26 PM

Interesting idea ...! I'm just getting back into my beautiful lathe turned bowls. When snow hits us here in the Pacific Northwest, it's damned hard tp build decks. CHEERS, Bob

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Nov 01 - 10:14 AM

Good memory, Peter, thanks. Yes, I had, but it took Homeless to remind me in a PM, because I'd forgotten. Here it is: Another Crafters thread with some ideas that might answer some of the questions in this one.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: CamiSu
Date: 01 Nov 01 - 09:54 AM

$100?!! Ouch! You couldn't have a minimum bid? I once had a tapestry I had sweat blood over go for barely cost of materials years ago. Never again.

I do jewellry as well, Gold, silver, copper and (often really ordinary river) stones. My inventrory is low and I'm going into the Christmas season... better get busy. And how does one post photos to the 'Cat anyway? This sounds like fun to me. Gargoyle doesn't have to come.

CamiSu

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: GUEST,Peter
Date: 01 Nov 01 - 09:51 AM

Kat,

Didn't you start a thread, with a similar idea a good while back?

Can't find it though...

Peter

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Nov 01 - 09:46 AM

Don, you know I love your jewellry and it does scan in pretty well.

I haven't made much gemstone, beaded jewellry in the past year, but one Catter who saw a piccie over a year ago, has kindly ordered a piece for his wife for Christmas.

As a JoeClone, I guess I could manage a specific thread, for links etc., whatever you all have in mind.

Alice might want to offer some of her stuff, too and I know we have others who are mighty crafty.

Oh, and maybe Gargoyle could bottle up some home brew and sell it.:-)

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: Kim C
Date: 01 Nov 01 - 09:46 AM

Well hells bells, where was I when that green violin went up for auction? Hmmmmm? I don't think I could have paid much more than that BUT if I could have placed a bid, it might have driven the price higher. ;-)

I play with beads & such. I have an open house-type thing every year (it's happening this Saturday) where I put out all my goods and serve refreshments and the like. It usually does pretty well, but I'm not sure about this year. People don't seem to be in a big buying mood.

Anyway, my things are such that they can be placed on the scanner and just scanned! I've done it before. I will probably have some things left over from this weekend so I'd be game for joining in.

I also make soaps, and this year have added bath salts to my list of goodies.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: Donuel
Date: 01 Nov 01 - 09:17 AM

click After all the work on the Green Celtic violin it went for $100 on ebay. Green violins are apparently not in great demand *G*

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: Donuel
Date: 01 Nov 01 - 08:10 AM

As another loon in the lake, I do only 3 consignments a year virtually at cost. I am already done for the year so this link is not a promotion but just for fun.
click

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: John Hardly
Date: 01 Nov 01 - 08:08 AM

Don,
Don't you already have lots of slides/photos for entering shows? There's any number of businesses that can scan those into whatever kind of file you need to post here. The guy who does my slides offers this as a service but so does my local print shop.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: Bill D
Date: 01 Nov 01 - 07:59 AM

*grin*, Don...my consignments to WalMart have been less successful than I'd hoped...(not thick enough plastic coatings on the burl, I suspect...).

I have LOTS of close up pictures, but most are just records of past glory...you want those, or just what is current? I could easily post some in the Photoloft site.

I do need to finally get a web page going, but your idea has a certain merit as an extra Mudcat fundraiser, too. I have had a couple little things in the auction, as have several others...what would we do differently?

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: DonMeixner
Date: 01 Nov 01 - 07:10 AM

I know what Liz is talking of. Silver jewelry, any jewelry is tought to photograph.

John, I like the pots I saw in the photo pages. I also have a pottery fascination, I have a family full of them.

I think we need to beat this up for a day or two. Maybe the Joe Clones have some ideas about how to impliment this. Maybe it can be done woth Blue Clickies?

Glad to see I'm not the only Loon in the lake.

Don

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: John Hardly
Date: 01 Nov 01 - 07:01 AM

It's certainly a good idea, and I'd love to see what others here do (you can see some of my pots on the mudcat photos page). I also do art fairs for a living (23 years and counting). Unfortunately, I don't do any shipping so I won't be participating, but I do hope this works out well for those of you who participate!

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: Llanfair
Date: 01 Nov 01 - 04:30 AM

I'm in, if it happens. I make small items for the garden from driftwood, mobiles, windchimes and stuff. Soon to be making willow plant supports.
Cheers, Bron.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 01 Nov 01 - 01:48 AM

It's really VERY hard to photograph silver jewellry to its best effect.... I think it's a great idea though, and am all for it.

I make ties and waistcoats although I work to commission rather than get enough for a stall, and sometimes even that is a close run thing.....

Still, a nice handpainted tie in exchange for a leather bracelet... I could do that.....

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: Chris Amos
Date: 01 Nov 01 - 01:45 AM

Hi,

I think this is a great idea. Although I am not a craftsperson my self I am married to a potter and know how difficult it is to make a living through your craft. The long hours of work, the frequent dissapointments when the kiln is opened, hours stood behind stalls at craft fairs etc.. If Gargoyle thinks crafts are only done by the idle rich he should think again. Bog off gargoyle.

So would any one mind if I showed aome of Angela's work if this project gets off the ground?, by the way we are in the UK I seem to remember Gargoyle has poored cold water over my contributions before because of this.

Regards

Chris

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: Nancy King
Date: 01 Nov 01 - 12:59 AM

I'm not sure what Gargoyle's problem is, but I for one think this is a great idea. I am fortunate enough to see Bill's work -- not to mention Rita's! -- fairly frequently, and bought a nice piece at the Getaway. I would love to be able to see and buy crafts from other Mudcatters as well. Bring 'em on!

Cheers, Nancy

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: DonMeixner
Date: 01 Nov 01 - 12:37 AM

You are right Gargoyle. What was I thinking? An opertunity for some first class craft artists to exchange wares among a gang that would appreciate talent, skill and artistry. And maybe throw some additional and unsolicited cash at Max to keep this forum up and running.

How dumb must I be?

Never mind Bill, I'll look for some spalted maple bowl and vase turnings at Wal-mart.

Never mind Spaw, I'll turn that Gold and Silver bracelet combination ito cash and we can skip negotiations for a new walnut and spruce Lap dulcimer.

Dopey me, another knaff idea from Up State New York.

Don "Still cheerful but not gay" Meixner

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Crafters
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 01 Nov 01 - 12:00 AM

my, My, MY, isn't this a gay little group?

Subject: Mudcat Crafters
From: DonMeixner
Date: 31 Oct 01 - 11:58 PM

I just saw the pictures of Bill's craft fair set up in the Mudcat Chat thread. I saw a nice set up but its very hard to see the work. I'd like some close ups Bill. I'm with you Bill on the countdown to sanity. Christmas comes and I get a few weeks rest from the shop.

As many of you know I am a silversmith and a large amount of my time is preparing for craft fairs. How many of us are crafetrs? And would it be possible to do an on-line craft fair? Scanners could be used to do the displays. Casual sales or barters for goods would be cool with me. And a 10% kick back to the Cat maybe.

Any thoughts?

Don