Editor’s Note

I read an interesting comment in the August issue of GQ magazine. Will Welch, associate editor, went on a 10-day hiatus from drinking, which apparently is a big deal for a young single guy in the big city. He’s 27, gainfully employed, and lives in New York.

Editor Bill Gardner

According to Welch, friends in the city don’t gather at someone’s apartment to hang out. No, in fact, he says some of his best friends have never seen where he lives. Instead, they hang out in bars.

But, I don’t want to talk about drinking. What I found interesting were these comments: “… we go out to create community; to create a sense of belonging …”

Now, I doubt Welch and his buddies gather to knit, scrapbook, quilt, or do other crafts, but I do think his comments about community and a sense of belonging do ring true for his generation. They’ve grown up in a fast-paced, highly technological world. I doubt they learned to type on a manual typewriter like I did.

It seems his generation wasn’t quite as social in their formative years like mine was. We used a lot of imagination to create fun for ourselves while this generation spent a lot of alone time on the computer. Now they’re seeking a sense of community. And that’s good for us. We can give them things to do together in their spare time.

More and more stores in our industry are offering gathering places for consumers young and older to share their love of crafting. If you aren’t doing that, consider it. Invite your customers to bring in their projects and work on them with their crafting peers. Share with me what you’re doing along those lines, and I’ll share them with our readers on our Web site.

Let’s bring crafters out of the closet and celebrate creativity!

Bill Gardner
Editor-in-Chief

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Meet Generation Z!

By Rich Kizer & Georganne Bender

Picture this: The two of us plus 12 kids. In a line, doing the Soulja Boy: “You gotta punch, then crank back three times, from left to right.”

Um, what?

“Um, what?” is right! During “Live from CHA Summer: Meet Generation Z!,” our panel of 12 kids, ages 7 to 14, taught us a whole lot about what’s hot, happening, in, out and important in the kid-o-sphere. They also taught us the Soulja Boy dance.

It wasn’t pretty, but it sure was fun! If you’re not hip to Soulja Boy, and you don’t have 12 kids eager to teach you, then you’re just gonna have to visit You Tube and learn it on your own. We can’t do everything. But we can share the things those 12 sharp little minds told a room full of retailers that afternoon at CHA.

Kids. Call them what you want: Generation Z, dot.com kids, or Generation Media. Whatever, dude. Just don’t call them late to the party. The kids of Generation Z – “Zeds” for short – are history’s first 21st century generation, and although they may resemble the kids of our past, they are very different. They are also the next huge wave of shoppers.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 40 percent of U.S. households will have at least one child under the age of 18 within two years. But just who are these kids and why are they so different from previous generations?

The oldest “Zeds” are 14; the youngest are yet to be born. They come from families with younger parents who want their kids to experience it all – according to all reports, the Zeds will be the most empowered generation ever.

For more about Zeds and what they had to say, along with tips on how to better serve them, read the rest of the story on Craftrends Online. Click here.

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CHA To Move Show

You may have heard that the Craft & Hobby Association is moving its summer show to Orlando in 2009 and they plan to add a consumer event to it. Details are not yet finalized and CHA is in the process of holding conference calls to get member opinions. However, those calls are limited to a certain number of people and all time slots are full.

Please share with us your thoughts regarding the move and adding a consumer event. You may do so by e-mailing comments to bgardner@ckmedia.com.

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Consumer View

Gas or Crafts?

By Pat Johns

I was reading a CHA Summer show report and a retailer who sells Yankee Candles was quoted as saying that the higher end candles in this line can cost as much as a half a tank of gas. The insight made me pause and re-think some of my shopping habits.

In the last two months I’ve spent over $400 for craft supplies. I’ve purchased jewelry findings, beads, blank cards, scrapbooking embellishments, charms, buttons, appliqués, pre-made felt blanks, needlepunch kits, floss, and plastic organizers. I did immediately use the organizers and most of the jewelry making supplies, but I haven’t gotten around to creating with the rest of my assorted goodies.

I feel guilty. I’m aware too many people are struggling with higher gas prices and rising food costs. I personally know two soldiers in Iraq and the worries of their loved ones. The presidential contest is heating up and turning on the evening news is often just depressing. One reason I craft is to keep some joyful balance in my life.

I’ve said before, I don’t find much joy visiting craft retail stores like I used to because of poor customer service, lack of variety, and insufficient inspiration. I hear some say crafting isn’t cool, but I used to feel pretty cool about the fact that I made things people loved to receive and use in their homes. However, today when I was shopping at a discount chain store I didn’t feel so cool when I noticed Martha’s products took up almost an aisle.

Don’t get me wrong, Martha is a brilliant businessperson, but Martha is not typical of a true crafter. A real crafter wouldn’t use exotic chocolates purchased during her last trip to Europe to fill a handmade box that took eight hours and $50 to make. Yet everywhere I go it’s Martha, Martha, Martha. At one time I could escape the slick, nouveau riche when I sat down to craft, but those days are long gone. I miss being uncool and crafty.

A friend suggested maybe it was time to move on to other hobbies and passions. But I’m not ready to give up. I still feel a thrill when I spot a new tool. I still get giddy when new dimensional scrapbook embellishments finally make it to my area. And I spent three days organizing my bead collection last week. Give up? Walk away? Take a sabbatical? Not just yet, but I need some stimulation, inspiration, and more reasons to keep spending a half a tank of gas on craft supplies!

Get on the Web! Promote podcasts, how-to videos, and forums. Get out into the community! Craft for a cause, send socks to our soldiers, donate time to teach kids to craft in our school system. Create project ads so I know what to do with products. Blog some great craft tips. Make home dec approachable and help me personalize my clothing. I know the products are out there. I know designs and projects are being created. I know you won’t let me down.

I’d rather craft than drive my car. You just have to reinforce my purchasing decisions on occasion. I bet I could make a very cool candle for less than a quarter of a tank of gas if you showed me how!

Pat Johns has been crafting, for …. well, forever. Her views are her own and don’t necessarily reflect those of Craftrends or CK Media.

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Product Pick

Mighty Putty

NPI
Trerose, PA 19053
www.mightyputty.com

Mighty Putty

Mighty Putty claims to fix, fill, and seal almost anything and the review team was ready for the challenge. Besides, who can resist anything sold by Billy Mays! The product comes in a tube. Inside this tube is a roll of what looks like clay. You remove the roll and cut what you need. Put the unused roll back into the tube. Next you knead or activate the putty. Your next step is to use it!

Our team was ready. Our doll expert had a few arms and legs that needed repair. She used the putty to put some ceramic pieces back together and was very impressed with the results. We also have a woodworker on the team. He used the putty to repair some wood frames that had been chipped. Using the Mighty Putty as a wood filler, he was able to sand and paint over the putty with no problems and felt the bond was a good one. Our jewelry enthusiast used the Might Putty to bond metal to metal and glass to metal. She didn’t return any of the putty saying it was the best bond she’d ever had with an adhesive in her jewelry making. She liked the control and being able to use as little or as much as she needed in tight spots.

Mighty Putty is a two-part epoxy putty stick that can bond, seal, and repair. The label states these properties work well with steel, aluminum, wood, fiberglass, concrete, and ceramics. It cures in minutes so think ahead and work quickly. It needs 24 hours to cure completely and then you can paint, sand, or drill. Although it was not tested for its abilities on wet surfaces, the labeling does state that it bonds well on wet surfaces. It’s not a product that immediately comes to mind to the artist or crafter, but it is an excellent adhesive on some tough surfaces for the artist and crafter. The team gave it high praise.

A team of seven craft experts and hobbyists test products for the Product Pick column. Their comments are compiled into reviews written by Maria Nerius. Do you have a product you’d like reviewed for Craftrends E-News? Contact Maria Nerius at 321-951-3929 or Mnerius@cfl.rr.com

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Book Review

The Quilter’s Stitch Bible

by Nikki Tinkler

Reviewed by Maria Nerius

Krause Publications
$29.99
ISNB: 978-0-89689-203-3
Hard Cover Spiral Bound
www.krausebooks.com

I bought this book several months ago. I’m not really a quilter, but I love hand stitching and always forget how to do the blanket stitch. There are over 200 stitches in this book and all are beautifully illustrated so that even a novice can understand how to complete stitches like: running, crested chain, rope, feather, fly, and several variations of the blanket stitch. The photographs show not only what the stitch should look like from the top, but also the backside of the fabric. A very clever idea since I, as a stitcher, always wonder if my stitches are neat enough from the back view.

You are first given the basics of quilting from tools to constructions. Then come the stitches! You are given a visual of each one with a page number to find the details and instructions. I really liked this pictorial because as artists and crafters we are visual people. The book instructs hand stitches and machine stitches. Photos and illustrations combine to give the most information about a stitch, but the written instruction is also first rate. This book is part of a series that includes: Silk Ribbon Embroidery Bible, Embroidery Stitch Bible, Cross Stitch Motif Bible, and Crochet Stitch Bible.

Last month I couldn’t find a gift for a friend who was celebrating her birthday. Since she was a quilter, I decided to give her my copy of The Quilter’s Stitch Bible. She loved it, but within a few days I felt I’d made a terrible mistake. I didn’t realize how many times I had referred back to the book while doing craft projects. I went into a panic when my local bookstore didn’t have a copy, and then a review copy landed on my desk. Trust me, this copy will be no one’s gift except mine! It’s worth every penny.

If you’d like a book reviewed for Craftrends E-News, just send the book to Maria Nerius, 141 Salmon Dr., Palm Bay, FL 32907-1236. E-mail Maria at: Mnerius@cfl.rr.com
with Book Review in the subject line.

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Class/demo idea

A Shore Thing
Flip Flop Frame

By Imaginisce

Supplies:

1 Score down the middle of
white foam core on the back
side. Fold foam core in half.

2 Layer paper
flower,
yellow & brown
flowers together
with
jewel brad. Fold
up edges of
paper flower to
add dimension.
Pierce center
hole in both
striped paper flip flops about 1
inch from top of flip flop and 2
inches from outside edges.

3 Measure 12 inches of pink
ribbon. Fold ribbon in half
and pull through center hole.
Glue flat on the back. Attach
flower through hole at the top
of the ribbon.

4 Pierce holes for two ends
of ribbon to make flip flop
strap about 4 1/2 inches from
bottom of flip flop and about 1/2
inch from outer edges. Pull
ribbon through holes. Open
ribbon flat and glue to back.

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New from CK Media

SHARING YOUR STORY
Recoding Life’s Moments in Mini Albums

Celebrate your life and your family from the important events and milestones to those precious everyday moments. Now Ali Edwards and her team of talented contributors will show you a great way to record your daily life through practical and gorgeous mini book projects. Document the meaningful moments of your day-to-day life with creative mini scrapbooks that are both useful and a long-term record of your creative life. Showcase gift albums, travel journals, collaborative mini books, ideas for record keeping and much more!

Retail, $19.99
To order, call 800/815-3538, ext. 8408, or e-mail sabeyta@ckmedia.com.

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Industry News

For up-to-date news, visit Craftrend’s Web site at www.craftrends.com/industry-news. To receive e-mail News Updates, e-mail your name, e-mail address, and company name to bgardner@ckmedia.com.

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