Conference of Creative Entrepreneurs - All in One Place

Photo provided by CCE

If there's one thing we can understand as members of SF Etsy, it's the thirst for knowledge. Whether it's online in forums or in our Google Group, we're always asking questions about anything & everyting. And we love to help each other out - because we all want to get further with our businesses.

But what if I could tell you that you could have a chance at getting all of your small business questions answered in one weekend? What if there was a place where you could go right here in San Francisco and be schooled by the best people in our field?

There are people who have been where we have been & gained what we seek. Through lots of trial, error and a few sage tips along the way, these individuals have helped gather a wealth of knowledge throughout the years of pioneering their own dreams into realities.

And they're all here this week!

This [weekend] the Conference of Creative Entrepreneurs comes to San Francisco, bringing three days of specific, hands-on programming aimed at helping creative professionals become better business owners.  The conference covers both universal issues like intellectual property and small business taxes as well as grander topics like opening a brick-and-mortar location or getting your first book deal.

This year’s event takes place at the historical San Francisco Women’s Building and features dozens of prominent speakers with complicated titles such as: designer, paper engineer, and TV-and-radio personality Jeff Rudell; artist and illustrator Lisa Congdon; and author, publisher, and designer Meg Mateo Ilasco. 

According to 2010 attendee (and 2011 volunteer) Samantha Barsky, “I could try to gather all of the information I need from various web sites, books, workshops and college courses, but at CCE I  got most of my questions answered in a single weekend for half the cost of one continuing ed. class. 

Get your passes to CCE here!

As if that wasn't enough incentive to get you excited about CCE, plenty of our SF Etsy folks will be there SPEAKING! Look out for:

• Genevieve Robertson & Shelly Kerry of Lightbox SF
• Kevin Clarke of Bug Under Glass
• Samantha Barsky from Noteify! 

Check out their discussions & workshops on the schedule here.

I know I'm trying to pin down my schedule of discussion, but there's so many great topics, it's hard to make any final decisions! I hope you'll be able to join us this weekend!

---

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Berkeley's Knit One One March 5th Craft Sale

After a group of sales in December, the owner of Knit One One studio, Sile Convery, took a bit of a break, gathered up some strength & a group of fantastic vendors for this Saturday's MARCH 5th Craft Sale!

In long-standing tradition, there will be fabulous local vendors from 10 AM to 4 PM this Saturday. Even our own Kevin Clarke from Bug Under Glass will be showing his lovely wares. With his recent article in SF Bay Guardian, his items are sure to be a hit!

Here's a list of the artists being featured:

---Bug Under Glass ---Slainte Bags ---Gail Splaver ---Moriah726 

---Dab Chick Vintage Gems ---Marie Kelzer Designs ---Metalight 

---Nosh This ---Jessica Niello ---Bird Mafia ---The Briare Patch ---Shama

Feel free to stop by Knit One One studio at 3360 Adeline Ave, Berkeley 

tomorrow from 10-4 for some great spring shopping.

---

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

SF Etsy Artist Snapshot: Kevin Clarke from Bug Under Glass

It takes a pretty rad person to be able to work towards preserving insects in a way like Kevin does. And he's a busy man, too! Our very own Kevin Clarke will be showing at a few shows in the next few weeks! Find out a little more about the man behind artful maps in shadowboxes and read on...

• Who are you? And what drives to you create!?

My name is Kevin from BugUnderGlass and learning about all the fascinating stories, strategies and designs in the natural world really drives me to create.  I studied ants in Grad. School and I believe they are one of the most creative animals around – they are my inspiration. 

• When & why did you start your Etsy shop?

I started my ETSY store in January 2009 and wanted an online outlet that had lots of eyes.  EBAY seemed too generic for me and not really for artists.

Awesome items in the "Flea Circus" can be found here.

A few of Kevin's Favourites: 

BOOKS

Travels with Charley – John Steinbeck

A Journey of the Ants – E.O. Wilson

Where Does the Money Go – Scott Bittle (everyone should read this – I love macro economics)

Guns, Germs Steel – Jarad Diamond

 MOVIES

Microcosmos

Shawshank Redemption

Murderball

Nature Documentaries

Baraka

Nowhere in Africa

• How did you come up with your business name?

A fun acronym for B.U.G. – Bug Under Glass

• What does a day in your life look like?

I wake up at 6 a.m mainly because my wife is a teacher and then start  answering emails.  Next, I start packing and sending orders until 9am and take a break by walking my dog.  Then it is bugs all day, usually until 8 or 9 o’clock.  I work way too much.

• How do you promote your work? Do you have any best tips & tricks of the trade?

My work is very easy to promote because the insects pretty much sell themselves.  A products story is a biggest selling point and if you can tell that well you should do okay.

To find out more about Kevin & his wonderful wares, feel free to click on the links:

ETSY // WEBSITE // FB // TWITTER

Kevin will be showing his works from Bug Under Glass at Winter Wonderland Craft Bazaar on Saturday, December 4th from 1PM to 9 PM at Urban Bazaar in the Inner Sunset! Come check out more of his works on display and find out a little more about the process that goes into his work while shopping for a unique gift.

RSVP for WWCB on Facebook!

And since we can never get enough awesomeness, he'll also be at Bazaar Bizaare's Holiday Show at Fort Mason Center in the Marina on Saturday & Sunday, December 11th & 12th!

For more info on BazBiz, click here!

---

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!