THE LATEST TREND IN CRAFTING
Online swaps are inspiring crafters Plus: More 3-D screens
With the advent of Etsy crafting has become a serious entrepreneurial endeavor for many, but that doesn't mean that crafting has become an entirely capitalist pursuit. Far from the case, we're seeing a boom in craft swaps. Facilitated by online forums, the most popular of which is Swap-bot, amateur and professional crafters alike are sharing their talents with one another via specific swap "assignments."
Swap creators post challenges online and anyone can participate. One of the most popular types of swaps are ATCs (Artist Trading Cards) in which participants create an original piece of art, the size of a playing card, based on a theme such as "owls" or "once upon a time...." Another is something called a Dotee Doll that was invented by one inspiring crafter in Australia and has since become somewhat of a sensation in the swapping world. A quick search of keyword "ATC" or "Dotee Doll" on Flickr reveals thousands of miniature masterpieces. Other swaps can be anything from "Needle Arts Mushroom Stuffy" to "Sassy Aprons". Swap creators often create blogs specifically for the swap, as seen with the Sassy Apron Swap. In addition to the community offered by these swaps, swappers particularly appreciate the creative stimulus offered by the assignments.
And by the way: In anticipation of the influx of 3-D feature films in production, Regal recently announced that they will be outfitting 1,500 screens with the technology necessary to show such films.
|