My first encounter with Handmade Nation was at Haystack Mountain School of Craft in 2007.  As part of our discussion on the process of creation, and how this process has evolved for the new millennium, Ayumi Horie showed our group a trailer for the Handmade Nation film.  I was blown away by the talented artists featured in this small clip and came home wanting to learn more.  However, at that time the film was still in production, and so I kept an ear out for any news of it’s release date.

Fast forward to this past January…my husband and I were browsing in a local bookshop, and I happened upon the recently published companion book Handmade Nation…The Rise of DIY, Art, Craft, and Design.  I brought the book home and read it cover to cover!  This fantastic book discusses such issues as craftivism (craft + activism,) craft as religion, and the myriad roles the internet has played in the renewed interest in all things handmade (including the role of Etsy in this revolution.)  Not only does the book include wonderful interviews and bios for some of the best and brightest stars of the indie craft world, it is also a terrific resource for forward thinking crafters, listing websites, community connections, shows, and organizations.  Thank you to authors and film-makers Faythe Levine and Cortney Heimerl for giving voice to this hip new generation of crafters!

The book is available at Amazon.com, and the movie is out in limited release across the country…read it, watch it, be a part of it!