Rural NY Crafter Builds Statewide Showcase for Crafts On Line

The word "crafts" can conjure up images of booties crocheted for sale at church bazaars. Crafted goods, however, is a broad category for items handmade from wood, stone, glass, leather, dried flowers, textiles, food, and other substances.

Carey Sevier left the stability of a federal employment to concentrate on her life passion of sewing. Sevier grew her home-based custom country homespun curtain business through strategic development of her web site. But working alone in a crafter's shop in New York's picturesque Finger Lakes region wasn't enough for the personable seamstress. She parlayed her love of the business of crafts into outreach, and ultimately an internet community that showcases the crafters of New York State.

Sevier recruited fellow crafters Linda Laubenthal of Utica and Tonya Lockhart of Watertown to create the online crafters guild now known New York Crafters featuring products at http://www.made-in-new-york.com.

Today, 52 artisans from all over the state work together and display their wares in the Internet community that puts the state's crafters in touch with their audience and with each other.

The Made in New York web site features artisans who specialize in quilts, leather, knitted items, and decorative painting. Sevier plans to add more products such as maple, honey and apple products.

"The New York Crafter's Group is a perfect fit since upstate New York has an important place in the history of American crafts," said Sevier, noting that Arts and Crafts period of the late 19th-century in American design started in upstate New York with Stickley Mission Style Furniture . "The community puts you directly in touch with the customer-service oriented craftsmen, artists, producers and merchants who offer these wonderful products."

Sevier, owner of Sticks & Stitches of Marietta , has a theory as to why crafts are making a mark in the Internet. "There are far too many shows that permit imported items to be resold to buyers. Many consumers have recognized that resell standard and have begun to shy away from the craft show as a result," she said. "Consumers who want true hand made quality are finding that on the internet."

The community concept widens the horizon for artisans who may otherwise remain regional."We wanted to bring to the attention of the world that there are a lot of talented, professional crafters in New York State," notes Linda Laubenthal, owner of Knits & Bits by Linda.

Tonya Lockhart, owner of B Boops World, agrees. "With so many of the quality consignment craft and gift shops losing out to the imports, crafters had to find new and innovative ways to sell our wares. The Internet was wide open and offers us a much broader audience."

Sevier, Laubenthal and Lockhart say the high-tech business has greatly boosted their hand-craft sales, with customers reaching them from around the nation and even overseas.

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