Oh my goodness, I'm busy. Lots of manusmade stuff happening, and I wanted to pop in and bring you all up to speed!

First off, the Down and Dirty project is in full swing! I'm working with Megan to build up manusmade into something amazing. I already have a good foundation - I love making my products and the design process, I love meeting people at crafts, and I'm getting better at the entrepreneur side of things. I'm working with Megan to really figure out the business' core values, where I want to go, and how best to get there. So where do I want to go? I want to build a community of people that love bringing handmade goods into their lives - not only do they like having them around, but they enjoy using them everyday. I don't want the handmade goods you and I buy to be like Grandma Sue's best china - just sitting in a glass cabinet somewhere - I want the goods we make and buy to be used, to be loved, to be handled everyday. And through Megan's help, I'm figuring how best to design my wares and market them in a way that is in line with this philosophy. Come and hang out with us on Megan's blog, where Megan sets the stage every Monday and I wrap it up on Fridays with thoughts about the work I've done throughout the week. Or, hang with us on Facebook and Twitter (Method and Madness or manusmade).

I'm also getting ready for the next installment of Urban Craft, taking place this Saturday, October 1st in the lobby of the Great Canadian Theatre Company (GCTC) on Wellington at Holland, from 10am-2pm. I'll have pillows, aprons, tea towels, and lots of felt storage boxes for sale! I'll be introducing givemanusmade, which are sets of tea towels and aprons you can just pick up and buy as gifts. I've made it easy in that things are packaged together and come ready with a gift tag. All you need to do is fill it in and pick a friend to give them to! It's all about making the gift of handmade gifts easy. Come by and say hello this weekend, I'd love to talk to you in person!