BROOKLYN, N.Y., June 2, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hundreds of thousands of artists, designers, and craftspeople worldwide connect with fans of their wares through Etsy.com, the online marketplace for handmade goods, vintage items and craft supplies. And part of the joy of the extended community is having fun with craft, even if you've never done it before. Thus: the second-annual Etsy Craft Party, happening worldwide on Friday, June 10, 2011. Artists, makers, fans of handmade, and creative types of all stripes are invited to start their own local Craft Party using Meetup.com's Meetups Everywhere tool.
"When we all spend so much time on computers, it's refreshing to make something with your hands and meet up with people your town. This year we hope to see all types of people getting creative in surprising ways — from hosting a film screening of your friend's movie, to making music, to crafting at a local school, or even on your front porch," says Vanessa Bertozzi, Director of Community at Etsy.
Last year, there was an amazing and inspiring level of participation with 500 meetups attended by over 5,000 people from Dallas to Romania. No matter where they live or what they love to make, everyone is invited to participate.
"Parties are popping up everywhere from Athens to Tokyo, and all across America," notes Julie Schneider, Creative Community Programmer at Etsy. "The San Francisco Craft Party is planning a big bash that incorporates a fundraiser for a local craft hero's cancer treatments. MICA, the art school in Baltimore is opening its doors to host a party. Denver's Craft Party, held at the public library, will have a Grey Gardens theme."
Etsy and the Craft Party sponsors — including Blick, Pendleton, Sublime Stitching, Simplicity, and Martha Stewart — have posted a free downloadable Craft Party Kit containing how-to project instructions and templates, party decor ideas, along with all sorts of other tips and ideas for hosting a party.
For more information about Craft Party, to watch the promo video, and download the party kit, please visit
http://etsy.me/globalcraftparty
To Find or Host a Craft Party in your area, please visit
http://www.meetup.com/etsy/
Adam Brown
PR Manager, Etsy
718.855.8874
adam@etsy.com
About Etsy
Etsy, the online marketplace for handmade goods, vintage items and craft supplies, has over 800,000 sellers in more than 150 countries, offering millions of unique items. Etsy is also a community of over 9 million people. Etsy's mission is to enable people to make a living making things, and to reconnect makers with buyers. The company's vision is to build a new economy and present a better choice: Buy, Sell, and Live Handmade. http://www.etsy.com
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