Original Idea Post
Jun. 20th, 2010 04:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
crafthavenCraft Swap/Craft Resource Center
Looking for a catchier name...
This is not an actual action plan, more like a collection of my brainstorms, and an explanation of what my idea actually is.
Goals
The idea combines two goals: to organize a large-scale swap of crafting materials on a quarterly basis, and to maintain a resource center where crafters can obtain crafting materials and other relevant resources free of charge.
The Swap
Crafters tend to swap materials on a small scale basis, trading between friends or organizing a "swap day" where everyone brings items they do not plan to use but don't want to waste. I would like to organize a quarterly event, something like a yard sale or flea market, wherein local crafters bring crafting materials to share and come away with new materials they can use.
The Resource Center
This, in itself, is a combination of two things. First, an online catalogue, and the physical storage space, of any materials that are left over between swap events or added between events. Second, an online knowledge base about subjects relevant to crafters.
Looking for a catchier name...
This is not an actual action plan, more like a collection of my brainstorms, and an explanation of what my idea actually is.
Goals
The idea combines two goals: to organize a large-scale swap of crafting materials on a quarterly basis, and to maintain a resource center where crafters can obtain crafting materials and other relevant resources free of charge.
The Swap
Crafters tend to swap materials on a small scale basis, trading between friends or organizing a "swap day" where everyone brings items they do not plan to use but don't want to waste. I would like to organize a quarterly event, something like a yard sale or flea market, wherein local crafters bring crafting materials to share and come away with new materials they can use.
Admission
The "price" of admission would be an item to swap. Guidelines will be set for what this item can be, for fairness' sake (things outside of the guidelines may also be brought, but you must have at least one item in the guidelines to gain admission). Each person admitted would be given a standard-sized bag or container to fill--see below for more brainstorming about bags. Possibly bringing additional guidelines-acceptable items would merit additional bags? Still thinking about that.
Bags/Limiting Takeaway Items
I don't want to enforce a strict one-takeaway-per-trade rule, because many of us will bring more than we take away and that's okay, it's part of the spirit of things. Basically, it's not a direct trade--more of a "donate and you'll get access to this pool of donated items."
But I do want to limit what people can take somewhat, which can be done with bag size. I'm thinking, also, maybe one bag size can be used for fabric/yarn/scrapbooking/paint/tools and a smaller size for beads, because a bag that would be reasonable for a piece or two of fabric might be able to hold a ridiculous number of beads. Also there's the possibility that more guidelines-meeting items would get you more bags, but I'm not sure about that. Maybe you could just get one additional bag. Let's not get too crazy.
Guidelines
I'd have some other crafters help me with this, but I was thinking as a sketchy start:
-Fabric: Single piece that is at least 1 yd in length, or two pieces at least 1/2 yd in length.
-Yarn: Single ball or skein of natural fiber yarn or decorative acrylic yarn, or two balls or skeins of plain acrylic yarn.
-Tools: I'll have to think more about this, but I like the idea of accepting tools (nice scissors, hole punches, knitting needles, crochet hooks, stuff like that)
Beads: No, I really have no idea how to break this down, I don't bead. I was going to say 1-2 packages, but then some fancy beads come without packages, and some packages are cheap and tiny, and yeah I don't know.
Basically the guidelines are supposed to be the MINIMUM someone can bring to trade--they can always bring extras, even things that don't count in the guidelines, on top of their "admission fee" donation. (i.e. fabric scraps smaller than 1/2 yd should not count as an admission donation, but they can be brought in addition to a yard piece)
Frequency
As mentioned above, I'm thinking quarterly. I am a busy person (aren't we all?), but I think I can make time for 4x a year.
Alternate donations
There's also the possibility of accepting "things needed for the running of this shindig" as price of admission. Items like storage bins for keeping the leftovers between swap events (part of the Resource Center stuff below).
The "price" of admission would be an item to swap. Guidelines will be set for what this item can be, for fairness' sake (things outside of the guidelines may also be brought, but you must have at least one item in the guidelines to gain admission). Each person admitted would be given a standard-sized bag or container to fill--see below for more brainstorming about bags. Possibly bringing additional guidelines-acceptable items would merit additional bags? Still thinking about that.
Bags/Limiting Takeaway Items
I don't want to enforce a strict one-takeaway-per-trade rule, because many of us will bring more than we take away and that's okay, it's part of the spirit of things. Basically, it's not a direct trade--more of a "donate and you'll get access to this pool of donated items."
But I do want to limit what people can take somewhat, which can be done with bag size. I'm thinking, also, maybe one bag size can be used for fabric/yarn/scrapbooking/paint/tools and a smaller size for beads, because a bag that would be reasonable for a piece or two of fabric might be able to hold a ridiculous number of beads. Also there's the possibility that more guidelines-meeting items would get you more bags, but I'm not sure about that. Maybe you could just get one additional bag. Let's not get too crazy.
Guidelines
I'd have some other crafters help me with this, but I was thinking as a sketchy start:
-Fabric: Single piece that is at least 1 yd in length, or two pieces at least 1/2 yd in length.
-Yarn: Single ball or skein of natural fiber yarn or decorative acrylic yarn, or two balls or skeins of plain acrylic yarn.
-Tools: I'll have to think more about this, but I like the idea of accepting tools (nice scissors, hole punches, knitting needles, crochet hooks, stuff like that)
Beads: No, I really have no idea how to break this down, I don't bead. I was going to say 1-2 packages, but then some fancy beads come without packages, and some packages are cheap and tiny, and yeah I don't know.
Basically the guidelines are supposed to be the MINIMUM someone can bring to trade--they can always bring extras, even things that don't count in the guidelines, on top of their "admission fee" donation. (i.e. fabric scraps smaller than 1/2 yd should not count as an admission donation, but they can be brought in addition to a yard piece)
Frequency
As mentioned above, I'm thinking quarterly. I am a busy person (aren't we all?), but I think I can make time for 4x a year.
Alternate donations
There's also the possibility of accepting "things needed for the running of this shindig" as price of admission. Items like storage bins for keeping the leftovers between swap events (part of the Resource Center stuff below).
The Resource Center
This, in itself, is a combination of two things. First, an online catalogue, and the physical storage space, of any materials that are left over between swap events or added between events. Second, an online knowledge base about subjects relevant to crafters.
Online Catalogue
After a swap, anything that was donated and not taken will be stored and catalogued. Between swap events, all of these donated resources will be viewable on a website, sorted by color and type. I've already developed a spreadsheet to auto-generate the website code and make cataloguing easy. The next swap event, they'll be in the pool of potential takeaways again.
Barcodes
I really want to use barcodes, though it may needlessly complicate things. My spreadsheet can auto-generate them (Excel + free barcode font=AMAZING), and I can mail merge label sheets to stick them on to things. CueCat scanners are cheap, plus Dad might still have one I could bum off of him (if he's not using it, which it's possible he is since he does inventory stuff for the copier parts he uses for work). I wouldn't want to mess with scanning things at a swap event, so I think I'd do a reverse inventory--if anything barcoded is still left after the swap, I can scan that as a "still here" rather than scanning everything that was going away.
Storage Space
Currently, my basement. I have plenty of space. Which is why I will seek donations of storage bins, because while I have some (which are currently storing things that I will be donating to the swap), they're limited, and I'm looking to put time and energy into this but not a lot of money.
Other Online Resources
I'm thinking this is just a collection of articles and relevant links, which is part of the same website where the catalogue of donations is housed. I've written some of my own and collected some good links for my own use, and hopefully if I can get this off the ground other crafters would contribute.
Membership
I like the idea of having a membership option--not sure yet if you become a member automatically by donating/attending a swap event, or if there is some minimal fee (I'm thinking VERY small, like $1-$3). The main membership benefit, I think, would be the ability to "reserve" items between swap events--to request that something listed on the website be set aside for them to collect at the next event. Basically calling dibs on an item. Probably with an electronic newsletter, just something simple to let them know about the next swap event, and any major updates/changes to the resource center.
After a swap, anything that was donated and not taken will be stored and catalogued. Between swap events, all of these donated resources will be viewable on a website, sorted by color and type. I've already developed a spreadsheet to auto-generate the website code and make cataloguing easy. The next swap event, they'll be in the pool of potential takeaways again.
Barcodes
I really want to use barcodes, though it may needlessly complicate things. My spreadsheet can auto-generate them (Excel + free barcode font=AMAZING), and I can mail merge label sheets to stick them on to things. CueCat scanners are cheap, plus Dad might still have one I could bum off of him (if he's not using it, which it's possible he is since he does inventory stuff for the copier parts he uses for work). I wouldn't want to mess with scanning things at a swap event, so I think I'd do a reverse inventory--if anything barcoded is still left after the swap, I can scan that as a "still here" rather than scanning everything that was going away.
Storage Space
Currently, my basement. I have plenty of space. Which is why I will seek donations of storage bins, because while I have some (which are currently storing things that I will be donating to the swap), they're limited, and I'm looking to put time and energy into this but not a lot of money.
Other Online Resources
I'm thinking this is just a collection of articles and relevant links, which is part of the same website where the catalogue of donations is housed. I've written some of my own and collected some good links for my own use, and hopefully if I can get this off the ground other crafters would contribute.
Membership
I like the idea of having a membership option--not sure yet if you become a member automatically by donating/attending a swap event, or if there is some minimal fee (I'm thinking VERY small, like $1-$3). The main membership benefit, I think, would be the ability to "reserve" items between swap events--to request that something listed on the website be set aside for them to collect at the next event. Basically calling dibs on an item. Probably with an electronic newsletter, just something simple to let them know about the next swap event, and any major updates/changes to the resource center.