I'm so sorry I haven't been around to visit you all or posting. I'm exhausted, but ecstatic.As my long-time blog friends know, a few years ago I started a collaborative craft studio for adults who have developmental disabilities or mental illnesses (and for family caregivers).
It started out as an informal endeavor for art therapy in my dining room, and expanded to an actual business.
First we sold our Christmas creations online, and last year we sold in three venues plus from our website.
This year it's expanded to 8--yes---8 venues, not including on the web! Our ornaments are going to be at one craft show, our town's Home and Garden Tour Boutique, a fine arts gallery up in the big city, 3 gift shops (one is an internationally famous institution that I'm not allowed to name) and a couple of local organizations.
Woohoo!
I'll probably be hawking our stuff a time or two in the next month. Please bear with me. I don't ever try to sell crap or advertisements on my blog for any reason. Our website hasn't been yet been updated, but it will be in the next couple of weeks. We've been so inundated with real-time orders for our ornaments that this has fallen a bit on the wayside.
I've been asked a few times in the last year by a couple of organizations to talk to them about my non-profit project.
I've had to decline, simply because we're not a non-profit.
Why does everybody seem to think that if you employ people who have disabilities, you have to be a non-profit? Sheesh! Why can't we be capitalists too?
We accept no grants or government funding.
The philosophy behind this project?
There is dignity in producing something useful or beautiful. There is dignity in being able to produce something that is lovely and saleable on its own without having to be subsidized because of a perceived disabled condition.
I'll let you guys know when our website has been updated.
Hopefully you'll find something beautiful there that you just have to have this holiday season!
xoxox
ATM
13 comments:
Can't wait to see them - I just love anything Christmas!
Good for you (and your crew), keep it up girlfriend, you're an inspiration!
SO awesome!!
I'm excited to see how big this has gotten. Can't wait to see the updated website.
Those ornaments are gorgeous, well made, and worth every penny! (I have 2 of them)
May I put a plug on my blog?
I was just thinking of you the other morning when I checked my reader...
Just wanted to give my experience with a non-profit I was a board member of in my state of WI--In WI, a non-profit didn't mean our business, which is a day-care, couldn't make money- it meant we but the money back into the business and didn't have an "owner" but a board of directors and a day care director. It also meant nothing that we purchase has any tax, because we are tax exempt. Might be something to look into for your group..I am thinking of all the product going into those beautiful ornaments.
Good luck I'm sure with 8 events it will be a huge success! Can't wait to see the final products!
Good for you! Helping people AND making it work for you too!
Just let me know when your site is up and running and I'll add a link to my blog! Your ornaments are always so beautiful.
High five! xo jj
Get that website updated - pronto! And give us the link. (I've lost it.) The girls loved their decorations and I'll be ordering more!
I'm gonna bet they're superb!!
One of the best reasons for not visiting that I can think of. I look forward to seeing the updated site.
So glad to read the business is going from strength to strength :)
I need the link! I cannot find it anymore... I love what you wrote about dignity. And yes! be a capitalist! I wish you all a loooot of profit!
xoxo
Beautiful products! I'd love to hear more about your business and feature it in a blog post so readers and I can do some shopping!
Post a Comment