We would love nothing more than to see everyone come together again, however, for the safety and well-being of our participating artists, shoppers, and community, we are unable to be together in person. Our Very Virtual Holiday Show is our opportunity to make the best of the COVID situation and support local artists this holiday season.

Our Very Virtual Holiday Show will feature a virtual touch, taste, and smell of local maker pieces available for purchase directly from our featured artists. If you are interested in participating in our show, please consider applying here. Until we can be together again, be safe, be well, and have grace.

The post Calling All Makers For A Very Virtual Holiday Show appeared first on Dane Handmade.

The maker show landscape has changed significantly since the start of this pandemic. To ensure the safety and well-being of our makers, shoppers, and community, Dane Handmade has been working diligently to create a fun and safe space for our makers to present their work this fall. Although we can’t feel, smell, taste, and experience the art in person, we can pull some of the complementary elements of Dane Handmade and bring a virtual show to the community and beyond during our Very Virtual Holiday Show.

Our Maker Spotlights are one of the best pre-show opportunities to get an up-close-and-personal look at the intricacies and details of an artist’s work. They have been an opportunity to meet the maker and allow shoppers to pre-order their favorite items before the show. The Very Virtual Holiday show will feature robust Maker Spotlights providing a virtual touch, taste, and smell of artists pieces available for purchase directly from the featured artists websites. Shop curated work from local makers, from the comfort and convenience of your home, on our social media sites as well as our website.

We will create a Facebook event that begins on November 1, 2020 and runs through December 10, 2020. Be sure to “attend” the show. Within that event, we will post a number of daily featured artists. If something catches your eye, the maker’s contact information and website links will be available. You can easily order from their linked website, in some cases, custom order, and they will ship it directly to you just in time for the holidays. Did you miss a featured artist? We’ve got you covered, featured artists will be linked on our website as well.

Until we are reunited in person, we can show our support of these creative, local, small businesses through shopping the Very Virtual Holiday Show. It helps our community thrive and it is how we successfully get through these trying times, together.

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COVID has impacted so many lives both personally and professionally, makers are no exception. Makers are small business owners themselves, and through adversity, have begun to knit a new path during these uncertain times.

I recently spoke to a Dane Handmade artist who said, “70 percent of my annual revenue comes from maker shows. They’ve all been cancelled this year.” She went on to say, “I have loyal customers that are reaching out to me, they are supporting my work, my art and for that, I am grateful.”

Cancelling our Dane Handmade spring show was a decision we didn’t make lightly; they are maker family reunions and opportunities to see customers and friends in person, a chance to meet new people and share our art with the community. It was a disappointing decision, but with the health and wellness of our makers, shoppers, and community at the forefront, it was an easy decision. We are fusing together great things for the future, stay tuned.

The magic eight ball has yet to determine the full landscape of maker life in the time of COVID, but one thing is for certain, makers are resilient. Getting creative is what we do, adversity makes us stronger and we will successfully carve out a future from the love and support of our shopping community. Be safe, be well, and give grace.

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