Today, we feature Cate Woolner, a talented photographer from Northfield, MA. Her images feature some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen, from icebergs to flowers and even comedic penguins! Be sure to check out her work online.

Name: Cate Woolner
Shop Name: Cate Woolner Photography
Websites: www.catewoolnerphoto.com & www.catewool.etsy.com

Tell us a bit about yourself and what arts/ crafts that you make?
After a long and satisfying career in non-profits and social services, including The Mediation and Training Collaborative in Greenfield, MA, I made a leap of faith, cut work hours way down and began taking photography classes at GCC, which has a WONDERFUL art department. My “serious” fine art photos are mostly landscapes, the natural world and social commentary. I began selling at art fairs in the fall of 2009. Since 2-dimensional fine art is difficult to sell in most of those venues, I have begun to expand my line of smaller and more decorative photos and also collect driftwood and attach beach and rural images to the wood. Having traveled to Antarctica and returned with lots of penguin images, I also make use some of those images on t-shirts and tanks.

Where in Western Mass do you call home?
Northfield, the only town on both sides of the Connecticut River!

What is your favorite item in your shop?
A majestic landscape in Antarctica of 3 icebergs.

What is your best seller?
Photographs with penguins.

How does your day go in general?
Some days more time than I wish editing and printing and promoting and taking care of the business end and less time out in the field with my camera, then I spend several half days outside with my camera and get recharged.

What inspires you?
Light in the natural world.

What is your goal for 2010?
Not get discouraged.

What is your favorite tool that you cannot live without?
My eyes    and my camera.

How do you like to support the local arts community?
Support the artisans, barter and refer friends and buyers to other artisans.

How do you promote your shop?
Web site appears on all my outgoing e-mail, Etsy shop, mailing list for shows, Facebook page.

Any advice for a newbie running his or her on-line shop?
Still in need of advice myself.

Any advice for starting out in the craft show world?
Go to fairs, look at other artists’ booths, talk to them, watch a crowd at a fair, where do their eyes go, what draws them in.

During this recession time, tell us one thing that you do to save money/be more efficient?
Not buy anything new for my displays but rather scour my basement and Salvation Army for old furniture, book cases etc…

How do you try to keep your dollars local?
Buy as much food grown locally as possible, buy gifts for others from local artists shop at locally owned store as much as possible.

Any hidden talents?
I am a professional mediator.

1. Significantly more money re-circulates in when purchases are made at locally owned, rather than nationally owned, businesses: More money is kept in the community because locally owned businesses purchase from other local businesses, service providers and farms.

2. Most new jobs are provided by local businesses: Small local businesses are the largest employer nationally.

3. One-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of a town’s distinctive character. The unique character of our town is what brought us here and will keep us here.

4. Local business owners invest in community: Local businesses are owned by people who live in this community, are less likely to leave, and are more invested in the community’s future.

5. Customer service is better: Local businesses often hire people with more specific product expertise for better customer service.

6. Competition and diversity leads to more choices: A marketplace of tens of thousands of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term. A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based not on a national sales plan but on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, guarantees a much broader range of product choices.

7. Reduced environmental impact: Locally owned businesses can make more local purchases requiring less transportation and generally set up shop in town or city centers as opposed to developing on the fringe. This generally means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution.

8. Public benefits far outweigh public costs: Local businesses in town centers require comparatively little infrastructure investment and make more efficient use of public services as compared to nationally owned stores entering the community.

9. Encourages investment in your town: A growing body of economic research shows that in an increasingly homogenized world, entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character.

10. Non-profits receive greater support: Non-profit organizations receive an average 350% greater support from local business owners than they do from non-locally owned businesses.

11. psst. bonus reason…Locally Handmade goods from locally owned businesses are waaaaay more unique!

Western Massachusetts has been a haven for the locally grown food movement for years, but it is now extending its support to local artists.

A group taking advantage of the support is The Artisans of Western Mass, a collective of about 40 members who are encouraging Western Mass shoppers to stay local for their craft needs.

“Our idea was to piggyback on that idea and to educate people in our community that shopping local doesn’t just mean supporting local farmers but also supporting local artists and turning to them for local decor and accessories as well,” said Karen Ducey, a 28-year-old crafter from Shutesbury who helped form the group.

The collaborative, which formed in October of 2009, materialized from the popular craft shop website, Etsy. The website gives members the chance to join “street teams”, based on geographic location or type of craft, Ducey said.

The Western Massachusetts street team had about 100 members online, but when they had monthly meetings, the majority would not show up, she said. However, there was a core group of five people who consistently did and decided to form the Artisans of Western Mass.

“We wanted to create a physical presence in western Mass and not just an internet based one,” said Ducey, who primarily sells cloth wallets, checkbooks and pressed-leaf jewelry.

From there, the group has expanded to 40 artists from Western Massachusetts counties who work together by sharing skills, helping each other find spots on the craft show circuit and supporting new artists.

“By being part of an artisan collective, an artist is not on their own desert island while navigating the show season,” said a founding member Lou Leelyn, in an e-mail.

Leelyn, 33, makes “upcycled” bags and accessories out of un-recyclable plastic wrappers and packaging, like a small pocketbook made from a Sun Chips bag.

The sustainability also comes full circle within the group. “The trash that I make in my studio, I save and give it to Lou,” said Ducey.

Promoting their products and practices as green is an important selling point for their products, they said.

“I boast about everything that I do to make my shop green on Etsy,” Ducey said.

The collective also provide skill-sharing workshops on how to sell your shop as being very environmentally forward thinking as well as how to take better product photography and how to use credit card machines, she said.

Despite getting a later start, Leeyln says that the local crafting movement can be as successful as the locally grown food movement.

“Just as food is a necessity, so is art. There are baby showers, birthdays, holidays, weddings, and other occasions every day that need a little something to be purchased, she said.

“These items are being purchased at larger chain stores, malls, box stores and online from other states when an artist could be living right down the street who can provide a better product with less environmentally harmful materials.”

Artisans of Western Mass is one of several local artist collectives in Massachusetts, said Leelyn.

The group Berkshire Made, whose tagline is “buy locally, buy handmade”, has existed for about a year longer than Aristans of Western Mass, said Ducey. Unlike Artisans of Western Mass, there is closed enrollment and members have to apply and be voted in, said Ducey.

“There are many many other groups promoting the arts in the area but none are like us in the way we are using art to increase local economies through purchasing power,” said Leelyn.

The event will take place on March 13th and 14th, 2010 at the Eastern States Exposition’s Young Building in West Springfield, MA. The cost of admission is $6 and takes place from 10am to 5pm. For more information visit: www.deerfield-craft.org/

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This fun class will introduce students to flameworking by learning to make
stunning glass beads. Basic techniques such as using stringers, cane, dots,
layering, and raking will be covered, and students will leave with a variety
of beautiful handmade beads, maybe even small sculptures.

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Glass Bead Making Workshop
6 wks…..February 23, March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Tuesday…..7:00 – 9:00 pm
Instruction, materials & tools: $175.00
Instructor: Katie Richardson

www.MudspunArtsCenter.com for more info or to sign-up.

Starting Tuesday, February 23, and continuing for 6 weeks, I’ll be teaching an intro glass class. The class will be an introduction to flameworking using a portable set up that allows us to create stunning beads out of moretti glass. Learn how to melt glass, form beads and decorate with a variety of technique including dots, stringers, raking, plunging and more. Class is 7-9 Tuesday nights at the Mudspun Art Center in Belchertown.
You can find more info at www.mudspunartscenter.com.

Want to learn more about working with glass? Support a local artisan and learn something new with Katie!

Chestnuts Roasting… More treasures from WMASS.

Happy Valley Gift Guide

Remember to buy local and handmade this holiday season!

“Winter may be coming, but WMASS keeps growing…”

Artisans of Western MA