Support Handmade However its Made

Today's #30Days30Lists topic was "My favourite outfits to wear". Seeing as I'm not much of a clothes horse and spend every day in my jeans, I didn't think that would make too much of a list.

So I thought I'd tell you about the Supporting Handmade However its Made ("SSHIM") campaign set up by Diddybears.

Earlier this month, this post was released on the Folksy blog, followed by this forum thread. With over 700 comments you'll see feelings were running high and that doesn't take into account the numerous blog posts and twitter messages flying about. Folksy have since posted a clarification on the blog which has been helpful.

First and foremost, I think the most important thing for me to say here and now is that I think there is nothing wrong with wanting your business to be represented in a particular way. However, I do think that if this is the case it should be policed properly from the start - don't let people add those items to their shops in the first place.

Many jewellery makers have been told they will no longer be allowed to sell on Folksy because their items are considered to be assembled, with no design element going into it. One very important point is being missed here and that is that people will buy the items they want, knowing how they're made!

In the clarification, Folksy say:

"...At least one of the following criteria must be met to satisfy our definition of handmade (taken from the full terms) and list on Folksy:

• Craft Skills: The item is handmade by you through a craft practice, for example knitting (either using a pattern you have created or one that you have permission to use), woodturning or sewing.
• Original Design: The item has an original design. For example we allow knitted garments made using mass produced wool, handbags made using mass produced fabric or jewellery designs using mass produced beads as long as these are based on an original design. Also, the item may not be made by you (e.g. prints of illustrations or photographs or decals of original artwork) but must be your original design and not a copy of someone else’s......"

I was concerned that my decoupaged items might not meet the grade, but I've received confirmation from Folksy today that I can continue to list them (thank you Folksy) but I know that there's a lot of people who haven't been so lucky. So, if you've got 5 minutes, grab a cuppa and pop on over to the SSHIM page and show your support.