Miami Artisans Guild (MAG)

Well, there's not as much crafting going on in Miami as you might think. So those of us of like minds somehow have found one another through ETSY and formed, a sort of, mutual support group known as MAG. We meet up to discuss upcoming shows, projects, promotion. It's a good thing. Last Friday night we got together for some conversation, planning, cupcakes, brownies, wine…In attendance were Beanblossom, Eclecticamiami, GinaD, PhBeads, withsugarontop and dogsavethequeen (additional members of MAG are Caprichos, Daisycakes, Ragamufyn, and Ciaralovesyou).

All are on ETSY.

MAG has a planned a "Craft Swap" in which we'll all bring out stuff (craft materials/supplies) we're not using (we all have that stuff, right?) and we'll set up tables and barter like in a souk for each other's "stuff". It's a great way to get rid of that unused but nice stuff and get stuff you actually want!

MAG has also started scheduling tutorials, known as Sunday CrafterNoons…where we each run a workshop teaching the others how to do a project in our own area of expertise. We're starting these for ourselves but there's always the chance they will start to get a following with people outside MAG joining us for an evening of using our hands to make great stuff. PhBeads will be giving the first tutorial where she'll be teaching how to do a bit of metalsmithing at home to make some lovely earrings.

Finally, PhBeads was interviewed by the Key Biscayne Islander newspaper. She is a full time marine biologist at the University of Miami and also makes jewelry as PhBeads. She has been organizing an arts and crafts show at the Rosenstiel School of Marine Science for several years now. The MAG members made up the bulk of this Holiday Show in December. A reporter from the paper covered her Holiday Sale and called her for an interview for the paper because you don't find a marine biologist/metalsmith every day!

Monica Lara
Phbeads.etsy.com