Supporting Artists and Makers During Quarantine

Throughout this first week of "shelter at home" here in Berkeley, California, I've seen a growing number of artists voicing two things.

1. How much these closures are going to hurt their business, both online or their brick and mortars.
2. How much they want to help everyone else.

None of us know how long these closures and virus will be effecting our business and I feel it's more important than ever to help spread help (and social distanced hugs) to as many makers and people as possible. So I compiled a master list of a lot of the sales my friends are offering online, as well as the free activities and charities they're promoting in one spot!

Even if you can't contribute monetarily to your favorite makers, some other ways to help artists, musicians and makers are:

• Share their work! On your Instagram stories, on Facebook or just forward their shop, music or work to your friends and fam. 
• Like their posts, and comment! The algorithm is very skewed and dependent upon interactions. A quick heart and note how much you love it goes a long way. 
• Send them an email or DM! I've gotten emails from all over the world from people that have found my books and it means so much to me! Especially when I'm having a crappy day. 
• Sign up for their newsletters! This quarantine won't last forever, which means one day we'll be able to get back out to markets and shows again. Signing up for their newsletter is a great way to stay on top of future events of your favorites! Plus I know personally it's nice to see a new person sign up to my list! 
• Leave them a 5 star review! Have you purchases from them in the past? Review their items to help encourage future shoppers to buy their goods! 

Have a friend or are you offering a discount?  Comment below and I'll add you to the list! 

Artists Offering Sales, Kits and/or Donating Proceeds 

(and just plain good folks that need some love right now):

• Art Tool Kit | Maria at Expeditionary Art is having a spring cleaning sale on her pocket palettes and travel watercolor supplies! 
• Banter & Bliss Candle Co. | Sheena makes some wonderful candles (and some that have our artwork on them!)
• Jackalope Arts Fair | The gals behind one of my favorite craft markets put together a Social Distancing Care Kit with lots of goodies (including some of my coloring postcards).
• Lavande Farms | My sweet Texan-turned-Californian friends make the most wonderful lavender products! 
• Los Olivos General Store | My very first wholesale account was with this amazing shop! 
• Ohmeed | Amal from Ohmeed makes beautiful modern heirlooms and is having a sale AND donating proceeds to Feed San Diego
• The Paper + Craft Pantry | Our sweet friend Pei has some amazing stationery in her brick and mortar that she is selling online in Texas! 
• Paper Raven Co. | Erin has a discount in her shop and every order donates towards planting a tree!
• Poppy & Quail | This sweet mother/daughter duo have a sale on their coloring goodies! 
• Unblushing |  Julie Ann is such an amazing maker (and new mom) offering free shipping! 
• Worthwhile Paper | Kristen has a really wonderful encouragement and connection sale

Free Activities:

• Samantha Dion Baker | Samantha is a talented artist and author has a #drawyourdaykids challenge with prompts that will donate to Feeding America 
• Letters by Shells | Shelly is such a lovely and talented calligrapher that has tons to video tutorials, charts and resources for learning calligraphy! 
• The Paper Wilderness |  Jenna has such a fun stationery line and has some free coloring pages available! 
• I also have a bunch of free coloring pages right here! 

Italy Friends:

• Vanessa Peters | This sweet friend is an musician raising money with her Kickstarter to fund her next album recording! 
• DelBrenna Jewelry | My lovely jewelry making friend in Cortona have a sale AND are giving a sunflower charm with any purchase! 
• Famiglia Buccelletti | Our sweet friends that own the villas we use during retreats have delicious wine (and ship to the states!)
• Love Light Yoga Italy | My sweet Italy friend Katie hosts yoga retreats in Italy! 

I'm going to end this post with a cute photo of our new cat, Pepper Ferino, and a peek at one of the newest coloring pages!