New pub for local crafters coming soon

It was during frequent trips to Seattle that Debbie Hanks thought of a way she could help Spokane.

The Spokane artist and hair stylist attends leadership classes in Seattle’s Freemont District, a neighborhood filled with creative people and businesses.

“It’s absolutely beautiful there,” Hanks said. “I’m so inspired whenever I go.”

In addition to the visual stimulation, Hanks was impressed by the district’s sense of unity.

As part of the class she’s taking, all the students must take on a project that benefits their city in some way. Hanks decided to find a way to build ties among Spokane’s artists and crafters, hoping to foster the sense of community and excitement for urban arts and crafts that exists in the Fremont District.

The result: Local Hands Northwest, a webzine and print publication that will launch in May.

Both the publication and webzine will include articles about local artists and crafters, information about upcoming events, and tutorials that readers can follow to make crafts of their own (including tutorials on how to turn the Local Hands print publication into a piece of art when you’re done reading it—perhaps something like this ???).

They’ll also feature businesses that support the arts. For example, their first issue will include a story about the Rocket Market on the upper South Hill, which displays the work of local artists and sells goods made by Spokane crafters.

Local Hands will also contain a directory of artists and crafters from around the area, sorted by category. Online, artists can be listed in one category at no charge. If they’d like to be in more than one category (i.e., if someone knits and sews), Hanks says they’ll be asked to become a Local Hands “member.”

Members pay an annual fee of $10, are listed in the Local Hands print publication, and receive it through the mail four times a year. They also get listed in their “Buy Local Holiday Gifts Catalog,” which will include photos of members’ work and will be distributed in October.

Local Hands is a nonprofit group. They’re hoping to cover the cost of printing the 32-page publication with the membership fees and through advertisements. For now, Hanks is footing the bill and the writers, a copy editor, a graphic designer and a marketing director working on the project with her are doing so for free.

“We’re plugging along in our spare time with our ideas, our layouts and our stories,” Hanks says.

Hanks says the hard work is worth increasing the awareness of Spokane’s urban arts and crafts scene. And, contrary to what some might assume, promoting handmade, local goods during a downturn in the economy actually makes sense, she says.

“People are getting back to their roots,” Hanks says. “They’re getting involved in the community, and arts and crafts are a way for people to find fulfillment and not have to spend a lot of money.”

Local Hands’ first print publication is due out in May and will be available at 17 yet-to-be-determined locations. In the meantime, check out the Web site and consider joining.