Artisan – noun
a person skilled in an applied art; a craftsperson.
Utopia – noun
1. an imaginary island described in Sir Thomas More’s Utopia (1516) as enjoying perfection in law, politics, etc.
2. an ideal place or state.
3. any visionary system of political or social perfection.
(source www.dictionary.com)
So, Artisantopia is all about a new world for artisans. It’s the Internet filtered for creative people. Here you will find information, reviews, articles and tutorials on what you can get from the Internet and what you can give to the Internet, for example:
What you can draw from the Internet:
- Inspiration
- Ideas
- Products and supplies
- Patterns
- Community
What you can share on the Internet:
- Sell online
- Write a blog
- Give away or sell tutorials, patterns, etc
- Contribute to conversations via social media
Future plans for Artisantopia include the release of an e-book and the running of an e-course. It is also planned to establish a community via a free membership site where like-minded artisans can communicate and support one another. But that is all in my “grand plan” for Artisantopia, for now I’ll be focusing on getting as many useful articles up as I possibly can.
Who is behind Artisantopia?
That would be me – Michelle Millichip! I am a full-time Mum and part-time geek. I’m an Australian living in the beautiful Bay of Plenty, New Zealand (thanks to my Kiwi husband).
My greatest personal achievement and greatest source of joy are my 2 gorgeous children aged 4 yrs and 19 mths old (as at June 2010). It is an honour and a privilege to be able to stay at home and raise them.
Professionally my background is in Information Technology and administration. I have a Bachelor of Information Technology degree majoring in Online Media, I have 15 years experience working in IT departments and managing the IT department of medium-sized companies and I have been actively using and contributing to the Internet since 1996.
Being creative is an essential part of me, if I’m not making something I feel lost and well, a little bit twitchy! I remember my Mum teaching me to sew and knit and my Grandma teaching me calligraphy and crochet from when I was about 6. I have dabbled in all sorts of creative pursuits, but my most favourite and the ones I continue to work on today are making jewellery using silver and semi-precious gems, sewing and knitting. I have tested the online marketplace for selling my creations and I am currently preparing for a local market. I actively participate in online communities and conversations.
Through Artisantopia I will tie together all my areas of expertise and interest to support artisans wanting to get the most out of the wonderful resource the Internet can be, including tutorials and tips for those wanting to take their creations to the world.
I would love to hear from you! There are so many ways to contact me, please use your preferred method via my Contact page.
