Have You Entered the American Made Awards?
Earlier this month I launched the American Made Awards, brought to you by Avery and The UPS Store. The editors of Martha Stewart Living magazine and I are searching for the rising stars in a new generation of small-business owners. Ten American Makers will be selected. In addition, one American Maker will be selected by our audience and will be given the Audience Choice Award. If you have your own small business, shop, or Etsy shop and are doing innovative, high-quality work, please nominate yourself (or someone you know) for the Audience Choice award. The winner will be honored at the American Made event in New York City, will appear in Martha Stewart Living, and will receive $10,000 to further his or her business. The entries we’ve received so far have inspired me with their innovation and beautiful design. Here are a few of my favorites. Hopefully, they’ll inspire you to enter your business; the nomination period ends Aug. 25. For what you will need to enter, click here.
1 Wooden toys from Noli Noli Handmade - http://www.nolinoli.com/
2 Carousel Mason Jar chandelier from BootsNGus - http://www.etsy.com/people/BootsNGus
3 Dill pickles from Copper Pot & Wooden Spoon - http://www.etsy.com/shop/copperpottraditions
4 Fruit harvesting basket from Inspirations from Burlin - http://www.etsy.com/search?includes[]=tags&q=Burlin+Basket
5 Veggie sign from Bainbridge Farm Goods - http://www.bainbridgefarmgoods.com/index.htm
6 Goodies from Bake Sale
7 Custom wedding invites from Belle & Union Co. - http://www.belleandunion.com/
8 Garden rose cake topper from By Madeline Trait - http://madelinetrait.com/
9 Spring kitty mobile from Diana Jess Design - http://dianajessdesign.com/
10 Hand-fed letterpress bookplates from In Haus Press - http://www.inhauspress.com/In_Haus_Press.html
11 Tote made from vintage seed bag from Jared DeSimio - http://www.etsy.com/people/dappermonkey
12 Hand drawn chalkboards sealed with acrylic from Lily & Val - http://www.etsy.com/shop/LilyandVal
13 Letterpress typographic maps from Ork Posters - http://www.orkposters.com/
14 Rope canisters from Pigeon Toe Ceramics - http://www.pigeontoeceramics.com/
15 Tarts from Rustic Tart
16 Red Fox nursery art from Sass and Peril - http://www.sassandperil.com/
17 Printed ice cream spoons from Sucre Shop - http://www.etsy.com/shop/SucreShop
18 Ginko leaf porcelain earrings from Tasha McKelvey - http://www.etsy.com/shop/tashamckelvey
19 Neon dipped bowls from Wind and Willow Home - http://www.windandwillowhome.com/
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
That is a lot of talent. Thank you Martha
Gloria G!!
Posted by: Gloria | August 23rd, 2012 at 12:21 am
Wish I had it in me to start one. Good luck contestants!
Posted by: Holiday Baker Man | August 23rd, 2012 at 1:56 am
Great photos and happy to see small business is being recognized, My own LAWRENCE TRANSPORTATION continues providing me with much interest in living after all these years as a diverse business but would never be entered for award. American Made will ever be close to many.
Posted by: ann | August 23rd, 2012 at 6:36 am
Martha, it's very admirable how you support entrepreneurs, especially American made. It's very inspiring to see these beautifully made items, I especially like the mason jar chandelier and the vintage seed bag tote. Good luck to all the American Makers!
Posted by: Cindy F | August 23rd, 2012 at 6:53 am
I have enjoyed your shows and blogs for a long time and I wish you much success with your PBS show. Must feel terrific to have your dreams come true. Good Luck,
Thomas
Posted by: Thomas Burger | August 23rd, 2012 at 7:34 am
Hi Martha,
I’ve met quite a few innovative people on Twitter and brought this contest to the attention of a few of them. One sent me an email just yesterday to say she was a nominee and I wished her luck – she has a beautiful and unique product. I check into the American Award site about every three days to see what the new nominees have submitted. Their talent is simply amazing and although they can’t all win, I’m sure it is an honor just to be a nominee. I’ve pinned a few of my favorites and the harvesting basket in picture #4 was one of them. I also liked some of the soap makers and will even be ordering some of their products. It’s been great visiting many of the different sites and seeing all of their creations. America has so many talented people and we should all be proud of that. Thanks for this blog. Trish
Posted by: Trish | August 23rd, 2012 at 8:24 am
Martha,
Thanks for sharing this blog.
Posted by: KLBrown | August 23rd, 2012 at 9:21 am
Hi Martha, How thoughtful of you to launch this fabulous, inspiring American Made Awards event for people who have small businesses! Avery, The UPS Store, Etsy, and MSLO certainly are great places to encourage people to start great businesses of their own! All of these websites are very inspiring and it's so wonderful to see your photos of some of the brilliant ideas people are coming up with for this great contest! Hopefully more followers will enjoy this blog and these terrific photos of great ideas to encourage more to enter this fantastic event! I recall seeing some of these photos on twitter! My favorite photos are #1,4,5,&16! Can't wait to see who is the lucky person that wins! Thank you so much for sharing this delightful, encouraging blog! Once again I am enjoying the main page of your website-it is encouraging and inspiring, also! Hope you have another great day! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | August 23rd, 2012 at 9:27 am
#17. Those spoons are just too cute!
Posted by: Amanda | August 23rd, 2012 at 5:52 pm
This is a great idea. I am supporting american made by where I shop and through my business. I own a brick and mortar store and have an etsy shop. I have a blog which I post in regularly......I look forward to looking at all the entries and I am sure it will be tough to see who to vote for. Some, I already have in my shop......they are sure to get my vote. My computer is not reading the pictures and I have tried to enter several times with no success.
Posted by: Geralyn Gray | August 24th, 2012 at 9:02 am
Martha,
I'd love, love, love to enter too, but the site keeps stalling out! Is there any help?
Posted by: Melissa Engeseth | August 25th, 2012 at 9:37 pm
Hello Martha,
I am so glad you launched such a project. I missed this one as well due to technical difficulty, however I frequent your site simply because craft is a passion of mine, therefore I am on the lookout for another contest. Have a wonderfu day.
Posted by: Wandra Singleton | August 28th, 2012 at 8:59 am
I entered the contest, so excited... Can't wait to see who the winner is!
Posted by: Nahil Andujar | August 28th, 2012 at 10:13 am
Hi there I entered into the contest and am so excited about it! Thank you so much for the opportunity!
I would love it if folks stopped by my profile on the contest site and said hello!!
Here is my link:
http://americanmade.marthastewart.com/profiles/christine-sari-lorenzo-332
Best of luck to all contestants! Amazing and inspiring people!
xoxo
Sari
Posted by: Christine "Sari" Lorenzo | August 29th, 2012 at 3:05 pm
I just read that my home state of Iowa has the lowest percentage of female-owned small businesses in America. This shocked me. I don't know if my friend Sarah Grant entered your contest but she has an amazing handrafted art and furniture studio employing close to 80 people. She creates keepsakes that lift people's spirits and commemorate their life milestones. Take a look. Her products would make a great magazine spread too. It would be nice to encourage and support a female-owned business where more women can be inspired. http://www.sticks.com/
Posted by: Karen | August 30th, 2012 at 1:12 am
What a great idea, Martha. Thanks for looking out for us starving artists. You have done the most to support the American Craft Movement throughout your career than anyone I can think of. Way to go! (alas, I didn't see this by August 25th) Good luck contestants!
Posted by: Jodie Perry | August 30th, 2012 at 2:01 am
Thanks so much, it is so interesting to see such a variety and to discover new craftsmen. I wish more Vermont artists had been aware of the opportunity .
Thank you,
Dale Coykendall
Posted by: Dale Coykendall | August 31st, 2012 at 1:06 pm
Your support and promotion of small businesses is wonderful. This opportunity gives so many the much-needed boost to keep plugging away at these fabulous, sometimes barely-known home industries we have going out here. Many people have written really nice comments on my entry. Reading their comments encourages me to get back out there in the studio and do my best work! Thank you, Martha!
Posted by: Lisa Curry Mair | September 1st, 2012 at 1:47 pm
Hello Martha,I am also a Nominee,and a huge fan of yours.Please view my story.Respectfully,amy bouzaglo
Posted by: amy bouzaglo | September 5th, 2012 at 3:31 am
Hi Martha, I am a huge fan and long time subscriber
to your magazine. I submitted our company to the American Made
contest -my husband & I are thrilled to have the
opportunity to participate!! We hope you have enjoyed our story
and products - we take great pride in always offering innovative
handcrafted, quality work. We look forward to hearing
who the final 10 will be!!!
Best,
Kristen & Joshua Kanter
JK Custom Furniture & Design
Great Barrington, MA
Posted by: Kristen Kanter | September 5th, 2012 at 3:21 pm
I'm a nominee as well and excited to see who wins!
You can see my unique, original Crushed Can Art at http://www.etsy.com/shop/CarolsCrushedCanArt
Posted by: Carol Skonlick | September 7th, 2012 at 12:57 am
How fun! So sorry I missed the entry date. Great nominees!
Charlene Simon
Bathhouse Soapery & Caldarium
http://www.bathhousesoap.com
http://www.bathhouse.etsy.com
Posted by: Charlene Simon | September 9th, 2012 at 2:54 am
Hi Martha,
Thank you for this opportunity! Fresco Chocolate is a finalist and we're excited to be a part of this event. Contact me anytime if you would like to taste the best bean-to-bar single estate chocolate in the world
Best Regards,
Rob Anderson
Founder and Chocolate Maker
Lynden, WA
Posted by: Rob Anderson | September 9th, 2012 at 8:28 pm
Hello Martha! I am thrilled and honored to be one of the American Made finalists! As a mom and hard-working entrepreneur, I'm the founder and creator of INKLINGS PAPERIE. We create sweet paper goods and scratch-off cards for baby and bridal showers! I invite readers to take a peek at our paper goodies, and take just 30 seconds to cast your vote of support. Martha, thank-you so much for this tremendous opportunity, and good luck to my fellow contestants!
http://americanmade.marthastewart.com/profiles/lindsay-henry-954
Posted by: Lindsay Henry | September 13th, 2012 at 12:36 am
Thank you for including me as one of your favorites. So excited to be part of such a talented group of designers, bakers and entreprenuers. You are always as an example of how you can make a creative business not only successful but a household name.
Posted by: Madeline Trait | September 18th, 2012 at 11:38 am