DesignsToLove.com - Share the Craft

Marcel Duchamp submitted a urinal to an exhibition and called it Dada. Chanel fashions a great tweed jacket that has yet to be outclassed. Chris Crocker knows how to cry on camera and own it. Hundreds of you can make a mean scarf, a killer handbag, and otherworldly soaps. But for the would-be design stars and artists gaining recognition isn’t so easy. Afterall, Duchamp had his fellow Dadists, Chanel had Paris, and Chris, well, he has YouTube. For all you craftsters out there, there’s a new site where you can show off your wares and who knows, maybe you’ll become famous too. It’s called DesignsToLove. It’s social networking for craftsters-- kind of like Etsy but without the emphasis on selling. DesignsToLove allows users to showcase their homemade crafts which can come in any number of categories: sewing, beading, woodworking, knitting, and glass making among them. Signing up is free. Once you’ve created a profile for yourself, go ahead and start posting your crafts. Fellow users can comment on and compliment your work. There’s also an option of adding a shopping cart to your online store if you want to give selling a try. The main point, however is to build a community of peers, a global design collective, if you will, that inspires and motivates you to create.

“DesignsToLove is an online craft gallery and community dedicated to helping craft enthusiasts from around the world connect, showcase their work, share their passion, learn from each other and have heaps of fun. DesignsToLove makes it easy for you to :

Showcase & promote your designs

Set up your gallery within minutes on your very own DesignsToLove subdomain

Share opinions & express yourself

Send messages & leave comments on members designs

Meet people who share similiar interests

Make new friends and interact with other crafters on our forums”

Crafts has recently become a growing market as many yearn to accomplish something more in life-- something they can call their own. DesignsToLove caters to this demographic nicely. It’s focus on community rather than selling is welcome and sets the tone for inspiration versus competition.

DesignsToLove isn’t that well designed itself. Will they improve their UI. Etsty has, so far, set the standard and DesignsToLove isn’ t there yet.