Bringing Creative Projects to Life with Kickstarter
Image of quilt by Pamela Wiley via Good Bones
I love to research new products and ideas, so when I stumbled upon Kickstarter a few years ago, I felt like I had stumbled upon the mecca of up and coming ideas. As stated on their website, "Kickstarter is a funding platform for creative projects. Everything from films, games, and music to art, design, and technology. Kickstarter is full of ambitious, innovative, and imaginative ideas that are brought to life through the direct support of others." Since it's launch on April 28, 2009, 10 million people have backed a project, $2.2 billion has been pledged, and 101,093 projects have been successfully funded.
My first experience with Kickstarter was about a year and a half ago when I backed "The Yellow Table Cookbook" by Anna Watson Carl. I'm a big believer in getting friends and family around the dinner table, so I was happy to help support such a wonderful project. Recipes from Anna's cookbook have been featured around our dinner table many times - especially her Turkey & Spinach Lasagna! (By the way, you can now purchase Anna's cookbook on Amazon.)
Projects of all shapes and sizes have been successfully funded. Some of my favorites have been backpacks by STONE & CLOTH, notebooks by Appointed, and this water saving shower by Nebia. You can find a little of everything out there, and it's a great way to help people get their ideas up and running!
I often visit the Kickstarter website just to see what is new, and I recently stumbled upon a few that I thought all of you might find interesting. Enjoy and let me know what else you find!
"The Ultimate Capsule Collection" by Vetta
I'm sure many of you have heard of a "capsule wardrobe" these days, but I thought this approach to a simplified wardrobe was ingenious. Vetta is a New York, NY based project featuring five versatile pieces that mix + match to create a month's worth of outfits. Everything is made in the USA using eco-friendly fabrics and can be purchased at wholesale prices. I love this idea!
"Last Man Fishing" by JD and Kelley Jordan Schuyler
This project caught my eye because it is based out of Indianapolis, IN! JD and Kelley have committed two years of traveling coast to coast to uncover the story of our nation’s small-scale fisherman. "Last Man Fishing" is a feature-length documentary about small-scale fishermen and the challenges they face in an age of consolidation and greed. Any project that brings light to the local food scene is one I'm excited to learn more about.
"The 366 | World's First Self-Cooling Outback Hat" by TechChef-usa
A self-cooling hat? Now that sounds like something I need to check out. This Brooklyn, NY based project features self-cooling polymer technology. The hats are waterproof, uncrushable and have leather detailing. I've become quite fond of hats lately but hate getting so sweaty while wearing them, so this project has definitely peaked my interest!