Look out for our article about the online 'virtual craft market' Walkabout Crafts in the next issue of PaperCraft inspirations. We spoke to the owner of the website, Emma Brown, who helps crafters to sell their work online even if they've never touched a computer before!

Emma had so much to tell us about her brilliant crafty enterprise that we couldn't fit it all in the mag! Here's what she had to say:

Do you have any advice for crafters who are a bit intimidated by computers?

"As I always say 'computers are just like men' - you can't live with 'em... only joking!

Who isn't intimidated by computers? I've just had to buy a new laptop because apparently my old one could not be repaired. I felt so intimidated (and old!) standing in the shop showroom with teenagers speaking a foreign language total gobbledygook! and smirking at my 'antique' laptop.

I think the speed at which technology changes is what puts most people off, and reading stories of bank accounts being emptied and viruses infecting files does not help!

This was the main reason for starting the web sites, primarily to 'save' people from even having to own a computer! I have lots of people sell online who don't know anything about computers, where everything was set up initially via post or telephone, and over time they have learned how to set up email accounts, send files etc. I think it helps being self taught; I can explain things to people in a language that they understand instead of gobbledygook!

Of course, I respect that there are many who choose not to have anything to do with computers and I am quite happy to do everything on their behalf. I have set up countless PayPal and online shopping accounts on behalf of my members.

At the end of the day it's up to each individual what they want to achieve; everyone knows their own limits, and your own confidence and patience will dictate what you can achieve!"

What are your future hopes for Walkabout Crafts?

"At the moment I'm communicating with several people from Africa and India who deal with crafts. With so many sweat shops and slave labour going on, I'm trying to find people who can represent the actual craft workers. Obviously, this is very difficult as many of the workers themselves do not have the means to communicate and sell online, which means trying to find genuine volunteers who will represent them, provide the funding to get them online and provide the necessary banking for them to receive money for their goods. It would be wonderful to promote crafts from different regions knowing that the workers themselves are receiving the full funds.

One of the members currently joining is a lovely man called Charles, who runs a centre in Kenya. He teaches single mothers and widows to make crafts from horns, as he says ' to become rulers of their own professional destiny'.

Within the next 6 months I'm also hoping to contact schools, in the hope of encouraging youngsters into the craft industry. The aim is to work with individual schools / classes to create their own business; design and make their own crafts to the required standards and to sell online, either to provide funds for their school or a charity. I am hoping with the advantage of access to workshops and materials that some new and exciting crafts will emerge."

Wow, thanks Emma! If you want to find out more about selling your work online, check out Emma's websites:
  Walkabout Crafts, Scottish-Crafts, English-Crafts, Crafts from Wales and Irish-Crafts.