Community Values

COMMUNITY SUPPORT & PROFESSIONAL ADVANCEMENT We seek to increase the reputation of handmade as business and not a hobby. We look for opportunities in our personal lives and business to celebrate, strengthen and support handmade businesses.

HONESTY We are accurate and truthful in our pricing, marketing and our interactions with customers, peers and the general public.

EXPERTISE We advance the profession through continued professional development, research, and education in our business and in our craft. 

INDEPENDENCE & LOCALITY We strive to create businesses that honor people, process and the communities where those businesses are located. 

Non-Discrimination Policy

The Academy of Handmade does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, membership, hiring and firing of staff/contractors, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members, volunteers, vendors, and anyone else that works with our community.

At-Will Membership

All membership is considered "at-will" and no refund will be given to any member who decides to leave the Academy before their membership year is complete or if the Academy chooses to end membership due to a violation of the Member Agreement and Code of Conduct or for any other reason that the Academy sees as compromising the integrity of its community.  

Sponsorship and Affiliates

This website includes a collaborative blog written by a group of individuals. Our blog may accept forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation.

This blog abides by word of mouth marketing standards. We believe in honesty of relationship, opinion and identity. The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post will be clearly identified as paid or sponsored content.

The Academy may be compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the Academy may receive compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers' own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.

This site strives to not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.