If you have an art or a craft and you dream about starting your own home-based or small business, this is the course for you! You'll learn how to start your own arts and crafts business from a professional artist. You'll discover how to find your niche within your chosen craft and how to create your own unique business identity. You'll also see what makes marketing in the arts and crafts business different from marketing in most other enterprises, and you'll find a sales approach that meshes with your personality and preserves your creative integrity.

You'll get insider secrets too, learning how to find and get into the best craft shows, as well as design booths that really draw customers in. You'll also discover how to price your work effectively so you can set yourself up for success whether you're selling through craft shows, in galleries, online, or even in your own retail store.

A new section of each course starts monthly. If enrolling in a series of two or more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two months apart.

All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do not have to be present when lessons are released. You will have access to all lessons until the course ends. However, the interactive discussion area that accompanies each lesson will automatically close two weeks after the lesson is released. As such, we strongly recommend that you complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.

The final exam will be released on the same day as the last lesson. Once the final exam has been released, you will have two weeks to complete all of your course work, including the final exam.

Internet access; e-mail; and the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Web browser.

This course includes a knowledgeable and caring instructor who will guide you through your lessons, facilitate discussions, and answer your questions. The instructor for this course will be Teri King.

An award-winning artist, Teri King began her formal study of art at the Witte Museum in San Antonio, Texas when she was just 3 years old. She currently works in several different mediums, including ceramics, oil painting, and precious metal clay. Teri's ceramic and jewelry pieces are in private collections around the world, and she has received acclaim for her interior design work. She enjoys teaching up-and-coming artists, which she has done for the past three decades.

“ Teri King is an absolutely wonderful teacher and really knows a lot about the arts and crafts business and how to teach her knowledge to beginners. I loved her class and teaching style. She explained all the lessons in a very clear and understandable way. Teri really cares about her students and is not afraid to share her personal information with us. She provided all her students with helpful detailed answers and was very suportive of all the different learning styles in the class. Teri is extremely heartfelt, understanding and a GREAT teacher. I can't wait to take another class from her! ”

“ Fantastic course! Fascinating material! Fabulous instructor! ”

“ It was a great course. I learned a lot and found the information really useful. I enjoyed the instructor's style of writing as well. Thank you for providing such a great course! This was my first online course of any kind and I have been pleasantly surprised. I have enjoyed my new experience online! ”

“ I found this class extremely helpful and will use all of these principles in starting up a craft business. Thanks for a wonderful course! ”

“ The instructor was very kind and helpful. I thought the class was full of useful information. I'm happy and satisfied with all I have learned in this course. It was very specific and to the point. Congratulations to the instructor. ”

“ Great Class! The course was very useful and the instructor is very kind and professional. I cannot wait to do market research on all the topics discussed. Thank you!! ”

“ This course really taught me a lot. The instructor is great! I only wished the course were longer because I feel that she has so much knowledge to share and teach. I enjoyed the course thoroughly and learned very valuable information which I hope to put to use very soon. Thank you! ”

“ Thank you so much for this class. I had so many questions on how to go about making this happen for myself and you pretty much covered all my concerns. Now my only concern is the money I need to get some things started...something I will have to do on my own I'm afraid! Thank you again! ”

“ I enjoyed this course and learned quite a bit. Although I've done a substantial amount of research on starting my own business, the course helped me put all of the pieces together. I liked the fact that it was specific to arts and crafts, rather than just starting a business. Well done. ”

“ Teri is a great instructor! ”