We saw our first Sampler two years ago while interning at the ReadyMade offices in Oakland. We looked on eagerly as a big thick envelope arrived stuffed with handmade goodies that included buttons, magnets, cards and other crafty items. You know the feeling of getting a nice handwritten letter from an old friend? Add that with Christmas and that's sort of what receiving the Sampler is like, except you also learn about new artists, crafters and DIY organizations in the process. An excellent resource for crafters who want to learn about other crafters, people who appreciate the arts but don't make them, and independent DIYer's trying to spread the word about what they're up to.

Marie Kare is the woman behind the Sampler. A crafter herself, she's innovative and energetic, which, we imagine she has to be, she puts together hundreds of Sampler packages each month. Craftwork was lucky enough to steal some of Marie’s time recently, so read on and find out about the story behind the Sampler.