Today we have lift-off, dear readers! In the wee small hours of the evening, I Heart Handmade has transformed into indie | handmade.

It’s more than just a name change, though. The re-launch is about defining and expanding what indie means.  I’ve heard and used the word so many times before, but has anyone really ever defined it?  We can attempt to say indie is about the unsigned talent, hoofing it on their own.  Designing, creating, managing, marketing and making big decisions.

Sure… it’s that. But it’s more than that.

We can say it’s about handmade. Taking raw goods and knitting a sweater, sewing a clutch, or filling up an art journal.

Sure… it’s that. But it’s more than that.

I’ve tried to find the common thread: What binds all us ‘indies’ together? After all, some of us make goods with our own hands while others conceptualize and design products from start to finish and have others make the goods.  Some of us sing or play an instrument.  Some of us design websites and logos and other fabulous digital goods.  Some of us bake marshmallows and chocolates and other sweet treats.  Some of us write books or haikus or lyrics.  And even some of us grow our own vegetables and herbs — or raise chickens!

In all of this, there is something that ties us together even when what we do is so different from one another: it’s an “I can dream it, I can do it” attitude.  Being indie is about taking action for yourself, creating your own path independent of the fact that others may or may not be doing it, too. It’s about waking up and choosing what your life will be that day and not just letting it happen to you. (Or even worse, allowing someone else to choose it for you.)

Indie is an attitude — a way of life. It’s about allowing your creative spirit to soar, whether you’re making a necklace, taking a photo, screenprinting a tee, baking a pie, or growing your own strawberries.

And those are just the kinds of things you’ll find on the new indie | handmade.

So what do you think? What does indie mean to you?

Shown above:

1. Lift-off by Gail Gallery
2. Brass Swallowtail ring by Sora Designs
3. Heart taking flight by Bird from a Wire
4. Pewter airplane necklace by babyjewlz
5. The Take Flight locket by Cosmic Girl
6. Butterfly study giclee by Mai Autumn
7. Feather necklace by Off the Beaten Path
8. Hello World by MitZ Mixed Media

Admission is free, with the option to donate to Prevent Child Abuse of Illinois.  For complete information, check out Indie Jubilee’s blog.

Location: Morton Grove American Legion | 6140 Dempster Street | Morton Grove, IL 60053

Help the Gulf Coast – 100% of proceeds donated

Bayou Salvage – $7 donated from sale of each item

Handmade Louisiana – 100% profits donated

letterhappy – $5 donated from the sale of Pelican and Save Our Gulf tees (coming soon)

paper sparrow – 100% of proceeds on fox print; 20% on other items in shop

Lychen and Lychee – 100% proceeds from select items

iktomi – donating up to 25% proceeds from each purchase

Gora Handmade – 20% of all sales donated

If you know of any more shops, please feel free to leave a comment with a link to the shop!

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6/14/10 UPDATE: Christen of letterhappy and Indie Icing wrote a post for The Storque on the oil spill.  Check out the post and her wonderful blog for more information.

We’re taking a casual summer approach to the summer I Heart Handmade market so lovingly called, It’s a Beautiful Life.  (By the way, it just opened today!)  The market is open June 13 – September 4, with new shops coming in each week so we’ll always have something new to peruse or be inspired by.

(By the way, you can still sign up to participate in the market.  Registrations are rolling and you can choose between a 4- or 8-week session.  New shops start on Sundays — you choose the date! Visit the submit your shop page for more information.)

Pictured above (from top to bottom, left to right): Vintage Blooms by While Wandering,  Aqua Floral and Dots tote for girls from Sheree’s Atelier, Personalized Typewriter Notecards by Eve & Andy, Paper Flip Flops by End of the Day Crafting.

Join us for this summer’s market, It’s a Beautiful Life, and get that extra marketing boost you’ve been looking for! (I’ll be advertising the market on some really great sites, so you won’t want to miss out!)  Now accepting indie artist submissions in the following categories: housewares, bath & body, art, papergoods, baby & kids, clothing, accessories, vintage, craft supplies, and jewelry.  The market will be open all summer-long (June 13 – September 4) and shops can choose from 4-, 8- or 12-week sessions.  You get to choose your starting Sunday!

Follow this blog on Google Friend Connect and mention code “friend” in notes for $3 off the regular registration fee. Offer expires June 4, 2010 at 9pm E.S.T.

Check out the Participate page for more information on submitting.  And read a few testimonials from indie shops who have participated in the I Heart Handmade market:

Brandi, Sweet Harvey Letterpress:

Being a part of the I Heart Handmade market has been fantastic! Jessica is so easy to work with, which makes participation such a joy. I continue to be impressed with their dedication to the market and the amazing shop promotion offered to participating shops. They feature a shop of the day, offer giveaways, blog articles, twitter and facebook posts that all bring participants even more exposure. With I Heart Handmade I truly feel that I have received an excellent return on my advertising investment. Thank you so much!

Debra, End of the Day Crafting:

I recently participated in the I Heart Handmade Market and was very pleased with the outcome. I was able to generate more visitors to my shop, resulting in increased visibility and additional sales. I would highly recommend this market to all online sellers.  I LOVE THE I HEART HANDMADE MARKET!!!

Melissa, Crab Apple Designs:

I recently participated in the I Heart Handmade market and was really impressed with all of the promotion I received.  Blog features, features on the shopping site, Facebook, and Twitter promotion are all just the kind of help my business needs right now.  Jessica is very responsive to questions and offer gentle reminders for those of us who are not detail oriented.  The shopping site has a pleasant and user friendly design.  I was so happy with the experience that I immediately signed up for another session.  Thanks, I Heart Handmade!