Business Tools, Resources & Education for Handmade Artists
💡 A Note From Lisa: Over the years I’ve tested countless tools, services, apps, and business resources while building MONOLISA. This page highlights companies, platforms, and professionals that have helped me manage my website, bookkeeping, marketing, photography, and day-to-day business operations.
These recommendations come from my personal experience as a working artist and small business owner. Start with the basics, test what works, and improve over time.
How I Use This Page
This is not a sponsored list of random business tools. These are resources I personally use, have worked with, or would suggest researching if you are building a handmade business, creative brand, art show booth, ecommerce website, or artist newsletter. Resources include ecommerce platforms, accounting software, email marketing tools, photography applications, jewelry education, and leather craft learning resources.
Website & Ecommerce
Shopify
What I use it for: My online store, blog content, product listings, inventory, checkout, reporting, and SEO foundation.
Why I recommend it: Shopify is user friendly, has helpful reporting, works well for ecommerce, and the POS system has been reliable for in-person sales.
Visit ShopifyBlinc Design
What I use them for: Shopify custom website development, backend code, advanced app integrations, and custom theme support.
Why I recommend them: Excellent customer service, quick response time, professional communication, and quality work.
Visit Blinc DesignEmail Marketing
Mailchimp
What I use it for: Monthly customer emails, art show updates, newsletter signups, welcome emails, and audience management.
Why I recommend it: Mailchimp helps me stay connected with customers without relying only on social media. It also gives me reporting so I can see what people are opening and clicking.
Visit MailchimpAccounting & Business Operations
QuickBooks Online
What I use it for: Tracking income, expenses, reports, business categories, and year-end organization.
Why I recommend it: It saves me hundreds of hours because many reports and tracking features are automated once the system is set up correctly.
Visit QuickBooksPaytonDavis Business Services
What I use them for: Quarterly sales tax filing, bookkeeping support, expense questions, and business guidance.
Why I recommend them: Professional, responsive, and helpful for small business owners who need support with sales tax and bookkeeping.
Visit PaytonDavisPhotography & Content Creation
Pixelcut
What I use it for: Product image cleanup, white background photos, and improving product photography workflow.
Why I recommend it: It is user friendly and helpful for creating cleaner product images when you do not have a full photography team.
Visit PixelcutAdobe Photoshop & Premiere Pro
What I use them for: Image editing, video editing, product visuals, website graphics, social media content, and creative storytelling.
Why I recommend them: Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro are powerful professional tools for artists and makers who want advanced control over photography, graphics, branding, and video content. There is a learning curve, but the capabilities are extensive.
Visit AdobeJewelry Education & Learning Resources
Learning how to make jewelry has been one of the biggest parts of building MONOLISA. I have learned through books, online classes, YouTube videos, professional instructors, jewelry supply companies, and years of hands-on studio practice.
Some of the teachers and resources that helped me include Jeanette K. Caines and Jewelry Arts Inc., Andrew Berry of At The Bench, Jessica Rose and Jewellers Academy, Rio Grande Jewelry Supply, Jewelry Arts Tool Shop, and gemstone education books such as Jewellers' Quick Reference Guide to Working with Gemstones.
- Soldering and metalsmithing education
- Stone setting tools and techniques
- Gemstone safety and handling
- Jewelry business education
- Studio tools, equipment, and ongoing practice
Leather Craft Education & Handbag Making Resources
Learning leather craft and handbag making has been a long process of research, online training, studio practice, testing tools, experimenting with patterns, and making plenty of mistakes along the way.
Some of the resources and tools that helped me include Leather Craft Master Class, Weaver Leather Supply, Tandy Leather, TechSew sewing machine resources, Juki sewing machine groups, Barry King mallets, Olfa cutting tools, Makers Cabinet tools, Metallic Elephant foil equipment, and industrial sewing machine accessories.
- Leather cutting tools and pattern-making supplies
- Industrial sewing machine education
- Edge painting, adhesives, and finishing techniques
- Hot foil logo equipment and branding tools
- Online classes, YouTube channels, and maker communities
Explore More Handmade Business Resources
These pages work together as part of my Handmade Business Roadmap. They are designed to help artists, makers, and small creative business owners think through the practical side of selling handmade work.
Handmade Business Roadmap
A visual guide to pricing, customers, art shows, energy, and long-term sustainability.
Art Show Equipment Guide
Booth equipment, tent weights, displays, packing, and setup lessons from real shows.
California Art Shows
A growing directory of California art shows, festivals, handmade markets, and vendor opportunities.
Artist Resources Managed by California Artist Lisa Ramos , creator of the handmade MONOLISA Collection , who has participated in over 200 California art shows and festivals.
