The Nest That Lars Built: A Campaign to Improve Our World Through the Power of Handcraft
Nest is excited to announce a new partnership with The House That Lars Built (also known as Lars), a renowned design and do-it-yourself blog and lifestyle brand, to raise funds for the continued growth of our Makers United program. The initiative called The Nest that Lars Built will introduce Lars’ hundreds of thousands of followers to Nest, invite them to support our work with maker entrepreneurs in their own backyards to ensure the Maker Movement is inclusive and accessible to everyone regardless of their gender, race, economic means, or ability.
The House That Lars Built founder Brittany Jepsen started the brand as a blog in 2008 initially as a complement to a design project for graduate school, and a fulfillment of her theory that, “when you make things with your hands, you improve your life.” Over the last thirteen years, the blog has become a well-known lifestyle brand and go-to source for colorful design inspiration, creative DIY project ideas, and an online shop that sells a curated selection of whimsical products, like stickers and stationery. They have partnered with companies like NBC, Netflix, Michaels, Anthropologie, Terrain, Brothers, and Fiskars, and have been featured in outlets like the Martha Stewart, Better Homes and Gardens, Country Living, Good Housekeeping and HGTV.
Rebecca van Bergen, Nest’s founder and Executive Director quickly bonded with Brittany over their shared love of craft and passion for advancing greater equity and inclusion for women around the world. Wanting to turn her passion into action, Brittany joined Nest’s Advisory Board in spring 2021 and designed a thoughtful initiative that will connect her craft-loving followers with Nest’s mission to advance social and economic inclusion through artisan employment.
In a recent blog post about her decision to join Nest’s Advisory Board Brittany wrote, “This is a dream come true for me. Selfishly, I find it’s much easier to work hard when my work is mission-driven and affecting change–it’s something I truly believe in… Their mission is exactly what I’ve been wanting to be a part of since my time in Nepal, I just didn’t know it existed!”
Brittany is now leading an effort to mobilize her community to come together and collectively raise $50,000 to support Nest’s Makers United program. This will be done, in part, through The Nest That Lars Built webpage which describes the initiative and can be easily shared with Lars’ and Nest’s followers’ family, friends, and social networks.
“At The House That Lars Built, we believe ‘Artful’ is a way of life, it’s being deliberate about the things you invite into your life. Nest’s work is similarly thoughtful – both in its approach to providing the handworker economy with the targeted resources they need to grow – and through their efforts to preserve important cultural craft traditions around the world,” states The Nest That Lars Built campaign page.
In addition to this page, Brittany will be raising support for Nest through a festive holiday craft along. In the weeks leading up to the holidays, The House That Lars Built will be joined by celebrities, influencers, and designers (including Nest board member, Tracy Reese) on Instagram Live to paint portions of a wooden nativity set. Once it is complete the one-of-a-kind set will be auctioned off with all proceeds being directed toward The Nest That Lars Built goal.
Follow @houselarsbuilt on Instagram today to watch the progress of this campaign and hear from some of your favorite (or soon to be favorite) craft and design icons.
If you are interested in designing or hosting an exclusive fundraising event or “give back” campaign for your brand, organization or customers to benefit Nest, please email Kendal Stone, Nest’s Brand Partnerships Manager, at [email protected].