A new venture. Maybe?

I love to sew. That’s no secret. And I would LOVE to find an avenue where I can make things to sell. You know, so I can have the excuse funds to make more. I don’t have a store front nor to I really want to sell anything on commission. I don’t mind that avenue, per say, I just don’t want to… well, I just don’t want to share. Does that make sense?

I’ve kicked around the idea of an Etsy shop, but really, there are so many of them already. Does the world need another one? What would make my stuff any different from what is already being made and sold? I can’t come up with any reasons. I’m not closing off the possibility, but for now I won’t pursue that avenue.

What I will pursue, though, are craft fairs. Of course, I’m not talking HUGE fairs, like the Indy Craft Parade. Only small ones. There is a fair coming up in November, the first of it’s kind, and I will be joining the vendors selling both our chocolates and chocolate nut butters, as well as my own handmade wares. I’m hoping that Adam will join me, for essentially I’ll be having to booths, but we’ll see….

I have the patterns, material, and hardware ordered/already here for the objects I will be making. But I am having a problem.

Price.

What do I charge? I know the cost of what will go into each items and I know how much I charge for my time (one of the hardest things to come up with, for sure!!). But then what? I not only need to make something on my items (obviously), but I need to keep in mind the area where I live. What sells at a larger, more affluent area won’t necessarily sell here, in a smaller, economically-deprived area.

So this is where you come in, my friends!

Below are pictures of the items I will be selling, along with the prices I am considering selling them for. No, they are not the actual items, for those are still being made. But they are the pictures of the patterns I will be making them from and are ideas to give you something to go on. If you are interested in any of them, the pictures are linked to original patterns.

Key Fobs: @ $3 each

Click to Enlarge

 

Coasters: set of 4 @ $7

Oodalolly scrap coasters

IMG_2011

Journal Covers: @ $17 each

Journal cover tutorial

also from pieced scraps

put to use

All images from Stitched in Color.

Pillows: @ $25 each

April Favorites {Blogger's Pillow Party}

Summerlove Spring Birdie Pillow

Makeup Roll: @ $25 each

                                                Version #1

                                                      Version #2

  Version #3

Version #4

All makeup rolls images are from Stitched in Color.

Purses and Totes: @ $35

Short & Sassy

Pretty in pleats cover

Nanette cover

All purse and tote patterns are from Artsy Crafty Babe.

So what are your thoughts? Please leave me a comment and I won’t take offense! I understand that you are giving your advice on what you will pay.

I am linking up to Crazy Mom Quilts “Finish it up Friday”. While this is not a finish, per say, it is a decision to sell some items that was finally made.  

5 thoughts on “A new venture. Maybe?

  1. Awesome! I want lot of these items, and I hope these prices work for your sales. I hope you don’t mind if I steal some of these ideas. I don’t know if I would sell them, but it’s fun to make them! Sew creative!

  2. Also, did you ever consider Bible covers? I got one as a gift, once and it was so pretty. I’m thinking that the makeup roll is a bit expensive at $25 for such a small roll, unless the brushes are included. Are they?

  3. The prices look good to me. We have a similar problem with selling things here, not a very big market to sell to.

  4. No, the brushes are not included. The other items I’m comfortable with the prices, but this one I am not sure about. There are many more things I can think of yo make and sell, but I’m keeping things simple for my debut.

    As for “stealing” these ideas, you can’t steal what’s free!

  5. Can you monogram the key fobs? I would love to order several as teacher gifts for all of my kiddos teachers but I would like for them to be a little more personalized. Let me know if that is possible. I’m not talking about doing all the teacher’s initials just maybe one letter for either their first or last name. Thanks!

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