Make Me

Better Photographs = Better Etsy

Taking good photos and using good tags on Etsy is key. I think I finally got a good photo of this lacey cable scarf.

 

I used the one on the left for the primary photo. I listed this in the evening. When I checked in the morning, this one scarf was in 3 treasuries!

I was very unsure about the photo. . I thought it was too off angle and weird. But what I typically do is take the photos I think are best, use them in the listing and wait a few days to see if they should be replaced.  I wonder how long it takes to get a photographic eye.

Here's one of the fabulous treasuries by Holly Gatto:

'roy g. biv' by hollygatto

PaperDemonJewe... $40.00	leapinggazelle $12.00	ZenAndCoffee $22.00	shanineal $20.00
NuevaEspana $8.99	Hilari $35.00	Sinami1 $4.50	HipChicksDesig... $5.00
TwoReasons $21.50	GriffithGarden... $	gourdsbydesign $25.00	lulubugjewelry $54.00
EclecticWhatno... $35.00	UnderGlass $15.00	BabyEtte $42.00	Lilley $22.80

Generated using Treasury HTML code generator by Whale Shark Websites.

Fabric Fortunes

We have a artists' group on campus and for our annual staff picnic this past Friday we were given two tables for four people to sell their goods.  I made my own variation of Brassy Apple's fortune cookies. I figure it was okay for me to sell them since I made them slightly different than the instructions.  

My version is still a no-sew one but I used colored felt because I didn't like the white innards of the fusible fleece.  I used the double-sided applique fusible adhesive to stick mid-quality felt to the fabric.

I started using ribbon to hide the wire, but switched to strips of the felt instead.  I had to use quadrupled wire because my circles were so much thicker than the original.

For the fortunes I used Sew-in Computer Printer fabric by June Tailor. I printed up a bunch of sayings (I love you, I'm sorry, Congratulations, You're the Best - stuff like that) and cut them out.

I thought it was a cute idea but I only sold three. I can never second guess these craft fair things. At Christmas I had people looking for my greeting cards so I made sure I made a lot more. Sold about 5.  Didn't have anyone ask about them this year, but that is where I made my money from.  I think there ought to be some sort of craft show crystal ball.

    

The "booth" and yours truly. We had half of a six foot table.

 

I shared my table with a co-worker, Tracy, who does beaded jewelry. I like her new display which is a thread spool holder. Very organized and easy for people to see. Her stuff is really cool, too. If she ever gets around to opening her Etsy shop, I'll post it here.

Etsy Friday!

Here are some goodies I found in my favorites.  Just thought I'd share since it's been a while since the last Etsy Friday!

Etsy Friday

I've lagged horribly on Etsy Friday.

Here's a link to my latest treasury.  Leave a comment on the page if you like!

This weekend my Mom is coming and we will be having Bob's memorial service.  Next week starts the US Open and campus wants us only to come to work if it is necessary (of course this is not paid time off - we'd have to use vacation) but it's also finals week.  Most people have to be on campus that week - some for extended hours.  Its good planning.

But I'm tired and cranky so it's probably better that I just sign off and get back to scowling.

Stick a Fork in Me, I'm Done!

Craft Fair 2006 is DONE!  Yay!

Normally I would still have one yet to go, but didn't get in this year, so I guess I can concentrate on the holiday now.

I did pretty well.  Am thinking about adding 2 more during the year.  Still don't know what is the best venue.  Think I'd better start saving for a new computer - this one's got a definite death rattle going on.

Where was I?  Oh yeah...

Thanks, Debbie for taking the photo!  I really ought to consider my fashion choices more carefully, no?

The craft fair.  It was fun.  I sold plenty of stuff, although I went in without any sleep and got a bit goofy after lunch. 

I'd decided I didn't have enough purses to make a statement so I sewed until 4am and then I figured, why sleep now? And I packed everything and went to the store to get change.  I like my booth.  It's very lo-mai.  Can pack it up in 15 minutes or less if I don't fold anything. :)

   

Here is one of the purses I made:

   

This one was my favorite!  It's lined with the red butterfly fabric that is on the pocket.  There's a pen pocket on the back.  I was kind of sad that it didn't sell because I like it so much, but my friend Anna bought it last night so that makes me happy.

I apologize for the sophomoric writing, but I am sleepy and knitting a sock (NOT a hat!) and that is taking most of my brain power.  I'll fill out the report tomorrow with the rest of the photos!

Oh Bother....

I've spent the last few days listing my crap treasured possessions on eBay and have had very little interest.  I still have a ton more stuff to list, but now I'm wondering if it is worth it at all.  I should just set the stuff in my laundry room and leave it for the vultures like everyone else does.  I've been crawling the want it now section (which is way cool, BTW) but still no bites.  I'm getting ready to go through my bead collection to clear out some of that mess.

Last week I had a hankering for an old comfort food of from my college days:

Mmmmm. Ding Dongs!  That plastic-y chocolate coating and waxy creamy filling.  Add to that a name that makes you giggle like a pre-adolescent and you've got the makings of a perfect snack food.

You can't enjoy a culinary feast like this from the bag like a common peasant, could you?  No, you need a fancy-schmancy plate.  Recognize it, Kath?  It's still one of my favorite pieces of dinnerware - I can't believe I had to dig it out of your trash can.

Slice your Ding Dongs (tee hee!) in half (tee hee!) and lather generously with Skippy peanut butter.  This may be difficult because the Ding Dongs (tee hee!) want to crumble.  Viagra-ize them in the fridge first, if you have the patience.

Once you've covered your Dongs (tee hee!) with peanut buttery goodness, slap them together like an evil chocolate PB sammich and enjoy!

A stern word of caution:  Foods that you liked when you were 18 may have grown much more sugary than you remember.  What was good then (when you had eighteen term papers to write in three hours) may not be a wise choice now....because you're old and your system can't take that crap anymore.  So have a nice cup of Postum and enjoy some Lawrence Welk reruns instead, okay?

Pictures! Pictures! Pictures!

So I finally found my card reader.  Doncha hate when you repack stuff in weird places to save yourself space?  My mom gave me cute pink suede birks for my bday and I stuffed some small items in the box.  But seeing as I probably wouldn't wear the shoes until spring, that was not the wisest place for them to go.

Anyhoo.  I've got some pictures to share.

I managed to take one at the first craft show before my battery went kaput. 

I was never happy with the display.  It was too crowded to capture anyone's attention.  I kept fiddling around with it all day, but I was initially hoping for a lot of sales in the first two hours to help me clear out some space.  In retrospect, I should have removed a couple items.

I had more room at the 2nd show which was way nice. This is toward the end when I was cleaning up so it looks kinda messy.  I sold a lot of earrings and cards at this sale.  I also had a few hats, but it looks like I'd already put those away.  Next time I will bring my own table covering. Last year we had red, so I only brought my swath of black velvet.  Always bring a backup table covering.

I made this little chapeau from Simple Knits for Cherished Babies.

It is so wee and sweet it makes me crazy.  I made it from some leftover yarn I no longer have the band to.  I think it's a Plymouth yarn.  It has a bit of elasticity to it but it's still really snuggly.

I took some pictures of the collages I sold.  I love this small format.  I think it has a lot of punch.

Also finished this crocheted purse:

And I finally feel like one of the hip bloggers cuz I have an animal picture to share.  Here's my mom's dog, Bentley:

He's just returned from the groomers so he has his little bow-tie on. He's a Mini Schnauzer.

It's amazing how incomplete you can feel without your camera.  There are things I haven't even written about in the last 3 weeks because, well, what's the point if you don't have pictures.  So I'm breathing a big sigh of relief.

But now I must complete my Christmas presents before tomorrow, so off I go.  Merry!

Left of Center

The lack of centering is making me crazy.  Why can I get this looking perfect on one computer and not on another?  I don't want to constantly fiddle with the thing.  Yeah, of course I could, like, read the instructions, but who wants to do that? 

I had a craft show yesterday and I did really well.  In fact, if I'd made two dollars more I would made more than I did at the hospital show!  Consider that this was a brisk two hour deal in the AM versus ALL DAY, and I think I'm a success.  Sold bookmarks, sold a lot of earrings and sold some hats, too!  And cards!  A little bit of everything.  It was fun.

I've learned some things about doing craft shows this past couple of years so I thought I'd pass along what I've learned:

• Greet everyone that stops at your table.  I'm always surprised when I shop at shows and the artist just sits there staring at me like Rain Man or something.
• If you make something wearable, wear it.  I will usually wear one of my hats because they're eyecatching. As a customer, I'm always wary of jewelry makers that don't wear their jewelry.
• Have a low-priced item on your table.  Sometimes  people don't have a lot of money to spend, or they weren't expecting to go to a craft show.  Maybe you can have a sale basket or something.
• If you decide to take checks, cash them at the bank they're drawn from - don't deposit into your account.  This way if they bounce you don't get charged and the bank will only deposit the checks twice.  I don't think there is a limit on the number of times you can take a check into the bank.
• Have a quick and easy display.  A good table covering is a swath of fabric from the discount bin. Try to have different levels, if you can.
• Try to have a number of items costing exact bill amounts - $5, $10, $20.  Then some filler items at $1 or $2.
• Have prices on your items or signs or both.
• Have business cards.  Even if you're not really a business - spend some time in MS Word and print up your name and email address.
• Have bags available.  Most of my stuff is small, so I use brown lunch bags.  If there is time, I fold over the top, punch two holes in the bag and in one of my cards and use curling ribbon to tie the bag closed and attach my business card.  If it's busy, throw in a card and fold the top over nicely.
• If you make items that are wearable, include washing instructions.  The easiest way to do this is to have slips printed up that you can just toss in the bag.
• No whining.  At one of the craft shows I overheard two women complaining about how slow the show was. 
• Don't discount anything - even if the show is going badly.  You may decide to do the show next year and it will be remembered if you slashed prices during the last hour.  And if you offer a discount to someone because they are a friend or perhaps they don't have enough money, try to do it so other shoppers can't hear you.
• If someone asks you to hold something, do it for a specific period of time.  Tell them you'll hold it until noon or for the next hour.  Most people will respect that.
• Decide ahead of time if you want to do special orders or not.  If you decide to, you might want to print a little sign.
• Change your display around when it's slow.  Not a major change, but just tidy it up and maybe switch places with some things.  I usually bring my glass head from Pier 1 to model hats, so I change the hats every hour or so.
• Be flexible.  Sometimes your space is tiny, so it's good to have a pared down version in your head that you can quickly adjust if needed.
• Make sure your space isn't over crowded - sometimes there's just too much to look at or it looks messy and doesn't attract people to your booth.
• Try to fit everything you need in a minimum of baggage.  I took too many boxes with me last time.  I noticed some of the women brought their goods in rolling suitcases.  I'm so doing that next time.  Anything that rolls is good because you never know where you're going to be allowed to park.
• Be positive.  No one wants to buy something from a kvetch.
• Learn to take complements.  You'd be surprised how many times I've commented on someone's work only to have them put it down. 
• Don't be pushy.  I went to an art show last month and some of the artists were so desperate!  I'd barely have time to take their art in before they were trying to make me a deal.  I couldn't leave those booths fast enough.
• Talk to your customers, but don't talk too much.  And if someone tries to tell you their life story (perhaps this happens only to me and Kathie) find a way to politely move them along.
• Don't talk on your cell phone!  Make or take quick calls if you need to, but don't chat up your friends just because you're bored!  People who see you as they approach your booth will just avoid your booth or they won't stay long because you're busy.  If your phone rings when someone is at your booth, decline the call if or answer with "can I call you right back?"
• Shop the surrounding booths. Knowing what the other vendors are offering can help you out if - you may need to refer someone to another vendor and perhaps those vendors will return the favor.
• Bring something to do.  This is really good if it is something you're selling.  I usually bring knitting along.  Use common sense though, don't bring it if it's going to show your potential customers how to make it themselves.  I've learned that I don't even have to bring something related to what I'm selling.  I guess it just validates that what you're selling is handmade.
• Pricing items is the thing that is most difficult for me.  I tend to undervalue my stuff.  Find someone more pragmatic than you and have them give you advice (thanks, Kath!)
• Dress comfortably, unoffensively and kinda artsy.  So, don't wear your "F the President" sweatshirt, okay?  Unless, perhaps, you are offering a line of "F the President" merch.
• Offer helpful advice.  If someone says they can't wear scarves because they itch, show them one in your softest yarn.  Or show them how to tie it. 

Etsy Trial Extended!

I just noticed that the beta site for Etsy is extending its no fee thing to November 1.  Good deal.  I found the part about the fees - looks like it'll be $.20 (doesn't say if there are additional fees for extra pictures) and 3.5% of the total cost.  That doesn't sound too harsh.  I haven't sold anything yet, but I'm still just playing around in it.

I just listed this hat.

I had some fun writing the description - tell me what you think: Dude I'm Board Cap!

Sharing the Love

Here's some cool stuff I found on Etsy:

My favorite so far is this Beatnik Bunny - isn't he adorable?  Anyone know about this Amigurumi stuff?  Looks way cool.

The coolest bags are at Quill Chic - doncha just love those embellishments?!  How about this pretty little necklace?  I love how delicate but colorful it is.

I'm totally fascinated by this shop, Got Wood.  Take a look at the pens! 

Here's an interesting project - the Open Shutter Spring 2005 book.  Check out some of the photos here.

And finally, I'm a sucker for beautiful soaps.  These are making me crazy!

The more time I spend on Etsy, the more cool things I find!  So, I decided to do my part and share the things I think are nifty. 

On the knitting front, I finished this scarf

Since I carpool to work about 3 times a week, I always have a project with me.  It's always something easy garter stitch or simple crochet - something that doesn't have to be counted.  I'm also trying to blow through my stash - so I've been doing a lot of things with 2 or 3 yarns held together.  Sort of looks like a big purple muppet, doesn't it? :)