Approaching a Handmade Market...

There are steps to take to have a successful market. I am not an expert in this, but want to brainstorm ideas to help myself have a successful event. I have only done 3 so far.

I am a thinker and researcher, but not always a doer because I can become overwhelmed easily in something that has multiple steps to it. Having an outline gives me clarity and vision. I hope this will help give me and others a foundation for purposeful actions to take before the event.

1. Take a look at all supply inventory and separate out what materials you want to use from those that don't meet your needs. Are you going with a theme/color scheme for your items, or making things from whatever materials strike your fancy?
2. Fold, iron, categorize, label all materials you will be using for your items. Make them easy to find and attractively stored so that you will be inspired by your inventory. Sometimes the best ideas can come from seeing certain materials next to each other.
   
3. Select sewing patterns that you think will be best sellers. Put them aside in a file folder or some sort of organizer. Make sure you have all the pieces and instructions.
4. Make sure you have all the tools/supplies needed to make those patterns.
5. Clean your area to perfection and even add some flowers or something inspiring, like a delicious-smelling candle or a new picture to hang of the wall that makes you feel good.
   
6. Now that your creative space is ready, start brainstorming how many of each item you want to sell. Make a simple list on paper or create a spreadsheet.
   
7. Get to work on your items. Now is the time to get lost in creativity and inspiration. And with a little elbow grease and determination. Keep your focus on streamlined ideas in mind.
   
8. Once you have developed a appropriate amount of inventory, begin thinking about how much you need to sell each one for to make a decent profit. Add to paper list or spreadsheet. Also add # of items to each item line.
9. Think about presentation. Make or buy tags to hang on your items. Keep it attractive and fun, but readable. Write the price of the item on each tag. Hang with a cute ribbon or baker's twine.
10. Stuff items with tissue paper. Place business cards inside items.
11. After seeing how much inventory you have, think about how you want to display them. Look around the house for bookcases, tables, hat hangers, coat trees, etc to hang/put your items on.
    
12. Think about the color scheme you want to go with for your displays. Can things be painted? Or covered with an attractive fabric? 
13. Think about signage. Do you want to do a bunting banner? Or purchase a custom made vinyl banner?
14. Once you have acquired all the things needed for presentation, find a space in your home or garage where you can do a trial run of setting up. Use masking tape to outline the space of your vendor area and set up within the perimeter. How does it look? Is there enough room (or too much room) for all your inventory? Does it look neat and attractive? Or mismatched and uninviting? Is there anything you could add/subtract to make it better? Do you need to fill in spots?
15. Ask a friend or family member's advice on how it looks. Having someone else's opinion is paramount to getting a cohesive look.
16. Find a list on Pinterest of everything needed to have a successful craft show. Print and have ready before the show.
    
17. Store items in a plastic, zippable bag or storage tote to keep them SAFE!

Remember to have fun and show the world how much your items are worth. 

Your TIME + MONEY + HARD WORK will = SUCCESS!!

What's Happening for the Rest of 2014

Happy Fall, y’all!! I can’t believe it is already here. Here in Virginia, the weather was mild all summer, so there wasn’t a stark contrast between the seasons like usual. I am excited to pull out sweaters and scarves and indulge in all the fall-related festivities that go along with the season.

Announcement:
A new change going on in my crafting life is that I have decided to end my venture with the brick-and-mortar shop, Pastiche at Main, as the availability of my time is not what I thought it would be when I began. Just a few days after signing the shop contract I was offered a full-time job at a nearby university, which I could not pass up. I tried to handle sewing and selling as well as the Mon-Fri, 9-5 type job with two little ones at home and a husband who works evenings, and I knew I just couldn’t produce the results I needed with the lack of time and energy to devote to the craft. But, it was nice to see what it was like selling at a real store and being a part of a very unique community of crafters. My items will be in Pastiche through the end of September (which is coming up very soon!), and then I will take what is left to the craft shows I have decided to attend this year.

Next step:
The “Frolic in Forest” Fall Bazaar & Fundraiser in Forest, Va on Nov. 22nd. I hope to spend what time I DO have between now and then crafting little gifty items that do not take as long as bags do (although I am sure I will want to throw some of those in there, as well—can’t help it!). On my to-make list are things such as coffee cozies, mug rugs, fabric-covered notepads, keychains, tea

wallets, tissue cozies, checkbook covers, ornaments, bookmarks, zip pouches, embroidered items, etc. As you can see, I have a lot of ideas! I have not done a craft fair since 2009, so I am excited to set up a table,be creative, and see what happens!

After that:
My brother and sister-in-law have invited me to sell (long-distance) at their community craft fair in Ossining, NY in December. I am sending up a small collection bags and items that will hopefully do well there.

For the future:
I am hoping that these 2 craft fairs will help me use up at least *some* of my fabric hoard and materials from Sparrow & Joy, and then I am pondering closing up shop officially on Jan. 1^st, 2015 unless things change job-wise and schedule-wise. My sewing business ventures have been a bit rocky over the past few years, and I am praying on what is the best avenue to take for my family. It is possible that this is not the best time in my life to sew and sell, and I am ready to accept that. 

I am tiring a bit of the bag-making and would love, if I ever have the time, to expand into different types of art & craft that might inspire me into the original state of excitement that creating with fabric first held for me. I have been feeling a bit stale lately, and I miss that creative freedom I once felt.

I want to thank all my customers for helping me make my creative dreams come alive and for your support of the work I create.

I will keep you updated through FB or this blog on what is going on with my Etsy store.

It's almost that time...

for................

CRAFT SHOWS!!!

BAZAARS!!!

FALL FESTIVALS!!!

or whatever you want to call them!

image from https://blog.etsy.com/en/files/2012/10/Craftshow.jpg

I am in a pickle because I would very much like to do one, yet am not sure if I have the time and energy. Plus, there are so many good ones to choose from. I certainly can't do more than one, so it is one or none! 

It is exciting just planning for one, anyway. I have a whole folder full of ideas about what I'd sell, what displays I'd use, but I tend to get carried away with planning stages of things and not with the actual execution stages... :P

I have only done 2 shows in my whole life and enjoyed both. It is fun to see people looking at your things, picking them up, trying them on, and occasionally....taking one home with them! Especially if something is a very original design, it is nice when someone likes it a lot.

For anyone out there who's interested, here are some good tips I found on how to have a good craft show.