Telling Tuesdays – Goodnight Peanut

I know I am a day early here, but today’s letter is G, and my “telling tuesdays” segment is perfect for *Guest Bloggers*!  So, today we will learn about Hannah Zimmerling over from Goodnight Peanut Creations.  I LOVE her little shop, because I can totally relate (after all, she is also a busy mother of 3!).  Her children and lifestyle lead her to the custom sewn creations for children that you can find in her shop, and oh man, are they cute AND useful.  She has been selling handmade quilts and children gift items for seven years.

“My favorite thing about selling my crafts are the heartwarming moments when a child falls in love with something I have made. It makes my day when they pick something out and can’t put it down, let alone let me put it in a bag for them. I also find it very rewarding that people trust me to help them make something custom for their children. It is challenging and rewarding to implement their visions and desires. I truly enjoy the stories of customers!”

Hannah advises that Research is going to be the key ingredient to a start-up hand crafting business.  I must agree with her, it is super important to know the market that you will be competing against and know what sort of business practices that you will be implementing.  Especially because it is solely up to you for how your business turns out, “you definitely get out of it what you put in.  Hard work is rewarded!”

“It is a great creative outlet for me. I enjoy the feeling of different fabrics and all the great colors and patterns I encounter daily. The possibilities and combinations are endless!”

If this sounds like a pretty cool person, I definitely recommend checking out her shop and maybe supporting her business and all of the hard work that she puts into it! To be featured yourself feel free to send me an email (familybugs@gmail.com).  “like” this post if you think Hannah Zimmerling makes some pretty cute stuff, and go ahead and share it with your friends too!  Don’t forget to subscribe to my blog for more tips about selling your own hand made goods and some previews into the adventure of those that do it successfully!

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Telling Tuesdays-Doggone tags

Melissa Gilkey is a self-proclaimed “animal lover, designer, and metal-pounder fiend” over at Doggone Tags. She started selling jewelry in March of 2010, but I want to focus on her shop “Doggone Tags” that was opened in the fall of 2010.

All of her dog tags are hand made. Several of these tags are hand cut from different metals and then soldered together to form these cute and intricate designs. I mean, if people can wear cute jewelry and make seasonal fashion statements, why cant the canine companion? I digress, the rest of this post shall be in her words, because she just does an excellent job explaining her thoughts.

My inspiration started with the adoption of my rescue pup Georgie Girl. I realized that I could take my jewelry making skills and make her something a lot more interesting than anything I could purchase at a pet store! My tag ideas come from everywhere… customers, individual dogs or cats (like my Monkey tag which was made because I call my cat Monkey) , my landscape design background (you’ll see a lot of flower tags in my shop!) , and just my general love for critters of all kinds (hence the enormous variety of heart themed tags!) I like a challenge and so sometimes I’ll make a tag just to see if I can “get away with it” in metal. Sometimes that’s a train wreck, but other times the outcome is great!

I think my favorite thing about selling my home made items is the contact I have with my customers. I have gotten to know many of them on a personal level and it’s really rewarding ! I know that as my business grows, it’ll get more difficult to have the same level of communication, but I’m trying to keep it going as long as I can ! It’s also important to me that people are getting something different than they’d get anywhere else. I work hard to make my design unusual and then work equally as hard to make sure I’m delivering something well crafted.

I have seen a lot of people try to sell their crafts, and not always successfully. I’ve spent a lot of time looking at successful business outside of my little niche and have come to realize that there are certain aspects of the business that are super important.

Think about your business before it grows! Read and educate yourself as you are busy making stock to put on shelves or on an online site. Here are a few of the things to think about:

Get to know your market and your product. To me that means you need to be aware of what’s “out there” and you should try to be different. Just copying others designs and producing those designs is not selling your work… and it’s illegal. Many sites, like Etsy, where I have my work, do help to protect their vendors and will shut your shop down if you’re not selling ethically.

That being said, protect your own work. If you have a new idea, get a copyright and understand what that encompasses and what it doesn’t. Talk to a lawyer if need be.

Understand pricing before you start selling. Make sure you not only account for what supplies you’ve used in making each item but account for your time ! You also want to realize a profit above both of those things. That’s what takes what you’ll do from crafting to a business.

Treat your customers well and they’ll return in kind. Great service can not be underestimated and I believe it’s one of the things that drives people back to my shop. I know it’s one of the reasons I choose to keep going back to who I buy from !

Finally, be real honest with yourself about how much time you want to invest. Selling online, for instance, can be extremely time consuming ! For every 8 hours I spend in my studio, I easily spend 2 online. During peak times of the year that online time increases.

Always keep in mind that there are always things to learn about making your business better. I’m constantly looking for ways to improve, so I may answer this question differently in the future !

Selling crafts is not for everyone, but there are those out there (like me) who don’t have a choice… crafting is just what we do and selling can be the only way to keep up with the addiction

Dont forget to “like” this post if you agree with me: these dog tags are so cute! Share this post with your friends, and as always feel free to subscribe to my blog for more tips, suggestions, and advice about selling your own hand made crafts. If you would like to be featured on my “Telling Tuesdays” segments (and I mean, who wouldn’t, it’s free publicity for you and your brand/business), send me an email (famikybugs@gmail.com) and I will do the rest

Telling Tuesdays-WearablePlanters

Colleen Jordan from WearablePlanters makes these adorable jewelry pieces that are bound to turn heads and start people talking. It is so clever the way she has turned greenery into an artistic fashion. From necklaces to lapel pins, clips, and even a few coasters, this girl has thought of it all! If you LOVE plants, work in a greenhouse or other herbivore, these items are definitely for you. And what cute little gifts they would make too.

You can check her out on etsy, and don’t forget to stop by to read the featured seller interview that Etsy did for her!

She creates these planters by using a modeling software. The techniques vary slightly depending on which specific planter you are interested in, but there seems to be a bit of personal hand-crafting to each one to give a unique one of a kind look and feel to them. Each planter comes with directions on how to add plants and recommendations on which plant will work best.

“Wouldn’t it be cool to carry a plant in your pocket?”

“Handmade means taking the concentrated time and effort to create something that doesn’t exist. Even if you aren’t literally using her hands for the entire process, it’s really the initiative to take the time to make something that no one else has, or that you can get somewhere else, by yourself.”

Colleen has been selling her wares for a little over 2 years. She sells her crafts because it aligns her with how she sees the world. To put it in her own words: “I think there’s a lot of value in making and creating things, and I’m really happy to do that when I’m able to”. She finds her inspiration in the perfect place too: the people she interacts with, and the world that surrounds us all!

“Honestly my favorite thing about this is that I’ve been able to make it into my full time job and support myself with it.”

She encourages other hand-craft sellers to “treat it as a business and not just a hobby. Make sure to set aside a proper amount of time to concentrate on your work and promote yourself when you’re getting started.”

If you are interested in being featured in my “Telling Tuesdays”, just send me an email (familybugs@gmail.com). What a great, FREE way to promote your brand!

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• My love this week from Etsy: Rhino-planter (not plasty!) (christabelletheblog.com)
• Illuminated LED Planters – This Planter Offers a Space-Saving Lighting Solution (TrendHunter.com) (trendhunter.com)
• Hoping for a little Green in the Office (simplychimerica.wordpress.com)

 

My Followers – (21) UBC Oct 2012

Official emblem of the Sociedad Científica de Estudiantes de Medicina (SOCIEM UNA) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Every so often (about quarterly), I like to go back and say a specific hello to my followers.  This blog would be positively useless without them, and so I just MUST send a shout out to all of them.  (All links will take you to that person’s available sites, feel free to click and check it out!)

 

I’m going to start this list off with BeYourBrilliance which is just so stocked full of advice and inspiration and encouragement to everyone!  I really love this particular blog and highly recommend checking her out!

 

Candy Hill is a photographer and she does pretty excellent work too.  She blogs about nature and also has some pretty good tips for beginning photographers.

 

From gravatar is Murathefilm following me.  I as not able to get any personal links back to this person, but a huge thanks for following me nonetheless!

 

Helping individuals and businesses get started online by providing budget friendly solutions to build online visibility to gain new customers/clients and get more sales is mzjme.

 

Cathy’s Voice (whom I also follow) has her own webpage, wordpress blog, Twitter and facebook page.  She’s got this social media thing in the bag!

 

Working on a series of some pretty clever vampire books (called flatlined) is flatlinerbooks. And definitely, go check out this youtube video that will want you to know the indepth story of her book!

 

Sara Duggan from MomWithAHook has some very excellent resources available for crochet sellers (like myself).  I always enjoy seeing what she’s working on too!

 

Attila Ovari…Because I don’t want to belittle the work over there that he is doing, I just encourage you to check out his Gravatar which will direct you to his facebook, twitter, blog, (TWO) websites, and linkd in pages!

 

WordPress, Technorati, GBC stickers (Photo credit: Titanas)

 

Also following me from Gravatar is Make1000.  Much thanks for the love!

 

JustinaWei has this adorable little blog about fashion, make up, and her lifestyle.  She includes LOTS of pictures which make for an easy and quick read, and some of them are just too stinking cute!

 

For the spanish speakers out there (or people who really LOVE cute crafts based on food), I recommend Cute Treats Blog.

 

If your looking for something that I know all of us can find useful, Try checking out JustDan93‘s blog about economics! Because, let’s face it, we are ALL impacted by the economic circumstances of the U.S.

 

Shout out to the professional Journalist, Mazhar!  Which, I definitely laughed at his profile picture…LOVE IT!

 

Debbie is a 55 year old grandmother who just recently started selling her knit and crochet works.  She makes some pretty swave products that you should definitely at least go look at from her ETSY shop.

 

I think the name of SimplePolitiks is pretty much self-explanatory.  They are an independent political blog writing about the plain and simple issues of politics.

 

Then there is the rather impressive AlbertomonarMusic who is a 20 yr old composer, multi-instramentalist, and singer. To get an idea of his talent, go check out his BLOG which features videos and other information about his work!

 

CharmCityCreativeDesigns has some really NEAT repurposed products available in her ETSY store.  If you are looking for Christmas presents for someone and are at a a loss of what to give them…well…give her shop a once-over before you start panicking!

 

Gravatar Sicoblog Pugno Rosso (Photo credit: Sicos)

 

Another photographer, and also hiker, that is following this blog is Patrick Latter.  He has some pretty gorgeous nature photos that he takes while on his hikes.

 

Arminta has a cute little personal blog about her life and pretty cute twins (a boy and a girl), and if you have children, can totally relate!

 

Crochet Missy is a girl after my own heart.  I recommend checking out her Gravatar where she has her blog, pinterest, ravelry, and etsy page all linked.

 

MrHipps is an artist who designs websites, business logos, part time DJ, AND he’s still in school finishing his degrees (impressive, no?).  He also has a blog that is worth glancing over.

 

Another writer, Chris Martin has a serial story, One Mysterious Night, ran for ten weeks in both the Kingsport TN and West Australian newspapers. While employed full-time as a Help Desk Analyst with DaVita Healthcare, and volunteering with an inner city youth ministry in Charlotte NC called One7, he is also working on several novels.

 

Noted designer and community advocate Alicia Sheerwood is a force all on her own, and continues to prove this as she announces the launch of her new Graphic Design studio, ARIAL SPACE. With 8 years of experience, Sheerwood is embarking on the scene with true zest to help people take their business to the next level through the presence of great design.

 

Shannon A Thompson  is yet another author that I am proud to name among my followers!  Although I haven’t read anything about what she writes, I’m sure it’s worth checking out.

 

 

 

Cathy (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

GoodRiverGallery creates jewelery and other little beads.  Hannah Rosner and David Louis offer a diverse display of original jewelry items, individual beads and beaded sculpture.

 

Martha L Shaw is a self-taught artist and crafter, and has this quaint little blog that’s also worth your time.

 

AntiquabarbudaGirl has a youtube channel about beauty and how-to’s of fashion.

 

One of my favorite authors that I’ve gotten a chance to really know is Jo Michaels.  She does such an excellent job marketing and advertising her products. I really wish that I was able to contribute to her work.

 

Le Zoe Musings has a nice little blog about being a wife, a mommy, and a creator.  That’s one very full plate there (I should know, that’s about what I do).

 

Also among my followers is LostCreekPublishing, which again, is a pretty self-explanatory title.

 

Sager has what looks like a personal blog over at s568307. Still can’t tell as he seems to be pretty new to the blogosphere (go send him a welcome!)

 

And my most recent follower goes to StitchedUpMamma who has (TWO) blogs, and an etsy shop where she sells some really quaint products that would make for some very unique gifts!

 

I just want to say thank you to all of my incredible followers and readers.  Like I stated above, this blog would be *nothing* without all of you guys  I also have a few email subscribers whom wont be listed because I don’t have any other information about them except for their email address, which needs to remain personal and out of the eye of the public.

 

And because this particular post is meant to highlight and showcase my followers and not me, I’m not even going to include my website and facebook links today.

 

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Super Saturday Selections – Food

 

Today’s blog post has been brought to you by the number “f”.

Food.  Plants eat.  Animals eat.  Animals eat plants.  Animals eat animals  People eat.  People eat plants.  People eat animals.

A lot of what life means is based on eating.  I wasn’t able to find any statistics (not for lack of trying, though), but I’m sure that people spend an awful lot of time planning, preparing, eating, and cleaning up their meals.  Eating disorders are on the rise.  Obesity rates are soaring.  We plan our days around when meals are.  We wake up thinking about breakfast.  Even newborns dwell on the idea of food (it’s one of the four necessities/wants that they experience).

To add to our ever-growing fascination with food and eating, you can also purchase decorations, clothing, accessories, toys, all of a food nature.

LittleFarmersMarket has a whole lot of crochet foods.  Vegetables, tea sets, cakes, all at a VERY reasonable price for your young children to play with, or even for you to use as decorations.

Gulf Coast Cottage sells felt patterns of all sorts of toys.  While most of the products for sell here are for food, there are some pretty clever other toys as well.

If your looking for something that’s clever AND functional, why not check out AJSweetSoap‘s selection of soapy foods.

PreciousPatterns has some ADORABLE sewing patterns for sale.  Mostly you’ll find baby shoes, and doll patterns, but there are also bibs, bonnets, purses, and appliques (among which are the FOOD appliques).

 

TheKikMiniature hasn’t been open for long, so there isn’t a huge selection, but what they DO have up is SO incredible!  These could make for some awesome gag gifts as well.  Whole platters of food in miniature!  I just really love these!

You can even find food that has been photographed for some really fun prints.  Marianne LoMonaco offers lots of photography prints for purchase, and quite a few of them feature food.

CuteTreats does fooded jewelry that is just so stinking cute!  Apart from being cute, they also look QUITE realistic.  Look at all the details on that little cake necklace!

This is just covering the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the way that food has been incorporated into our society and every day life APART from just preparing and eating it.  There are reality tv shows, competitions, gardening…I think you get the picture

What are some of your favorite foods to eat?

Go and see what’s for sale right now in my shop! (Hint: Click the picture)

http://www.familybugs.net

Join up with me on facebook for great deals, sneak peaks, and exclusive offers!

http://www.fb.com/familybugs

And don’t forget to *LEAVE A COMMENT* share this post, and follow this blog for more great tips, advice, suggestions, and personal examples in the world of selling hand-made crafts (but especially crochet!)

 

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Super Sunday Selections – Cool Etsy Finds

 

Every now and then I like to do Super Saturday Selections where I feature some really unique and creative products that I find on Etsy.  Well, yesterday I was just too exited about everything that had happened during the weekend (150 fb likes, completion of my new product line, and the listing of my very first crochet pattern), so it was put on hold.  Thankfully for me, Sunday also starts with an S so I can keep my aliteration going (SSS).

EternalSunshine makes homemade soaps shaped like owls, some adorable crochet food products, a few crochet knit patterns, but what I want to focus on is her crocheted traffic cones.  Oh man, these are so clever!  Who would’ve ever thunk to crochet up a traffic cone and stick a hat ontop of them?  So, this shop gets first place today in creativity.

Second on my list for today is Jasmin T Creations.  This shop makes a whole bunch of different accessories, from hair to fashion, but my favorite (and I have never seen these before) are the iphone dust plugs.  Not only are they functional, but oh so cute to boot!

In keeping things short and sweet tonight running with the bronze is Beach Writings NJ for these incredibly creative photography inspired products.  Something so simple, yet so un-attainable and unforgettable to a lot of people.

                    

So there you have it.  Super *SUNDAY* Selections of three really cool shops that you should go and check out.  Tomorrow should be my last part on “Lessons from a Road Trip” (Part 5 I think), so check back in to see how a road trip with two toddlers and an infant can teach you about being an entrepreneur (I’m just as exited as you should be, because I don’t know what I will learn tomorrow!)

Go and see what’s for sale right now in my shop! (Hint: Click the picture)

http://www.familybugs.net

Join up with me on facebook for great deals, sneak peaks, and exclusive offers!

http://www.fb.com/familybugs

And don’t forget to *LEAVE A COMMENT* share this post, and follow this blog for more great tips, advice, suggestions, and personal examples in the world of selling hand-made crafts (but especially crochet!).

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• 10 Cool Crochet Pieces For Summer (fabsugar.com)

 

My Followers

(day 27 abc)

I don’t have a huge following.  Just started this blog back in April.  But I do have more than I would’ve expected.  Also, being a participant in the Ultimate Blog Challenge, and the Author Blog Challenge and being encourage to write daily and to network with others has really helped in growing my following.  This blog would be positively useless without my followers, and so I just MUST send a shout out to all of them.  (All links will take you to that person’s available sites, feel free to click and check it out!)

My very first follower was A-Hem Vintage.  She has an etsy shop that was opened back in December of 2008 selling some pretty cute and chic clothing as well as some home decor products and purses and bags to name a few.  She has 679 *likes* on facebook (go ahead and like her page too!).  So, good job A-Hem Vintage!!!

Department56Collectibles doesn’t have any links set up on gravatar, but I still offer the shout-out and the thanks for reading and following!

I have a follower from Holland!!  Welcome to Turkischland from Amsterdam.  You can follow him on twitter @Turkischrealboy.

Xocolatchic is a follower that I picked up from the Ultimate Blog Challenge back in April when I started this blog.   She sells some really AMAZING chocolate from her website that I seriously have to recomend (I’ve tasted it before, seriously!).  Also, flit on over to her blog to check out some other information about her!

From the Netherlands is Codiart!  She blogs about some VERY creative and beautiful textile art that she does.  She’s also got a website that features all of her incredible artwork.

A few weeks ago I started the C25K running program (didn’t get very far because of recuring injuries), but I picked up a few followers by trying to connect to bloggers in THAT niche:  KevsFatFight is pretty inspirational and encouraging to read, and ButIRunLikeAGirl also started following my blogging.

I got one follower who just seemed to have stumbled across my blog, and during a slow period for me as well!  TexanasKitchen also has a wordpress blog about food!  What better topic to write about?!

Now I’m getting on to the people who found out about me through the Author Blog Challenge.  These guys are in a league all their own…truly incredibly and inspiring people right here!  BernBabyBern is from BlahBlahBlog where she’s got over 1,000 followers of her own!

JustCoopIt is an author who has some really inspiring ideas just itching to get out.  You can find him over at his blog and on twitter (@JustCoopIt).

From Australia is the really exiting GhostNapped!  It sounds like Ashley Howland has written AND published a great mystery novel that I’m just itching to get my hands on.  You can read a synopsis from her blog, and then she’s also got a video blog that is pretty cool to check out.

Tobicai teaches chinese in the philipines (isn’t that cool?) and she’s also got a nifty little blog that I encourage you to check out.

Michele is a writer, musician, human-animal bond researcher, liberal, public servant, PhD candidate, animal lover, 12 stepper, and General Hospital (GH) fan.  She’s got a website about music and a blog about her writing.  Pretty inspirational stuff if you ask me.

Single dad and writer Slapppshot has a blog all about the snazzy and encouraging things of his life and writings.

Shout out to Anarty who started following this blog just a week ago.

Photo, film, video, animation, writing, drawing, painting, poetry, art, travel, and web is just a few of the things that ooa revo writes about.  You can check out some pretty awesome artwork, or follow along on travels across America on a couple of different blogs.

The ever gorgeous stampatagliacrea also just started following a few days ago.

Books & Art – Spirit & Soul is all about importing inspiration.  How creative is that?!  Lesley is very accomplished and to even attempt to list all of her works on here would simply not do any justice.  Just click on the link and check it out for yourself!

I also seem to have attracted the attention of new blogger Roar Sweetly who likes to photograph her sweet offspring (who doesn’t?), write, craft, and cook.

iamzion is a writer and single father of three (two of which have “left the nest” and are in college).  I just LOVE his username.

And, if you have stuck with me so far, give yourself a pat on the back.  It has paid off because I’m at my most recent follower: Susan.  She seems to be part of this really awesome publishing company that could be of service to the authors out there that are reading this.

I just want to say thank you to all of my incredible followers and readers.  Like I stated above, this blog would be *nothing* without all of you guys  I also have a few email subscribers whom wont be listed because I don’t have any other information about them except for their email address.

And because this particular post is meant to highlight and showcase my followers and not me, I’m not even going to include my website and facebook links today.

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Super Saturday Selections – Inspirations and Motivations

(day 15 abc)

The focus of this little blog is to pass on tips/advice/suggestions to help you sell your hand-made crafts.  Every now and then I like to take a break and feature other crafters along their adventures in selling.  Today, I’m actually going to dive a bit off the normal and showcase a few different crafting blogs that I think need to be checked out.  They at least offer some pretty good inspiration when you are low on ideas yourself

Gift Ideas for Poor Creative Souls is just so full of creative creations!  From painted rocks to dixie-cup strand of lights and different uses for mason jars…they are all just so much fun.  Positively anything can go into making wonderful little creations (anyone recycle to save money AND resources?)

Haha.nu isn’t necessarily a blog about anything in particular.  They seem to highlight or showcase other blogs or pictures that can serve as motivation.  A lot of them seem to be found in nature, which can serve as an amazing source of inspiration if you are ever really stuck hard.

Make: Technology on Your Time isn’t necessarily a “crafting” blog like you might think.  I would categorize it as a “geek” blog because of all the techno blabber you will run into.  Although they do offer some pretty unique solutions to common creative problems.  It might be worth your time if you enjoy watching a 3d print of Yoda’s bust being made.

Popular Mechanics has a How-To section that offers lots of DIY projects for around the home.  Not necessarily something that you can sell, but it’d still be pretty handy to know about some of these things.  I think that DIY is great in that it can save you lots of money and your guaranteed to create it the way that you want it (unless you just bomb the whole project, in which case, maybe hiring a professional would be a better bet).

The Cotton Monster is just so stinking adorable!  They recycle different fabrics and make these cute little monsters and other things out of it.  If you are in need of a cute fix, I definitely recommend clicking over here for a few seconds.

This is actually my first time to use StumbleUpon, so I’m hoping that it will spark some ideas in myself as well, and that you enjoy what I’m sharing.  I like to share, and if you want your own blog/shop/whatever to be shared, just leave a comment and I will most certainly be glad to do that.

Go and see what’s for sale right now on my website! (Hint: Click the picture)

http://www.familybugs.net

Join up with me on facebook for great deals, sneak peaks, and exclusive offers!

http://www.fb.com/familybugs

And don’t forget to *LEAVE A COMMENT* share this post, and subscribe for more great tips, advice, suggestions, and personal examples in the world of selling hand-made crafts (but especially crochet!).

Related articles

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Super Saturday Selections – How to decide?

Hyperbolic crochet kelp garden by the Institute For Figuring at the Los Angeles County Fair. Sept 2006. The installation is part of the Fair Exchange show at the worlds biggest celebration of prize-winning animals andhome-baked wonders. A book with Instructions for making these models is available at the IFF website: theiff.org/publications/index.html photo by the IFF (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I am in the process of working on a blog post about picking a specific niche for your business (subscribe so you’ll be sure not to miss it!).  It’s important to have a few things that are very well represented instead of a lot of things that are only partially represented.  Well, if you like to make a whole bunch of different things, how on earth do you decide which one to choose?  It’s definitely a selection process (Hence why this is going on “Super Saturday SELECTIONS”).  I’ll be using my own business as an example.

I LOVE to crochet, I also enjoy painting, and I like to sew, and occasionally, I like to paste.  These things are all really easy for me.  Let’s narrow this down even further…you can find a crochet pattern for virtually *anything*:  From toys (amigurumi), to pillows, to dresses, to hats, to shoes and slippers, to decorations, to pot holders, to slip covers, to scarfs, to shorts, to bikinis, etc etc.  If you can think it up, I’m sure there is a crochet pattern out there that has been designed.  I’m really good at crocheting, and it would be really easy for me to work up some of everything to throw in my shop.  How do I decide what to represent, and why do some things not make the cut?

• The enjoyment of the creation process.  Some things just aren’t fun for me to crochet.  Either they take too much time, or they are too intricate, or I get bored doing the same row over and over and over again.  If I don’t enjoy making the product the first time, I for sure am not going to enjoy doing it a second, a third, or a tenth, or twentieth time.  These products get sliced off my list.
• 

  Liberty Dollar (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

  Cost effectiveness.  I could crochet an iphone case, it would be easy, it would be relatively quick (as far as crochet products go).  But, to make it worth my time and effort, I would have to charge twice what a seamstress would charge for hers.  So, why not sew them instead of crochet them?  I don’t have a readily available fabric store nearby.  I’d have to order the fabric.  Shipping costs would have to be increased due to the cost of materials, and I’d still have to charge more for the end product.  If I can’t offer a competitive price for my products (and still be fair to myself), that product gets cut.

• Does it sell?  If you’re just starting out, it may be a good idea to dip your toe into several different niche’s.  See what is going to sell, figure out what your customers are looking for.  If it isn’t ging to sell, cross it off, don’t spend your time working on it.  If you find a really good product that sells often, try expanding it a bit.  Add more options – colors, sizes.  If your initial idea isn’t selling, don’t waste your time on it.  Maybe later you can come back to it; figure out why it wasn’t selling, change it up a bit, and try again.
• Appeal to your target audience.  I mostly sell crocheted newborn photo props, this means my target audience is soon-to-be-mothers and photographers (and soon-to-be-grandmothers).  It would probably not be a good idea to all of a sudden start selling ipad sleeves.  Sure, those new mothers might have an ipad that needs protection, but they are very far from the majority of ipad purchasers.  My target audience would change.  My attention would change.  Instead of focusing on photo props and other things that a new baby would need, I’d be spending my time on electronic accessories.  Basically, I’d be tearing down everything I’ve worked so hard to achieve with my current target audience and re-building up from scratch.  If your new idea doesn’t appeal to your target audience, trash it.

Selling in the wat to (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I’ve seen a few people who have two or more shops in order to cover two or more niches.  If you have the time and energy to devote equally to each shop, I say go for it!  You can always refer customers of one shop over to the other shop.

I promise, that I will cover “why a specific niche is important” at a later time.  For now, just take my word for it, it’s important

So, I’d love to hear from you:  How do you decide what to make and sell, and what not to?  Leave a comment, let the world know!!

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• Self Esteem and the Pricing Debate (dianespuppetsproducts.wordpress.com)
• In The Interest Of FULL Disclosure…….! (poetesswug-thewugsbackyardblogspot.blogspot.com)
• Targets – how I hate that word! (knitnrun4sanity.wordpress.com)
• How to Define your Blog’s Target Audience (meandering49.wordpress.com)
• Take some time off of selling. (familybugs.wordpress.com)
• Super Saturday Selections – Other Blogs About the Same Thing (familybugs.wordpress.com)

Super Saturday Selections – Other Blogs About the Same Thing

I am not the only one blogging about how to sell hand made crafts, and I’m certainly not the oldest (seeing as I just started this month).  So, some of these other blogs are bound to have a whole slew of more information, and I hope to be working with some of them in the future.  What better way to learn than by someone who is better and has been doing it longer?  So, without further ado, I introduce you to…

Craftster is a whole community of crafters.  They have come together in one place to showcase their works, how they do things, and offer tips and advice for the whole selling aspect.

Selling Crafts Online offers a slew of articles on selling crafts and blogging about it to increase awareness and sales.

Rural-Woman blog focuses on small online businesses in general but still offers GREAT tips and advice for those in the crafting business as well.

Sell Handmade Crafts Online is a question and answer blog for artists selling online.

These are just a few of the other resources that you can find available.  There are books that you can get to help you (They made it to THIS post a few weeks ago).  As popular as it’s becoming to sell handmade crafts, I’m sure that you know someone else who is doing it (or who has at least tried to do it), and you can talk to them about it.  If you don’t, meet someone who does.  It can be very challenging to sell your handmade crafts and having the resources and support will become vital to your journey.

Do you know of any other blogs or resources that might be helpful to someone trying to sell their crafts?