Vintage Greystone's Creative Hands books
I found the top Robins egg blue Tupperware jello mold container for .49 cents today. I now have 2.
Handmade Fabric Sketch Journal Book
Special! Pyrex Ware Color Bowl Set!
Special! Pyrex Ware Color Bowl Set!
Originally uploaded by ___Melanie___
$2.49? That is how much they cost when they came out? Oh my WORD!
Pyrex collection- left side
Pyrex collection- left side
Originally uploaded by Julie (Jangles)
I just adore this display. Look at her curtains. Oh my all that eye candy.
Caring for your vintage Pyrex
I found a blue floral Pyrex bowl. I also found 2 shakers and a mod vintage floral bed sheet.
Gemco, Pyrex & Vintage
Extreme Primitive Doll
Heating pad cover made
Sketch Book upgrade
Happy 2nd Year blogging with changes
Vintage sewing books, pyrex and drinking glasses
Vintage Tupperware & Pyrex
Craft Show Best Sellers
When I started preparing to do my first craft show I had no idea what to even make. I had no idea where to even start. The above questions were running around in my head. First, what kind of show are you vending at. This is very important. If you're at a Christmas show, chances are your handmade spring decorations and decor might not sell as fast. Or they might. You could market them as "gifts". This could work for you or against you. So do some research. If you are wanting to attend as a vendor in a craft show you love shopping at or its your first time you need to shop that craft show with a vendors eye. What type of craft show is it? There are many different shows and you must make sure you fall into that category of vendors/crafters/artist. Why? Because the craft show you are thinking about attending is marketing themselves to be that "type" of craft show and those "types" of people that shop them are attending. There is a ton of craft shows to choose from. Just think about the crafts you make and then apply to the show that fits you best.
Now you signed up for your show, what to make? What will sell? Anything. You never know what people are in the mood to buy or what their likes are. Offer up your best hand mades. The ones you know you are really good at making. People are going to pick up your item. They are going to touch it. I like to offer lots of different items in my craft show. I see some people who just make one item and only one item but it's made many different ways. I personally think that limits your sales. I have a friend who paints flower pots. Not everyone who goes to the craft show is going to want a flower pot. Not everyone is also willing to pay $25.00 for the flower pot. You have different shoppers passing you by all the time. Why not offer something for everyone? You don't have to make oodles of stock. You can offer 3 of that item. Or 5 or 6. That way if a flower pot is not for them, maybe that keychain is and they will be willing to purchase that.
"Oh these sold so good for me last craft show." But this year they did not even look at them. This will happen. Something you made was a really good craft show seller last year. So next year you decided to make even more. Yet, time came not one sold or as many. Sometimes this happens. Do not over make an item unless you are really well known for having this item and you know it will sell out. Do offer this item again just do not go overboard.
Want some easy sales? 10 bucks and under. I really recommend having low priced items in your booth. You can easily get someone to buy something for $5.00 than you would $20.00. I am not saying your entire booth should be like this, but I do recommend having them to offer. Trust me those items sell. They just have to be creative, useful and eye catching to the buyer. When I go to the local Christmas Craft fair by me I always see people selling marshmallows in a bag with some clever poem about snowman's poop and I always see people buying them. Seriously? Yes! So you just have to be creative and market your items creatively.
Needing Ideas on what to make? I am just as much am needing them too. What I do is think about what is popular? Try thinking colors, patterns and prints. Retro, Mod, Shabby, Primitive, Colonial, Christmas, Spring, Fall, Winter, Valentines, Halloween, Americana, Tuscan, Indian, Lodge THEMED. Think themes and lots of them. Everyone has their own taste. Everyone. They decorate or know someone who does in that style. Lots of people decorate or wear items to show their love of these things. I personally love aqua and red. (Oh you didn't know? tee-hee) If I see something aqua and red I am very attracted to it. I am really big on Vintage Mod and current Mod prints. So when I shop I am looking for those types of items. I would take the time to research a few of these themes. There are more themes too, like Harley, Hello Kitty and so on. I am not saying make those Licensed items. I am saying make it in those themes. I say play with a few themes. You will get more shoppers if you do. Again, don't limit your sales. I adore Hello Kitty and I am sure lots of people do. I made that doll house and themed it and the people after Hello Kitty, but they are nothing like Hello Kitty. Just in Hello Kitty colors so those who decorate with Hello Kitty have something to complement their collection. (really could I say/write Hello kitty one more time, *grin*)
Use all your talents. Can you knit? Can you crochet, sew on a sewing machine? Sew by hand? Do you play with paper? Do you mold, glue or paint? Use all of your talents when creating goodies for a craft show. If you sew, sew your heart out and if you paint you best add some painted items to your list of "things to make". Do you want to learn these crafts? Research in your area if someone is doing a crafting class. Take the class. Go to the library and research and read the books on "how to______". Learn the techniques or improve yours. Research on the Internet. Think of using those talents in different ways and combine them. Think outside the box. Your an artist that is what you do best. That knitted bookmarker will sell. Those belts made from vintage sheets did sell at my craft show. Be Creative and don't waste your time. Remember we all learn from our failures but it makes us Winners in the end when you don't give up. Failure just means you tried. Try again. Again, please don't limit yourself or your sales.
This is my advice to you. Sorry it was not full of crafty items of what to make. I really do not think there is a list that exists of "what to make that are best sellers for a craft show". Every town is different and so is every person and every craft show. You go out there and create. Craft/play. Learn new crafts. Research. And you will have pride for your crafty creative items and be proud to sell them in public for all to see and hold.
Polaroid Cameras are BACK!
You can check out the article here. We can all *smile* again. Yipee!
You may not have known that back in 2008 they ceased making them and closed the door on the production line. Many, many and I mean MANY people including myself were not happy about this. I love Polaroids. There is nothing that can compare to them. They are art. I love taking photos and not being able to have this medium was killing me. I am a camera geek! I found the above cameras and film in my local thrift stores. I snatched them up quickly and have been debating on what was worthy enough to use the film on. Seriously this was a major decision cause they stopped making the film. You could only get it on Amazon or Ebay or thrift stores (if your lucky). But they also came at a price. Not any more. The film and cameras are back. I know I keep saying it but its so wonderful to say.
It turns out that former employees of Polaroid have united together and formed this site:
The Impossible Project. Their goal? To get Polaroid instant camera's to come back and come back the old way. They have tried many other attempts of making the Polaroid new and improved and with doing so they lacked the luster us true Polaroid lovers had. Due to this website they created and fans all across the world, Polaroid is now BACK to making them.
Check out what they have to say about it over at PolaPremium.com
(photo from Polaprium.com)
Polaroid will re-launch the legendary Polaroid One Step Camera in 2010. Get Ready!
Craft Show Etiquette
I have been reading a bunch of this lately. A friend of mine was talking about craft shows and the customers who shop them. I have heard some eye opening moments. I have only been vending at local craft shows for 2 years now.I have done online craft shows for some time. But to sell on the street? Really different. Lots of people are viewing your crafts in person. Holding, touching, looking, feeling. Its a great way to see peoples reactions to your crafts. However, being a vendor at a craft show you see and hear lots of little things. You encounter lots of people who are attending the show for different reasons. After talking to my friend her and I started a conversation with a few of our (online) friends to see what they have encountered in their craft show vending experience. I am here to share this information with you the vendor to let you know your not alone and maybe pass off some tips of what you can do "the next time it happens".
If your vending at a craft show, let me say CONGRATS to you! You took all the steps needed to get your work out there.Some people do not realize what it takes to be a vendor in a craft show. Sometimes you will come across customers who say or do the most eye opening things. Let's talk about them and get them out in the open and that way you can prepare yourself. I have heard a few jaw opening moments from some and here is how they handled it.
A customer is heard saying "oh I can make this". As a vendor you do hear this often. Yet 99% of the time the customer won't make this item. I think by them saying this they are trying to justify to themselves on why NOT to buy the item for themselves.Maybe they can make the item your selling, but by them saying it so loud that you can hear it, is a little disheartening. Several years ago I attended a craft show locally and I saw a lady with a hand painted sign that said, "You say you can you can make it, but you never will". I liked that. Not only is she right but she herself made a point. I bet all the vendors wanted to buy her sign.
A customer is saying to a vendor, oh I really like this how did you make it? As crafter/artist we don't like to give away our secrets. So you will hear vendors say blood, sweat and tears. Which is true in most if not all crafts/art we make. It took time for us as vendors/crafters/artist to learn the craft that we are selling. Early morning and late night hours of constant making, failing and succeeding. You learn your do's and don'ts. You learn your short cuts and from failure you learn even more. The crafter/artist is not willing to just share all that hard work with you. Oodles of research, time go into making an item. So its best just to say blood, sweat and tears.
A customer is saying where do you buy/find your materials? Again, this goes into the blood sweat and tears answer. A vendor/crafter/artist is not going to give up her ingredients for her recipe. Simple answers can be, locally, online and across the ocean.
A customer comes up to your booth and starts taking photos of your items your selling. Now I have heard of people doing this.I personally have never had this happen. I always had people asking me if they could take photos of my things. I say yes. They did ask me first. Some people have told me they don't have people asking them they just do it. What can you do? YOU need to speak up and ask them why they are taking photos of your stuff. You can be polite about it, ask if its going to be in the paper or maybe their blog. You could take a photo of them taking a photo of your stuff. Why not? They just did. I have been hearing/reading that most craft shows do not allow you to bring a camera in a craft show. Some places don't care. If you see someone taking photos and there is no photos allowed in your craft show you need to find the sponsors of the show and bring it to their attention asap. They will be asking those people to leave. Its not polite to take photos of someone elses work and not tell them why you are. Are they using it for later so they can copy your work? Are they going to send it to someone and say they made it? Are they passing it off as theirs? We don't know. As a vendor you are protected by the shows rules but some times you need to step to the plate to enforce those rules.
I have heard some people comment on other crafters/artist prices. Some customers think your item is too expensive? That may be true. For them they can't afford or can not see spending that kind of money on a item. There are customers who do and will spend that kind of money. Some people have no idea the cost of hand making an item. They don't know how much you paid for your materials. They don't know how long it took for you to make the item. Some forget that they are buying a handmade item. Most of the time if you buying it a craft show you are not only getting a handmade item but a one of kind item. Some people know and appreciate the handmade quality. Some even try to haggle the price as if they were at a flea market. You can just smile and say no thank you.You don't need to cut yourself short to make a sale. Even if they are buying more than one item. It takes time to make your items, if they really want it they will buy it. Some people have that "walmart" price guide in their head cause they are forgetting they are getting art direct from the artist. Not manufactured in a factory line. Vendors do find it a little tacky when customers treat their booth like a flea market/yard sale.
I am sure there are lots of topics we could touch base on. If you have a really good story or a crafty answer to some of these "moments", please share them with me.There is lots of fun to be had being a vendor at a craft show. However its work. From the day you sign up till the day the show starts and finishes. We as vendors hear and see lots. I recommend when your going to vend at a craft show you get to know everyone who is working for the show and the other vendors who are attending the shows. When you get to the show, walk around and introduce yourself. They will be setting up or taking down their display so don't crowd them but totally go out of your way to say Hi. I find it best to network myself around other crafters/artists as much as possible. They feed me artistically. Hey you might need them to cover your booth so you can visit the bathroom or get something to eat.
As crafters/artist vending a show to sell our wares, we all have to stick together. We can help each other. We respect each other. Its ok to set your ground rules and know you are not the first crafter/artist to have heard these comments. We too are like...REALLY? Seriously? Really.....like really?
Red Lustro Ware Canister set
Red Lustro Ware Canister set
Originally uploaded by Jennylees
I do love the cansiters but that tablecloth. I am gushing.
Vintage Tablecloth and Tea Towel Collection
Vintage Tablecloth and Tea Towel Collection
Originally uploaded by vintagelinens
Have you ever peeked inside someone's vintage collection? I am on a tablecloth collection hunt and I am finding a few. I just adore this collection. How can one find so many? Where does one find so many? The happiest thrill is the hunt/find. Then getting home and adding another piece to your collection......priceless.
Vintage Retro Pink Poodle Tablecloth
Primitive & Mod doll listed on Etsy
Vintage Thrifty finds
I am so happy I had to drop off a few things at my Mother in law's house today or I would have never found these items. Its just so hard for me to pass a thrift store. I wonder what is in there and what kind of deal I could be getting. Today was 50% off day. In a thrift store that is very very good. I have thrift stores all over here and every time I run an errand there I go passing one. I know you wonder how do I always manage to find these vintage items. I will tell you something. Years ago and still till this day, almost everyone comes to Florida to retire. They bring their precious belongings with them.