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genuinegirly · 05-23-2011, 10:40 AM

Do you relate to the hand-made craze?
Do you have a favorite site that you'd like to recommend?
Have you ever bought or sold a quality, hand-crafted item on Etsy, Folksy, DaWanda, icraft, or other similarly-themed sites?
Do you have any good stories to share?

It has become so easy to open your own storefront these days - many places seem to have done away with listing fees, so there's no risk involved with tossing your handy work out there for the public eye. Heck, I'm considering it myself... though more as a joint venture with my sister.

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When we were kids, our mom had a number of little business ideas that involved her sewing skills. She would rent out booths in antique, vintage, or craft shops to sell her creations. It was a blast for her, and she made some good money along the way.

Following in the footsteps of our mother, my sister is a super-duper creative person. She has been fiddling with hand-made crafty things for as long as I can remember. She often makes hair accessories, dolls, costumes, stationery - you name it, she has probably dabbled in it. She makes items mainly for her own kids and their friends, as gifts or just for fun. People frequently ask her if she sells them. Her answer is invariably "no." But it doesn't need to be. I keep encouraging her to open shop.

I'm kind-of handy with a sewing machine, I have been making quilts and bags for friends for a number of years. I also enjoy paper-crafts, including funky memory scrapbooks (not photos), cards, and artsy present wrapping. This year the craft seems to be picking up steam, though, with friends at school asking me to make them laptop bags and purses.

Perhaps my sister and I will hop into a joint storefront. I'm wondering, though, what I might be getting myself into. Do any of you have adventures/advice to share?

05-23-2011, 10:40 AM	#1 (permalink)
genuinegirly Eat your vegetables Super Moderator Location: Arabidopsis-ville	Ladies - Do you Etsy? Do you relate to the hand-made craze? Do you have a favorite site that you'd like to recommend? Have you ever bought or sold a quality, hand-crafted item on Etsy, Folksy, DaWanda, icraft, or other similarly-themed sites? Do you have any good stories to share? It has become so easy to open your own storefront these days - many places seem to have done away with listing fees, so there's no risk involved with tossing your handy work out there for the public eye. Heck, I'm considering it myself... though more as a joint venture with my sister. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ When we were kids, our mom had a number of little business ideas that involved her sewing skills. She would rent out booths in antique, vintage, or craft shops to sell her creations. It was a blast for her, and she made some good money along the way. Following in the footsteps of our mother, my sister is a super-duper creative person. She has been fiddling with hand-made crafty things for as long as I can remember. She often makes hair accessories, dolls, costumes, stationery - you name it, she has probably dabbled in it. She makes items mainly for her own kids and their friends, as gifts or just for fun. People frequently ask her if she sells them. Her answer is invariably "no." But it doesn't need to be. I keep encouraging her to open shop. I'm kind-of handy with a sewing machine, I have been making quilts and bags for friends for a number of years. I also enjoy paper-crafts, including funky memory scrapbooks (not photos), cards, and artsy present wrapping. This year the craft seems to be picking up steam, though, with friends at school asking me to make them laptop bags and purses. Perhaps my sister and I will hop into a joint storefront. I'm wondering, though, what I might be getting myself into. Do any of you have adventures/advice to share? __________________ "Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq "violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy