What crafts do you sell or would like to see be sold?
By quatelmon
@quatelmon (955)
United States
July 18, 2007 9:50am CST
It's tough selling crafts! People are usually not willing to pay for the amount of time that goes into making a craft. I know this from first hand experiance!!!
What types of crafts do you sell? Do you feel you are making enough for the amount of work you are putting into it? What types of crafts would you like to see being sold that aren't very common?
I sell crocheted items and chainmaille armor. I don't think that I make enough money for my croceht skills, but chainmaille is much rarer to find handcrafted and handcrafted well, so I think that I make my money from making that. How about you?
2 people like this
14 responses
@Romie06 (74)
• United States
19 Jul 07
I agree, it is really hard to put a price on your own crafts. I've often thought about as I continually get complements on all my work but I've yet to do it. I get such a kick though when people ask me if I sell my work. I just really enjoy making them and about 99% of my gifts are ones that I've made myself.
Romie
@yammydudes (865)
• Philippines
19 Jul 07
I never had my crafts sold.. as I do not do in bulk..I enjoy doing just for my personal use and sometimes gifts to my friends. I hope when I'l retire from work, this will be a business I will start (that will be 35 years from now, LOL!)
1 person likes this
@quatelmon (955)
• United States
19 Jul 07
LOL! Well, I don't really do "bulk" persay. I make very individualized items and post em up on etsy. People like it when things are very very different, and i've found that with crafts, the more original the better!
@oscarbartoni (2581)
• United States
27 Jul 07
I likewise put together individual crafts. None is the same as any other but there may be some similarities. By that I mean that if I am using beads I may put together several items that are the same except in color or size of the item.
1 person likes this
@margieanneart (26423)
• United States
26 Jul 07
Most people do not appreciate the arts. They match their homes with the colors and buy things if they are cheap. Thanks for all the outsorsing, it has made it worse than ever.
Just go to local craft church gatherings. The rest are very expensive.
I am a professional artist. I have done it all.
Shows, galleries, websites.
Good luck.
Perhaps a lovely house party would work good for you.
1 person likes this
@quatelmon (955)
• United States
26 Jul 07
Wow! I do well enough selling my stuff on etsy. I have a regular job, but I guess you can say I am also a professional "artist" as I sing in a band and occasionally get paid for it! LOL And I craft and get paid for that, too....I wouldn't really call the things I make "art", though. Thanks for your input!!!
@creematee (2810)
• United States
25 Jul 07
I like to sew. Mostly children's clothing. Ahh, yes, there are many a time I thought I could sell the darn thing I just made. Problem is, the second I have it done, my kids rip it out of my hands and claim it as their own. Hee hee! I guess that would make it GOOD enough to sell. ;P
I've seen some things similar to what I make sell on ebay for decent (fair) prices. I think I'm going to take a look at etsy as well. Sounds like an interesting "place."
It would be nice to make some kind of income from my habit.
1 person likes this
@quatelmon (955)
• United States
25 Jul 07
I agree. It's hard to make money in the crafting business. However, I have now moved past the breaking even point, which is awesome! I say go for it! You never know until you try. :)
@oscarbartoni (2581)
• United States
19 Jul 07
I put together a lot of native American crafts some with a lot off bead work. A lot of people want to buy things that I put together for less than the materials are worth. I tell them that if the buy the materials I will teach them how to put together the things that they want and then it will not cost them for my labor. I have not had any takers yet but then none of those people bought anything from me either.
I have thought about selling on EBay or Esty but I do not have a camera and my computer is not working that well so I will just have to continue selling in shops that do consignments.
1 person likes this
@quatelmon (955)
• United States
19 Jul 07
Good for you!!! As long as you're selling and people are liking what you make. Good luck!
@redlime (94)
• Philippines
19 Jul 07
Im makiing paintings and drawings of my own style and colors but i'm not selling it, i rather want to stare at ny works the whole than earning from it. But I like watching ones work hanged in a gallery and lokiing how htey put a price on their pieces.
1 person likes this
@quatelmon (955)
• United States
19 Jul 07
That's very humble of you. It sounds like yours are more art than craft. :) Keep up the good work, and thanks for your input!
@cefaz_21 (2596)
• Philippines
19 Jul 07
last Christmas, my husband tried his hands on hand made christmas cards and I found them all nice and cute, we sold them to our church for a fundraising event.
I want to try my own crafts too,would want too work on beads, for now, am still learning and looking on different beda works.hope to earn from here someday.
1 person likes this
@twilight021 (2059)
• United States
18 Jul 07
I sell my crafts...mostly knitting, in my own online store (http://effulgentcrafts.etsy.com) and at fairs.
I almost sold in a local shop and then decided against it...and here's why...Most shops don't outright buy your crafts. They will take them and see them on consignnment instead. The shop I was going to work with did a 50/50 consignment (50% of the mone for me and 50% for them). The items I was going to sell were so low priced ($6-$8) that I decided it wasn't worth it and I would just stick to selling on my own.
I use Etsy to sell my crafts rather than Ebay becuase I think that people who go to Etsy know they are loking for a handmade craft, rather than people on Ebay who are just looking for a deal. Etsy buyers I think and hope are more understanding abut the time and effort it takes to create a piece.
1 person likes this
@quatelmon (955)
• United States
18 Jul 07
I have an etsy store as well. http://stitchesandsteel.etsy.com
I agree that it's better than eBay. I know that when I made the switch, I started making the amount I knew I deserved for a majority of my crafts. Thanks for the input!!!
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
18 Jul 07
I don't yet but am hoping to. I set up an ebay account last night and am looking into etsy. My problem is that I know how to do a lot of ifferent little things and I have a lot of ideas but I don't want to stretch myself to thin. I'm thinking my note cards would sell well so I'll probably start there but I also do floral crafts, painting, knitting and small sewing projects. i9 would like to get into tin work, wood burning and carving also. I'm still working on gathering prices that other people sell things for so I know what I should be asking for so I can't answer your question about if I think I'm making enough yet. I'm still new to the online selling world so I'm also still exploring what items are available. I don't really know what seems to be really common and what is more uncommon. I know I would love to be able to buy my fabric online though. I know a lot of places sell it online but my projects usually need nothing fancier than Wal-mart fabric and they don't offer that online.
1 person likes this
@quatelmon (955)
• United States
19 Jul 07
Etsy is the place for you! Crafts don't sell as well on eBay as they do on etsy. Tin work, wood burning, and carving are two things that I think would probably sell better than anything else. The note cards would do good, as well. Let us know how you make out!
@mikesgal4ever1999 (732)
• United States
18 Jul 07
I do a variety of crafts and have started an etsy store as well (nothing in it or I would share the link LOL). I do plastic canvas, crocheting, painting and beading. My husband does the nice seed beading. I tried to sell some of those crafts on ebay a time or 2 and couldn't sell anything. No one wanted to pay me what I knew the piece was worth. I know nothing about pricing anything and have no idea what to charge or what even sells but would love to hear ideas from others.
I put a lot of time and work into things that I make--my momma said that you don't ever give someone or sell something that looks like crap---and I can't believe the shoddy workmanship that I have seen in crafts online as well as craft shows.
Chainmaille armour sounds like an interesting craft. Would love to see a photo.
@quatelmon (955)
• United States
19 Jul 07
I will post a photo soon! I haven't really made any recently because I've been sooooo busy with work and all that stuff and moving and my new poker addiction. LOL
@scarywhitegirl (2766)
• United States
18 Jul 07
I also sell crocheted stuff, along with cross-stitched, sewn, and paper crafted items. My Etsy store is: http://scarywhitegirl.etsy.com. I haven't done insanely well selling crafts at Etsy, but it does allow me to sell my crafts year round rather than only at seasonal craft fairs. Also, as long as I sell enough to support my yarn addiction, I'm happy. :)
@quatelmon (955)
• United States
19 Jul 07
Those are AWESOME! You could probably make money selling those on etsy or ebay! Especially with etsy, where you could tell potential buyers that the item can be completely customized! Good luck. I love those covered photo albums a lot for some reason.
@randylovesdar (4932)
• United States
27 Jul 10
Is Esty only for sewing, knitting and crocheting? I make my own soaps, bath salts and ornaments and am wondering if I will have trouble selling these items on there. In my area we only have one craft fair and that is the first week in December. Money is so tight right now that I am afraid that if I do not sell my stuff soon I may end up losing some of the barest necessities. I am already without satellite tv and a cell phone. The next two things I may end up giving up are the car (which means my husband cannot get to work) and our power (which really is not feesible either). I have switched to Magic Jack, so I am ok until March of next year (provided I do not lose my Internet).
@randylovesdar (4932)
• United States
25 Jul 10
Thats my worry as well. I make bath salts and soap. I am sure that a lot of people do that as well. I am also making dough ornaments (salt dough and using cookie cutters) and felt ornaments. If I can make enough for Christmas then I will try my hand at making wind chimes using tiny bird houses. I am also thinking about making boutineers our of silk flowers and also making wedding announcements. I made my own save the wedding date cards three years ago and everyone seemed impressed.
![](/Content/images/loading.gif)