Would you buy something like this?
By wiccania
@wiccania (3360)
United States
July 25, 2007 1:48pm CST
My son loves to paint fabric. I'm not sure why, but it's his favorite surface to paint on. I've got a few yards of it lying around and I'm trying to decide what to do with it while I hold off on buying him any more fabric to paint.
It was suggested that since I sew I should make some kind of stuffed animals out of the fabric and sell them. I've been looking into it. I've got patterns for victorian bunnies, beanie frogs and jointed teddy bears.
So tell me, would you consider buying something like that? Handmade and hand painted stuffed animals. How much would you pay for them, assuming that the bears sit 10" tall, the bunnies sit 8" tall and the beanie frogs would be about 6" long?
4 responses
@twilight021 (2059)
• United States
25 Jul 07
I always encourage people to try to sell their handiwork. I sell mine and think that is this time of mass produced junk, handmade stuff is so special.
Currently sell on etsy as www.effulgentcrafts.etsy.com.
I have been selling there for over and year an would say I'm doing "ok". Not great, but no awful either. My items are kind of seasonal, so while I did ok in the winter, summer is fairly snow for me. I would look there for like items to help you with your pricing...and you can see how other people are going selling stuffed animals.
Etsy is a great vehicle if like me, you are far too lazy to make your own website. They take care of everything for you! You just take pictures upload them and write your your listing. The fees are also very resaonable....MUCH more than ebay. On Etsy it's only 20 cents (US) to list an item. I put my mylot earnings towards my etsy fees in fact:-)
While etsy is a community, it's a very large community. Some people will likely find their way to your shop eventually, but it's really up to you to drive traffic there. I got some business cards printed up and I hand those out to friends and family and post them on community boards. I also do craft fairs and festivals in my area and hand the cards out there. This way people can continue to buy from me during the "off-season" for craft fairs.
If you are thinking about it....I would go for it! It's a low cost, no-risk way to see if there is a market out there for your work. Plus, it feels great to have someone out there like something you made so much that they want to buy it!
Good luck!
1 person likes this
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
25 Jul 07
what other things can you make out of this material? is it like t shirt material or stiffer? i am thinking shirts, hats, hearts with lace etc...
my friend makes fur teddies (now i am talking real fur from coats) and she sells them for up to $200. but she says ebay is very slow right now...i am guess that yours would go for about $25 ish??
@wiccania (3360)
• United States
25 Jul 07
It's basic cotton material. What bed sheets would be made of, I guess. I've used some of it to cover a photo album for one of his grandmothers... it could also be used to make pillows. I wouldn't attempt to make any kind of clothing (even doll clothing) out of it.
@scarywhitegirl (2766)
• United States
25 Jul 07
I think something like that would probably do pretty well! It would be a sweet project for you and your son to work on together, and I think a lot of kids and adults would enjoy them!
As for what I'd pay, I'd say maybe $20 or more for the bears, maybe $15 or more for the bunnies, and $10 or more for the frogs. Though you should price them depending on how much time they take to make and the initial cost for the fabric and paint and other supplies.
@Meatballsurgery (140)
• Sweden
25 Jul 07
I would buy them if there where wellmade yes, and sine I am going to do my onw stuffedanimals collestion and sell :D