stick with small stuff....that way you are not stuck with a huge stockpile of unsold goods!

Here are my steadfast rules for craft selling!

Never do "fad" themes, when times are hard people will only buy for babies and Christmas!

I have been asked to make quilts for some people when they ask how much I tell them 2 1/2 times the cost of fabric, thread and batting and I will only use LQS fabric, only high quality batting and thread, then I send them out to check the prices. LOL So far no takers, and they stoped asking, but thats OK I really don't want to quilt for other people.

I was making a Quilt, (Alice in Wonder land/Queen of Hearts) Was going back and forth to the store for fabrics. One of the ladys at the store just Fell in love with the Quilt!!!! Just HAD to have it!!!! SO I said OK! NOW You know very well how much all the fabrics/batting/thread and not to mention TIME!! Fabrics such as 'Alice' cost More!! This was 5x5.5 so I added up as best I could (I never kept records because at 1st it was for my own use) and told her she could have it for $120. Now thats Very Very Cheap! I even said she could make 1/2 at first! SHE backed out!!! said it was to much!!
SO As for me I don't think its worth the time people want something for nothing with all the stuff coming from over seas and very low $$ its hard to compete.

I just won't make quilts for anybody unless I am planning it as a gift. I don't think that I could charge enough to cover my costs and many people are very "picky" when someone is stitching for them. For me, it would not be a good experience and I would end up feeling stressed and probably unappreciated. I won't even give gifts for silent auctions anymore as I've seen too many beautiful quilts sold for very little money. Now I politely decline and send them a cheque if it is a charity that I wish to support.

My husband keeps telling me I need to sell my quilts too. He doesn't understand that it's hard to find someone who will pay you what it is worth. To please him, I put one on ebay and no one bid on it. Well, It was a twin size and had lots of applique and I even reduced the price to $199. Then, after one day, I took the ad out. I would be losing big money as I send my quilts out to be LA quilted. I checked on etsy and it seems most of the quilts there are baby quilts and very simple ones. They sell them for $30-40. I'm glad I didn't sell my quilt. My daughter was recently hospitalized in another state and I mailed the quilt to her. She received it the very next day and called me and said how it made her less lonely. Now she uses that quilt everyday to snuggle in. And to think I was going to sell it for next to nothing.

What if you made quilts for sale rather than taking orders making quilts and selling them. Make sense? That way the buyer can choose to pay what you are asking for YOUR art work. You are still creating just the way you want to create. So if somebody says will you make me a quilt it blue and yellow, if you have a blue and yellow quilt you can say " this is what I have, I don't take orders because it interferes with my creativity".

I have some quilts on Etsy, I don't think you can really "make" money any where, least of all at a consignment shop as they take 20-30%. I make what I want and can afford to make, put it on etsy, if it sells fine, if it doesn't fine. It only cost about 35 cents a month to have it on there. I did sell one big quilt for $350 around Christmas, other than that it's an occasional small quilt. If I were to make a special order quilt I would get cost of supplies up front and would not turn over the quilt until I got the rest. I've heard "walmart has them for $30" I say "then go to walmart!"

Whether I sell or give away my quilts I still feel the satisfaction of sone enjoying them.

I have been making quilts since 1975. All sizes, I have given them to friends, and everyone in my family has at least one. A couple of years ago, I sold one. I had a booth in a bazzar. I have to tell you, I felt terrible. I can't explain it. When I got home that night I cried. I felt like I had sold part of my childrens inheritance or something. I got an excellant price for it, but I will never do it again. This probably sounds silly, but I can't help it.

Unless you can overcome the feeling of attachment, and especially any need to have your quilts go to "good" homes, selling will be very painful. You cannot screen your buyers...these are quilts, not puppies.