By Kirsten Stone
Are you a non-professional quilter or a part-time quilter looking to make some money from your quilting? Are you having a difficult time monetizing on your masterpieces? If the answer is yes, then read on.
Study the market before you start If you are really serious about turning your quilts into cash, it's important that you study the market before you start. Studying the market helps you discover what types of quilts are in high demand. As soon as you find out, you may consider only making those quilts which are in high demand among your potential customers. Doing so makes it easy to sell your quilts while letting you get a good price for a quilt.
People that take quilting just as a hobby don't have to spend much time researching the market as the results from the research might end up in a conclusion that the demand for the item which they love to produce is very low. If your choices are flexible or if you are ready to produce any quilt then there shouldn't be any problems for you to earn a reasonable amount of revenue from your hobby as a quilter.
Pricing quilts Determining a price for a quilt consists of a few steps, the first one being market research which you should have already done before sewing quilts.
Keeping track of the time you spend The second step in pricing needs to be done during the creation of the quilt, which is "keeping track of your time". You should note down or maintain a record of the time you spend on the quilt; this includes the total time you spent on the quilt (from picking a design to finishing the quilt).
Start with finding out the overall time you spent on each of the steps in making a quilt (preparing the pattern, piecing, basting, quilting, binding, putting your sewing room back in order after the quilt is finished etc.), then estimate the total time it takes on all these steps and divide it by the size (in sq.ft) of your quilt. Now you have calculated the time it takes to produce one square foot of a quilt of that particular type.
Figure out how much your time is worth The next step in pricing is determining the price of your time, or deciding how much the time you sped on making a quilt is worth.
If you are a relatively new quilter or if you are doing an unskilled work then the minimum wage might be between $6.00 and $7.00 per hour. If you are an expert quilter or performing difficult work, your time is worth significantly more than that. Something around $10-$15 per hour should be good rate in this case. Still, it's truly up to you to decide how much your time is really worth.
The market research you had done can help you in making a decision about that. You may also wish to contact other quilt sellers in your area and talk with them about this and reach a conclusion.
Appraisal An appraisal is a formally written document about the estimated value and other attributes of a quilt. Stuff that should be included in a quilt appraisal are, a complete description of the quilt, a defined value, system used in determining the value, the purpose of the appraisal (sale or resale, insurance purposes, IRS requirements, division of property etc.) and the signature of the appraiser.
Selling your work After your quilt is finished, you would likely want to sell or market it so that you can generate money for the time and effort you had put in sewing your quilt. Small scale quilters, new quilters, part-time quilters, or someone doing quilting as a hobby usually discover that the marketing of their quilts is tougher than the production. So let me look at some quilt marketing methods which can be helpful for the above mentioned group.
Quilting brokers and stores It's difficult for beginner quilters and part-timers to open their on quilt stores and sell their quilts there. For these types of quilters it will be useful to look for other ways of promoting their work. There are quilt brokers and handicraft stores that will be glad to sell your pieces upon paying a cut.
It should be easy for you to find such brokers and stores in your area and offer your quilts through them. When your quilts become popular and when the demand for your quilts increases you may wish to step up to larger scale or full time quilting and consider directly marketing your products to customers.
Selling your work at internet auction websites Another option available for amateur or part-time quilters is to list their work on internet auction sites. There are plenty of them available out there. Online auctions make it possible for a quilter to seek a way to sell the quilts at maximum price. Some of such sites even give you options to sell your quilts at a fixed price instead of listing it for auctions. It's up to you to figure out if you want customers to bid for you product or just buy it at a price you specified.
Some sites might even allows you to specify a "Minimum Bid" so that you can prevent your work from being sold at a lower price than you want. This is a really good way for part-time or hobby quilters to sell their work.
Alternative quilting related income sourcesThere are many other ways to generate income from quilting related activities. Next you'll find two of such ways that require a certain level of knowledge.
Offering quilt lessonsIf you are an experienced quilter and don't have much time (only a couple of hours a day) to invest, you might want to pick this option. You could find some schools teaching quilting and contact them offering to run a quilting class for beginners. If you have a unique quilting technique of your own about which you can run classes, it will be much easier for you to get a contract as a quilting teacher. Another option is to offer quilting lessons at your own place. You might use your spare time like this and you should be able to earn good enough revenue from this.
Designing new quilt patterns If you are someone who is good at sketching new and unique quilt patters, you can easily make lots of money selling them to other quilters as demand for fresh patterns will always be great. For marketing quilt patterns of your design, you could use the same methods described above for marketing quilts.
Like in any venture, if you use your time and resources in the most efficient way it's not hard to make a successful quilting career or generate good revenue from quilting.
Kirsten Stone is an avid quilt maker. You can find more of her tips at http://www.quiltingboard.com/forums/show/360/1.page
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kirsten_Stone
Postcard made by hand
มีวิธีทำ Postcard แบบง่ายๆ มาฝากค่ะ
เตรียมอุปกรณ์กันก่อนนะคะ
1. กระดาษแข็ง (เลือกสีตามใจชอบค่ะ)
2. กาว
3. คัตเตอร์
4. ไม้บรรทัด
5. ดินสอ
6. แผ่นรองตัด (ถ้ามี)
7. วัสดุตกแต่งตามใจชอบเช่นกันค่ะ
2. กาว
3. คัตเตอร์
4. ไม้บรรทัด
5. ดินสอ
6. แผ่นรองตัด (ถ้ามี)
7. วัสดุตกแต่งตามใจชอบเช่นกันค่ะ
วิธีทำ
1. วัดขนาดโปสเตอร์ตามต้องการ ในที่นี้ใช้ขนาด 4" x 6" ค่ะ
2. ตัดกระดาษตามที่เราวัดไว้แล้ว
3. ออกแบบด้านหลังของ Postcard ในคอมพิวเตอร์ หรือคุณจะเขียนเองลงด้านหลังของ Postcard เลยก็ได้ค่ะ แล้วแต่ถนัดนะคะ ในที่นี้เราใช้ Ms.Word ธรรมดา ลากเส้น พิมพ์ตัวหนังสือในกล่องข้อความค่ะ
4. เมื่อออกแบบได้ตามที่ต้องการแล้ว Print ออกมาเลย ง่ายดี
5. นำไปตัดให้พอดีกับ Postcard ของคุณ แล้วทากาวติดด้านหลังค่ะ
6. ตัดส่วนเกินออกให้พอดีกับ Postcard
7. ก็จะได้ Postcard ที่เหมือนออกจากโรงพิมพ์แล้วค่ะ
8. ตกแต่งด้านหน้า Postcard ให้สวยงามตามแต่จินตนาการของแต่ล่ะท่านเลยค่ะ
คุณสามารถนำรูปมาติดเลยก็ได้ แล้วตกแต่งขอบให้เนียนซะหน่อย
คุณก็จะได้ Postcard ทำเอง มีชิ้นเดียวในโลก ทำขายเป็นอาชีพเสริมก็ไม่ยากค่ะ
9. เขียนส่งถึงเพื่อน โชว์ผลงานตัวเองซะหน่อย (ด้วยความภาคภูมิใจ)
ไม่ยากเลยใช่รึเปล่าคะ...ไปลองทำกันดู
ครั้งหน้าเจอกันใหม่ค่ะ...
ครั้งหน้าเจอกันใหม่ค่ะ...
Knitting Machines
Knitting has made an issue as a good winter hobby, and there are so many good wools and supplies on the market nowadays, especially the internet, that you don't even have to will home to have your supplies anymore! If you buckle for your deal business, this would hurry matters up. Get knitting, by lot or auto, and have creating
There are some great machines by on the market nowadays, and there are a do more patterns that are gived to auto knitting. The machines have been around for a while, but were basically holded for scarves and blankets, but nowadays there are some good machines with lots of features and you can have garments, sweaters, crafts and more.
With the advance of the internet, it is nowadays easier to have machines and supplies. If you love crafting and especially knitted garments, then why not hear by knitting machines as an alternative to have knitting. I personally would non entire change lot knitting, as its a stress comfort for me. but for those great garments like dresses, knitted coats etc, you don't want to be knitting for so long, you require the seasons.
Do you love to knit. love to create. but maybe its too hard on the hands. then why not try investing in a knitting automobile? Knitting, like any creating, is best for the soul, but can be hard for some people to have, and they complete upwards with half finished projects laying around, and look stressed about it, which is the opposite of what crafting is guessing to have for the heart and soul.
There are some great machines by on the market nowadays, and there are a do more patterns that are gived to auto knitting. The machines have been around for a while, but were basically holded for scarves and blankets, but nowadays there are some good machines with lots of features and you can have garments, sweaters, crafts and more.
With the advance of the internet, it is nowadays easier to have machines and supplies. If you love crafting and especially knitted garments, then why not hear by knitting machines as an alternative to have knitting. I personally would non entire change lot knitting, as its a stress comfort for me. but for those great garments like dresses, knitted coats etc, you don't want to be knitting for so long, you require the seasons.
Do you love to knit. love to create. but maybe its too hard on the hands. then why not try investing in a knitting automobile? Knitting, like any creating, is best for the soul, but can be hard for some people to have, and they complete upwards with half finished projects laying around, and look stressed about it, which is the opposite of what crafting is guessing to have for the heart and soul.
Increase Your Scrapbook & Card Making Income
By Karen J O'Donnell
One of the best things about eBay is the way there is a market for creative people who don't need to leave home at all to sell their work.
I like doing things with handmade mulberry paper. My latest creative effort has been applying a layer of handmade mulberry paper on a plain card. I put an aperture in the mulberry paper and then add a lacy edge.
I sell them in lots of 8 and they usually sell quickly on eBay. I could never have found these buyers 10 years ago. We both benefit.
If you have something you love creating eBay is a great place to see what the market is like.
Unless you can afford to papercraft for a hobby an important consideration will always be how long each piece takes to create.
It can be a real challenge to find items you can create that are profitable to sell. If you want to make a living online try creating a range of items.
You will want to research the market by having a good look at what is selling at the moment and what the range of prices are for the products you like. Have a really good study of the sections where people are selling their own handmade pieces.
If you like card toppers have a good look at what is being sold and the prices. You will want to create a product that is not too complicated. Simple but stylish are probably what you want to aim for.
If you don't have the materials you need for what you have decided to design think about using the materials you have already. I am sure you will have no problem coming up with ideas. Remember-time is important. It needs to be cost effective and not take up a large amount of time.
The cost of the materials is usually very small if you use up bits and pieces that you already have. People have amazed themselves by trying this. It will bring out the artist in you.
You can always keep the pieces you make for your scrapbook and card making or you can set up a business selling them.
You are not confined to eBay remember. There are lots of other places you can sell your items. You could have a website where you sell them and you can supply shops if you were able to make large quantities.
Finding your own niche within papercrafting is something you will do over time. Just enjoy what you do.
If there is an opportunity to take classes in new papercrafting techniques that is a great way to spend time. There is always something new to learn. You will never know it all.
If there are no classes in your area and you have the experience why not see if there are enough people in your area to start your own class?
You will meet lots of people with the same interests and can share ideas. You can also help other people learn papercrafting who know nothing about it.
You could have a different focus for each meeting. Some would be scrapbooking evenings and others new papercraft technique evenings.
The important thing is to enjoy what you are doing. To make money from papercrafting- either scrapbooking or card making- look out for what people want but can not find.
This might be unique card toppers. These can be used in scrapbooking as well. For inspiration look at the papercraft magazines and get some ideas but give thought to how you could do something that is different.
There has never been a better time to benefit from creative papercraft. There are lots of options for selling products and services that did not exist until recently. That will only get better.
You can create your masterpiece today and sell it to someone on the other side of the world tomorrow. But if you prefer to stay local there are plenty of ways to do that also.
Remember, if it was easy then everyone would do it but it isn't that hard either. The possibilities are huge and they get larger every day.
Karen O'Donnell enjoys papercrafting and has done it for a living for 4 years. To find out more than 25 different ways of starting a business with papercrafting : http://www.scrapbookandcardmakingforpleasureandprofit.com/
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Karen_J_O
One of the best things about eBay is the way there is a market for creative people who don't need to leave home at all to sell their work.
I like doing things with handmade mulberry paper. My latest creative effort has been applying a layer of handmade mulberry paper on a plain card. I put an aperture in the mulberry paper and then add a lacy edge.
I sell them in lots of 8 and they usually sell quickly on eBay. I could never have found these buyers 10 years ago. We both benefit.
If you have something you love creating eBay is a great place to see what the market is like.
Unless you can afford to papercraft for a hobby an important consideration will always be how long each piece takes to create.
It can be a real challenge to find items you can create that are profitable to sell. If you want to make a living online try creating a range of items.
You will want to research the market by having a good look at what is selling at the moment and what the range of prices are for the products you like. Have a really good study of the sections where people are selling their own handmade pieces.
If you like card toppers have a good look at what is being sold and the prices. You will want to create a product that is not too complicated. Simple but stylish are probably what you want to aim for.
If you don't have the materials you need for what you have decided to design think about using the materials you have already. I am sure you will have no problem coming up with ideas. Remember-time is important. It needs to be cost effective and not take up a large amount of time.
The cost of the materials is usually very small if you use up bits and pieces that you already have. People have amazed themselves by trying this. It will bring out the artist in you.
You can always keep the pieces you make for your scrapbook and card making or you can set up a business selling them.
You are not confined to eBay remember. There are lots of other places you can sell your items. You could have a website where you sell them and you can supply shops if you were able to make large quantities.
Finding your own niche within papercrafting is something you will do over time. Just enjoy what you do.
If there is an opportunity to take classes in new papercrafting techniques that is a great way to spend time. There is always something new to learn. You will never know it all.
If there are no classes in your area and you have the experience why not see if there are enough people in your area to start your own class?
You will meet lots of people with the same interests and can share ideas. You can also help other people learn papercrafting who know nothing about it.
You could have a different focus for each meeting. Some would be scrapbooking evenings and others new papercraft technique evenings.
The important thing is to enjoy what you are doing. To make money from papercrafting- either scrapbooking or card making- look out for what people want but can not find.
This might be unique card toppers. These can be used in scrapbooking as well. For inspiration look at the papercraft magazines and get some ideas but give thought to how you could do something that is different.
There has never been a better time to benefit from creative papercraft. There are lots of options for selling products and services that did not exist until recently. That will only get better.
You can create your masterpiece today and sell it to someone on the other side of the world tomorrow. But if you prefer to stay local there are plenty of ways to do that also.
Remember, if it was easy then everyone would do it but it isn't that hard either. The possibilities are huge and they get larger every day.
Karen O'Donnell enjoys papercrafting and has done it for a living for 4 years. To find out more than 25 different ways of starting a business with papercrafting : http://www.scrapbookandcardmakingforpleasureandprofit.com/
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Karen_J_O
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