Craft booths

**Nana2two** · 01-10-2009, 09:50 PM

Does anyone here make crafts and sale them on ebay or in craft booths?After my decluttering, i would like to make country and primitive crafts and sale them. My kids are grown, i do watch my grandsons on Fri,Sat. Mom and dad both work double shift on those days.But hubby said if i wanted to he would watch the boys to do craft shows. I was thinking etsy and maybe 1 craft show a month or even around the holiday time. Any one else do it? If so what do you make?

**Momto2Boyz** · 01-11-2009, 09:04 AM

I did country crafts for years at local craft shows. I did really well, but at the time I had a "partner". We would regularly come home with her items still unsold, and she would continue to make more of the same. That being said, I stopped doing them, becuase whatever we were making, she was reinvesting in things that wouldn't sell.

But, I did a mini show with my mom in 2008, and decided I would get into it again this year. So I am plannig on starting in the fall, with fall and Christmas shows.

I do mainly "country crafts", but have decided that my main objective would be to recycle things into my crafts this year, so each craft would have to be 50% recycled materials.

There is a list of things I plan to make on my blog...here is the link:
http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/blogs/momto2boyz/752-crafting-challange.html

**The Muse** · 01-11-2009, 09:35 AM

I've been thinking about doing craft shows and selling on esty, too, but I'm not sure how much of a market there is for tea cozies and aprons, which is what I like to make.

I used to help a friend of mine who did shows. She made beautiful wreaths and topiaries using dried miniature roses, but didn't do well because her cost of materials was too high and in turn the cost of the things she sold was too high.

**ladykemma2** · 01-11-2009, 12:11 PM

yes, remember to charge 5 -6 time what it costs to make, because you have to pay taxes and insurance. You need insurance. I got mine thru RLI -- crafters insurance.

One time i was traveling back from a crafting show and during tropical storm allison, i submerged my car with entire craft show in it. All was replaced. Get insurance.

you will need an classy WHITE ez up tent. you will not be allowed any other kind of tent. I actually moved on to a period tent, which opened up doors for "pioneer days" and such.

you will make a lot of mistakes. It was three years before THEY were PAYING ME to come do their show and paying for the hotel in addition. so know that three years to learn how to make a profit and know what shows to do.

i used to bring home 1000-2000 a weekend, less costs. my ex made me stop because i was gone every weekend.

Suggestion: get your feet wet and develop a spiffy display. Display is everything. Aim for juried shows, which you have to apply for entrance and you have to prove that you make the objects. Juried shows are important otherwise you can't compete with people selling junky craft imports from china.

**prftstrngr** · 01-11-2009, 12:18 PM

I love country type primitive crafts and my mom works in a store that sells alot. One couples things always stand out to me because they consistently make things out of something else. I have a large beautiful shelf in my bedroom they made by taking a discarded wooden footboard of a bed....sanding it off and staining it and turning it upside down and attaching a board to make a shelf. Across the back part of the shelf they stencilled *Always Kiss me Good night* Hard to explain but looks old and antiquey and I love it! She uses old broken chairs at times,old pottery or tiles. The old tin ceiling tiles. Even olf kitchenware. Its a huge business here. Good luck to all of you!!