I just realized that I don’t have a place for you to post any comment. A comment not related to a post. Just a chat. Just something you thought of. Ask a question.
Now I do.
Here.
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This Year's Dozen 
LOL Funny you just did this today because I was about to come by and ask if you’d link to a post I just put up on the Kittyloaf Designs site.
It’s for a quick tutorial I just did.
http://prettycanhurt.com/kittyloaf/2011/08/31/super-easy-hot-pads/
Nothing fancy, just a quick, simple how-to.
Also, after I get done with all this craft fair sewing, I may have some scraps too small for me to use but maybe the right size for some of your quilting I’d like to mail you if you’re interested. I’m not sure how much there will be, but I’m starting to separate out the smaller scraps and put them into a bag as I go. Thinking about your piano keys here though some pieces may work for log cabin as well I think.
Our dining room table is totally covered in fabric, and there are bags and bags and boxes pretty much surrounding the whole table. I got some great stuff from my mom, my grandma, and my friend Tracy. I have no idea what I am going to do with what’s left after I am finished after the craft fair is over, so anywhere I can get rid of a bit will help and I’d rather not trash pieces someone else may be able to use even though I can’t.
Let me know and I will keep yyou posted on how much I pull together for you if you’re interested.
Your hot pad tutorial seems easy enough. I like those you made up. I’ll have to try it. Thanks much!!
I would love those scraps. I definitely can use them. Thanks for thinking of me.
Awesome! I’ll keep putting little pieces aside for you then. š
Hi Donna,
This page is a great idea!
I DO have a question. For those of you who sell your crafts regularly, how do you figure out a fair selling price for your product? I don’t understand how one would calculate the cost of labor especially if there is a lot of time involved.
Is there any kind of formula to use?
Thanks!
Hi Tanya, that’s always been a topic for debate. Because the average person (non-crafter) has no idea the hours, materials and the talent it takes to create. Nor are they really concerned about all that. They are only looking for great deals, a bargain, a find. I recently saw on the net an article on how to price handmade items. Let me see if I can find it.
I had always used the “what would I pay” reasoning. Sometimes that worked. Sometimes I would bite the bullet and reduce the price. But some of my things, like the royal blue peyote beaded bracelet I recently listed on Etsy. It took over a week to design and create. I will cut it up and toss it in the trash before I sell it for less than I am asking.
Great question. I hope some of my readers will add to this discussion.
This site has a pretty simple formula.
http://www.whatthecraft.com/arts/pricing.htm
This is like a “tea room”?
Great idea!
Hi Gaby!!
Yep. Have a cup. Feet up. š
Thank you!
Any info given is always a great help, and very much appreciated!
re: the selling price of handcrafted items- This was actually a topic being discussed on a list I am on this morning. Basically, most people agreed a good selling price is 4 times the cost of materials.
For most items it fits, but if you spend a lot of time on something, it might be low. And for fast to make items, it could give you a nice profit margin. I’m hoping that I can sell my hot pads I have been making for $5. I spend $4.25 a yard on Insul-Bright, and each yard will make me about 8 hot pads, using two layers. Using two matching fat quarters, I can make about 3 of them… they cost me about $1.25 each. I also use a small 4 inch piece of bias tape for a hanging strap. Not counting thread, my cost is about $1.50 per hot pad. Figure in 20 minutes of my time at $8 an hour, and the cost comes up to about $4.15.
Then there was that totally awesome beaded bag I did years ago that after being listed on Etsy for over a year, I finally sold for $75.00. I spent about $20 on actual supplies, but put easily 50 hours into it between creating the pattern, and actually beading it. Big loss there when you think about it.
Either way, its hard to get what would be a really fair price for some items because 1) people don’t know the work that goes into it, and 2) often they could buy a similar item that was mass machine produced for much less.
Hi Debra. Thanks much for adding your own personal experiences to this topic.
When I was younger and much more naive, I tried to sell my hand crafted items at a Flea Market. I priced them fairly low so they would sell. I at least tried to recover the cost of my materials but not much more. I actually had people coming up, buying my crafts, and then turning around and reselling them for a higher price. I was devastated! I couldn’t believe it!
Right now, the economy is terrible! People don’t want to part with their money, especially if an item is too pricy. On the same token, I am stubborn enough to not sell something not sell an item if someone doesn’t want to pay what I am asking for it.
I have had one common thought as I have done crafts over the years. I make things that I like myself. If I get a wild hair to sell it, then I will do so. If it doesn’t sell, then it is a “gift” for me. :.)
When I got into Macrame and bought Donna’s beautiful plant hanger pattern, the first one I made was for me. I have since made several more. I haven’t gotten into creating my own designs yet, but it is nice to sit back and admire the hard work you put into a project after it is done. The satisfaction of a “job well done” is most gratifying!
Thanks for your input to my question. It was much appreciated!