Craftsy stuff

[sakon76]

I count among my close friends several wonderful, talented crafters. racerxmachina is a jack of all trades who draws, makes jewelry, embroiders, is a crochet master (she taught me how to do it), and is currently exploring the ways and hows of knitting. ghilledhu sews better than I do, and does tatting, which is an utter mystery to me. I have some of her work and it's beautiful. hoshikage, who I long (and infamously) ago shanghai'd into cosplay, also sews better than I do, constructs her outfits and armor from the unlikeliest components and makes them work, not to mention the gorgeous leather hairclips she constructs sometimes. Two of them have set up accounts on Etsy, and the third is currently working on a line of Dollfie clothing to sell.

I suppose I do something similar, given that I'm making a quilt for a friend, but it's not really in the same mien of "making something to sell," is it? I don't solicit my work, instead wait to be approached and take a commission. Given that my friends are out there actively making their talents profitable, I find myself wondering if I shouldn't perhaps try doing the same. But then I come against the quandry of what I would make. I'm good at sewing clothing. I can make quilts, although I can't afford the time to hand-quilt them. I can make doll clothing, given a doll to work from. I can embroider, which is time-consuming to do well, and I can crochet, but I might feel uncomfortable offering crocheted goods for sale, as it could be construed as competing with the one who taught me. (I know she would/will probably tell me that's a ridiculous way to think about it, but I can't help thinking about apprenticeship programs which required the apprentice to never set up shop of their own within a certain distance of their master.)

I'm also not sure on what I'd charge for anything. I've heard "charge for your time," or also "double materials." I think part of the point of this would be getting rid of materials--the only thing I've bought for the quilt I'm doing is the batting and 1/8th yard of leopard print flannel--because I have too much of everything. Too much fabric. Too much yarn. Too many beads. Too much thread. A good deal of it all is inherited, but a good deal also was purchased, years ago. Too long ago to know what anything cost.

Maybe... maybe I'll just start using it up, slowly, trying out projects, and see if anyone would be interested in the results.

It can't hurt.

Comments

[therhoda.livejournal.com]

gods, dear do you know if you weren't on the other side of the country i would be tempted to show up on your door step with my insane fabrics collection and throw it and me on your mercy to try and get us into a quilt some how.

Personally i am always curious about what these things you keep making look like anyway so if you were selling them at least i might get a picture. Just saying.

[sakon76.livejournal.com]

Eh, now that I have figured out how our camera and the galleries thing here on LJ works, I will probably be putting some pictures of stuff up. Definitely one of the kitten quilt as soon as I get it finished. I should take a picture of Abigail's new dress and put that up as well. As well as her doll quilt from last year.... ^_^

[therhoda.livejournal.com]

Sounds good to me. Good luck on getting the technology to work though I FAIL at that.

[hoshikage.livejournal.com]

WTF I do not sew better than you do. O_o Just because I sew crazy fabrics like vinyl on a semi-regular basis, all that says is that I'm a masochist, not that I'm good at it. I get puckered ugly seams all the damn time and I still aspire to have my sewing look as lovely and clean as yours. You want proof, look at Lorenta vs. Sophia at AX. You won, therefore I win. :D

As for making stuff, if only we lived closer to each other I'd suggest we sew stuff together, for dolls or whatever else we wanted to try and sell. And then we could write together again too. And thereby conquer the world. I bet my Minion would be willing to help. ;) But unfortunately that's just not the kind of thing that works out well at long distance...

[sakon76.livejournal.com]

*lol* Yes, but you soldier on with the wacky fabrics and dominate, subjecting them to your will. I wuss out and don't step outside of my comfort range. I fear knits, let alone stretch vinyl and furs and whatnot.

How about we agree to each believe the other is better? It's totally a matter of different styles anyway. :)

[ghilledhu.livejournal.com]

ghilledhu sews better than I do, and does tatting, which is an utter mystery to me.

Aw, I don't really think I sew better than you...and I could teach you tatting if we are ever on the same coast again.

maybe I'll just start using it up, slowly, trying out projects, and see if anyone would be interested in the results

Not a bad approach. See what the interest is, and what the market will bear.

[racerxmachina.livejournal.com]

Do what I did: search on Etsy to get a general idea of what you can do and what people are selling their similar items for, and go do you own versions of said stuff.

I am not even getting into the "you sew better than me" game. I sewed MY OWN HAND into a bag once.

FAIL

[sakon76.livejournal.com]

:p

Well, yes, but I didn't say you sewed better than me. I said you crocheted better than me, and I don't think you'll argue that one. :)