To Sale or Not To Sale!!!

My goal when I embarked on the online craft path was to make what I love and share. My family (few females) are probably sick of receiving my creations and now, unless they ask, they get nothing made by me. (Right now I am making the boys hats with beards attached...who knew that would be a request?)
I have always been thrilled to sell my work as it is a type of positive validation. As Sally Field said "They like me. They really like me!"
Of course earning some extra money has been wonderful if only to feed my supply addiction and stash. So I think I have always priced fairly. I'm not looking to rip off anyone but entice by design, good pricing and heart.
Then there are holiday sales....a not so positive experience for me over the years but I didn't want to be left out so I joined those promotions. Selling scarves in July kind of yells for a price reduction and I've done it. Not to great success,though. 
Back to school, Halloween and then Cyber Monday and I see fellow crafters marking down their creative endeavors by 15-20-30 even 40%!!!! I'm confused so I posted a query on Facebook.
Responses varied but many agreed that their prices were fair and marking them down was a hurtful loss. And, like my experience, they really didn't work. I understand the desire to drum up business, get positive feedback or move older pieces but the profit margin for many is so slight, a sale hurts.
I say, do what you love, love what you do and don't devalue yourself. Does that mean I'll never have a sale or a discount or free shipping? Maybe. Maybe not. But I don't think I'll allow myself to follow the big box pack....I'm not in that league and don't want to be. I don't have items in the $100+ range, far from it and although more sales are always welcome, I will not devalue myself just for a sale.

Here's my latest...price firm!!!

Re-using,Re-purposing,Re-cycling

I don't know if it's the nature of a crafter combined with the needs of a teacher that encourages saving and thinking "Someday I'll use that" and whatever 'it' is gets stashed and saved.
As an elementary school teacher, I was always collecting what appeared at first glance, some useless items....egg cartons (of course), Crystal Light plastic containers, swizzle sticks and chop sticks and so much more.
If old clothes were clean and in good shape, they were donated. If not, they were saved for the fabric and certainly the buttons.
In my quest to use what I have, I am beginning to make a dent in the stash pile...yippee!The boys want hats with beards attached and I have ALL the yarn I need here in the house...yay!

This snow man is on fabric that was a shirt and the eyes are broken straight pins! The buttons are vintage.










This magnetic pin holder was made with an advertising magnet and again, a piece of discarded farbric from a shirt.

And lastly, of the recent projects, a felted cuff from a hot washed wool sweater...not planned!

So in the long run I am pleased with all the stuffing and stashing and storing of stuff and am happy they now have new lives! Now what can I make with that.......?!

Trends

I find it so interesting to see what sells and what doesn't, especially at shows where you have a concentrated block of sales in a definite time period...well, hopefully!
The first time I sold 9 sets of wash cloths at a show I thought I had the new pet rock!

The first show this season was a scarf and bookmark show....oodles. Yay, terrific.

The 2nd show 2 weeks later,in roughly the same area, no scarves at all but handwarmers and bookmarks.
Now I did have the other odd item here and there-some barrettes, a pin or 2, a tapemeasure but the scarves and handwarmers were the hits and the bookmarks. Now some may say, it's getting cool, tis the season for those sales and that is true but I have a new and different viewpoint. I'm thinking people,in this tense economy, are purchasing the practical. The needed. The useful. Not the decorative little doo-dad that may become a dust collector. Maybe they'll buy those closer to the holidays when gifts are really needed but I'm sensing a shying away from that stuff. Maybe marketing and promoting have to be steered in that direction. What do you think?

Anyway, here's a useful, little doo-dad I just listed. I can't help myself!
And oh, after 2 shows, just 3 sets of wash cloths!

Why?

Why I love/hate October and why does everything happen at the same time?
This time of year is always so busy,not just for me, but for most people. It starts with the beginning of school, the seasonal weather changes and so many holidays and events my head spins. Of course, there are always the usual crafty business things in advance of the holidays. DH had a concert/convention that took us away for 3 days but it seemed like a week. I had a show 2 weeks ago and 2 more coming up. Yard work preparing for the winter must/should get done. Summer clothes need stashing and long sleeves must be found.
Years ago, my physician said "Hello, my October girl" as he walked in the examining room. Seems he noticed I was visiting every October for several years with various ailments usually involving head and chest congestion. Despite what many say, the change of weather always sickens me, but not as consistently since we moved south. I have hoped that "routine" had ended.
For the past 2 weeks, my adult son has been sick and I said "Ah, October", it's your turn. I have been watching the calendar as I will have the boys for 4 days. next week. With their complicated busy schedule, I'm concerned as next Saturday is my 2nd show with set-up on Friday. At the same time as the set-up is their school "Hootenanny" which they adore going to...an outdoor event of 4 hours! (No sign of rain in the forecast!) Then it's off to the airport late Friday to pick up their returning parents. Saturday show from 9-3 and DH has a show at 7. Sunday is loaded with 2 more events.
So with mixed emotions, I began preparing for next week 2 weeks ago...tagging, pricing, packing, cooking, cleaning, shopping. Why so far ahead you ask? And I answer "You never know what can halt the preparations so plan ahead."
What's happened to stop me in my tracks? OCTOBER...here it is the 30th and I'm in the throws of feeling like crap....fever, headache, chest congestion and yes, I did have the flu shot. Why couldn't I get through this month? Why does October hate me?
Med place opens at noon and I'll be there!

All About...Me!

This has been circulating and it's pretty neat...the ABCs of you, or in this case me! Feel free to copy.


A. Age: getting older as I type! but I will be..really?...nah!!!

B. Bed size: King
C. Chore that you hate: Cleaning floors....hardwoods look great but...
D. Dogs: None now...I honestly don't want the responsibility.
E. Essential start to your day: Coffee, black
F. Favorite color: When this question is asked I'm always thrown...to wear or to decorate with? Lately for me it's been orange and gray.
G. Gold or Silver: gold
H. Height: 5’8"  but I may be shrinking...see the A above...
I. Instruments you play: none
J. Job title: Retired mother, grandmother, wife, creator
K. Kids: 1 married son
L. Live: Greer, SC
M. Mother’s name: Irene
N. Nicknames: Baba
O. Overnight hospital stays: birth delivery and foot operation
P. Pet peeves: messy surfaces that need to be used for other purposes...are you listening,honey?!
Q. Quote from a movie: "I'm gonna beat you till you're dead, old man"....from Moonstruck. (I am NOT violent but it can be a perfect line to repeat!)
R. Right or left handed: Right
S. Siblings: 1 older brother
T. Time you wake up: 6:30-7:00
U. Underwear: comfy cotton
V. Vegetable you hate: radishes
W. What makes you run late: usually someone else...are you listening,honey?!
X. X-Rays you’ve had: dental,chest,feet
Y. Yummy food that you make: soups...haven't blown one yet.
Z. Zoo animal: monkeys...so entertaining!

Quotes and sayings and things to remember!

Let me be upfront...I rarely can tell a joke, long, short, it doesn't matter.I am usually forgetting the punchline. There are sayings I love and never recall them to insert at the right time. And so many quotes that also escape me. My brother and mother have that gene....I was passed by!
I received a catolgue the other day with some pretty sarcastic and funny sayings on them. Do I remember any? Well, they're sitting right here so I can tell you some. These were all printed on signs or mugs or t-shirts.
This was written for me.... "The house was clean last week (sorry you missed it)."
And this one... "The voices in my head told me to buy more shoes"....uh huh!

Anyway, they all got me to thinking about putting these on some clocks like this one:

I make these clocks with the brilliant graphic mind of Judy from PortableGraffitiGraphics . She creates the design while I assemble the clock. It got me thinking that YOU may have a saying, a joke, a line you'd like immortalized on a clock and most probably Judy and I could do it. So drop me a note at AllAboutTheButtons or leave a comment here and together we can make time!!! Or maybe you feel like this clock!

Oh, and they don't have to be fresh or sassy or sarcastic! They can be anything that speaks to you!

What I Make

In previous posts, I confessed to crafter's ADD....I like to make lots of things and get easily bored if I have to repeat. Almost everything I make is one-of-a-kind. That got me to thinking....what do I make? It kinda of made me stressed to think of it all.
Scary to think, I probably have forgotten something! (and I did...just added aceos)

aceos
barrettes
basket clocks
bobby pins
book clocks
box clocks
brooches
button necklaces
button bracelets
cactus
CD clocks
clothespin magnets
cocktail spoons and forks
cowls
crochet bracelets
crochet necklaces,
cozies
cuffs
custom business clocks
dog sweaters
dish cloths
earrings
embellished boxes
embroidery hoops
eyeglass cases
face scrubbies
gloves
hand warmers
hats
magnetic bookmarks
mini purses
napkin rings
pins
plate clocks
purses
ribbon bookmarks
scarves
scissor fobs
shadow boxes
tapemeasures
wash cloths
wood magnets

I have 12 letters of the alphabet not covered yet...better get cracking! So I am taking suggestions for new products starting with letters I haven't yet used. Colors don't count.
What can I make that starts with y? U?  Hmmmm.... remember, most of my things have buttons on them!
And I'll calm my stress with this bit of advice: