I was thinking t'other day - I do that sometimes on my own and without the help of brain cell 3 or the benefit of a safety net either!!!
My question to myself was 'why do I sell on Etsy'!!!! I really didn't have to think too hard about the answer, though.
I started the shop when I had a 'good idea' and thought I'd make a fortune selling online. DUH!!!! Now a few years later I can tell you that I'm not rich out of the proceeds of selling but it does help feed my addiction to thread, beads, buttons, zips, etc. Notice, I say 'help'. I am a lot richer for the friends I've made through doing it which is WAY more important.
I do know why I do it, though. Do you want to know why? Well it's cause I enjoy making things. That makes for a lot of 'artifacts' around the house so I have to keep selling or giving it away to keep some spaces for us to move about in. Do you remember Mr Trebus? Well our house could well become like that if I didn't fight my own gremlins and keep trying to 'move things to other locations'.
I do know why I do it, though. Do you want to know why? Well it's cause I enjoy making things. That makes for a lot of 'artifacts' around the house so I have to keep selling or giving it away to keep some spaces for us to move about in. Do you remember Mr Trebus? Well our house could well become like that if I didn't fight my own gremlins and keep trying to 'move things to other locations'.
I often wonder about my pricing. I see a lot of tatting being sold and some of the prices asked are out of this solar system!!!! WAAAAYYYY too much for very simple and only slightly beaded jewellery. I cringe and hide my head in shame. I mean, how long does it take to make a pair of earwigs without anything added?
Then there are the sellers who see what somebody else is doing and copy them. Thankfully I don't need to do that (thank you brain cell 3) and nobody's done it to me - as far as I know!!! Mind, my style would be hard to imitate - mainly cause I don't have one!!!!
I have a policy statement on my pattern page which says to ask me if anybody wants to sell anything made out of my patterns. That's simply because I like to use my own designs to sell online myself but I don't mind who makes what to sell 'offline'. As if I would ever find out anyway!!!! Can you imagine me lurking around all the small shows, fairs and craft shows round the world looking to see who's using my patterns? Wouldn't that be funny? Also I wonder who would want to make them anyway as there are so many tatting patterns now available online.
Well, that's enough from me today. Yesterday I cleaned all the windows and got the geraniums in ready for winter. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, Grrrrrrrrrrrr, etc, etc.
I was thinking about you, yesterday, as I was making your seahorse pattern. (I must post it, so you can see how it turned out) Anyway I was saying what a lovely thing to be able to use original patterns for free. I haven't ever sold anything, but I promise I'll ask before I do. Who knows when I might meet you wandering around the markets of the Dordogne! You would be welcome here, in any case.
ReplyDeleteYou are such a dear person and I'm so glad to know you. I do thank you for letting me sell the things I tat from your patterns when we have one of our historical days and get to demonstrate and sell little bits of tatting. Like you said, we don't get rich from it, but is sure does help to buy more thread and beads. :)
ReplyDeleteI have often wondered about selling tatting or whatever crafts on Etsy. Others tell me I should sell my crafting. But I just don't want to make myself crazy worrying about who might copy what, who might accuse me of taking their ideas, etc. It would no longer be fun! So, I continue to collect free patterns from kind folks like you and enjoy making things for myself and my friends :) Thank you! You can come & wander craft shows in MInneapolis anytime.
ReplyDeleteHi Jane,
ReplyDeleteSo far I have not made anything from your patterns but I do sell a few things made from tatting on my craft table and you are very welcome to come and see me in Frome, somerset, we only have one saturday per month. It is lovely to think you let anyone use your patterns for free and share your skills with us.
I will ask you before I make anything in case I deceide to make for my stall, promise. Have a lovely weekend. Margaret
Margaret and Snowy the whole point about my 'stuff' is that I don't mind where it's sold as long as it's not online!!! That's my 'territory'!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Bluebird - I do like selling stuff - keeps the house less cluttered BUT I do it for fun!!! I just like the buzz when somebody decides they like what I like doing!!! If you go in with the idea of doing it for fun then it's a great way of meeting people and Etsy is SO easy to do.
Carol - you've known me long enough!!!! I'm delighted we're still friends and am SO proud of your kids. You've done a great job with both of them.
You gave me such an AH-HA moment -- I can see how keeping the house uncluttered is a good reason to sell your tatting. Mine's all stuffed in a dresser drawer, and now I need another drawer. I was looking it over the other night. You might be surprised how much stuff in the drawer is from your pattern website! Thanks, Jane.
ReplyDeleteI have yet to sell any of my tatting I usually give it away. I have a BIG drawer for what ever tatting I keep!lol. I appreciate all your tatting and tatting patterns for us to use. I really love to see how close I can get to your samples(usually not that close) but I have fun! And in my book that is what counts. Besides I LEARN a lot from every pattern I do! And than I can pass it on!
ReplyDeleteI don't see myself selling anything anytime soon, but I'm glad you do. I've got my eye on a few things . . .
ReplyDeleteI wish I was getting rich from selling on Etsy, but I continue to do it for the fun of it all. At least it encourages me to keep trying new things and gives me regular practice with my tatting. Let's hope none of us get tired of sharing the work.
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