This too, shall pass.......

yarnpirate, check this out. Saw it and immediately thought of you (wonder why ^_~)

So the fair is now over and done with. I've sold some of my stuff, which was nice. And I'm left with a whole lot more then I bargained for, which isn't so nice. However. I've come away from the weekend with a whole new bunch of ideas for stuff I want to make. Either for myself, for friends and/or family, or even to sell. I've got so many ideas swirling in this little head of mine, it's almost dizzying. From what little feedback I got at the actual fair, it seems that people like scarves (and that I could actually market them higher then I did), and also that there might be a market for shawls, wraps and the like. I've been dying to try my hand at lace knitting, ever since the Knitpicks catalogue came in, so I'm thinking I might just try it next year, and see if it sells. If it doesn't, no harm done, because I want some for myself anyway, and I know Trina at least would appreciate a shawl as well, and use it.

Also, as weird as it was, since last year I also sold them, I was told by a customer that my winecharms were very nice, and worth way more then I was charging for them. I think I had them at $1.75 or something, because they just were not selling. elfie_chan, they're similar to the ones you and Alex got last year, or the year before. So maybe I should up them in price again next year? I don't know. I had them at $5, I think, last year, and I didn't sell a single one. This year, at the lower price, I sold 2 sets *shrugs*. I don't know, I hate pricing!

Next year, we've also decided to market the fact that we can take custom orders for most anything we sell. We sort of did that on the second day this year, but not very well. I believe it can be done better. Also, I'm thinking we should have business cards (which we can make, no problem), readily available. Maybe even give them out with every purchase. A better order form will also be needed. Something to think about.
Something that seemed to work well this year, was the free candy cane with every purchase, though next year we'll make it with a minimum purchase required.

We also want to make more chocolates, as in different kinds. They didn't sell as well this year as they did last year, but they did sell steadily. And for some reason, I think they'll continue to do so in the future. We've also got a ton of ideas for those. I will need to get more nice bags though, as I finally ran out this year. No big deal. Aside from the chocolates though, I'm not sure we'll be doing a lot with candy again. The wreaths I made were admired, but no one bought one. A lot of work, not worth it if it doesn't sell. It's not like it's something I can gift away to anyone (well, except my sister in law, she loves them).

We're also going to be making more bookmarks, and different kinds. Trina suggested a bookmark that has several strands, so she can use it in her bible. I think she might be on to something, but to try it out, we'll make one for her for Christmas, and then see what the feedback is on it.

I also want to take more and better pictures of everything we make. I think it'll help us in the future.

The snowman signs did sell very well this year. I'm thinking of making more for next year, maybe even make them myself, instead of using a kit. I also have the Thanksgiving one still, that needs finishing. I think those will do well too. Weird thing is, the signs didn't do well the year before.

I don't think I'll be making the suncatchers again. They did sell out this year (though none sold last year), but only because the kids wanted to get the free candy cane. Not something that makes me want to make more.

I wonder if there is any way to set up for being able to take credit cards. There were a few people that asked if we took them or not, so might be worth looking into. I know we have Paypal and can do it through it, but we don't exactly have the capacity for that at the fair.

Next year I want to try and figure out better displays. I've already got a quiltrack (or will have, once I pick it up tomorrow. Yay Freecycle!), and am thinking that maybe a mannequin would be a good idea as well. Also, a few vendors had stuff on their table, kind of like arches, which looked nice. I'm thinking of copying the idea and decorating the arches so they look more Christmas-ey. Alternatively, I'm thinking of getting some mini Christmas trees, to better display the ornaments for sale. You couldn't see those really well this time. Hanging them up wout make them more noticable.

Something else I've noticed, again, is that we need something behind the tables as well. Something to better organize where we're at, and also to better enable Dustin to do his bead-work while at the fair. Not entirely sure how to manage that one, but there's a whole year to work on that. I will be bringing better chairs next time though, my back does not like sitting on the church folding chairs for hours at a time. Especially not two days in a row!

I also have a couple of ideas for ornaments to make for next year. Now that we have a sewing machine, that may actually happen. Also, I want to make some things that I used to make in Denmark. I should be able to remember how to do them, as long as I can get a hold of everything I need. Which shouldn't be too big of a problem, I don't think.

I can't think of anything else at the moment, but then I'm getting a bit tired. So for now I'll post this as is, and come back to it when I've got anything to add. Please feel free to comment with suggestions/ideas of any sort. Thanks ^_^

Well, since I can't knit yet, I've been consoling myself with my embriodery. It's the same one I've been working on since last year. What can I say, knitting took over ^_~. The design is the same as part of brightshadowsky's background on LJ. It'll be in light blue and a sandy/beige color once it's done. The outlining of it is in darkblue. So far, I'm liking it. I'm almost halfway done with the lightblue, the dark, of course, is already finished. No clue what I'll do with it once it's finished though. It's on some linen (I think it's linen anyway) cloth, as it was just for practiise, but I should like to put it to use when it's done. Anyone have any ideas?
I will admit. It's kind of nice to be doing something other then knitting. But I still have the knitting bug very badly and am still itching to pick up my needles. But oh, just to see something emerge from my own two hands! I love that feeling! There's nothing quite like it.
I still want to learn to sew. If only I could kick Dustin's butt in gear so he can check the sewing machine out and set it up and everything. I've got some old jeans that are just begging to be made into a quilt. I know, I won't have enough for the whole thing, but it'll be enough to start with. And if any of my friends have any jeans they no longer wear for one reason or another, but still has plenty of usable fabric left on it, and you don't have any plans for recycling them yourself, I would welcome them. I've already got a ton of jeans, but hey, a quilt takes a lot of fabric ^_~.