Rainbow Earrings by CLONE HARDWARE
Red Leather Bow by EmbellishedLife
Ruby Slippers by Bunderful
Vintage Picnic Basket by Tom Laurus

serene sky blue, decorative landscape handmade paper bowl, large size

Handmade Paper Bowls: I learned about papermaking in 4-H. For whatever reason, somewhere around 2003 I decided that making handmade paper moulded into the shape of a bowl would be a nifty Christmas present. And that’s where this one started…

tilling - 5X7 inch framed assemblage by Sarah Knight, earthworms worms dirt brown picture frame

Weird things…
I was always a weird kid, I guess. My sister is a math nerd, so the slot for weirdness was wide open. I originally made the worms for a project for my AP art class in high school. I created this character called “Calvin with worms.” Yes, subtle, right? Anyway, Calvin was purple, and bald, and being decomposed by worms. *Author’s note: Calvin was originally named Elmo, but “Tickle Me Elmo” was huge at that moment, so there was a name change. *
Anyway, for whatever reason, 14 years later I found myself standing in the craft store buying polymer clay — so yes: worm earrings, worm necklaces, worm assemblages, and worm art for your walls. Worms are versatile.

Lizard barrette, weird funky kitsch Halloween hair accessory in dark green, Teagan the short tail lizard

Lizard Barrettes: I have a thing for frogs and turtles and lizards — I think they’re cool. So, every year at Halloween I wear the same costume — which is a glorified robe with plastic lizards sewn to it, and I also have a collection of lizards and spiders glued to barrettes that I wear in my hair. Always freaks out some unsuspecting toddler who stumbles up my front porch for candy, but, well, those are the chances you take when you’re young and you want a handful of tootsie rolls, smarties, and sweet tarts. Hey, I like those candies. Anyway, if it’s lasted as my Halloween costume for 10 years, then why not share it with the world. Plus, yes, that is actually me in those photos; I’m the one wearing the barrette, not the plastic lizard. No one promised you good jokes just because you read this much.

check out Sarah’s shop & catch her here…

http://www.etsy.com/shop/sarahknight
twitter: http://twitter.com/SunshineSight
blog: http://www.plasticacid.blogspot.com/
tumblr: http://sunshinesight.tumblr.com/

In this era of mass production and mass consumption, it’s something of a radical statement to pick up a thimble and thread, crochet hook or bead wire and engage in crafting on your own terms. More and more people are taking this stand and nothing evidences this change in the status quo more than the revival of craft fairs and handmade markets. Long typecast as old fashioned and grandmotherly, craft fairs are now lively gathering spots in hipster and art cultures. Gone are the dried flowers and gift baskets; here to stay are the knitting needles and glue guns. Although the people behind the craft fair revival are largely in their 20s and 30s, their audience reaches beyond those generations.

Craft fairs and handmade markets are an introduction to the retail market for many creative business owners. With a “meet, greet and compete” spirit, they’re not just about selling but about congregating with other creative minds to exchange ideas and techniques. Handmade markets are a great arena for new sellers to test their prices and good in the market, get feedback and reactions from clients and peers, acquire ideas for products and booth displays, and practice customer service skills.

Remember that most people attending craft fairs aren’t looking for something specific. they’re searching for something that catches their eye and speaks to them – something cute, cool or unusual. You will need to prime your goods to be picked, so spruce up your table and make it enticing and approachable.

Be constantly on the look out for display craft ideas. Your best source for unusual or particularly unique ideas may be your local second hand shop or hardware store. Check out every arts and craft show that you attend. It always amazes me the amount of creativity that crafters and artisans have. And while you are not out to “steal” their display craft ideas, there is often something that you can take and modify to suit your own product display.

Keep in mind that your potential customers don’t want to have to work to see your work. Unless you have very large products, keep your displays off the floor and closer to eye level. When your customer enters the booth they should be able to easily see your best sellers. If you are using tables then add some height at the back and layer down towards the front.

Think about the best way to display craft, particularly your own product. And then determine what you need. Do you need back or side walls? Do any or all of the walls have to be solid? Would a backdrop made from fabric or pipe and drape work? Do you need tables or is shelving more appropriate?

Try not to clutter, particularly near the front of your booth. Keep the entrance open and clean. Make it easy for your customer to enter, walk around and exit your booth. Your traffic flow is very important as most people won’t enter a booth if they feel they will be “trapped” and unable to escape easily.

Lastly, since customer shop better when there is an ample selection of goods, whenever someone purchases an tiem, you should replenish the stock. You NEVER was your table to run out of inventory.

Starstruck Mineral Eyeshadow by maplecreeksoap
Nervous System Ring by nervoussystem
1950s Cocktail Dress by BlytheHopesVintage
Pale Blue Resistor Earrings by CloneHardware

As a start-up, it can be tempting to cut costs wherever possible.  After all, you’d rather spend money on making the product great rather than the packaging that houses it.  The problem is, just as sales clerks provide the first point of contact for a retail location, your packaging is the first impression customers have of your product.  In short, if the customer starts out disappointed, it may not matter how great your product is.  You’ve no doubt heard the phrase, “You had me at hello.”  This is a mantra you should adopt for your business.  When the customer opens a box with your package inside, they should be wowed right out of the starting gate.

So how do you accomplish this “wow” factor?  You’ll first want to consider the overall goals and aesthetics of your company.  My company Clone Hardware, for example, combines both a high-tech and utilitarian aesthetic, with a more artistic & Eco friendly flair. I hand write note cards on 100% recycled and soy printed paper, recycled used calendar & magazine covers into quirky envelopes and package each piece of jewelry in a 4 x 4 anti-static bag for electronics. Sound like a lot? from the right suppliers this doesn’t have to cost a lot – but it does show your customers that your care about your product and believe in your company.

If, on the other hand, you are selling your personal artwork or crafts, you’ll probably want to take a different approach.  Certainly the packaging should remain functional; art can be just as delicate as the tiniest microchip or flimsiest motherboard.  However, you could use tissue or batting for cushion instead of, say, bubble wrap.  And you can place your items in appealing and decorative boxes with more of an organic than a geometric feel to the design.  You should make your package so appealing that the customer will actually hesitate to open it, marveling at the artistry of the arrangement.

The point is, you want to put a little of your brand magic into every piece of your package, not just the product.  Customers should feel your hand in every detail and recognize the quality of your label, regardless of whether they’re handling the item they purchased or the package it came in.  By making your packaging fit in as part of an integrated whole, you’re going to show consumers that your brand is synonymous with quality and care.  That’s a pretty good place for any business to start.

Edible Candy Gears

Now that your craft is a business, production will be the lifeline of your company. In the beginning, it’s likely that you will be doing the majority of the manufacturing yourself, so devise ways to streamline your process in order to efficiently increase production. Start by breaking your process into smaller set tasks, and then find ways to simplify each task. Soon you’ll have your production down to a mini-assembly line.

Tips for Efficient Production

• Learn your craft well to maximize your working speed
• Set quotas for yourself
• Find the most efficient procedure to complete your project
• Create and assembly line and arrange productions steps in sequential order
• Have your tools and materials handy and in one location to avoid moving around too much while you’re producing
• Organize your work space
• Batch your tasks – don’t make products one by one

The most elemental and non-changing of all color combinations are the classics: the many nuances of those elements that are ever-present in nature – of pebbles, rocks, stones, caverns and caves. They symbolize the antiquity of weathered buildings and anicent monuments, sand and sphinx. These are neutral tones that go beyond the simplest beiges, grays and taupes in the barely perceptual mineral shades, yet at the same time, include the most basic of all combinations, the fundamental simplicity of black and white.

Silver or Gold Sequined Bolero ShrugVintage Triple Strand Necklace Gold BeadsRetro dressByzantine Chainmaille Bracelet

Byzantine Chainmaille Bracelet 3D Butterfly Art

Drilled Stone Pebble and Sea Slag Glass Jewelry

Southwestern Tshirt, Roadrunner by Caustic Threads
Vintage Map Necklace Austin Texas by SherryTruitt
Hand Tooled Saddle Design Purse by Vince Smith
Teal Resistor Hoop Earrings by Clonehardware

As uninhibited as the kids who love them, these extroverted brights are for the kids
within all of us. A mix of vibrant warms and cools from every color family, their intense
vitaility expresses movement, activity, exuberance and above all, unrestrained joy.

Bright Colors Earrings with Chalcedony

fabric mouse pad

Mini star confetti neon

Bright flower hairpin set.