Handmaiden

Pricing Parameters

Last year I wrote about pricing your products for Etsy.

Some other areas you need to think about when pricing include:

1. Wholesale vs Retail Pricing

If you are in a position to wholesale your products be sure that you are selling at retail at the same price that your wholesale trade retails. You do not want to undersell your wholesale trade or you may lose them as a distributor. Wholesalers will typically double your price to them (that’s typically called the list price).

2. Discounting/Sales

I am not a fan of discounting. It suggests you have either too much stock or products are not selling and can undermine your ongoing sales price. But sometimes clearances are necessary. Be creative, how can you add value to your clearances without discounting. Think about 3 for 2, bonus items, gift certificate for next purchase, bundling of products into special gifting packs, special posting rates

3. Exchange rate

A number of crafters have had issues in the past few months in dealing with the reducing exchange rate. In large consumer goods companies an exchange rate is fixed based typically on a pessimistic rate. Companies do not change their wholesale or retail prices on a day to day basis to reflect currency exchange rates. If you are operating in Australia do your product costings in Australian dollars and then use an appropriate exchange rate to convert into $US. On average the $A to $US exchange rate for the last 10 years has been A$0.70 to 0.72. Pick an appropriate exchange rate to protect yourself against any volatility in exchange rates.

For other Crafty resources check here

   

Goodluck

Sharon

Pattern Making

On the weekend I did a one day patternmaking course at the CAE. I can recommend it to anyone who is interested in progressing their skills.

 

Learning how to use a tracing wheel...if you do buy one get one that is very sharp, I can recommend buying it at RJ Harvey's in the Nicholas Building 

 

We learnt how to accomodate darts in patternmaking

 

I decided to trace a pattern off my fav skirt. Harder than I thought as each panel was different so I traced 11 panels for this gored wrap skirt plus waistband and straps. Now to find some lightweight Lawn to duplicate it. I am thinking of a beautiful Liberty print might be the way to go.

   

I just layed out the pieces on the carpet to estimate how much material I will need - 3 metres

A new summer skirt to be added to the To-do list

Sharon

EyeSpy

A discovery....... has been chosen by The Byron Life  for this week's theme.

I have discovered Google Maps.......you can type in an address and see a street view. This is my old  street in West London on a sunny day. You can use it to find a map and directions to get to a local address.

 

Google Earth allows you to fly to anywhere in the world after you download some software. This is Melbourne and you can get closer than this if you wish. This view shows the Melbourne Grand Prix track around Albert Park as well. I have been flying to Singapore, London and the Middle East and checking out Qatar where I may be living part time

   

Have a look and play armchair tourist in a new fun way

Thanks as always to Cindy for hosting

Sharon

Second Bite

Last year I blogged about the amount of food wastage we have.

I have come across this wonderful site called Second Bite. From their website their aim is "committed to making a positive difference by sourcing fresh nutritious food that would otherwise go to waste and redistributing it to people who are homeless, living in disadvantaged circumstances or experiencing food security* issues within the community."

They are also supporting the bushfire relief with delivery of fresh food to fire devasted areas.

Here is an update on their work

"SecondBite was asked to be a part of the first convoy permitted up to Kinglake. The devastation was not easy to witness. However we were able to deliver fresh fruit, UHT milk, bread and cereal up to Kinglake for the few residents that had decided to stay but who were not permitted to leave. The residents were noticeably moved and overwhelmed with the generosity of the public and the supplies that were being delivered.

Everyday since, SecondBite has collected and re-distributed over 2 tonnes of essential produce to the communities affected by the fires, bringing the total to over 9 tonnes in just 4 days.

Below are some examples of what has been distributed:-

Fresh Fruit 2 tonnes
Meat for BBQ 3 tonnes steak/chops/sausages
Bacon 750kg’s
UHT Milk 500 litres
Cheese/tinned tuna/muesli bars/cereal/muffins/fruit juice/salad"

Sharon

Sashiko Stenciling Tutorial

I love my sashiko but I am keen to move my skills forward after all my samplers I have been making into placemats

I found some great patterns from a book called Sashiko Style - Traditional Japanese Patterns for Contemporary Design by Japan Publications Trading

So I have started this new project  - a table runner in traditional indigo blue cotton with my own design stencilled on. I am using the Clover Charco Stencil Paper and my Clover Hera to stencil it on plus a metal ruler.

The pattern I am using is Hemp Leaf and I have this pattern that I am using as the basis for my design. I am using my spice containers to use as weights. Place your base fabric down then your stencil paper and then your pattern to be traced.

This is the pattern now stencilled..........I have gone over it again with tailors chalk as I found the charco paper stencil very light, especially pink on blue. But it's looking good.....now to the sashiko.

Work in progress

   

 

And I had to show you the back as its quite beautiful in its own right

 

This is the completed runner. I have to line it now to finish off the edges.

For a tutorial on how to do Sashiko stitching see here. If you would like to see more photos visit the Sashiko Flickr pool here.

And for a sneak peek of what I am working on now

Sharon

Auburn Village

Had a great stroll around Auburn Village shops yesterday. Years ago I lived nearby but its changed alot with some great independent homewares, clothing and gifting stores.

One of my favs was Est with handmade soaps and bath products that she makes onsite.

   

Fabulous cotton and linen teatowels, aprons and threads and beautiful wraps and scarves

Plus who else should I find but my favourite Betty Jo creations

  

Then found myself in the beautiful Ma Maison with gorgeous bridal gifts

 

Including Kate Spade New York dinnerware and these fabulous sculptural chocolates from Sisko

 

These petals are individually attached to make this chocolate creation....better shots on their website gallery. I am thinking this would be a talking point as a centerpiece at my next dinner party.

 

Sharon

Jet Black

While in Melbourne I seem to concentrate on my jewellery making as my sewing machine is in Singapore

This is the Celine bracelet in opaque jet black with sterling silver toggle clasp

 

 

Fern Bracelet using Czech glass drops and Tara Swarovski pearl necklace in Silver

 

 

Hope you like them

Sharon

 

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Crafty Podcasts/Vodcasts and More

Are you listening or watching Craft podcasts yet?

You just need to download the itunes software on your computer and then you have access to a wide range of categories to watch on your computer or download onto your Ipod.

A list of some of my favourite Podcast sites........ perhaps they might become your favourite too.

Craftsanity

Crafted By Us

CraftyPod

Craftcast

DIY Style 

For some crafty business links have a look at:

Own It = Intellectual Property Advice  

Within the Itunes store I also like the ability to download for free vodcasts of some fav aussie shows that I dont get in Singapore like:

The Cook and the Chef

First Tuesday Book Club

Sunday Arts

At The Movies

and Radio Podcasts are a fav too, like:

The Conversation Hour with John Faine

Are you doing it yet? Do you have any favourites you can share with me?

Sharon

Love Weddings

Who doesn't love a wedding...especially when it's a family member, this time my nephew.

married at The Convent at Daylesford

 

My family says I never put enough people or myself on my blog, so here we all are!

 

 

The cake looked amazing - mud cake with a white chocolate icing layer decorated with fresh Peonies

 

Sharon

EyeSpy

Thanks to Beyond Pink and Blue for this week's theme 

"Something in my Backyard"

I live in an apartment with a balcony and because I travel between Melbourne and Singapore I don't even have the opportunity to have pot plants.

However, because I have the Botanical Gardens on my doorstep I like to treat the gardens as my backyard. So here are some of my favourite photos I have taken when I have been walking

   

   

 

 

for other players see Cindy here

Sharon