Inspiring crafty & artsy books!

I love art, craft, and sewing books....I have quite the collection.

but I can't buy everything that hits my fancy...I would be soooo broke if I did.

I went to my library....and was in heaven!

I got myself a whole stack of goodies! 

Show your work is fab! 

It was recommended by Bonnie Christine in her surface pattern design class.

It was very good...so I ordered the other book called Steal like an Artist. 

Here is a page from show your work....it has lots of good advice. 

Here is one on illustrating...I just happened upon most of these books.

I did search up the "show your work" book and placed a hold.  You can search for any book at your local libraries.  I am lucky to live in a city that has lots of libraries and when you place a hold ...they will deliver it to your favorite library for you to pick up. 

This one is terrific....so many great ideas for hoops....and you know I love hoops.

Garage sales and thrift stores are full of hoops....dirt cheap! 

Here is an inside page...showing how to use it to organize. 

I love how you can just check them out...and see if the book is up your alley or not.

Then you can buy your favorites to keep! 

This one is due sooner than the others since it is new...I better get reading it! 

It is full of full learning opportunities. 

I love Bari J...I was a guest stitcher on her blog a few years back! 

Yummy home projects featuring her fabric! 

I love what the ladies are wearing...no ordinary clothes for them....they are cool!

One more thing...I had to show you my little pot of flowers on my desk....from Trader Joe's....I think it was 3 bucks...so sweet.

I love seeing the cheerful purple flowers while I work.

The pot is a keeper too...a small wooden pot....which would be good holding paperclips later.

I know my flower won't last forever...usually somewhere down the road things croak on me...lol.

I noticed stores have prim roses too...for 1.39!!  

Another good option when we all have Spring fever!

Happy Wednesday!

Come to Thrifty Thursday!  Come to the Pin me linky party!

Business advice asked

Hi!  I was asked for some business advice about my patterns and I thought you might be interested too!

A sweet lady was getting into selling patterns on etsy and wondered about how I came up with prices and asked for any advice about selling on etsy.

 

I encourage you you all to start an etsy shop....I love etsy! It is great for people who sell their finished work too!

 I love creating a pattern design once and then have the capabilities to sell it forever. I never liked making a whole bunch of one item anyway.

I like to keep my price in a medium range....not too low or people will think it is not good or a low quality item.

Also, not too high because people have a lot of expenses and they will simply say no to a high priced pattern. I would rather have have a lot of medium sales than a few high priced ones.

Instant download is the greatest....no sending the file because etsy does this for you....and no shipping or printing! Although this is just on etsy and sites like this. 

I print and ship lots of patterns too depending on the business.

Getting a following is important....people need to know about you...blog, facebook, tweet...or whatever.  If they don't know about you or your items.... they won't come...it is as simple as that. 

 Enter submissions into magazines....they pay and are great to spread the word about you and your designs. Join link parties if you blog...they get other people to see your stuff.

One more thing that is super important....or you won't make many sales. Pictures are extremely important! Take good pics with no flash and not in direct sunlight. I made a light box from an old box to take pictures in. There are all kinds of tutorials on this on the internet. If the picture is gorgeous...it will sell your pattern.

Take a pattern or several that you have at home and really look at it.  See how they style a picture, cover, supplies, info, instructions, and patterns.  This gives you lots of ideas for how you would like yours to be.

 

These are just my thoughts and opinions...made from my point of view.

 

I hope you follow your dreams....it is getting easier and easier for home based businesses now!

 

Come to to Thrifty Thursday, Party bunch, and the Pin me linky party!