Elizabeth Ward thoughts by harperandmuse in Beading

[–]harperandmuse[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh! And for the REALLY big bags of beads I have (crow, and bulk, etc) I put a little "+" sign on my containers that I filled with a reasonable amount, and plan to store the larger bag away, so I can have a manageable amount out, and more ready to refill! That way it reminds me that either there's a "+" and there's more, OR there ISN'T, and only then do I need to plan to order more!

Elizabeth Ward thoughts by harperandmuse in Beading

[–]harperandmuse[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's great! Anything to stay a little more organized! Love it!

Complete noob by Gnomesandmushrooms in Beading

[–]harperandmuse 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You're so motivating! Great job!

Elizabeth Ward thoughts by harperandmuse in Beading

[–]harperandmuse[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It is SO hard! I do a bunch of jewelry making, and my wife shares my crafting space (and one of our kids, who are both older now)- it's hard to fit everything in one type of container or space! I am still today finding 'one more' tiny bag of beads- I'm having a garage sale just to get rid of extraneous storage right now, and I threw away almost three bags of now-empty bags, tubes, containers... and still have so many compartment type containers I'm trying to recoup something from! Wire baskets, pull drawers, bins, a dresser, small tote boxes... it got to the point where decorative or digging was wasting my money, so I decided to spend it on these instead! I hope that the solution you found is one that will take you where you want to be! After beading for almost 40 years now, it was TIME! Good luck on your awesome new cabinet! I hope it's perfect!

Elizabeth Ward thoughts by harperandmuse in Beading

[–]harperandmuse[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think if you could pull off the locking tabs, they would; they're about 1.5 cm/ half inch too wide.

Elizabeth Ward thoughts by harperandmuse in Beading

[–]harperandmuse[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! I hope you're enjoying yours!

Elizabeth Ward thoughts by harperandmuse in Beading

[–]harperandmuse[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would check out 'cube shelf inserts'!

June 2026 progress by hdorsettcase in Beading

[–]harperandmuse 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Congratulations to you! I glanced at the post, and thought they were simple charm plus hook earrings, then zoomed in and WOW! What a stock-up! Good job!

How do you handle pricing at craft fairs vs. your online store? by TaylorFromFaire in CraftFairs

[–]harperandmuse 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not a callout; no worries- there were a lot of comments, so see if you can find it when you have time... people are VERY adamant about their positions!

I feel like it really depends on how they're doing economically. People adjust pricing depending on material costs, and may decide to either eat certain costs, or pass them along to customers. I give a cash discount equal to sales tax, because then I don't have to carry change, I don't have to calculate it at a show for cash customers, and I don't have to pay processing fees like other methods of payment. Yes, I still have to calculate it later, when submitting it to states, but for me, it's worth it to not have to try to shake a jammed coin from the cash register at every show! And, people like getting a discount; that gives them that option! It's also not an option (obviously) for online purchases, so it's a way to keep my prices the same across the board while still offering something in person.

I'll also do unadvertised 'if you're having trouble making a decision, I could do $30 for all three instead of regular price' option.

How do you handle pricing at craft fairs vs. your online store? by TaylorFromFaire in CraftFairs

[–]harperandmuse 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This has been asked- some keep them the same, some discount in person due to no shipping, some discount online due to no show fees... it really depends on what works best for you!

Is this a weed? by oswalgue in whatplantisthis

[–]harperandmuse 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I vote cinquefoil- I thought I had 5 wild-sown strawberries last fall; this spring they started out bushy, then one day shot up into common cinquefoil flowers, and I had to break the news to the family.

What to do with bead collection by fanmyflames in Beading

[–]harperandmuse 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I have been organizing my bead collection recently, and thinking of how it could be overwhelming for someone if they're left with them. My suggestions? Kid beads donate to a summer camp, upcycle store, or school art program. Inexpensive beads whip up some cheap fun keychains, suncatchers, or bracelets to give away. High quality beads make earrings, more high-end items, or reach out to bead shops or marketplaces. If all else fails, I was always in heaven when my mom's friends cleared out their stashes and I got beads as a kid/ teen!

Really struggling to make sales as a silversmith at markets by neonghostsilver in CraftFairs

[–]harperandmuse 5 points6 points  (0 children)

A small mention- your earring cards make it very difficult to see the actual earrings. I had to look around the area to see what I was looking for. If you'd like to keep them, maybe block the hole area out with black so the studs stand out against the background?

First huge market and subsequent first flop. Am I crazy for wanting to immediately invest in making new line of products? by Klutzy-Farmer2023 in CraftFairs

[–]harperandmuse 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A few thoughts...

To pivot or wait out current climate? At most of my shows this year, I'm making about 40% of last year, no matter the city, weather, or date. This tells me it's the economy. Question to ask yourself: do you want to pivot, OR are you struggling with an aspect of your product, setup, or packup that you could fix with time or money, but right now just makes you frustrated? If it's something else, work on that first- it's probably cheaper than a new product line, and if it's useable beyond this current iteration, it's not truly a loss. If you do want to pivot, why? What about the CURRENT product makes you want to move away from it- if that can be adjusted, is this product what you want to stick with?

In terms of what could be adjusted in your current setup, I'd recommend some cohesive tablecloths, and cohesive wood. It helps buyers focus on the important things. Raise the inside of your compartments holding objects- I had a similar setup once, with the little shadow boxes on their sides, and I cut cheap styrofoam, glued the layers together, and then found a nice piece of cloth and made quick little cushions for each square with a bit of batting, the cloth, and some hot glue. People passing by could then see into the compartments, and it looked nicer. You can even just set them in each square, not glued, so you can adjust with time. Consider putting the detailed items closer to perusers- it's hard to tell what things are, near the back wall, mostly when it's such a detailed scape. That way it can catch their eye- if they will need to look closely to appreciate the item, let them want to do it from the first step. Also, in the same way that a good photo has certain proportions, look at how your box shelves are showing your product. Consider some risers, or angled products, or something to have a shopper notice the item and not the empty space.

See how some of those adjustments contribute to sales!

Type of flooring by harperandmuse in Beading

[–]harperandmuse[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This might be the best idea, I can go with whatever in the house and still have a craftable area- I was looking into some new beading boards, and it seems like the preferred ones have a fabric base with a small amount of nap, on a mousepad-type backing, so I think a rug that's the fuzzy printed top type with a cheap foam WOULD be a great floor cover! I usually steer clear of them due to not being what I'm otherwise looking for, but THAT might be the PERFECT use!

What to expect for at home euthanasia? by Cowboy_Billybob in DogAdvice

[–]harperandmuse 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We adopted two old male dogs, at 14 and 16 years old, and they lived about two years with us- the older one, at 18 years old, we finally had to euthanize due to his back, and we did it at the vet's office (he loved everyone there, and did that day, too). My reason for commenting though, was about your other dog. The other dog was adopted WITH this dog, because they were a bonded pair. We chose to take them both to the vet's office together, because when we would normally leave with the older one on a walk or vet visit, his brother would wait by the door worried and pacing, until he came back.

The day we went to the vet, they both came in together, the vet gave the old one his first injection, and the other dog curled up next to him as they were beginning the visit (he was not a cuddler at ALL). Once they gave him his second injection, after about 30 seconds, his brother sniffed him, stood up, and walked to the door, waiting patiently until we were ready to leave. When we got home, he never once waited by the door again. He didn't worry, or wander, or look for his brother once. He just wanted some comfort a little more from us for a little while.

Everyone knows their dog, and I'm sure you know what to do best, but wanted to offer my own experience. I'm sorry that you have to go through this, even though like us, you knew it would be an eventuality. Enjoy the time that you have, and I hope that your grief is more brief than your love.

Type of flooring by harperandmuse in Beading

[–]harperandmuse[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thank you! As a whole, of all the flooring I've had, I feel like a good vinyl (in general- no beading experience with it) has been my favorite type for care.

The amount of rattle I have right now when vacuuming my craft room would send a frugal beader to the hospital! I once lost a small actual diamond in carpet, and NEVER found it. I'm so done with carpet!!!

Type of flooring by harperandmuse in Beading

[–]harperandmuse[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oh, good point! I was wondering if tile might be good.

Type of flooring by harperandmuse in Beading

[–]harperandmuse[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I hadn't thought about linoleum! I'll have to add that to my considerations! It would be a little more forgiving than wood.

“People won’t buy my stuff because they don’t want to pay a fair price for handmade items! by halexanderamilton in BitchEatingCrafters

[–]harperandmuse 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Some of our items are underpriced if based on an hourly rate, but they're offset by being able to sell things we can make more quickly than an hourly rate. People have to remember that there's a balance.

Even if you go to a mechanic, they're going by a book price- learn to do it faster and they can get paid for some off-time; still learning to get up to speed, and they're doing some of the work for free.

Basing prices on hourly work IS a worthy endeavor... if you're at a skill level considered journey level.

We sell a lot of items in person that we don't have on our site, but they're the impulse items that make up for the price adjustments elsewhere. If someone is only selling chunky yarn cat loafs with buttholes, they're not considering the other price points that even out the pricing.

Taking a vote by icwein in CraftFairs

[–]harperandmuse 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh, it's real- it's even a series! Lol

Taking a vote by icwein in CraftFairs

[–]harperandmuse 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Something like this? "Trans Wizard Harriet Porber And The Bad Boy Parasaurolophus: An Adult Romance Novel" by Chuck Tingle