Sep
16
2008
To use this simple method of keeping tabs on your paper products, all you need is a notebook and a pen. Or, since you’re reading this online, your good ole computer will work, too.
Write a list of code words. These can be random or follow a theme, like flowers or superheroes. Then, write one of these words on each of your coupons or gift certificates. After you decide how much each item is worth, write that value down on your list.
This makes it easy for customers to redeem their deals online. They email you with the codeword before paying, then you send a custom invoice. As each coupon is used, note the date it was voided on your list. It’s also kind of fun to know that your system is working!
Jul
23
2008
If not, here’s how to remove it!
Sometimes, no matter what you do, fur will end up on a project. The important thing is seeing it and removing it before the item is sold. These ideas work well for most fabric and yarn crafts.
Try a pass or two with the good old lint roller. I do this whether I see fur or not, just to be sure. This will remove any surface hair.
If you don’t have or can’t find the roller, remove lint and fur with packing tape. This tape is wide enough to make short work of most larger items. To do this, simply make a loop of tape with the sticky side facing outward. Gently pat the item to grab any fur or fuzz.
Jul
22
2008
Now you have clean materials and a clean workspace. What can you do about your pets? Here are some tips to keep them out of your hair while you work. For a while, anyway!
Many pets have come to see your crafting time as an opportunity for getting attention. Change that by scheduling one on one pet time before you begin to work! This means that everything takes longer, but spending time with your pets before you start working may save you time in the long run.
By giving your resident lap baby five minutes of quiet lap time followed by ten minutes of high energy play can buy at least 2 hours of pet free work time, usually more. This beats having to stop every few minutes to push an insistent nose out of the way.
Next: Creating a pet friendly spot in the work area.
Jul
21
2008
Taking time to prepare a workplace is a vital step in the quest for fur free products. These tips are good whether you live in a studio apartment or have your own studio. ( ::!jealous of you!:: )
Clear off your table and dry dust it. Of course, the cat isn’t supposed to be on the table. She was, anyway, so there’s fur on it somewhere.
Vacuum the floor in the area where you plan to work. Even though you’re probably not going to sit on floor to knit, what are the odds of your project getting dropped? Or yarn falling out of its bag or yarn saver? Right. Vacuum the floor lol
Before you put that vac away, go over the sofa or chair, too. It doesn’t matter if the dog isn’t allowed to sit there. He still does, every chance he gets.
Next: The pets themselves!
Jul
20
2008
The first step to making a ‘clean’ craft is to start with clean materials. As any pet lover can tell you, anything left out is fair game to a fuzz ball. Properly storing yarn and fabric makes a big difference.
I love those Sterilite plastic storage bins and stackable units. They’re cheap, lightweight, and have clear drawers so I can see what I have without too much digging. Keep an eye on the ‘back to college’ sales to pick these up for even less!
If you can’t afford to buy containers, just keeping materials in plastic shopping bags will work. Using paper or an index card, make a note of what’s in each bag and staple it to the outside. If it’s a hassle to find stuff, you won’t stick to this one, so the list is important.
These bags can be stored in an existing chest of drawers, closet, or even a cardboard box.
Next: Preparing a workplace!
Jul
19
2008
Have you ever seen an online shop that proudly states, “Made In A Pet Free Home”? Why is this such a selling point? What’s the big deal, anyway?
Aside from the obvious problems, like the shopper who’s allergic to cats/dogs, there are other reasons to shop with a pet-free vendor. No one wants to buy something, then find it’s covered in pet fur. Or worse, that it has certain kitty or doggie …odors.
Even a single fur can make an item seem unclean, sloppily made, or just gross. In a word, unprofessional. There’s no way pet lovers can compete, right?
Before you light up that comment box, my husband and I share an apartment with a cat. I do a lot of yarn crafts that are professionally made and finished. I do not have a studio, separate workroom, or a hog-tied cat. Never once have I received a customer complaint about fur, funk, or other common pet related crafting problems.
Check back tomorrow as I start sharing my not-so-secrets for maintaining that pet fur free record.
Jun
28
2008
Nothing ruins a gorgeous hand knit top like yarn ends that weren‘t tucked away. They draw the eye like toilet paper stuck on a shoe, marring an otherwise perfect first impression.
Making sure the yarn ends are hidden is really boring, which is why so many beginners skip it or do a halfway job. It’s also one reason why yarn and thread ends are often cut way too short. Sure, that means it’ll take less time to finish, but the chances of your month’s labor unraveling in the washer just shot through the roof. That will really make the buyer think of you kindly. Not.
Even if you don’t think finishing stuff is fun (it‘s my least favorite part), it’s still worth it to take the time before you put your things up for sale. There’s always that one customer who turns out to be an expert, or runs a craft magazine, frou-frou specialty shop, etc.
Look over every finished item as if it’s going to be on the cover of a magazine, magnified and in living color for the whole crafting community to drool over. Is it ready for its close-up?
Jun
27
2008
The only time I have ever heard the word ‘homemade’ come across as a compliment was in reference to food.
Assuming that you’re either selling your crafts or just want to improve the quality of your work, you probably don’t want to hear your finished craft creations described as homemade, but as handcrafted, or handmade.
While some people use the words homemade and handcrafted interchangeably, others are very precise. Homemade is a favorite of those who love to insult others in a way that leaves them unsure if they have really been insulted at all. In this case, ‘homemade’ is said either in a snarky, condescending way or with great effort not to laugh. Catty and hurtful, even if accurate at times!
I’m going to do a series of posts about what makes people judge various craft projects to be homemade efforts versus handcrafted artisan items. This is an important thing to understand, in part because it makes a great difference in the price the finished item can get on the market.
Some of the things I’ll cover are finishing techniques, materials used, shortcuts, consistent quality, and sales professionalism, both online and in person.
I hope you’ll add your own thoughts, whether you agree with me or not.
