Did you read my mind Izzy?! This really IS the quandry of the creative life isn’t it and I’m exactly where you are. Everything I read is follow the passion and the £££ will come later. At some point. Maybe? 🤔 or maybe not? Or never?! Right now I’m in a similar place where online selling is the Wild West, getting a ‘proper job’ fills me with nausea, and the thought of craft and art fairs drain the life out of me. All while the artwork stacks up gathering dust in the corner! I’m experimenting with the whole content creation thing now - teaching, videos, substack subscriptions etc because I genuinely enjoy it (not as much as the actual art making but it’s a close second). I’ve no answers yet but I’ll report back. Just know that you’re not alone with this dilemma. Xx
I totally agree..we love to make even if we know it's unlikely we can sell everything - and it takes up room and collects dust!!
I love clothes making, especially using patterns that challenge my skills. However, I definitely don't need any more clothes and I ran out of suitable wardrobe space long ago which now means a floordrobe on my workroom and, I'm ashamed to say, a chairdrobe in our bedroom.
No matter the outcome, the lure of makling is just too great.
I'd love to try a few upmarket school fairs but they're expensive and need public liability insurance - too expensive and too much hassle to arrange.
Sadly, I don't have an answer 😭
Maybe a G&T will be needed with the next coffee meet up 🍸🍸🍸
I thought you might understand!! I have a series of basketdrobes now…portable!! Yes as always to coffee - that can be my treat for surviving this week (battling my internal resistance to filming plus big family manoeuvres).
I pick a few things every so often and pop them in a sale online via my website, once I did a massive Fire Sale with bargain pricing for 6 days and threatened to film myself burning anything left over (I really upset the environmentalists) but everything sold and nothing got burned (honestly I wouldn’t have done it!)
Ooh, feisty🔥!! And yep, that's half the problem - I don't have a shop or shopify! Another thing on the 'how when and how again' list!! I can't keep up with it all, so I just stick it in the cupboard...
Oh, and I completely forgot, the same week that you wrote this, what was I doing? A weaving workshop using a cardboard loom! I must find it again and complete it.........when I get a minute or two!
Yup, that sounds like a description of me! I am going to do an Open Studios event this summer now that I have a workshop to do it in, it's 4 days, and I'll no doubt feel I've had enough by the end of it.
I did well out of a Christmas Craft event that a friend set up in a small empty shop for 6 weeks which didn't involve me having to do any work - she took a small commission from sales and that worked really well for most of the crafters who provided stock. I haven't the energy or patience for Craft Markets any more, and the one Farmer's Market on our island is v. expensive to have a table at, so it's out as far as I'm concerned.
Family and friends are always wondering what weird and wonderful gifts they'll get for birthdays and Christmas, that is at least a way of recycling some of what I make!
The Christmas event sounds perfect - a venue, but no need to ‘man the stall’! We have a shop just opened up that does something similar…but she’s charging a lot of money for a shelf, and I’m not convinced she’s getting the footfall…When in doubt, I make cards from all my old pieces! I’ve run out of people to gift things too!
It really was, and thank heavens for the lovely girl who came up with the idea. She's an artist and was selling her own work too, so it worked out very well for her and for us too, and I think we'd all be delighted if she would do it again during the summer. She has a couple of young boys in school though, so it's probably not a practical option for her, though I'm going to go and chat to her soon to see what she's saying.
I really don't like the "charge for a shelf" set up. I had a shelf in a craft jewellers shop in an Arts and Crafts area of Glasgow some years ago, and they advertised for a few more craft jewellers to join them. It sounded great, a presence in Glasgow for no physical effort on my part, just what seemed a reasonable rental - I live on an island and daily commuting just wasn't possible anyway - but although it sounded like a wonderful opportunity, it really wasn't. They didn't do any of the advertising of my, and others' work that they said they would, and it turned out they just needed additional income to cover their rent/costs and weren't really interested in anyone else's work. They ceased to trade after about 6 months.
We have a shop on the island now doing the same, and it's crammed with crafter's work to the extent that you can hardly see any of it, and they're not open much as they seem to prefer going to Beer Festivals! They can afford to with all the money they're making from the shelf rents! Needless to say, I didn't take up their offer of a shelf when asked, once bitten, twice shy!
It is a problem as to how to sell your makes, galleries in the UK take 40 - 50% + VAT (20%) of the selling price of anything you have in them, hence the very high prices normally found there. Many shops have a 100% mark up rate, which again for many hand made items is just prohibitive.
We had the opportunity on the island to pitch our goods to the National Trust - an organisation that looks after, preserves and restores places like castles and stately homes and gardens, in the UK. They all have a shop area, but sell the same items regardless of where the property is situated in the UK. We've always thought that there should be local art/craft work for sale in the local property, and we did meet with their buyer (for the whole of Scotland) and some craft work was accepted, but by the next year, they decided not to take that approach again, as it was too much hassle and work for the buyer to deal with individuals, as their normal stock - though very nice and classy - is bought from large companies used to wholesaleing. It all turned out to be rather disheartening somehow. But, what it shows is that there are ways and means to do sales that do work, though there can be a lot of trials and tribulations - not to mention expense - trying to work out what's the best option for each of us.
Sorry, this has turned into a bit of a diatribe! I'll get off my soapbox now!
No worries at all, it's all interesting data and we can all learn something from your experience! I think a lot also depends on the type of area you're in. If I lived about half an hour away, I'd be in peak 'down-from-London' territory and things would be very different indeed. This just isn't an 'arty' town. Whenever a high street shop becomes vacant, the most popular choice for what people would like to see (judging by the local Facebook groups) is either fast food, fast fashion or an Argos 😭
I know the feeling of producing a beautiful piece. Everybody likes it but their money has another direction to go in. So another bit of yourself ends up in the ‘done’ pile until you produce your next masterpiece.
There’s just not enough people who want to or can buy our art in its present form. They have to have something ‘useful’ to justify the outlay!
So, I’m afraid, you are going to have to turn your art pieces into Tote Bags and they’ll sell like hot cakes and you will get a monetary reward and the pile of art in the corner of the studio will be gone!! 😂🤣
I deeply understand the blocks!! But I also want to share my cardboard loom story. I’ve made and used them too. I made my parents a little wall hanging portraying my childhood home, which they put on the wall of their new home.
One of my mother’s friends asked about it.
“Oh, Celeste wove that.”
“What sort of loom did she use?”
“She made a loom out of cardboard.”
“Does it work?”
All this to say, cardboard looms to work, and the little tangents that keep our creativity cracking are 100% worth it.
Retired and thought next endeavor would allow me to evolve surrounded by everything art, selling, creating, teaching. Then a darned, unplanned financial obstacle and few healing mishaps. Let go of many crates full of supplies to summer camps, now just be happy to create and drop and hide pieces like painted rocks to brighten the world. Etsy was once such a magical place, brought many a gift. If I sold again, I'd love the atmosphere of local farmer's markets maybe. Ps buttons for potatoes, someone comically commented on high priced eggs "I'm coloring potatoes this year." Just thinking.😂
These things always seem to take us by surprise. We should in fact be more surprised if things panned out how we planned! And it’s good that your supplies have gone to help others explore their creativity, nothings ever a waste. I love the idea of leaving little painted pebbles for others to discover, too!
Ha! I think I might be one of the few people who could have guessed the real reason for what is blocking you because I have the same problem! Two huge plastic crates full of teaching samples anyone... quite nice but I don't want them! Now I'm retired the money isn't so much of an issue (although age is) but there's still the compulsion to make stuff. No answers for you I'm afraid but do let me know if you discover the secret of what to do with all the STUFF!
Several things occur to me.
1. Although it may not come naturally to believe it, you are a real proper artist.
2. Van Gogh only ever sold one painting (to his brother).
3. Making things is a compulsion and it's good for us.
Money?...ah yes..useful stuff...
Did you read my mind Izzy?! This really IS the quandry of the creative life isn’t it and I’m exactly where you are. Everything I read is follow the passion and the £££ will come later. At some point. Maybe? 🤔 or maybe not? Or never?! Right now I’m in a similar place where online selling is the Wild West, getting a ‘proper job’ fills me with nausea, and the thought of craft and art fairs drain the life out of me. All while the artwork stacks up gathering dust in the corner! I’m experimenting with the whole content creation thing now - teaching, videos, substack subscriptions etc because I genuinely enjoy it (not as much as the actual art making but it’s a close second). I’ve no answers yet but I’ll report back. Just know that you’re not alone with this dilemma. Xx
Oh my!! So glad I’m not alone, with all of this (esp the craft fair aversion 🤢😅)
Exactly!! (And thank you ☺️)
I totally agree..we love to make even if we know it's unlikely we can sell everything - and it takes up room and collects dust!!
I love clothes making, especially using patterns that challenge my skills. However, I definitely don't need any more clothes and I ran out of suitable wardrobe space long ago which now means a floordrobe on my workroom and, I'm ashamed to say, a chairdrobe in our bedroom.
No matter the outcome, the lure of makling is just too great.
I'd love to try a few upmarket school fairs but they're expensive and need public liability insurance - too expensive and too much hassle to arrange.
Sadly, I don't have an answer 😭
Maybe a G&T will be needed with the next coffee meet up 🍸🍸🍸
I thought you might understand!! I have a series of basketdrobes now…portable!! Yes as always to coffee - that can be my treat for surviving this week (battling my internal resistance to filming plus big family manoeuvres).
I actually know nothing about cardboard looms. Thank goodness, as that would produce yet another pile in the corner of the studio! 👏🏽🤷🏽♀️
They’re terribly easy…
I pick a few things every so often and pop them in a sale online via my website, once I did a massive Fire Sale with bargain pricing for 6 days and threatened to film myself burning anything left over (I really upset the environmentalists) but everything sold and nothing got burned (honestly I wouldn’t have done it!)
Ooh, feisty🔥!! And yep, that's half the problem - I don't have a shop or shopify! Another thing on the 'how when and how again' list!! I can't keep up with it all, so I just stick it in the cupboard...
Oh, and I completely forgot, the same week that you wrote this, what was I doing? A weaving workshop using a cardboard loom! I must find it again and complete it.........when I get a minute or two!
If you finish yours, I’ll finish mine…I have two unfinisheds now!
Hmmm..........well I certainly mean to finish it, I'll let you know!
Yup, that sounds like a description of me! I am going to do an Open Studios event this summer now that I have a workshop to do it in, it's 4 days, and I'll no doubt feel I've had enough by the end of it.
I did well out of a Christmas Craft event that a friend set up in a small empty shop for 6 weeks which didn't involve me having to do any work - she took a small commission from sales and that worked really well for most of the crafters who provided stock. I haven't the energy or patience for Craft Markets any more, and the one Farmer's Market on our island is v. expensive to have a table at, so it's out as far as I'm concerned.
Family and friends are always wondering what weird and wonderful gifts they'll get for birthdays and Christmas, that is at least a way of recycling some of what I make!
The Christmas event sounds perfect - a venue, but no need to ‘man the stall’! We have a shop just opened up that does something similar…but she’s charging a lot of money for a shelf, and I’m not convinced she’s getting the footfall…When in doubt, I make cards from all my old pieces! I’ve run out of people to gift things too!
It really was, and thank heavens for the lovely girl who came up with the idea. She's an artist and was selling her own work too, so it worked out very well for her and for us too, and I think we'd all be delighted if she would do it again during the summer. She has a couple of young boys in school though, so it's probably not a practical option for her, though I'm going to go and chat to her soon to see what she's saying.
I really don't like the "charge for a shelf" set up. I had a shelf in a craft jewellers shop in an Arts and Crafts area of Glasgow some years ago, and they advertised for a few more craft jewellers to join them. It sounded great, a presence in Glasgow for no physical effort on my part, just what seemed a reasonable rental - I live on an island and daily commuting just wasn't possible anyway - but although it sounded like a wonderful opportunity, it really wasn't. They didn't do any of the advertising of my, and others' work that they said they would, and it turned out they just needed additional income to cover their rent/costs and weren't really interested in anyone else's work. They ceased to trade after about 6 months.
We have a shop on the island now doing the same, and it's crammed with crafter's work to the extent that you can hardly see any of it, and they're not open much as they seem to prefer going to Beer Festivals! They can afford to with all the money they're making from the shelf rents! Needless to say, I didn't take up their offer of a shelf when asked, once bitten, twice shy!
It is a problem as to how to sell your makes, galleries in the UK take 40 - 50% + VAT (20%) of the selling price of anything you have in them, hence the very high prices normally found there. Many shops have a 100% mark up rate, which again for many hand made items is just prohibitive.
We had the opportunity on the island to pitch our goods to the National Trust - an organisation that looks after, preserves and restores places like castles and stately homes and gardens, in the UK. They all have a shop area, but sell the same items regardless of where the property is situated in the UK. We've always thought that there should be local art/craft work for sale in the local property, and we did meet with their buyer (for the whole of Scotland) and some craft work was accepted, but by the next year, they decided not to take that approach again, as it was too much hassle and work for the buyer to deal with individuals, as their normal stock - though very nice and classy - is bought from large companies used to wholesaleing. It all turned out to be rather disheartening somehow. But, what it shows is that there are ways and means to do sales that do work, though there can be a lot of trials and tribulations - not to mention expense - trying to work out what's the best option for each of us.
Sorry, this has turned into a bit of a diatribe! I'll get off my soapbox now!
No worries at all, it's all interesting data and we can all learn something from your experience! I think a lot also depends on the type of area you're in. If I lived about half an hour away, I'd be in peak 'down-from-London' territory and things would be very different indeed. This just isn't an 'arty' town. Whenever a high street shop becomes vacant, the most popular choice for what people would like to see (judging by the local Facebook groups) is either fast food, fast fashion or an Argos 😭
I know the feeling of producing a beautiful piece. Everybody likes it but their money has another direction to go in. So another bit of yourself ends up in the ‘done’ pile until you produce your next masterpiece.
There’s just not enough people who want to or can buy our art in its present form. They have to have something ‘useful’ to justify the outlay!
So, I’m afraid, you are going to have to turn your art pieces into Tote Bags and they’ll sell like hot cakes and you will get a monetary reward and the pile of art in the corner of the studio will be gone!! 😂🤣
Just kidding but it is a thought……………………
😂 I like your thinking, that could work!
I deeply understand the blocks!! But I also want to share my cardboard loom story. I’ve made and used them too. I made my parents a little wall hanging portraying my childhood home, which they put on the wall of their new home.
One of my mother’s friends asked about it.
“Oh, Celeste wove that.”
“What sort of loom did she use?”
“She made a loom out of cardboard.”
“Does it work?”
All this to say, cardboard looms to work, and the little tangents that keep our creativity cracking are 100% worth it.
I LOVE that!!
Retired and thought next endeavor would allow me to evolve surrounded by everything art, selling, creating, teaching. Then a darned, unplanned financial obstacle and few healing mishaps. Let go of many crates full of supplies to summer camps, now just be happy to create and drop and hide pieces like painted rocks to brighten the world. Etsy was once such a magical place, brought many a gift. If I sold again, I'd love the atmosphere of local farmer's markets maybe. Ps buttons for potatoes, someone comically commented on high priced eggs "I'm coloring potatoes this year." Just thinking.😂
These things always seem to take us by surprise. We should in fact be more surprised if things panned out how we planned! And it’s good that your supplies have gone to help others explore their creativity, nothings ever a waste. I love the idea of leaving little painted pebbles for others to discover, too!
Pieces as in any art medium, similar to the gifting of painted rocks. Didn't seem clear.🤦
Ha! I think I might be one of the few people who could have guessed the real reason for what is blocking you because I have the same problem! Two huge plastic crates full of teaching samples anyone... quite nice but I don't want them! Now I'm retired the money isn't so much of an issue (although age is) but there's still the compulsion to make stuff. No answers for you I'm afraid but do let me know if you discover the secret of what to do with all the STUFF!
Will do 🫡 !!
Love the techno babble! 😂😂😂😂
Made me snort!