gee - guess you didn't like my and my friends booth last yr. she's been making those duct tape purses for many years now. and as for the felted bags - you might be able to make them but alot of people can't - and folks on etsy seem have no problem paying $40 for something well made and nicely finished.
I didn't see alot at the fair this year or last that was super impressive. i know how to print t-shirt and sew fabric tote bags and make soap - but that's not the point. I think it's difficult to sell anything much over $20 to anyone at the williamsburg craft fair. There were actually people last year taking picutes of stuff in our booth so they could copy it themselves. that's flattering and all-but not the point.
I wonder if a different venue might have been better. i would rather sell my stuff to people that appreciate the work that went into in and are willing to pay a decent price for something handmade and unique than folks just there looking for ideas.
there is some stuff at the craft fair that is very nice and very cute and some things that require a certain amount of skill to produce - but all in all most of it is not worth spending money on. if i were ever to do it again in Williamsburg i would make sure to concentrate on small items from $5 - $25 since that seems to be the price points.
but it's all still pretty kitchy/ironic/trendy -
Yep, it was very fun! I don't know who we got that shirt from, though I can visualize his face and everything -- though that doesn't help!) Seeing the sublime stitching folks really makes me want to break out those kits -- I got four of those in January and still haven't had at it!
Wow - you made out like a bandit! There was definitely some cute stuff there, but i agree with you - a lot of it just doesn't seem to warrant spending the money...
As for the first comment, I think that Williamsburg is just about the only neighborhood where you'll find people willing to spend money on such obviously hand-made items. I think that many people in less artsy neighborhoods wouldn't appreciate the deconstructed, hand-made, kitschy look to almost all the items at the fair. I agree that many people would pay $40 for a felted bag on etsy, but why does one need to charge that much for something that they probably made less than a $10 investment in making? The answer is that the maker knows that there's someone out there willing to buy it for that much. Ugh!
It was definitely fun walking around the park - sorry we didn't get to spend more time together there. But I sure am glad we went on Saturday - today is sweltering!
What fun! Agreed. I am less likely to buy something that I could (and would) make myself. If I know that I could make it but probably would never get around to it, I just might buy it in the name of supporting an artist/crafter. And I am certain that the cost of any item adds in the labor involved, which is fair. The polka dot top is adorable.
We did make out like bandits this year--so much cute stuff! Should we all show up at the Point in our matching polka dot tops--with plush food items in hand?
It was great hanging out with you again--crafting and Coronas two days in a row=perfect weekend.
you made some terrific purchases! i think last year, i also kept thinking, "well, i could make that." but the truth is, i won't. and then if i find myself longing for something, i'll have to buy it online and pay shipping. i think there were some overpriced items, but if you think about how much time goes into making something, the prices seem more reasonable. plus, a lot of the items were unique design ideas that i hadn't seen before. so while $30 for a knit stuffie seems extreme, i think there were some necklaces or purses worth that much. and i also like the idea of supporting artists and getting piece that i won't see over and over on the subway, right?
Awesome haul! I'm so jealous!
Wow, grapefruit honey lip balm sounds great...
I always love tasty lip balms...
I wrote a tiny post about lip balm in my blog just now...
Wow, that might be the best haul I've seen! I'm in love with the citizen jane shirts. And I was eyeing those atomic cups but passed them up because I was too hot to go back (totally regretting that one!). I hope we get the chance to officially meet soon!
I'm so glad you found the barrette! I was sure you would ~ it must have been buried under all of the other goodies.
Those molecular model earrings are beautiful. Have you any idea who made them?
Excellent purchases! I didn't buy nearly as much as you. (check out the swag on my blog.)I would have spent more, but I was on a budget. But I'm pretty happy with what I got --I think my boyfriend likes the shorts I got from Damned Dollies more than anyone!
whoa, where have i've been? the drama!!! ahhhh!!!! :D
eh, don't have much to add to the debate here. I'm with Carrie. Just from knitting a lot, I know the time and the effort that goes into making something by hand. something that anybody can make is they really, really wanted to. but you know what? most people aren't going to. and i'll shell out a couple of more bucks for something i know that was handmade by someone who made it for the sake of crafting and art than something considerably cheaper by some 13 year old kid in like Indonesia who getting paid like a quarter an hour or something. ok, enough preaching.
i'm so glad you found your barrette after all!!! double the fun, wahoo!
LOOOOOVEING my citizen jane tee, and yours is super cute too!
I actually liked it last year a lot better than this year.
I did spend a lot of time looking at those Citizen Jane shirts though (so cute!), but was worried about how the decoration would hold up to washing. Let us know how it holds up?
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