For those who sell quilts...
#11
Originally Posted by Moonpi
I have not had luck with consignment shops - their "cut" effectively reduces {to zero} the profit out of things I have brought in to sell that way. A shop that specializes inn country kitch may not be the place to sell an abstract piece. Small baby quilts may fly off shelves in a hospital gift shop, and languish in a gallery. You also need to figure your end user in when choosing colors and patterns. Cutesie juvenile prints make me gag, but may be perfect for baby showers.
As far as fairs go, they are fun, but be prepared to meet the quilt police for real. Read the judging criteria carefully, and take all the rules very literally.
As far as fairs go, they are fun, but be prepared to meet the quilt police for real. Read the judging criteria carefully, and take all the rules very literally.
As for judges and fairs, it really depends on where you are and the individuals who are judging. It is always hoped for that you will get a judge who can view the quilts dispassionately, and by that I mean without imposing their views onto the quilt. If a judge hates brights, they should be able to look past a quilt made out of brights and still judge it by its merits, not knock it down because they don't like the colors. Now, you'll note I said 'should'. Unfortunately not all judges are able to be impartial. It helps to remember that when putting a quilt into a judged event; the judges can be very human. I know for me personally, I have gotten great benefit from judges comments and I really enjoy entering judged quilt shows. I hope this helps for those who are considering entering a quilt into a local fair but are concerned about the judging portion of it. It really isn't that scary but you do need to approach it knowing that you may get comments from the judges you don't like, as well as those you do. Read the judges comments. Use what you can and throw out the rest. :wink:
~Tiffany
#12
Originally Posted by Tiffany
Originally Posted by Moonpi
I have not had luck with consignment shops - their "cut" effectively reduces {to zero} the profit out of things I have brought in to sell that way. A shop that specializes inn country kitch may not be the place to sell an abstract piece. Small baby quilts may fly off shelves in a hospital gift shop, and languish in a gallery. You also need to figure your end user in when choosing colors and patterns. Cutesie juvenile prints make me gag, but may be perfect for baby showers.
As far as fairs go, they are fun, but be prepared to meet the quilt police for real. Read the judging criteria carefully, and take all the rules very literally.
As far as fairs go, they are fun, but be prepared to meet the quilt police for real. Read the judging criteria carefully, and take all the rules very literally.
As for judges and fairs, it really depends on where you are and the individuals who are judging. It is always hoped for that you will get a judge who can view the quilts dispassionately, and by that I mean without imposing their views onto the quilt. If a judge hates brights, they should be able to look past a quilt made out of brights and still judge it by its merits, not knock it down because they don't like the colors. Now, you'll note I said 'should'. Unfortunately not all judges are able to be impartial. It helps to remember that when putting a quilt into a judged event; the judges can be very human. I know for me personally, I have gotten great benefit from judges comments and I really enjoy entering judged quilt shows. I hope this helps for those who are considering entering a quilt into a local fair but are concerned about the judging portion of it. It really isn't that scary but you do need to approach it knowing that you may get comments from the judges you don't like, as well as those you do. Read the judges comments. Use what you can and throw out the rest. :wink:
~Tiffany
#13
Originally Posted by fabuchicki
I agree with Cathe. The tourist areas are the place to go. I saw a lady selling art in one of the ski areas last year that I've sold myself for a third the price. Amish quilts benefit not only from their beauty and skill but from all the lookey loos who come to see their lifestyle and go home with a souvenir of "old fashioned hand made craftsmanship".
#14
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1,097
Find out who organizes the Cranberry Festival and call them. Ask about sales opportunities. Then, if you can sell things, make quilts that fit the occasion - northwoodsy things, probably. Is it in September? You can do things with a winter theme (maybe autumn, if there isn't already snow on the ground. I have LIVED in northern WI!)
#15
The judging kind of scares me 'cause...well, I'm not exactly conservative when it comes to quilt designs. And at last year's fair the ones I remember that got first place ribbons were either ones with very traditional blocks with very earthy/subdued colors or t-shirt quilts...I like to be a little bolder than that. Same goes for the art competition...a friend of mine has been setting up a booth for body art and entering a lot of artwork at the fair for the past couple of year. Creates beautiful artwork, but some of its not exactly the judges cup of tea. She got ribbons for all of them, but the ones we thought were the best ones got 3rd/4th place ribbons.
Cathe - I am learning a lot from you. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us. I'm just starting to get into the area of selling my quilts and I know this is an area where I have a lot to learn. I have a question that has been bugging me. When you go to places like a craft fair or cranberry festival, about how many quilts and quilted items would you suggest bringing?
~Tiffany
#16
Flying V, As most everyone on this board knows, I sell my quilt items. As far as what kink of quilts sell, you just never know what will appeal from one person to the next.
As far as where to sell, I started at our local farmers market. Then I started doing other weekend type shows and festivals. Now besides selling my stuff, I actually run the farmers market and helped organize a crafters market where crafters can set up every weekend in our local mall. (I also got voted to run this market too this year).
Festivals are great, they are usually 2-3 day events, but a lot of long hours go into those. And they are usually more expensive to set up at these, but these are my most lucrative shows to do because they usually draw thousands of people from across the country instead of just the locals.
I am so well followed now just in southwest Montana, that people are calling me to find out where I'll be set up next!! But it takes alot and I mean alot of work.
As far as where to sell, I started at our local farmers market. Then I started doing other weekend type shows and festivals. Now besides selling my stuff, I actually run the farmers market and helped organize a crafters market where crafters can set up every weekend in our local mall. (I also got voted to run this market too this year).
Festivals are great, they are usually 2-3 day events, but a lot of long hours go into those. And they are usually more expensive to set up at these, but these are my most lucrative shows to do because they usually draw thousands of people from across the country instead of just the locals.
I am so well followed now just in southwest Montana, that people are calling me to find out where I'll be set up next!! But it takes alot and I mean alot of work.
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,688
When you go to places like a craft fair or cranberry festival, about how many quilts and quilted items would you suggest bringing?
#18
You should be able to get information on carnivals/fairs from that towns area Chamber of Commerce. They should also be able to put you in touch with the coordinater of the events. Or at least guide you in their directions.
#19
Originally Posted by barnbum
When you go to places like a craft fair or cranberry festival, about how many quilts and quilted items would you suggest bringing?
#20
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1,097
Originally Posted by barnbum
When you go to places like a craft fair or cranberry festival, about how many quilts and quilted items would you suggest bringing?
If you do a series of festivals in the summer/fall, you need to be working hard the rest of the year so you don't run out of products!
This is a picture from one art show I did about ten years ago:
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