So, having worked all week so far my house smells musty again. Since I don’t have time to do the thorough cleaning I’d like, I guess I’ll have to cut to the chase and light that scented candle again until I do have time. Which will be have to be the weekend since I’m scheduled to work all next week as well. When it rains, it pours!
Working so much also means I won’t have time to make any progress on the Noah’s Ark baby quilt. Not that there is any deadline – I make the baby quilts as they pop into my brain and then wait for someone to come along. The problem with this system is always timing: when someone needs a baby quilt, then they buy it. Otherwise, people admire them but don’t buy.
Whenever I’ve been invited to participate in craft sales, it ends up primarily acting as advertising for me. On one memorable occasion I sold two baby quilts to the same woman – she had gifts to give. Mostly people take my card and sometimes get in touch later regarding larger projects. I’ve tried to think of smaller, more affordable items to make that would be more conducive to impulse purchases, though even they are problematic. Making smaller items means turning myself into an assembly line which isn’t so much fun. Also, it’s hard to predict what people will like.
For instance, I have made my own children pillow cases with fun juvenile print cotton. They look wonderful with a plain sheet and the children love them. I thought that might be something that others would find appealing – they don’t take long to make and would be affordable so I made a dozen pillow cases. The problem? People are attracted, then ask if I have a matching sheet. I don’t make sheets. Why would I? A sheet is nothing but a hemmed piece of fabric. And most of the prints I’ve used would be overwhelming as a set – they look so much nicer with a solid sheet. I’ve explained this but few people seem to agree.
Guess what my children’s friends will be getting as unique birthday gifts?
I haven’t done much to explore the option of putting the baby quilts in shops because of the commissions involved – and also, I like to keep my options open. If I get involved with a shop, they might want a certain quantity on a regular basis. That sounds like a recipe for disaster to me. I’ve done the assembly line thing and it really is a burden. Sucks the fun right out of everything.
At any rate, I suppose I’ll keep making baby quilts as long as it appeals to me. If I sell them, I sell them. If I decide to go in another direction, then the Linus Project can expect a generous donation.
