|
Post by zed on Jan 4, 2015 16:42:21 GMT
Thanks again for all the replies Jill, I live near the city centre, but grew up near Alti (Partington!) That imperial/metric thing is one of the biggest pains, seriously. I did measure/convert lengths, but maybe not weights. If etsy had some kind of conversion thing taht would be brilliant. I do agree that the first photo should contain everything. I did do that for the copper one, the thing is, it takes so long to do these packs, and I wanted to sell them, but didn't want to waste supplies cutting stuff, so I pictured the full pieces of fabric and only cut the strips once the pack was sold. I'll have to think of a better way to do a 'generic' picture. My biggest barriers really are not having the time or energy (or money really) to spend on making up kits that won't sell. Just doing a decent batt can take hours. My aim is to find out what kind of mixed packs would interest people, then offer those, but with generic type photos (not misleading ones featuring a huge pile of something which then says you get 1/2 an ounce, but an actual standard/realistic representation) Also, which kind of fibres? I want everything so it's hard to guess what would interest other people, for example a colour themed pack with a variety of dyed milk, silk, soya, bamboo etc, or a large variety of natural fibres? Is that not what people are interested in? I did have a white set with about 12 different fibres, no one was interested. Is there anything you'd love, but haven't seen available?
|
|
|
Post by Pandagirl on Jan 4, 2015 21:14:33 GMT
All great advice Zed. The packs look good and you have positive reviews on all your goods which is great. Getting noticd is tough. I wouldn't hesitate to buy overseas if there was something I was enamoured with. There are plenty of fiber addicts out there. Im also agree about adding the U.S. conversion both for weight and price. And adding a pic and suggestions for what the pack can be used for.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2015 21:16:53 GMT
Hello Zed,
Your packs looked very pretty but me myself would use less of the fabric.. I am more into totally wool fibers and Art Yarn..
I have no idea how I missed this thread. So much information being shared. I am very much a newbie and I have not ever sold anything but I know what I like when I buy on etsy or other sites..
I have bought many Fancy Art Batts and what catches my eye is lot of different kinds of silk dyed and Undyed and lots of sparkle (Angelina and Firestar) in them and a variety of wools... And especially lovely dyed locks. I discovered "Firestar" last Spring. I love how they used the "Color Gradient" from pale to shades of darker in Firestar packs with other wools mixed in the same color way. They mix the dyed Firestar with a similar color of merino And I really like adding this to my wet or needle felted projects...
The only reason why I do not buy allot from oversea is because the shipping rates are so very high... I have bought some lovely hand dyed roving from Australia but not often because like I said the shipping was practically what I paided for the fiber. This is very sad. I have bought some felted project from European countries that I could not live without so I treat myself despite the shipping rates..
So I know I am not much help but those of the kinds of things that catch my eyes when I am buying fibers..
|
|
|
Post by Pandagirl on Jan 4, 2015 21:19:02 GMT
I'm like you Zed, I want everything. I also like bling which makes those bamboo, silk and soy products attractive especially if they are allready dyed. Not everyone is comfortable doing their own dyeing especially newbies. I think many people don't know about a lot of those fibers and would like to try them in a pack like that. I don't think you have to limit it to natural fibers. I love thise acrillyic fibers you gave me and angelina.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2015 21:46:29 GMT
Hello Zed. me again...
I truly believe you are a "Master" with dyeing fibers of all kinds.... They are WOW when I look at them... I think Packs of your gorgeous dyed fibers of wools and sparkle would catch fiber addicts attention.. Smile..
|
|
|
Post by Shepherdess on Jan 4, 2015 23:10:15 GMT
It is a lot of work Zed. A friend that sells wool natural and dyed. usually from fleeces she buys and washes herself so its not cheap stuff. I know she sells a lot to fellow guild members and at our local fiber sales. I know you can't really get out to things like that.
|
|
|
Post by Frances on Jan 5, 2015 3:53:00 GMT
Since I live in the US I will give you my thoughts on purchasing from another country - Shipping costs are going to be higher than within the US, Time to receive the shipment is going to be longer, if it is a non english speaking country too hard to communicate, if the product is not of the quality expected I have probably lost my money as sending it back would be to costly, exchange rates can be charged by the bank on credit cards which raises the cost, one former drawback was not knowing anyone who had shopped with the retailer but now I can get recommendations from this forum.
I started buying from Opulent Fibers because my niece lives in Portland and had shopped with them. Almost all of the wool I have purchased has come from them.
I like blended color waves in 4 to 8 ounce packages. Would buy mixed packages of silk so far everything I have purchased as been all the same color in a package.
|
|
|
Post by Frances on Jan 5, 2015 3:58:23 GMT
as far as conversion from grams to ounces etc. I just go to google and put in convert from ounce to gram and get a window up and I put in 4 oz and get the conversion.
|
|
|
Post by koffipot on Jan 5, 2015 8:40:32 GMT
Zed. I'm pretty hopeless when it comes to selling so not much help. Your packs look great. As has already been mentioned, the first photo should show the whole pack. I see you also show a sample of how the pack can be used on the orangey one which is a good idea but perhaps you could move the link up the page. I use torn strips and scraps of silk too and feel they have their place in a pack. I started to set up an Etsy shop a while ago, but became annoyed when the financial set up kept sending me round in a circle, so ditched the idea. Now thinking of Craftsy, which I believe is UK based.
|
|
|
Post by zed on Jan 5, 2015 10:53:33 GMT
So, it's really just a few of us who like anything other than silk? And just me and Judith who use fabric bits? Is there any reason why other fibres are not as popular when silk is so expensive? Is it just because people think other fibres won't 'felt' as well as silk, or there isn't much info? Maybe just batts made with whatever I feel like would be the way to go, then if no one's interested, I'll just use them myself Does etsy convert postage prices? US postage prices always seem very high to me, the needlefelted postcard Judy sent me cost almost $10 to post, it's only just over $6 to post 250g (9ish ounces) to the US from here. Judith, did you mean Folksy?
|
|
|
Post by koffipot on Jan 5, 2015 16:49:34 GMT
Yes, Folksy! Short term memory loss setting in! And yes to US postal charges, Frances paid much more than I did for a very similar package - more than double as I remember. As for nuno, I used to get silk voile from WoW at a good price, but they don't sell it now. I'm happy with charity shop finds and anything which works.
|
|
|
Post by Shepherdess on Jan 5, 2015 17:27:12 GMT
I use bits but they are my bits. I buy bigger stuff and keep my scraps. No small bits would be good in art batt extra packs. You would be more likely to get me with small bits pack if I was in person. That's why I own some large sari pieces. It's the excitement of the moment and those around me. I think that happens on facebook. People get caught up in others excitement too. if you post 4 sets and then someone buys one then the other go quickly. People send there email and address through a private message and you bill them through paypal.
|
|
|
Post by MTRuth on Jan 5, 2015 20:20:10 GMT
I think that most people know what silk is but have no idea what the other fibers are and how they would felt or work in their projects. I think making batts that you like in a variety of color ways would be a good way to start. If you're going to do fiber packs, I wouldn't go all out measuring a bunch of different fiber, just start with a fairly simple combination.
I use fabric bits but I have so many of my own, I would never buy others.
|
|
|
Post by zed on Jan 6, 2015 10:38:01 GMT
It's a Catch 22, I see lots of comments about how some fibres 'work' and some don't, as if silk is magical somehow. I thought it might help to dispell the myths to offer a variety, but maybe now. Same with fabric too, the Beyond Nuno pack I first sold, with various fabric samples was popular with views and enquiries after. Maybe I need to work on showing how useful they are first! I think you're right though Ruth, do it in a way I don't lose out if nothing is sold. Judith, I occasionally look at Folksy too, maybe it's time for another look
|
|
|
Post by zara on Feb 17, 2015 1:59:20 GMT
Zed, I think your fiber/fabric packs look gorgeous! I have access to a lot of raw wool, but have not done much dyeing and not tried all that many different types of fabrics. A pack in a variety of shades of one or two colours, including different fibers and pieces of fabric would definately be interesting to me.
When I found out there was such a thing as nuno-felting I searched the internet - and what you mostly find are examples of nuno-felted silk scarves. So yes, most people probably associate nuno to silk. I didn't have any silk lying around, so instead I used cotton and linnen fabrics (and mostly still do). It could be good to add a few lines in the beginning explaining what nuno-felting is and that the fabric packs are excellent for this? That could convince felters that have not tried nuno-felting yet. At least, it would have worked on me. :-)
As for all the other types of fibre - I did not know they even existed before I joined this forum. I had no idea there were so many different types of silk products and by-products. There I was, isolated in the north of Sweden, happily felting my own wool - and suddenly a whole new world opened up before me! I'm still felting my own wool (probably one of the reasons why I never get around to placing orders at WoW etc which may have included other fibrers), but now I know there is so much more out there waiting to be added to the felt. ;-)
|
|