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Post by littlewolf on Sept 6, 2020 19:20:55 GMT
Oh Dear. Lyn the black cat has been on Etsy since September 2018. I made it shortly before I lost my home and a friend has it in storage for me. I've tried pricing everywhere between £34 and £15 posting it all over Facebook but no luck. Thanks all for your continued support though. Here's some WIPs of some horses I did, but goodness horsehair is hard to bend. I wrapped the manes and tails in pipe cleaners then covered in cloth and using a toasted sandwich maker to get it to fall the way I wanted. I think human hair straighteners might be the way to go. At some point in the future I'd like to get a cheap little travel pair for bending stuff. I have used dog and cat hair in the past for the manes and tails and it looks just fine, but of course it doesn't have the same texture as the real thing. Top coat is good for this, as long as the pieces are long enough. They're also easier to secure into the creature's bottom by felting around the base of the tail. Here's a picture of the fluff caddy I made out of a cardboard box and toilet rolls. I have since got a fabric underwear drawer organiser insert that can be folded up.
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Post by Pandagirl on Sept 6, 2020 19:49:51 GMT
The rabbit and cat are great! So are the horses.
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Post by lyn on Sept 6, 2020 20:01:01 GMT
The anatomy of the horse is wonderful! Your cardboard drawer organiser is a good recyling idea - and free! - maybe it will inspire some of the readers of this forum. I'm sorry that you're having problems with selling your lovely felted work. Have you considered writing a tutorial showing someone how to make something then selling tutorials on Etsy? I wrote a short info here: link to infoOr perhaps run small workshops? Do you have a gallery near you that might sell your items? Although there would be a high commission to pay, a gallery can usually obtain a much higher selling price than perhaps you could on your own so it's a win-win. Do you use Pinterest? You can 'pin' images on there directly from Etsy so that could drive some traffic to your Etsy shop. Every time you list something new - 'pin' it. How about using Instagram to drive traffic to your Etsy shop? Or Facebook? There must be other ideas - I hope other forum members can add one or two.
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Post by Shepherdess on Sept 7, 2020 11:10:22 GMT
The hair is very nice and the hourses are terific. Selling is hard. I am not very good at it myself. I hope things improve for you soon.
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Post by littlewolf on Sept 9, 2020 12:09:26 GMT
The anatomy of the horse is wonderful! Your cardboard drawer organiser is a good recyling idea - and free! - maybe it will inspire some of the readers of this forum. I'm sorry that you're having problems with selling your lovely felted work. Have you considered writing a tutorial showing someone how to make something then selling tutorials on Etsy? I wrote a short info here: link to infoOr perhaps run small workshops? Do you have a gallery near you that might sell your items? Although there would be a high commission to pay, a gallery can usually obtain a much higher selling price than perhaps you could on your own so it's a win-win. Do you use Pinterest? You can 'pin' images on there directly from Etsy so that could drive some traffic to your Etsy shop. Every time you list something new - 'pin' it. How about using Instagram to drive traffic to your Etsy shop? Or Facebook? There must be other ideas - I hope other forum members can add one or two. Hi there lyn. Thank you so much again for your continue support. I hope the drawer system might help those who can't shell out for a proper organiser. It really helps with colour selection having it all laid out like that rather than rummaging through several bags trying to find what I want. Unfortunately running workshops is out f the question. I have SEVERE social anxiety, PTSD and autism. I have not even been able to come out of my room at the hostel for the past two weeks due to panic attacks and feeling like I'm going to pass out exacerbated by the fct the last time I went out a woman approached me and marched me to a cash machine demanding I give her money. I gave her my last £100. I am waiting for a support worker to come and help me put money on the electricity meter as I have 60p of electricity left and haven't had any support for a month as they've been too busy. I will give the tutorials a try, though there's already so many out there and people won't even buy my prints for under £2. I have a few videos demonstrating my process in brief but I guess a general tutorial would bring in traffic from people who aren't searching for my products per se. It might catch their interest amongst all the other tutorials and appeal to those who might not have bought any wool yet but have a cat or dog, can't afford wool but still want to have a go etc. Then again I worry that people will be disappointed if their results aren't quite like mine. I also worry that there isn't much to explain besides the WIP pictures I've posted. I always get 'how did you do that' comments even though every step is illustrated and don't quite know what else to say. On the flip side I'm also a little worried that I might lose the only thing that sets me apart if people would rather do it themselves. I'm not sure. I will have a look at the resource you've linked and try to put something together. As for galleries. I am homeless and in arrears already with the hostel I am staying in. I have sunk maybe £500 in to materials, advertising and showing my work already and can't afford any more. I have made enquiries and it is just way out of my reach. I will see if there is a local community newsletter or something, even just a mailing list that might be less expensive. As for Etsy, Instagram Pinterest etc: I have been trying to sell for 2 years. I have a business Instagram which I have paid for ads on, an Etsy, a Facebook shop etc. I have worked on SEO. I have a local grooming parlour who has put up a sign in their window. I have asked every vet in the area to put up a sign for me. I plug myself on Youtube all the time. I was a member of about 10 different pet owners' Facebook groups at one point. I am currently on a pet owners' forum where everyone thought my work was cool but did not want to buy it, however when I offered to do a piece for free if they sent me cat hair I got 10 people wanting something within a few days. I have had a stalls including an Etsy made local event in Wells days after my partner told me he was kicking me but because I had no money and stayed up all night for the 4 days preceding the event to make stock. I have sold maybe 10-12 pieces in 2 years and a few of those were repeat buyers out of pity. I have positive reviews on Etsy but that is about the extent of my success. I had a suitcase stall at Etsy made local. I once bought a folding table for stallholding but I have no means of transportation to go to craft fairs, then there's the cost of pitch fees, price tags, signage etc- I've made losses trying to sell. God knows what I've spent on materials and I lost a lot of those plus my table when I lost my flat as I could not store them or take them with me. I am now threatened with eviction from the homeless hostel. Yes I also have pinterest pins of my Etsy listings, but if I try the tutorial idea Pinterest is probably the best place to drive traffic to Etsy as people tend to go there for inspiration. Thanks again for all your help. I'm afraid I'm just a bit useless really. I'm very glad the anatomy of the horses are sound; I have been working with them for a large chunk of the past 15 years. They are my obsession and I adore them. Yes I even asked the farriers at my old workplace to tell his clients about my work and sent him photos to share with them, my email, social media etc.
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Post by lyn on Sept 9, 2020 15:39:34 GMT
You are far from useless Littlewolf - you are a talented fibre artist.
I'm sorry to hear about your situation but I have some understanding of it through the suffering of a close family member.
It sounds as though the written (pdf) or video tutorial selling would be easiest for you to do. Don't worry about giving away your method of working as there will always be customers that have no inclination to make stuff - they only want to buy stuff. The customers who buy your methods probably wouldn't buy your items because they are makers. It's a win-win.
Tip: Write/film your tutorial as if the reader knows absolutely nothing about the subject. Explain everything because something that is second nature to you could be alien to someone else. If writing, use lots of clear photos to illustrate your instructions.
Good luck.
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Post by lyn on Sept 9, 2020 21:06:42 GMT
Wow! I've just spotted the horses, and cat, that you added to your post above. You are also a very talented drawing artist. Amazing pictures!
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Post by Pandagirl on Sept 12, 2020 20:20:12 GMT
I agree with Lyn, you’re very talented. I pray your circumstances change for the good soon. Don’t give up!
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Post by prairiesky on Dec 22, 2020 6:19:07 GMT
I am very blown away by your talent. Chin up, can’t see the bright sunshine with your nose in your navel! You are head and shoulders above many offerings I have seen in the field. Indeed, try the tutorial route. I’m with you...people, ewww. Most artists have a hard time appreciating their own creations; we have too critical an eye for them and imagine flaws. They are originals, one of a kind crafted pieces of ourselves. Yours are wonderful.
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