Finally...got some quilts to the store to sell!
By coffeebreak
@coffeebreak (17798)
United States
February 23, 2013 8:55pm CST
Okay guys.. I finally was able to do it. I make 4 quilts and took them to a consignment store here in town. Little, country-ish, low income kind of town so not much money to be spent, but the shop is "shabby chic" stuff, lot of really cool and unusual stuff, but all from the past...things I had when I was younger and all that. Really nice stuff and the prices are so reasonable. They have been there for 31 years and buy from storage units and estate sales and then the consignment stuff. I left 2 large and 2 small ones. I told the owner, "It is a hobby so I don't want anyone to think they are buying a professionally made quilt..." she inspected them and then said "in my opinion...you are a professional. THese are fantastic". So she must know her business...so I am hopeful. She said the small ones priced at $30 should sell (baby size 36x36ish) the two bigger ones 50x50ish...at $138 might not go as fast, but let's see.
Here's the pics of them.
Mickey and Minnie mouse...with Northern Star. The back is fleece with white circles on black. I wanted black circles on red but they didn't have those colors. The pattern of the mouses is the old fashioned form of Mickey and Minnie. Owner said that one would be the first to sell..everyone likes Mickey!
The Zebra one... with all those squares putting together, as careful as I (thought) was, one half square triangle (the pink and zebra square) I goofed and as I was cutting the final thread ends noticed I had one backwards. No way could I have taken it apart and fixed it, so I named it the "I Spy a Crooked Zebra" and put on the tag (that had care instructions and fabric content) and said "there is a crooked Zebra square..can you find it?" I showed my daughter, grand daughter and owner of the shop and had a hard time finding it myself...so hopefully it will be a fun thing to the owner and I won't hear "I bought this and found this was wrong..."
The Planets and Stars...the star side was a panel I got at the thrift store and the star constallations glow in the dark!
The Nursery Rhymes...all the oldies..Humpty DUmpty, mother goose etc. And a 4 patch with sashings.
Oh, forgot, I can only post one picture..so to see the others you'll have to go to my profile and check them out. Now...cross your fingers for me!
3 people like this
11 responses
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
24 Feb 13
Thats great... My mom here years ago made quilts to make extra money. She also had a store here, that let her put them in to sell.Id like to see yours here.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
24 Feb 13
I put pics of some of mine in my profile. I opened a Blogger blog last night with a few. I will work on getting more on there just so people can see what I do. I hope I have the starting of a good hobby career! I have been sewing since I was 8 years old, and doing other crafts too..and several times I have tried to sell what I make after being told constantly how good my stuff was..and nothing ever sold! So I don't know, I'll just keep trying and see how it goes. That is great your mom was able to do it. Where are you? I am in California. I wonder if an out of state place would take on if I mailed it to them....
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
24 Feb 13
I was born in Mexico city, mexico. I did live 12 year sin the usa in las vegas nevada. Im back in mexico now.. After my mom passed away last year. Ill be going back to vegas in july or aug...
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
24 Feb 13
They have a couple quilt shops in LV I plan on visiting next time I go. I get promos from this one casino...The Orleans...3 nights for the price of one... and I do that twice a year! This time I plan to hit all the quilt shops there. Should be fun. I lived in LV 10 years ago..for a year. Was okay, but the school system wasn't that good so Imoved back to CA for my kids to finish high school.
@peavey (16936)
• United States
27 Feb 13
That's awesome! I'm sure your quilts will sell. If it takes a little while in a small town, don't be discouraged. Others have mentioned putting them online here and there and that would sell some, too.
I used to sell knitted things and it's always a thrill to walk in and get a check from a consignment store!
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
27 Feb 13
That's what I am hoping for...a check when I walk in! I plan to put them online on Craigs list or a local freebie paper. And Etsy. I have to make a few more first, but I figure if they sell great, if not, I'll have available gifts for the rest of my life!
Keep us posted on how it goes.@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
3 Mar 13
Thanks. I opened an Etsy Shop today...maybe I'll get lucky there!
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
24 Feb 13
How nice! I'm impressed. I hope your sales goes well - it's too bad it's not a more highly trafficked store, but it sounds like it's a bit of a destination shop.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
25 Feb 13
ITs a small store...has lot of traffic, but this town doesn't have alot of money. That's my problem. I am sure they'd sell quick if I drop the price alot, but I have to first make my expense back and then a little for my time and effort. This size quilt cost about $50 to make in supplies. I am hopeful..for now! Will see how it goes. I am going to put them in a local freebie paper and maybe Craig's list and see how that goes to.
@Sissygrl (10912)
• Canada
27 Feb 13
hi, Have you tried etsy.com ? I have a quilt shop there.. there are a lot of quilters that offer help in online selling as well.. if you end up joining, search for the team quiltsquiltsquilts and message the team captain, tell them Tracey sent you, and you'd like to join the team ;)We have almost 500 quilters in our team alone!
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
27 Feb 13
I have been thinking Etsy. THanks for the info.. I will definately look into it!
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
27 Feb 13
Thanks jillhill. I hope they sell to! I know they can sell for high prices, but I am in a kind of country low pay kind of town. Everyone works down the hill (about an hour away to "civilization"). I'd cause an earthquake if one of mine sold for $300! I'll just offer a "tremor" if these sell for what i have! Iam planning on makeing some more kid theme/small quilts for about $30-$50. They make up quick and fast and easy!
@blackrusty (3519)
• Mexico
24 Feb 13
anouther thought for you depends where you are is you can make a few take photos of them and sell them on ebay or craigslist just a thought if you love to do stuff like this to pass the time and make a little money too
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
24 Feb 13
Thanks for the suggestion blackrusty. I do plan to do that. I opened a Blogger blog last night and put a few of the pics on there. Don't think I'll get anything from it, but if I make business cards...I'll have that on there for viewing.
I have thought about putting them on those avenues, but I have this problem...I am my own worst critique. I wonder if I sell them site unseen...is the person the buys it going to say "hey, this little stitch isn't straight" or other tiny little issues that are only "issues" cause I am not perfect nor is my sewing machine nor is anyone else or their machiens perfect! But I am leary of that. Granted, I have been hopping around and see many others selling on Ebay, Etsey and on their own online store... if it was that much a problem maybe they wouldn't be selling, but then I think..they are probably better at it than me. The lady yesterday said she considers me a "professionsl" cause she thought the quilts were so beautiful and perfect...so I dont' know. It is a personal issue that I have to deal with! If any of these sell..that'd sure be a big boost to my morale! But I will make some more and put them on Craigs and a local paper called The Recycler (nationally online too).
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
24 Feb 13
I could do that! I think that if one sells it'd sure boost my own impression of my work. I look at it and it is very good and detailed and right and all. I am in a couple quilting groups and things like that...always something new to learn but I guess I am really good at it. I ahve never had anyone tell me I was good at anything so it is hard after all these years to actually believe it! But she was very excited about them..she did say she had never sold anything like quilts at the store, but since they take estate sale stuff is the other way the stock their store..and they ahve been there for 30 years....they must know something about what sells! So...they are haveing a big "parking lot" sale today to move some "old" stock as they are getting new stuff tomorrow so hopefully and maybe! I opened a Blogger Blog last night and posted some of my quilts that I have made...5 of them went to my grand kids for christmas last year nad a couple others I gave to the ladies at my church for their morning prayer meetings. That church is so COLD in the mornings even in the summer...stone outside and the meeting room is in the basement! So I made 10 lap size quilts for them to toss over their legs! They were so happy for them! Made me feel good to. But I hope to develop the blog better and maybe, just maybe it could be a selling point! Thanks for the compliment!
@blackrusty (3519)
• Mexico
24 Feb 13
good luck to you and you never know i just might make an order and well to you other poing i think they would be ok since after all it is home made not store bought
@marsha32 (6631)
• United States
15 May 16
That I'm aware of there are no consignment stores here for handcrafted items.
I also just realized that you stopped writing here 3 years ago so not sure you will even see all of my comments.
@hotsummer (13835)
• Philippines
24 Feb 13
I think you live in a nice town. Anyway i think your quilts are wonderful so you are so good in what you are ding p doing and so i think you are indeed a professional already.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
24 Feb 13
hotsummer... I kind of like my town... I am from a more populated area...stores on every corner, colleges and schools all over and you can drive one mile and usually hit every store you need to! Here...it is 10 miles ONE WAY to Joann's Fabric store..the ONLY ONE in this entire area of 3 small towns! It is a small town, and I am getting used to it. At my age, I don't need all those stores anymore anyway! And with a limited budget...why be around what I can't have! And it is only 50 minutes to this town I used to live in anyway so if I really want to shop, I can always do so! I just have to get used to the little town. If my kids were closer...I'd love it!
Thanks for the compliment!
@anuraa32 (2446)
• India
24 Feb 13
Great that your hobby is become a way for you to earn. This way you enjoy what you are doing as well as earn at the same time. I like all the patterns that you have put on the quilts and wish I could end up buying the planets and stars one. I hope all get sold soon.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
24 Feb 13
Thanks anura32! That planets one...it was so funny. When Joann's Fabric relocated...it gave all their remanents to this store I frequent. The pieces still had Joann's price tag on them! And the put them in a ziplock gallon bag and stuffed it so full and priced it at $2.99... on Wednesday it is 25% off day. I bought the bags, turned out there was about 10 yards of a variety of brand new fabric in each bag! I got about 25 of them over the month. Both of these pieces were in there! Brand new fabric for 30 cents a yard! I made the quilt and then was looking at it once done, and I looked at the constallations and thought, "that's weird, the white looks green!" I looked and inspected and it all seemed normal construction and then it hit me...that looks like what glow in the dark white looks like! So I took it to my bathroom where it was total dark, and there they were..just a glowing brightly! Looked like constallations in the sky! IT was pretty cool! I hope that helps it to sell. I price the quilts starting basically on how much it cost me to make. Since that one didn't cost that much to make and I kept the quality of the fabric and construction... I priced it lower. THe owner did say she thought it'd go fast, due to its lower price, so that makes them think I should for the moment, concentrate on small size quilts...and it kind of stands to reason...$30 for a quilt for my kid or $130 for a quilt for my kid!
@randylovesdar (4932)
• United States
24 Feb 13
I wish you the best of luck and I am sure that they will sell. I am glad that you found a store that is reasonable that will work with you. I have gone to craft fairs and have seen quilts that sell for $100.00 or more. I remember one time I went to a craft fair where this woman wanted to buy a queen size quilt for 15.00 and the quilter said no way I put a lot of time into making this quilt and there is no way I am going to sell this quilt for 15.00 when the materials alone cost 45.00 and I had put in several hours into cutting the fabric and sewing the fabric.
I hope everything works out for you.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
24 Feb 13
I believe your story! People don't think hand made quilts require the price they deserve! My large ones are 50x50 give or take and it costs me $50 just to make it..and that is if I can get the fabric with coupons at 40-50% off on the fabric! The biggest expense is the back and the batting. The fronts can often be made with "scraps" or 1/2 yard of couple diff fabrics. Thread is also a big expense! I seldom even include my "time" to make it. I guess I'd be doing it if I don't sell them...its a hobby and I need something to do! But I figure $100....$50 for expense and $50 for my time etc... then add a little on for the extras and cause it does deserve a little more. THey do last a long long time. A quilt is where practicality, necessity and decoration meet and that is worth something!
@41CombedaleRoad (5952)
• Greece
24 Feb 13
Good luck and what a boost that lady gave you - she will sell them for you very quickly and stand by for more orders. I love home made bedding and make sheets and pillowcases to match. A much simpler job than making quilts. Yopu must be a very patient as well as talented person.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
24 Feb 13
Thanks 41combedaleRoad... I am very patient..often to my demise! I do plan on making smaller ones for the store. Kind of makes sense...$30 for a quilt for my kid or $130 for a quilt for my kid! I have alot of character fabric so I think I'll start doing that way...45x45 character quilt for $45. Could be a good sales gimit..."45 by 45 for 45". I love handmade stuff like that too. I used to make it all.. my daughter hated it, but she got it anyway and all her friends complimented her bedroom! I do make pillowcases, speciality ones.. I got charcter fabrics for each of my grand kids of their favorite charater and made them each a pillow case for valentines Day instead of candy. They all love them! Hum..gives me an idea. I could either make them like that or if I have scraps left of the quilt..make a matching pillowcase! Hey, thanks for the thought! I'll have to look into that! Problem is fabric isn't cheap anymore! I remember the day when it was 77 cents a yard! Mom said I could have as much as I wanted as long as it was 77 or less and I sewed all I bought! It was like, "well, threaten me, why dont' you mom!" I sewed it all (in high school) and had hte biggest wardrobe! Butnow...cheapest is $5-$6 a yard for 100% cotton and a basic quilt takes 2,1/2 yards just for the back for the 50-ish size I make! But I will comtemplate on the matching pillow case idea! thanks for that!
