Kids are sledding, and everyone else is wondering when the snow will melt! Great way to use fresh “WHITE” snow. Maple-Snow Treats Gather fresh snow from outside, take it inside (keep it from melting!) and boil some maple syrup. It needs to be real maple syrup. Add one tablespoon of butter and stir until melted. Keep stirring for 6-7 […] Read more…
Snow Cream – A Yummy Treat
This is a wonderful treat to make with all the “Feet” of snow we get in Maine. Try it and enjoy. Just remember, the snow needs to be White!!! Not yellow, brown or have any other foreign material in it. Make this nectar in a jar, so you can make just small batches of snow […] Read more…
Pricing Your Crafts
This has always been a very difficult task as a crafter. It is easy to figure out how much you spent on materials, it is pricing your labor. The method I use is determined on what would I pay an employee to do this task. Simple sanding or base painting is not a highly skilled […] Read more…
It’s November; Do I Buy Holiday Crafts Now?
Every year it seems the major retail holiday, aka Christmas, is migrating closer to the middle of the year. We now enjoy “Christmas in July” options, which were unheard of years ago. This poses some interesting challenges to crafters that are not selling “personal items”. Do we go with Fall and Thanksgiving themed crafts? On […] Read more…
Country Chest – The Price is Right
Working full-time and also trying to launch a craft business is a lot of work. All crafters that are serious about building a business run into the issue of pricing their product at some point. So…what do you think is the price of this country chest? It would be great to know what you think it […] Read more…
What Type Of Craft Show Interests You?
It has been awhile since the last post. I am back into posting and looking forward to sharing some new thoughts, ideas and crafting tidbits. Halloween is right around the corner, but so are the craft fairs and shows. This week’s post is about what is a “Juried” and “non-Juried” show. In addition, should it make […] Read more…
The Long and Winding…Craft Road (Part 3 – Handcrafted Furniture)
In previous posts, I talked about understanding the value of hand painted crafts and the art of polymer clay figurines. Today would be a great time to discuss handcrafted furniture and home furnishings. My business is extremely fortunate because my husband is an excellent woodcrafter. Not to compared him with my idol (Norm Abram), but […] Read more…
The Long and Winding…Craft Road (Part 2 – Polymer Clay Figurines)
Last post I talked about how to spot hand painted crafts. I did hear from a few of you that they did not know what to look for in painted items and was glad I did that post. I thought this post would address clay figurines. Many of my friends and followers do know that […] Read more…
The Long and Winding…..Craft Road (Part 1)
With fall approaching and many of my readers attending arts and craft shows soon, what better time to break down crafts by medium and learn what other crafters know about their trade. I always feel that an informed consumer is the best consumer. This week I will focus on hand painted crafts. One thing I […] Read more…
Battery or Electric – Whatever Should I Do?
As I sit in my studio with wood parts surrounding me, I cannot decide if I want to make my lighted houses and hangings with battery or electric lighting. These are small houses and shelf sitters, so I am thinking that they should be battery operated so that it does not limit the possibilities of […] Read more…