I do knitting, crocheting and sewing. Made the pony tail hats this year, thought they would sell well but didn't

Exactly what Elmer said. Plus craft stores are packed with mothers and their broods shopping for joint projects, the kind they used to buy at craft shows. In my area, those sales have been dying slow deaths for years.

Decorative candle rings to go around the large 3.5" pillar candles always seem to be in demand. I don't know if they could be made cheaply enough to compete with Chinese products, but they certainly could be made more special. I think the sweet spot for pricing would be around $10 - $15 per ring. Holiday versions for Easter, Independence Day, St. Patrick's Day, Halloween and Thanksgiving would be well-received, I think. There are some pretty ones on Etsy to view as examples, but I think you could go even more into the specific themes.

enjoying, what is your explanation of a craft ? I'd love to know what kinds of things that you make.

I buy hand made items all the time but feel like some things qualify as art. I've purchased small stained glass sun catchers, hand painted ornaments, hand printed (monograms) table linens, and earrings, as examples of crafts.

I crafted a couple of adorable clothes pin reindeer necklaces for my next door sprites and they will love, love them when they get them this weekend.

I think most of the older generation doesn't need another wreath or do-dads. The younger generation just doesn't want the clutter. Last time I was at a craft fair 95% of the crafts I could of made myself from stuff from the dollar tree. And the people were charging an arm and a leg for them. Tons of people trying to sell beads strung on string as necklaces and bracelets. I mean really any 5 year old can string beads. Really went looking for a bird house, but there was none. I guess nobody had wood working skills, but plenty of people thought they had skills because they owned a glue gun. I did buy two pretty hair bows for my grand-daughters though. They were well made. I just think people are making it themselves if they want something. All you have to do is assess it on youtube to find out how.

I agree that people are making things themselves. So much information, directions and videos are available online

I still buy a lot of handmade items. I agree with the clutter, so no ornaments or things that are not useful. I love sending nice handmade cards, but don't have the time to do them all myself. Bought some nice pop up Christmas cards. Not that much more expensive than the ones at the store.

I have not tried sell, but my friends love the crocheted bookmarks, doilies and snowflakes I send to them. I use fine crochet cotton and sometimes stiffen with a glue-like stiffener. Also infinity scarfs with thick yarn and large buttons I saved from old sweaters. I think people don't buy things they would have to dust?

The only thing that I've seen sell around here are wreaths.

Back in the early 2000s the MGs in my county decided to make garden crafts for fundraising. It was so much fun to get together and let the collective creative juices flow. The sale was successful 1-3 years. When we found ourselves storing the doodads for the following year’s sale, we knew it was time to quit. ended up losing money on leftover items and supplies. I think supplies were donated to schools.

In hearing from crafter friends who are still doing craft shows, it seems that people with children, grandchildren and furkids like the small inexpensive stocking stuffer type items. Wooden items with snowmen seem to be popular too....something that could sit on a table, mantle, shelf or in a corner on the floor.

Kind of sad that people are not interested in crafts anymore, seems people would rather buy ready made from China. :(

My neighbor's daughter tries to sell crafted items, where she takes something that might be an antique or collectable, then adds something modern to it. I've gone to two of her sales events and honestly the objects are cute, but are too 'Victorian styled' for my tastes. They wouldn't go with my style so I wouldn't buy them for myself and they certainly wouldn't be appreciated by our daughters. The neighbor (her mom) is an antique dealer and her sales are down too. Times and decor are really changing.

I don't think that some crafters have kept up with the times, and aren't producing items that are appealing to today's consumer. At least not from what I've seen at local craft shows.

And the quality is often seriously lacking. When potential buyers walk into a venue and see many tables of mass marketed doodads, vitamins or health care items, crocheted toilet paper covers, etc., they lose interest. Craft shows, per se, have something of a bad reputation, largely because of who the organizers allow to set up a table.

I spend a lot of money on wonderful pieces from Etsy every year, all year. Etsy is where I turn to first for memorable gifts of high quality, crafted by creative people from all over the country. I love to give and receive hand crafted items, so do lots of people. Don't give up!

I have noticed at craft sales people make a lot of jewelry which buyers don’t even look at.

I have to admit, I do buy handmade, unique jewelry for my daughters (silver Darwin fish pendant for one, brain cell silver earrings for another), but this is not what I would see at a crafts fair. None of them likes the beads and big stones they show there.

I think these would sell well:

1) Knitted fingerless gloves

2) Knitted ear warmers

3) Infinity scarf, knitted or sewn

used to go to a few really big craft shows with SIL. didn't take long before about 7-8 out of 10 vendors had the same thing show after show. and (going out on a limb) suspect a lot of the stuff came from catalogs and just had "hand-made" tags put on them.

one year, got into holiday craft show at local HS. had made a bunch of those old 6-pane windows with painted glass. I knew they were good, priced very low (windows were roadside finds. if one more person had said how nice they were and how inexpensive... i was gonna punch somebody in the neck!!

I've been looking for birdhouses similar to the one below. I call it a craft project and was going to ask DH to make me a few but i want them now, not next summer. :)

Here's another one and the more I look the more hell bent I am on getting a few!

Oh These are cute. I would get these.

They look simple enough to make, i think.

A lot of stuff is. But you will have to have the tools, materials and time.

Bengardening, just curious, are you licensed to sell food? I saw you sell canned and baked goods. Here you have to be licensed with inspected kitchens.

I think that it's two things - lower quality, and higher prices for higher quality. People aren't as willing to spend a lot of money on a handmade blanket when they can buy one for 1/10th of the price on Amazon. Some people can appreciate it but most will choose the cost-efficient ways. Shopping wasn't as easy 20 years ago.

I went to an art fair today and they had some beautiful stuff but so expensive. A bracelet was $75 and this small painting I admired was nearly $800.

"Here you have to be licensed with inspected kitchens."

Here too -we're in the same state so I wonder if it's a state rule or just a common local rule. An "inspected kitchen" in my area really means a commercial kitchen that's subject to involuntary periodic health department inspections. It's a food safety precaution.

They actually passed a law in CA a few years ago where people can make certain goods in a home kitchen. The health department inspects it and the label has to say "made in a home kitchen" with the license number. It's also limited in the type of items for safety, so you could do cookies but not cheesecake, or anything that could spoil or more likely to cause food poisoning. You have to submit all recipes and ingredients and the state decides if it's hazardous or not.

I considered it as I bake a lot for friends but it's a lot of work and a low profit margin.

Actually the requirements have been loosened for Cottage Food Businesses in by California state law. Cottage foods are limited to shelf stable items like preserves, spices, nut mixtures, honey etc. and baked goods that don't require refrigeration. One still needs a permit and business license and to get that permit there are basic requirements that must be met including passing a food safety test. Self home inspection checklists are used unless you sell outside the direct market. If you sell to outside vendors than a home inspection is required.

Chi and I cross posted. :-)

Okay, that makes sense. My wife bought some jam at a farmers market that said on the label something like "Homemade by me in a commercial kitchen subject to health department inspection". So that person was just being over-compliant.

Watchmelol, yes, not needing refrigeration was the thing I was missing in my description! I had forgotten that only some people need inspections.

I've only seen it twice. The first is a lady that makes jam and sells at local farmers markets, and it's really good. The second was a box of cookies gifted by a parent at the school I worked at last year. Both had the labels.

There is a lady in my area that sells homemade tarts, she sells tons of them.

It seems that the time and materials would be cost prohibitive to sell for only $20 a pair! Those gloves are very cute. I would buy something like that for twenty dollars if they were thick enough to be warm.

I used to go to the craft shows every year but hardly ever found anything that I wanted. Usually bought something like some bars of handmade soap, maybe a candle, some alpaca socks. They are usually so crowded that you have to get there before it starts to even get a parking spot, otherwise you have to catch a bus to get there. What I was noticing is the jewelry booths were crowded. I have not gone in a few years though so that may be changing already.

microwave cozies in 2 sizes sell fast here. My friend is having a hard time keeping up with making them . She also crochets on half kitchen towels a holder that buttons over a handle,, full towels with crocheted holder with button . She uses good quality towels and people notice that . Those are her big sellers. She also makes quilted table runners and toppers . A slow day for her is $ 400.00 in sales . She has been doing craft shows for many years .

enjoyingspring....If the mitten folded back......and fingerless. :0) I own fleece ones in black, light weight wool & insulated wool. I'd pay $20- $50....but not for mittens. JCP sells fingerless in the mens section(they sell out). We each own matching pairs. I'd love a girlie pair. Starting price is $40 @ JCP

I was just going to say, the Facebook quilting groups are filled with pictures of people making the microwave safe bowl cozies. They are designed to be used in the microwave and have extra fabric around the edges so you can lift the hot, rewarmed bowl of whatever out of the microwave without burning your fingers. They are usually made in two sizes and can be nested when you're not using them. They are also good for using with cold things like ice cream so your hands don't get cold if you're eating it on the sofa or something. If you make these, you have to use 100% cotton everything. There is a special batting called Wrap and Zap that is 100% cotton. It is also recommended that you only reheat items and don't leave them in the microwave for more than two minutes or so. Apparently these are big sellers at craft shows and also make nice gifts for friends and family.

I also buy a LOT of placemats & little throw rugs. I'd love a little rug with a cat appliqued on it for my Black Cat to eat his dinner on....for instance. Also....have you seen these little garden flags? I have 3; one has a black cat on it, one has an autumn leaf, one says "Happy Birthday"...I'd buy more....

One thing I notice sells here are pet themed products. (Things for pets)

As far as $20 - $50 mitts and such, I think many hesitate to purchase as they can't be returned/exchanged if there is a problem.

Exactly....pet themed! My DH purchased a very soft blanket for our cat yesterday! He was prepared to pay "anything". If we'd found one with a black cat on it about 3'x3' he would have paid $20 for it easily!

I haven't done any crafts in a while. Making money origami butterflies as a gift probably doesn't count. Neither does this diaper cake I made for somebody expecting twins. Even though the sock roses were tricky. Like the idea of the microwave cozies. At first I thought: how do I fit a cozier on a microwave?

here ihttps://www.facebook.com/havehookwilltravel/photos/a.685282671572108.1073741861.523015551132155/1187622664671437/?type=3s a pic. of a few of her cozies...

I don’t buy any “crafty” stuff, and I haven’t done so in years. I haven’t noticed more than a couple of craft fairs recently, and I live in a good-sized city. As others have said, I think most people are tired of all the *junk* and crap that needs to be dusted/stored.

The most amazing (not in a good way) thing I’ve seen people buying is the super-poofy wreath. Made either tulle or burlap or whatever. They just look like a pile of trash, yet people buy them!

I love to make things and shop crafts sales, but I hardly attend them anymore because items are really repetitive - how many booths with hand painted signs do you need at one craft show - so many booths are Tupperware-style sales, and I have seen nothing new in years. Plus, most of my friends and family are downsizing. As has been mentioned above, we are clearing out the clutter, although I do still have a soft spot for hand made items created by people I know.

I happened to see this today on FB in a quilting group I follow:

Link doesn't work.

Thrummed mittens are very warm, they are all wool inside. Like the picture

I'd buy a pair of those thrummed mittens in a flash! I've never seen them around here. (I'm in Idaho) Do you ship??? ;)

Unfortunately not.

Those mittens and rings would not be a good mix, so no I wouldn't.

Iris, that diaper cake is adorable! [ There is something I never thought I say in my lifetime. ;) ]

Here's a link for the FB group mentioned above. With the "cozies".

https://www.facebook.com/havehookwilltravel/

AND, here's part of the problem with craft fair sales (as mentioned above) - also found great directions for making them (I'm thinking - WOW - I can use up my 100% wool scraps and fabric scraps).

Never heard about them before this. (They are still great things to buy and gift.)

And, I do think gifts for pets and featuring pets have buyers.