Dip Dyed Tote Bags

I love giving handmade gifts. Every year at Christmas, I try to make a big batch of, well, thingys. and give them away . This Year it was Chex mix for the boys and tote bags for the girls. Everyone seemed happy!

This project is probably 10 and up. I kept my kids out of it.

I used 4 shades of Procion dyes, however you can use as little as one. I was warned to try to keep it down, because the colors will start to get muddy as you go along.

I used the plastic container that the veggie platter comes in, from the grocery store. I love it when something is recyclable and I can use it one more time before I bin it. Like I got my money's worth.

I used Soda ash on the stove- it smells to high heaven! Keep a lid on it and crack a window.... even if it is December! This helps prepare your fabric for dying. I ordered several tote bags off of the internet. Amazon, Dick Blick, Micheals' and Joann's. It was fun to feel the different textures, they were all different sizes, some had pockets, other's didn't. I kept in mind the women in my life that I was making them for, so 2 went more emerald green, and one went way more purple and blue. The rest were rainbow, purple, blue, turquoise, and green.

grab a wet bag out of your Soda ash, wring it out, leave it scrunched up and dip it right in the dye, about 3 inches deep. Fold the skinny wet bag in half and dip the middle in another color.
Lay it flat in a tub. after they have been wet about an hour- throw it in the washing machine.

after they have been wet about an hour- throw it in the washing machine.

HANG Dry- not in the dryer.

Then I used, Sharpies, and Dacique Dyes painted on to make a few modificatons, You know, make it personal!

Value or Savings?

In my search for other jewelry artists, I came across this post by casual gal about Free Shipping Versus A Dollar Discount.

I found more info here, from Havi, on the difference between value and price.

You can check them out, they are super neat folks and I love their writing.

I find that I have priced things a bit differently over the course of the time I have been making jewelry. Originally, I specifically based all of my pricing on the items I was using, what type of metal and stones, then I multiplied by 3. This went okay, I felt like I was getting ahead, but sales were slow and meager. I met up with a friend and she said I should charge based on my time, or my skill level, since not everyone is able to make what I make. {huh, imagine that} So, I sat on that thought for quite a while, and mulled it over.

Now, my pricing is a bit of both. I charge for time, at a rate of $20 an hour, and I charge for 2 times the cost of my materials. This has been working out much better, even though my prices are about 15-20% higher. I think it may be along the lines of what Havi says in her little story, the more money one spends, the more "value" they place on the item.

What do you guys charge, and How Come?

CURE Fest

Yay, today's show has been phenomenal. It was unexpected that there were sales, but not of the tree ornament kind. I managed to sell many bracelets and earrings. I really thought the ornaments would be a hit. I must re-think this!

There were a lot of different jewelers there, but I was careful to make sure I was in the lower end of the pricing scale.


The Thanksgiving day sale, on my Etsy shop was a total flop, absolutely no sales. I suppose some promotional items would need to be made, next time there's a sale.

Save the Date!

I have a new show coming up, on December 6th. It is at Clark University, it is called C.U.R.E. fest, it is a charity for Aids treatment and awareness.

Come on by, and see the joyful sparkle booth!

First Craft show!

Pies on the Common There was a beautiful autumn day that I decided to attempt my very first craft fair. It just happens to be called, Pies on the common. The weather was a little cold, very New England day and golly a piece of warm pie just sounds about perfect!

Pies on the Common

I set-up my booth, (rather a table) and covered it with a navy blue piece of cloth, that was originally intended to be my husbands work pants, and enthusiastically wanted to sell loads of stuff.

Pies on the Common

I learned a few things: 1) I do not like to sell stuff and put myself out there, and 2) my hubby does.

I like to sit in the back and keep on beading, and he sees fit to talk to the random strangers. I originally was really put off by my fear of judgment. He didn’t really have any fear like that, so it went well for us to have him stand behind the table and cheerfully chat up the customers.

Pies on the Common

The sales:

My first sale happened 15 minutes before the show opened, so I thought that was a good omen. However, my next sales was 3 hours later. End of the day, I made the booth fee, and $5. I took my hard earned gains, and bought a little apple pie {it made a lovely breakfast on Sunday}

Pies on the Common

There’s a bundled up picture of me with a big blue scarf wrapped around my head!