Tools of the Trade

Lots of things going on at Carey Cottage this past week. Soon I will have my new website up and running. I can't wait to show it off. Of course, since I have a degree in computer programming, I decided to do nearly everything myself and it has given me a bit of a headache! LOL Let's just say business processing programming and web based programming are NOT the same! :)

I also now have in my labels that will be included on all of my one of a kind items. There are four different ones because the supplier messed up the first set and told me to keep them while sending me the second set. I am not completely happy with the choice of script used, but they will do their job. What do you think?

I also have my next design completed and ready to sew. As you can see, I just fold and lay everything together before I do any cutting. I think it is a safe way to do things since I never use a pattern and every piece is cut to size by measurements. No need to start cutting only to find out I don't like the design or way the colors coordinate. Just a hint of this pillow though, because I want you to be surprised when I post the final, completed project! :)

I have recently got in a lot of supplies that will be used in making more gorgeous pillows, so I thought I would share so everyone can have an idea of what might be coming soon from Carey Cottage.

Some of the fabrics I will be using are Tanya Whelan's Barefoot Roses from Free Spirit; Sophy's Garden by Red Rooster; Mary Rose, Chantilly by Robert Kaufman; and Romancing the Rose by Ro Gregg. Not all are pictured, but many are.................

I also have some pretty Maywood Country Romance by Willowberry. Anyone who is familiar with these any of these fabrics knows they are very good quality.

I have lots of new embellishments I will be using too. Plenty of ribbon roses and silk roses and pearl and velvet trims.

Among the large assortment of lace I have is this beautiful vintage antique white venise lace. It is very unusual and I can't wait to find just the right pillow to use it on.

Well, hopefully all those pictures and descriptions gives you some insight into what is going on at Carey Cottage.

Until next time friends............
CC

Coffee and Equations

Carey Cottage has been full of kids this week. My four kids + two nephews = a lot of noise! But, the kids are all still sacked out, so I get to drink my morning coffee in peace and quiet. I have tried to put some pillows together this week, but all these kids have just kept me way too busy.

This morning while having my coffee, I received a message from another Etsy seller that my price on one of my pillows is "over the top". I sat and thought about my price on that pillow for a bit. Let's see, the itemized cost of it is - fabric = $5; image = $6; lace = $3.50; velvet ribbon and gimp = $1.50; appliques = $1.50; clusterstuff = $5; listing = .20; thread, ribbon roses and other miscellaneous parts = $1. Looks like that totals $23.70.

They say pricing on handmade items should be at least two times, and sometimes 3x, the cost to make them. That would mean I should price the pillow between $47.40 and $71.10. Since I have it priced at $49, I think the price is fair when you also take into account the time spent designing it and sewing it and photographing it and editing the photos and writing a description and listing it and packaging it and shipping it off after it sells. After all, I am sure I spent more than three hours on labor and since the minium wage here is $7.05, let's use that figure and add another $21.15 to the price which comes out to $44.85. So, after everything is figured in, it looks like I am charging a little over $4 more than the "what I put into it" total. Oh, but we forgot about the packaging and labeling costs. All of my OOAK (one of a kind) items are custom labeled and all items are packaged in plastic bags with my product logo on them. They are also wrapped in tissue paper and tied with a ribbon. And, everyone who makes a purchase receives a free gift with their purchase. All of that costs money too.

So, after thinking it over, I don't think my price is over the top. After all, you get what you pay for. And this pillow is worth every penny one would spend on it.



Until next time friends.....
CC