I sure could use some help/wisdom of others

[wistarria]

I tried to figure out where to put this post and gave up. I'll try here.

This is tatted related.

Someone asked me to make available the shuttles I make for myself using yarn.

Okay. I thought about this long and hard. I have no granddaughters to pass this on to. I have no real life tatting friends to share with either.

The only thing suggested to me was, go do an etsy store. Fine. Now I am frightened by all the things to learn to do this over there. And would love to have conversations with those of you who have done this before me.

I really need a coach. lol I don't know what I'm doing and it doesn't seem easy at my age.

My intent is not to do this for a living or a business, but to do this to share all the little tatting tools I've made for myself with others. That would make me happy if what I did makes other tatters happy. And I don't want it to be taking up all my time that I need to make stuff. lol That is the size of the matter.

I sure hope this is not offensive or inappropriate to anyone or the forum.

Thank you.

[PattyD]

It's a perfectly reasonable request. New endeavors require some thought and all the help and advice you can get. None of which is available from me since I don't etsy. But lots of tatters do, so expect some advice and answers.

[wistarria]

It's a perfectly reasonable request. New endeavors require some thought and all the help and advice you can get. None of which is available from me since I don't etsy. But lots of tatters do, so expect some advice and answers.

Thank you Patty :)

[Rubeania]

Wistarria,
I don't really understand what it is you are making. Is it something that you could make an original pattern out of. For example, I developed some unique crochet patters for 3-D Flowers. I wasn't really interested in making them and selling them on line because I don't want to be tied to making flowers. I made up patterns for each flower and now I sell the patterns on esty. It is doesn't bring in a lot of money, but I am thrilled each time I send a pattern off to some far corner of the world, and the money I do make offsets my thread habit:)) I'm not sure this is relevant but I hope so.

[soyloquesoy]

In other words: Do you have pictures of those shuttles? They sound intriguing!

[Judy]

I'd start by deciding how many of these shuttles you want to make. Dozens, hundreds, 8 or 10? If you only want to make a small number, there are many ways to do it. PattyD is selling her celtic shuttles her husband is making. I'd check with her.

[Antiquarian]

A very good friend who does well on Etsy sent me to this site http://www.everythingetsy.com/2011/0...lling-on-etsy/ This is one I've also been reading through as I've been trying to decide if I want to open an Etsy shop http://www.handmadeology.com/10-real...lling-on-etsy/

Good Luck! And in the words of Joseph Campbell "follow your bliss" - if it isn't fun don't do it.

[RandaGray]

The great thing about Etsy is that you don't * have* to do more than you want. I have an Etsy store, & I sell things when I want, don't when I don't. Right now I don't have anything listed, & haven't in a couple of months. There are people who make a living selling on etsy (krystledawn, totusmel, ladyshuttlemaker to name a few), & while I think it would be awesome, I don't have the time to tat that much. I'll never understand how they do! But I list things when I want to & don't when I don't.

[soyloquesoy]

Randa, you do have to pay for each listing, don't you...? Wanders off to see what items you have had for sale in the past... wait... I can't find a link to your blog nor your shop :( care to share? ^^

[carolivy]

It is the bit of having to pay for my listings that has kept me from using Etsy. You get charged a fee already for using PayPal, so I didn't want to have to pay another fee to someone else.