Today I got more pictures taken for my shop. I know, this is all I blog about. But, I only think about 2 things right now: my shop and potty training. I don’t think you want me to talk more about poop, so we’ll talk about my shop. Here’s my latest quandry and I need your help.
In November there’s a craft fair here on campus. Because everyone here on campus (except the professors) is poor, I need to have inexpensive items to sell. I know that November is a long time away, but I have to start planning and sewing now to have enough supply to sell.
So, tell me the types of items you’d buy. I’ll write a list of ideas below, but feel free to add others. Don’t answer with what you’d buy from me — tell me what you’d buy from a random stranger at a craft fair. If the answer is nothing, put that down. I need honesty, my lovelies.
Here’s my list of ideas:
Inexpensive journals covered in cool reusable fabric covers
fabric-wrapped headbands
cute clippies and bows for little girls
Laundry bags (there are several dorms here on campus and people who use laundromats)
Small jars of bath salts or sugar scrub
Ok, so leave a comment telling me what you’d buy and how much you’d pay for it. Thanks. In return for being my marketing focus group, I’ll give you each a brownie. You have to come here to get it before they’re gone. I won’t ship them.

Teresa
Your ideas sound good. One other thing that I myself recently bought at a craft fair was a clipboard, covered with scrapbook paper (on front and back) and modge-podged, with ribbons tied along the clip part. I paid $10 and is really cute and probably didn’t cost that much to make.
fbclockport
Hey mab!! Miss you, girl! I would definitely purchase some cute pacifier holders since we’re always trying to locate pacifiers these days! I’d pay like $5 for 2 or something like that, especially if they were super cute (hehe). Of course, all of your stuff is super cute!
Carolyn
I’m not into sewing crafts at all so I probably wouldn’t purchase anything like these things. Students might like the laundry bags but only if they’re $5 or so. I am into scrapping so Teresa’s idea of covered clipboards is okay, max $10. Food always sells….immediate gratification.
Bath salts, candles…meh. Christmas items will be good at a NOvember fair: stockings, placemats/napkins, table runners, tree skirts (all fabric items). Candles, cookie mix in a jar, etc, are $5-10 items that sell well for the holidays. Even cute recipe cards/wooden spoon tied with raffia.
Hope this helps!
Jill English
I’ve seen headbands covered in candy wrapper and clear oil cloth and it’s super cute! They sell them for $12 at a childrens’ store, super expensive, but would be easy to make. Just save those tootsie roll, M&M, bubble yum, and other wrappers for your “fabric” – basically free!
Christmas items students could give as gifts is a great idea, Carolyn.
bethgun
Hey, I was just thinking that it’d be nice to have a cute quarter pouch to go with a matching laundry bag. I just moved into a new place with no washer/dryer, and although I’m doing my laundry at Sujan’s it occurred to me that I no longer have a place to put my quarters (I think in college I used a mickey mouse coin purse).
As for your list, I might buy a book cover, or some cute bows for my nieces.
A few more ideas (not that you asked):
a fabric wallet organizer
charging station
photo frames (covered in fabric)
reuseable fabric gift bags for holiday gifts
water bottle carrier with strap
simple tote bags
Carolyn
I like the idea of reuseable fabric gift bags for Christmas. Fits the budget-minded AND the eco-minded.
sarahh
Fun stuff! One thing I really like that I picked up at someone’s booth is my ribbon headband. It has cute ribbon that shows on top of your head and has a strip of elastic that goes underneath your hair (and connects the ends of the ribbon). Does that make sense? I’m a fan because they don’t start hurting your temples after 20 minutes like some of the traditional plastic headbands do. I think I paid $2.50 or $3 for it.
p.s. I also like Beth’s idea of the fabric covered pic frames. I think Christmas items would be good too! (ex. pot holders like you’ve done, place mats, throw pillows)
sarahh
p.s. jr. The ribbon is at least 1 inch wide. Since scarves are popular to use as headbeands too, you could probably get away with some wider ribbon that tapers as it gets closer to the ears.
Just a thought…
mab
I have a great headband pattern I’ve been wanting to use. I think I’ll make some of them and see how easy they are. This might be a good option. Thanks for all of the input!
d
i’ll second the placemat idea !!!!!
four placemats might take less material than a small quilt – don’t know about the price –
(mom of a friend) enjoying your blog
Britty
Love the coin purse idea for laundry or change for the tollway, etc. Also think you could make:
crayon rolls for kids
oilcloth aprons for kids for painting & crafting
go-to-big-church art totes (either a mini tote bag with slots for crayons or the kind that folds and has room for crayons and a blank notepad but still has handles)
fabric notebook covers (the kind that you can fit a standard notepad in)
funky, vintage key fobs
fabric beaded necklaces (like that pattern we got when you were in Waco)
Cliff
I think you should make sombrero’s. Or maybe hammer pants. “every time you see me…the hammer’s on the mic”
LT
What about ornaments? I also like anything focused toward children (the hair bows, paci holders/straps, etc).
Something else that’s HUGE around the Dallas/Plano area are the covers you can put over shopping carts and high chairs at restaurants (to protect the germ laiden kids from more germs)
Anyhow, the ones that will fit BOTH high chairs and cart seat go for $40 and the ones that just fit one or the other go for around $30 (in stores)—I think $25-$30 would be a good range but that might be something you want to include in your Etsy shop and not the thing in November. You’d probably be able to get more than $25-30 on the Etsy site, too.