Welcome to the forum Party Music, so happy you've joined us. Are you able to post pics of your handmade baskets so we can all see them before commenting, it'd be easier. Also, how long does it take to make one, what are they made out of, are they you're own special design?

I'll check back later today to see if you've read this.

Sal

Ebay may be helpful for you. A lot of crafters that want to generate more business but don't want to end up with tons of orders to fill, make items and sell them as they go. I think the fees would be cheaper than the craft show and all the other expenses you are talking about.

Please share your work! We love seeing what others can do!

Leslie

do you by any chance make cornacopias?Im looking for a huge one.For my big farm table.Let me know.

Hi! and thanks for the welcome.

I'm a self-taught weaver, and have been weaving for 7 years... I think my stuff is very good quality. I use the highest quality reed, and purchased handles are dovetailed oak.

Some are my own design (like my garlic and knick-knack baskets that are very popular!), and some are "classics" from patterns. I have also just started handpainting decorations on some... I think they came out great, but haven't shown anyone yet. These are some of the things I've made very recently.... just to show some of my range.

wow! everyone was posting while I was trying to submit photos. Thanks!

Cornucopias: funny! a friend of mine just suggested that I should make one for Thanksgiving! I have a pattern somewhere... haven't made one yet, but it is definitely something that I could do! :)

Those are beautiful baskets. They should sell very
quickly. I know nothing about baskets, so I am not
much help. Good luck in your endeavors.

You're handmade baskets are lovely. I do think baskets are selling these days. A lot of us will make up gift baskets with either food or decorations and gifts and I know I would want something very special looking. Since I decorate country I have quite a few baskets in my rooms, either filled with something or just sitting alone. I needed another shaped basket in addition to the long john basket I had on the wall and a round one (like yours in the pic) which I hung with the bottom against the wall (has angel vine around it) and a cat sitting inside the basket. The third one was very unique in design which attracted me to it right away. I paid $38 for that one basket cause it was so pretty.

I would suggest you type "hand woven baskets" in the web browser line and you'll get a ton of sites to check out workmanship and prices. Don't forget, your workmanship is what they are buying, in addition to a special decoration for their home or as a gift.

Sal

Thanks for the compliments. :)

I have spent many hours searching the net for information about pricing, etc. (that's how I found this forum). My prices are very reasonable compaired to everything I found on-line -- but I attribute some of that to the expense of operating an e-commerce website. I also joined an on-line basketmaker's group. I've found very little information about craft fairs/shows though...

Thanks again.

Party Music 50,

Youe baskets are beautiful! And the quality shows.

However, if you exhibit at a $75 show I'm afraid you won't do as well as you might expect. Why? Because the work is perfect for juried shows. Yes, these are quite a bit more expensive but sales at these shows can be in the $2,000 to $4,000 range. The fees can range from $250 to $500 for a 10x10 space. But all the other exhibitors (I NEVER call them "vendors"!) are of like kind and quality.

Go to www.craftlister.com and register. It's free. Then click the "resourses" tab for "EVENTS SEARCH" and type in your Zip code and how far you're willing to travel for a show. All the shows in that area will appear. Go to as many as you can as a customer. This way you can see what the shows are like and whether or not you'll fit in.

There are some major promoters in all areas of this big and beautiful country. And I'm positive there's a perfect show for you! I live in Vermont and there are shows all over New England within a 100 mile drive. And we do shows with many exhibitors like me that do this for a living. I have been doing a show virtually every weekend since Labor Day. I have to set up tomorrow (Thanksgiving Day) in Wilmington, Ma and I have three more shows after that. Then I'm done until the last week in January when we travel to Edison, NJ and the following week to Syracuse, NY.

Awesome work! They are really nice baskets...nothing I see around here!

Thank you! :)

christopherh: that's amazing... I did a search and found one about 45 mins. away (in JULY!). They charge $50 for space for the weekend, but it's literally only 'space' in a field. lol! You must supply your own tables, tents, everything! I guess it's implicit that you are allowed to sell your crafts there -- although all they talked about was one $50 first prize. :)

Thanks very much!

PS: I showed a few people my new basket style w/ handpainted accent bands... I have lots of orders already.