Popular Post Millwab Posted September 6, 2022 Popular Post Report Share Posted September 6, 2022 Last year I was invited to participate at our county fair with a collection of artisans demonstrating crafts from the 1800s. I went in with my c.1890 treadle scrollsaw and a display of a variety of things you could make with a scrollsaw (strictly an educational venture for me). The others there were either showing their primary business or their side hustle and were selling what they make. I wasn’t there to sell anything, although I did get some requests after the fair was over. A few friends that I knew there encouraged me to come back this year with some things to sell so I worked on a small inventory of things that people showed interest in last year. After a somewhat grueling 6 days @ 10hrs/day (they added an extra day this year to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the fair) I sold out of most everything I took to sell and came home with 15 more orders for customized things or things I ran out of. Despite being chastised for underpricing my work (I’ve never ventured into the make-to-sell world and have trouble trying to set prices) I came home with enough cash to keep me in blades and wood for years to come. I’m already invited to return next year and hopefully have learned something to take forward. lawson56, meflick, barb.j.enders and 14 others 17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgman Posted September 6, 2022 Report Share Posted September 6, 2022 Congratulations Bruce! OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobscroll Posted September 6, 2022 Report Share Posted September 6, 2022 It sounds like you had a good time at the fair Bruce! Congratulations to you and bring on the sawdust for next year! Bob OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxfold Posted September 6, 2022 Report Share Posted September 6, 2022 Well done ! Sounds like you had a good if exhausting week. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted September 6, 2022 Report Share Posted September 6, 2022 Good for you Bruce. It's nice to show our hobby off. I have taken my saw to few functions over the years for demonstration purposes. As for prices, if you are happy with what you charge and what you got, so be it mate. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveww1 Posted September 6, 2022 Report Share Posted September 6, 2022 congratulations OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted September 6, 2022 Report Share Posted September 6, 2022 That is great and congratulations. I'd love to see pictures of some of the things you made. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millwab Posted September 6, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2022 10 hours ago, John B said: As for prices, if you are happy with what you charge and what you got, so be it mate. My thoughts exactly John. But I not only got a bit of an education on what I could be charging but also what people were interested in for next year. John B and OCtoolguy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denny Knappen Posted September 6, 2022 Report Share Posted September 6, 2022 Congrats on the venture. Always nice to show people what can be done with this fine hobby. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millwab Posted September 6, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2022 5 hours ago, Scrappile said: That is great and congratulations. I'd love to see pictures of some of the things you made. Paul, here is the setup I had … WayneMahler, meflick, John B and 5 others 6 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe W. Posted September 7, 2022 Report Share Posted September 7, 2022 Congrats on having a good time (even if it was a bit tiring at times). OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WayneMahler Posted September 7, 2022 Report Share Posted September 7, 2022 Congrats on a great show / exhibit. Very nice display and great looking work. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fab4 Posted September 7, 2022 Report Share Posted September 7, 2022 Hi Bruce: That's great news for you Your work looks really good What is your best seller? Your priority now is to keep things fun You will make out ok, I'm sure Fab4 OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millwab Posted September 7, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2022 (edited) 46 minutes ago, Fab4 said: Hi Bruce: That's great news for you Your work looks really good What is your best seller? Your priority now is to keep things fun You will make out ok, I'm sure Fab4 Thanx Paul. My best sellers were my puzzles and military plaques. Came away with 6 orders for customized plaques (I laser personalized info on them e.g. names, rank, years of service, unit or ship ID - anything they want to put on it)in addition to the 'generic' ones I sold there. Only had 12 misc puzzles with me and sold them all. Sold about half of the 40 Christmas card puzzles I had. I have no desire to turn this into a job, so it’ll be easy to keep it fun. Edited September 7, 2022 by Millwab Fab4, OCtoolguy and Gene Howe 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted September 7, 2022 Report Share Posted September 7, 2022 Bruce, thanks for showing, I agree you do great work.. I have made several of the military plaques for family members/friends that served... They are always appreciated.. I also really like your fossil pieces.. Well, it all looks great! OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lawson56 Posted September 7, 2022 Report Share Posted September 7, 2022 A Great Big Congrats. I always get chastised by my wife and others for pricing to low. But concidering the times I try to be fair. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barb.j.enders Posted September 8, 2022 Report Share Posted September 8, 2022 23 hours ago, Millwab said: Sold about half of the 40 Christmas card puzzles I had. Do you have a picture of the Christmas card puzzles? Or a description? Is it just an old card that you have made into a puzzle? OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millwab Posted September 8, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2022 12 minutes ago, barb.j.enders said: Do you have a picture of the Christmas card puzzles? Or a description? Is it just an old card that you have made into a puzzle? Morn’n Barb. I buy boxes of Christmas card assortments from Leaning Tree. Then I glue the front of the card to one side of the ply blank and the sentiment from the inside of the card on the other (creates a two-sided puzzle). For these I just cut a simple "standard" puzzle cut of 35 pieces. I’m thinking of cutting my "figure 8" cut for next year. Here’s a pic of the back of one of the cards … barb.j.enders and OCtoolguy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barb.j.enders Posted September 8, 2022 Report Share Posted September 8, 2022 6 hours ago, Millwab said: Morn’n Barb. I buy boxes of Christmas card assortments from Leaning Tree. Then I glue the front of the card to one side of the ply blank and the sentiment from the inside of the card on the other (creates a two-sided puzzle). For these I just cut a simple "standard" puzzle cut of 35 pieces. I’m thinking of cutting my "figure 8" cut for next year. Here’s a pic of the back of one of the cards … Thanks for the info. Great idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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