Woe is me! What to do?

[OCtoolguy]

I have a problem begging for an answer. I love making stuff. BUT, here's the problem. My wife informed me she has no room or need, for any more of my "creations". So the question is, what do you good people do with your stuff? I've given things to friends and family. Not sure if they need any more. I'm not into selling because I get bored making the same things over and over. Any suggestions?

[Dave Monk]

I sell almost everything I make. I have been given things in the past that I could care less about but accepted them to be nice. 

Build up a little inventory and take it to a small craft show. Nothing says you have to make the same thing over. 

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

Do a yard sale. Give to charity. Do church raffles. The list goes on. get into Pen Making!!!!!!!!! Try new things that take time to either learn the process or takes longer to cut. 

Edited September 18 by JTTHECLOCKMAN

[Bill WIlson]

Agree with JT, donate stuff.  I'd rather put 100 hours into a project and donate it to a good cause than spend 100 hours making inventory to sell at a craft show and end up bringing most of it home.

[rjweb]

Ray, that's a tough one, I am in same boat, wife not looking for anymore stuff. I will make some Christmas stuff but that's about it. like Dave said making and giving away I feel people just take to be nice. Maybe try making boxes everyone can use a small box to hold stuff, RJ

Another idea is become an expert pattern maker

Edited September 18 by rjweb

[Wichman]

So, what kind of projects do you make for her?

[Norm Fengstad]

buy a large container and fill it with stuff. When it is full buy another box, actually I don't know what one should do 

[Norm Fengstad]

You are a creative person and if your are not making something well that could become a health issue. there are many organizations that look for items to put into silent auctions. I donate items to the Autism awareness fundraisers, the Fish and game league, minor sports

[dgman]

Start making toys to donate to hospitals and needy children.

[BadBob]

The rule says that if you sell what you make, you must make multiples.

I get it after making hundreds or maybe a thousand toy pickup trucks.

 

[kmmcrafts]

I don't think you "have to" make multiples of anything you make, especially if your not really worried about making profits etc. I will say it's much easier especially for online selling to sell the same stuff so multiples is pretty much a must do and saves a lot of work from creating all the listings and photos. 

You could look into local crafts shows and consignment shops. Donation centers etc.  

Or if you're into ornamental fires like me.. LOL

[Roberta Moreton]

That’s exactly why I started doing a small craft show in my area. It is once a month, billed as a community yard sale.  Here is the backstory:

I saw a pattern (Steve Good probably) and I said that I wanted to make it.  My husband said, Where are you going to put it?  
Now, I make what I want, take it to the community sale and sell enough to pay for the cost of wood and miscellaneous. It’s just a hobby born from my addiction to scrolling. 

[barb.j.enders]

A few years ago, hubby said I had to start getting rid of my stuff.  I started doing a couple of sales a year.  I am not interested in doing more than that.  I will make a few multiples but not many.  I have some stuff that hasn't sold.  It was some of my earlier stuff so it shows.  I need to figure out a place to get rid of them too!

[Fish]

I give a lot away but have also found a store that sells art from all kinds of people.  They get 30% but thats ok. I've talked to several who really like the work.  That's worth more than the money.

[BadBob]

6 hours ago, kmmcrafts said:

Or if you're into ornamental fires like me.. LOL

I was going to say something like that but decided someone might take it the wrong way.

[OCtoolguy]

19 hours ago, Wichman said:

So, what kind of projects do you make for her?

I like making boxes, bowls and baskets. I must admit though that I have not mastered the finishing process. 

[OCtoolguy]

17 hours ago, dgman said:

Start making toys to donate to hospitals and needy children.

For some reason toys are just not my thing. I thought about them but decided they would not whet my appetite. 

[OCtoolguy]

5 hours ago, Roberta Moreton said:

That’s exactly why I started doing a small craft show in my area. It is once a month, billed as a community yard sale.  Here is the backstory:

I saw a pattern (Steve Good probably) and I said that I wanted to make it.  My husband said, Where are you going to put it?  
Now, I make what I want, take it to the community sale and sell enough to pay for the cost of wood and miscellaneous. It’s just a hobby born from my addiction to scrolling. 

I'm sure if I did a search that I might find a craft show but they are scarce around me. So. Cal. is a strange place. Not like "small-town America. Everything is about the dollar. If I do find a show, I'm sure they would charge a fee to sell. 

[munzieb]

Didn't I send you that Peacock lamp pattern pattern? It takes some time to  make and your wife may find that useful?

[OCtoolguy]

7 hours ago, munzieb said:

Didn't I send you that Peacock lamp pattern pattern? It takes some time to  make and your wife may find that useful?

 

7 hours ago, munzieb said:

Didn't I send you that Peacock lamp pattern pattern? It takes some time to  make and your wife may find that useful?

That is the one thing that she still wants me to make. I had the patterns all printed at FedEx but then life got in the way. She fell and broke her leg and nothing has been the same since. 

[Hawk]

Like you I have no more wall space, so like many have said here I donate most of it and every once in a while a co worker will request something. I never charge for anything, I figure if they pay then they can complain, no pay, they can't complain about any aspect of it. But I do go into pretty good detail on what they want and are looking for. 

[munzieb]

7 hours ago, OCtoolguy said:

 

That is the one thing that she still wants me to make. I had the patterns all printed at FedEx but then life got in the way. She fell and broke her leg and nothing has been the same since. 

I thought that was good luck? I guess that is if you are performing on stage. Contact me if you have any questions.

[rash_powder]

Find a local animal shelter - not the Humane Society, but really local (where I live we have Turtle Mountain Animal Rescue and Journey Home) - and donate the creations for fund raising sales.  Or any local charity organization.  

We try to stay away as much as possible from the nation-wide giants.  Things aren't always what they seem with them.  

[Denny Knappen]

You might have seen the Alex Fox Modified Baskets.  I started to give these away as Blessing Baskets to anyone with health issues.  At my age, there are a lot.

[Wichman]

22 hours ago, OCtoolguy said:

I like making boxes, bowls and baskets. I must admit though that I have not mastered the finishing process. 

Can you shift the type of projects that you make? Shelves or wall pockets, light switch or outlet covers (Steve Good has a very fancy Victorian pattern) items themed to your wife's interests. Make extra fancy designs so you slow down your production .