[Nfb-krafters-korner] Starting a Business in Crafts craft shows

[Blindhands at aol.com]

Linda,
 
You put a big smile on my face.  When I was sighted and strong in  doing 
the craft show circuit I made clown dolls.  I would go to a show with  like 50 
to 75 dolls and no two were alike.  Each of them I hand embroidered  the 
faces uniquely to match the calico fabrics I would dress them up in.   The 
body and faces arms and part of the legs were made out of a cotton white  sock. 
 I had gone down to New Yourk City to locate a distributor that I  could 
purchase them in bulk and that were a good quality sock.  Their main  office 
was in one of those skyscrapers on 5th Avenue.  I would mix and  match 
fabrics most popular for babies were rosebuds like pink rosebud fabric  with a 
collar, shoes and brim of hat being the tiny pink gingham.  Well  when I did 
shows I would always dress up in my clown outfit and yes, I had  repeat 
customers and got to be known as the clown lady.  I wholesaled my  clowns and they 
were in maternity shops, gift shops children stores and craft  shops that 
sold hand crafted items.  I also had them in 2 different party  businesses 
that were popular in Connecticut at that time of my life.  
 
I had 3 people working for me when I was doing it.  I payed someone to  sew 
the outfits, I did all the cutting, I had my Mom helping sew the outfit and 
 I had someone that would help me stuff the bodies and arms.  I don't know  
how many I made of these precious clowns in the 8 years I worked at doing 
it,  but I hate to tell you I never made and kept one for myself.  Don't feel 
 too bad about that as I made one for my Grandma who taught me crafting and 
when  she died it went to my Mom and has a chair it sits in over at her 
house.   When Mom is no longer I will get my clown.
 
Joyce  Kane
www.KraftersKorner.org  (http://www.krafterskorner.org/) 
Blindhands at AOL.com