DoubleC

Hi Bob. Right now I have 14 custom orders. Now that should be a good thing except to me it feels a little overwhelming. I have a bracelet, a bracelet fix, three belts a checkbook cover, 4 rifle slings and 4 leather bags for dominoes. I think the belt orders have come from people seeing other things I've done but the rest is simply stuff people ask me if I could do. I have around 100.00 in cash I'll get when these are done because I always take a deposit. I got all the money for the bags first because it was an etsy order last night and I charged 50.00. So I have 150.00 laying around on these. That may not be much for some people but it is me. But I'm a disorganized mess. I'm starting today with the first one waiting and just going from there but it's truly going to take me a while to finish these since I have so many other things going on right now, working toward a grant, a craft fair coming up this month and the last FM this Sat. The grant process alone is 3 meetings a week. My heads just spins around in circles over all this stuff, but I just finished up my email and decided I'm working until the bags, one belt and bracelet are done today because the bags are on a time crunch. I probably should have turned them down yesterday but I need more feedback at etsy. I know I can push through this but as you can see it's a pretty wide arrangement of things people want. I like making the pouches because I get to use my cobra on those and they are money makers too. I'm going to try and cut out two more while I'm at it for the craft fair. Then do the checkbook cover Sunday, and the two belts monday and the rifle slings Tuesday before my meetings start all over. I can't do the bracelet fix until I get rivets in my order this month. I am truly a nervous wreck and looking for ways to keep this from happening in the future but most of my money comes from custom orders. Thanks for helping Bob. Cheryl

Hi NV. I think you hit the nail on the head about my niche not staying the same. I'm doing a new business plan simply because it's change so much in a year. Maybe that's what's causing the whole uneasiness. This thing took off better than I expected and I'm having a hard time pinning down why. I feel like I'm so busy I don't have time to think about what I want to do next. I don't mean I'm getting rich from it yet, just that I have more work than I expected and I am making more than I expected in such a short time. I've only really been doing this since November of 2013 as far as having venues to sell from other than just word of mouth. I am excited about how well it's done but also a little scared I think. BTW you have a nice Etsy shop and your work is excellent. I am going to revamp mine this afternoon when I get a little time for myself Cheryl

Dwight you are so right. I'm happiest when I'm doing something new just because, not because it's a custom order. I get anxious doing new things that are custom which is usually just me getting in my own way because the price to replace the leather has never been so bad I couldn't afford it. But I feel like it has to come out perfect the first time and I don't know why. But it does relax me when I do those projects even though they don't usually work out right the first time. Aaron I misspoke a little about the purse. I had a woman that wanted to buy it and I wouldn't sell it because the strap wasn't sewn on securely enough. I told her I would repair that, or make her another one and she went to get change and never came back.....you get that a lot at the FMs. Just today I had a friend who is very honest got over everyone of my products on etsy and I need to go and take some things down and also change prices on over 1/2 of them. I think that's a very good idea. And not all of them did she think I should reduce, a couple she thought was under-priced. But it is so helpful to get some fresh eyes on your products for things like that. I hope you all know I'm feeling better with each reply, honestly. Cheryl

Looks good Joe, good luck on the samples Cheryl

Thank you Ray. I know I need a day away and just haven't 'scheduled' it yet. Waited a little long for the fishing trip, snowed today But I am going to take that day even if it's just a few hours. Thanks so much for your words. Cheryl

In a nutshell, I will be sure to announce the finding of my "niche", when I discover this elusive rascal. Ain't that the truth. Both of us hampered by customer demands, and similar in nature and scope yet so different. I want to find something I'm so good at people want to buy it but hampered by custom demands that feed me, and you wanna use your creativity too but also hampered by customer demands for small items you do over and over. I am trying so hard Ray to make a god of this but I can honestly say I have so many things running through my head I can't see the forest for the trees. It stays just out of sight and I need a day I think fishing and thinking, away from my house where everywhere I turn is work and also out of my own head a while. Thanks so much. Cheryl

Dwight I started with guitar straps and still love to make them but have found musicians to be particularly cheap, LOL. I have sold three and all were to family members of the musicians. When I started at the indoor market last winter I did so by making a lot of little things I could sell to people on the spot, bracelets, bookmarks, my eye jewelry, an example of a portfolio and journal cover I could do on a custom basis. This summer is when it really got outta control and I ended up doing anything and everything people asked and I find all I am is tired and stressed trying to keep up. And I'm the only person I know who will go down on a price after the customer has already agreed to the higher price, LOL. I am not taking anymore custom orders right now until I get the ones I have off my plate. I am trying to prepare for a craft fair next month too while doing this stuff, and working with three different agencies on a grant which eats into my time. I hate paperwork but it's so very necessary. So in a way I'm trying to learn about the business aspects of the business while I'm running the business. I shouldn't complain about having too many custom orders but I feel like I haven't hit my stride yet since I walked in the door for the first time last November and set up a table and started selling. I have things I want to try, one of them is boxes because I collect them, but I just don't have the time to be creative right now. Lightingale the last creative thing I did was sew three dog collars because my vet said she would let me sell them there for no commission so I did those while working on custom orders. I thought it was necessary to jump on that offer while it was still hot so I did three in three different sizes and styles. I enjoyed them but now think I should have taken at least one to the market with me this summer because everyone brings their dogs to the outside market. I'm batting blind on what's going to sell at the market or to my real time clients because they all want such different things. I think belts would be a good fit for me because I've sold more of those than anything else but I haven't had the time to make up a supply of examples. I took the time to make a cross body purse because I saw so many at the market and couldn't give it away although people thought it was beautiful. I had it for $20.00? I have a messenger bag I made myself that is always on display that people love but no one wants to pay the price. I carry projects, folders, my tablet and portfolio, even my pop in mine and I can't see making another one for less than $125.00 because they aren't easy to make. I feel almost like I'm too busy making things to figure out what I want to make which is crazy. Thank you both for your insights. Cheryl

I just read the latest marketing article on here and realize one thing that's slipped away from me is a niche. When I first started selling my 'Mare Stare" jewelry it was too narrow of a niche and now that I'm doing custom work I'm trying to make anything and everything. For example recent custom orders; a checkbook cover, two belts and 4 rifle slings. I'm finding I never hit my comfort zone and therefore really never have a chance to sit back and breathe. Can you tell me what your niche is and how you found it? Thanks, Cheryl

Hey Bob, inside it's just the natural 'sueded' leather with two seams sewn from the inside. I didn't line it or anything, just wanted to try it on my sewing machine. It's truly just for keys, and ID and a CC type rush out the door

I had a piece of hair on hide leather whose shape just lent itself to making this small purse. Comments welcome. Cheryl

That will certainly cheer him up, it's beautiful. Cheryl

Are they wanting proof that the hide is what you say it is, or proof that the hide was obtained legally? I buy most of my stuff from Springfield Leather Company and know recently the had to refuse a bag of exotics to a friend of mine in Canada because of the differing laws. I think what they are asking about is CITES certificates, but that may just apply to elephants.....I'm not sure. If you're dealing with a reputable company they should have all the documentation and your word should be good enough along with a way for them to contact the company if they choose. I have never had anyone ask me about my exotics I use but I would have no trouble telling a customer that the company I deal with obtains exotics legally. I hope this helps. Cheryl

I am up for a grant and it will pay for a job coach if I want. The coach needs to have their own business because I will want coaching in all aspects; not just production but marketing, taxes and other forms of paperwork. The person needs to live in VT., NH., NY., Or ME. Thanks, Cheryl

Jeremy it's a very cool bag. My only critique would be to dye your edges and burnish them the next time. I have a hair on hide purse I'm making and the edges are grey so I'm going to dye them a light brown to match the hair. On yours you could use a medium or dark brown. I really like this a lot. Cheryl

I have a Cobra 4 and it just screws into an off set table. I don't know why you couldn't do the same with your patcher making sure it screws in where the belt can come up through the slot and attach to your wheel? Call Steve at Leather Sewing Machines and see if he can fix you up. I can't say positively it would work but people have so many of the old sewing machines they love, myself included that I don't know why someone wouldn't have made tables for them. Cheryl

beautiful bag. Cheryl

Joe this is really nice work. Cheryl

Todd the only thing I can suggest is making your top tension stronger than your bottom so it will pull the bobbin thread into the center of what you're sewing. I would probably take it to where you had it serviced and let them work it out for you if that doesn't work. I've had mine 'nest' on the bottom but a little tension adjustment always took care of it. Cheryl

great job, Cheryl

This is a leather bracelet wrapped in calf lace and braided with orange suede lace. Thanks for looking, Cheryl

I'd love to see the tack when you finish, really. Cheryl

It's been my experience red that people who get these hang on to them usually. I don't remember ever seeing one for sale. Did you call the leathermachineco.com and see if they had any used ones? Just an idea. Cheryl.

beautiful, Cheryl

I love paisley but have to admit that's a new one for me. Try a search of paisley line drawings online and I'm sure you'll find a ton of different ones. Good luck, Cheryl