Sewing Rice Bags, Rice Bags, Rice Bags...

I can't make these fast enough.  I have sold 21 sets in a month.  I was originally making them for my craft show coming up this Saturday but thought hey, why not see what's up at Etsy.  Who would have guessed that these would be a hot item!  Just sewed these tonight, 2 sets.  I really like this pattern.
UPDATE 12/12/14:  I have now sold 38 of these on Etsy and about 5 privately.

Pretty Rice Bags all in a Row

I am building up my inventory.  I was originally planning on only selling these at the craft show in December, but these have been selling on Etsy.  I have sold 4 sets already in less than 2 weeks.  I also made some more Ravens lanyards and hair bows today.  I must say I'm having fun with my new sewing machine.  If I could only think up something else that I can sew and sell.  Hmmmm.
UPDATE 27 Nov 14:  These rice bags are quite the seller on Etsy.  My shop has been open for almost a month and I have sold 13 sets!  I'm running out of stock and need to sew some more over this holiday weekend.

Ravens Hair Bow

My mother emailed me today and told me that the best selling craft items are hair bows.  She suggested that I make Ravens hair bows.  I had a little scrap material and whipped this out.  I think I could be more conscious of the cut so that Ravens is horizontal, but it was a scrap.  I also used bias tape for the center since I didn't have enough Raven's material.  All it needs is a clip attached.

Baltimore Ravens Pot Holders

Last night I was looking at my new sewing machine and thinking, what now?  I just bought this machine what am I going to sew next?  I had some scrap material and an old towel and I made a pot holder.  Very primitive, used a hand towel for the batting.  But I thought, hey?  I can make Raven's Pot Holders.  I have never seen these at any craft shows.  So today I went to JoAnn's and bought some Raven's material, Insul Bright, black extra wide bias tape, and black thread.  I think they turned out very good, attractive too.  I just put these on my Etsy store, Baltimore Raven's Pot Holders.

Well I just showed these to my neighbor and she asked me to make her a set.  I'm glad to see that she was excited about them, hopefully I will find that enthusiasm at the craft show and sell them all.

UPDATE:  Well I have sold two more sets and haven't even gotten to the craft show yet.  Didn't realize the demand for Ravens Pot Holders :)

I went and did it...

My little sewing machine was screwing up again the other night, stitches were looping and I had to rip out a seam 3 times before I got it right.  I have finally decided that if I'm going to be sewing products for sale then it's time to invest in a better machine.  I purchased this Singer model at Target for $89.99.  Nice machine, it's like night and day sewing on this machine from the little one.  I have a photo below of them side by side, you will be able to see just how small the other one was.

Baltimore Ravens Lanyards

I wanted to make these ever since I saw a lanyard tutorial online.  I didn't think they would turn out so nice but they really did.  I use one at work with my badge and it's comfortable and just right.  Now everybody at work knows who I root for!  They are 18" long and just the right length.  I used swivel hooks because they work nice for badges, especially a two sided badge holder like I use.  I made these for the craft show and put these on my Etsy store for $8.00.

My first sale!

Wow, my first sale on Etsy.  I sold the Brown Floral Rice pack set.  Thanks Rene!  Hopefully this will lead to more sales :)

Sectioned Microwave Rice Filled Neck Warmer/Heating Pad

I've come a long way from the simple neck warmers I made for my gift baskets in 2008. I actually started my first Etsy store and put these up. I made these for my craft show in December, thought they would make nice gifts. I made these with rice and they are sectioned so the rice doesn't fall to one side and leave an empty area inside the warmer. I am having a lot of fun making these and I am using that little sewing machine my sister Victoria Lavender gave me back in 2008.  I decided to make matching drawstring bags for mine and don't see anybody doing this on Etsy. Makes them much more attractive as a gift. Selling them for $15 each on my Etsy Store KraftsByKemi.  I'll be lucky to sell any because there are about 5,000 other neck warmer products on Etsy, but who knows?

UPDATE:  I have sold over 50 of these since my Etsy store went up end of October 2014.  Seems I was found through the other 5,000 similar products, very cool!  I also purchased a bigger/better sewing machine in December to keep up with the orders!

  

This little sewing machine is working great.  I thought about purchasing a newer, better one, but I'm not much on sewing so why, when this is doing the job. 



Just made this one tonight and I love the pattern.  Had trouble with the little sewing machine tonight and almost threw it in the trash.  But I finally figured out the problem and was sewing again.  If this thing isn't threaded exactly right it goes all haywire.  It looks larger in the photos, it's actually only 9" high and 10" wide.