Showing posts with label American Sewing Guild. Show all posts
Showing posts with label American Sewing Guild. Show all posts

Selling Handmade Goods on the Internet


I am the West Los Angeles Neighborhood Group leader for the American Sewing Guild. We meet once a month and tackle some crafting related subject. Our choices have ranged from how to sew in zippers to making a duct tape skirt sloper. It's fun and informative. I'm lucky to have a diverse group - men, women, old, young, experienced and beginners. But they all have one thing in common - a love of making things!

Our last meeting was all about selling handmade goods on the internet and it created a lively discussion. Unless you've been living in a cave, you already know that Etsy is the place to sell. What you may not know, is that the top 10 sellers on Etsy don't actually sell handmade items but rather supplies to make your own handmade items. That surprised everyone, myself included. But honestly, we crafters have known all along that making things is only getting bigger and better!

I left the meeting with a goal to post some of my own handmade items to my Etsy Hipline site. First off will be a case for the Kindle. I have a Kindle e-reader and I'm in love with it. But the options for carrying cases were limited and unappealing to me so, I created my own.

Turns out people really like it. The exterior fabric is fleece and I quilted it to cotton batting for the inside. This protects the Kindle face and gives added protection. I used snaps to close mine but I think in the future I'll do velcro. A few buttons for ebellishment and a cute photo of a girl reading and there you have it. The photo was copied onto photo fabric paper and sewn in. So, what are you making?

American Sewing Guild


I have long been a member of the American Sewing Guild (ASG) and last weekend we had our annual Los Angeles Chapter meeting. What an inspirational group. I lead a Neighborhood Group in the Westside of LA and I'm hoping that 2011 will bring lots of new ideas to all our members..

Our next Neighborhood Group meeting is Thursday, November 11 at the uber hip Urban Craft Center. The UCC, as it is commonly known, is a studio designed to nurture creative energy. The space is bright and lofty with lots of tables, seating, equipment and books.

Come and check it out, learn about the ASG and get your creative juices flowing. Donna will be leading the group in making Teacup Pincushions. You don't need to be a member to attend the meeting - just bring your curiousity along.

ASG Westside Neighborhood Group Meeting
Second Thursday of every month (except December) from 6:30 - 8pm
Urban Craft Center
2433 Main Street
Santa Monica, Ca 90405
Group leader: Lori Petitti