Need craft fair ideas...

[Pariah]

Our condo complex is having a craft fair in November, and I'm starting to prepare and go through my supplies to see what to make. There are a lot of retired and 60+ year old people here...what are some items they would be interested in buying? So far I have cloth grocery bags (there is a small grocery store within our complex) and stuffed toys (there are some families here, plus people may want them for the grandkids?). I don't know if my cloth pads will go over well here...I'm still wondering if I'll include them. I'm going to make some cloth diapers if I can buy some more PUL in time.

Anyway, just looking for some more suggestions. We have lots of retired/older people, some families, and lots of professionals in their 30s-40s. I can do lots of different crafts, but I'm REALLY slow with knitting so that probably isn't the best idea.

Thanks!

[HipGal]

Maybe some lavender sachets?

[NiteNicole]

You know what I'm loving right now? Punch needle. There are a lot of really rustic or primitive patterns, lots of holiday stuff too. It's easy to learn, fast to finish, and it's just kind of funky and fun.

I also find that older people really like lap blankets. I can not tell you how many the various older people in my life have given me, and how many they buy for other people, and how much they like getting them. I do not know why.

[wombatclay]

Yup to the lap blankets and throw blankets. A crazy quilt look could use up scrap material you have, and if you do any "felted sweater" sewing you could make a few lap blankets pretty quickly.

My MIL lives in a "mostly senior" complex and she has mentioned cat toys (they can have cats/small dogs), eye glass cases, knitting or sewing "kits" (the sort that unroll to reveal a place for needles, stitch markers, scissors, etc), and bookmarks that encorporate magifier lenses... she has a really neat one that is a plastic/thin mag lense set into what is essentially a crochet round so it looks like a flower with the lens at the center. She keeps it in her purse.

Love the idea of shopping bags though!

[CallMeKelly]

Rice bags!

[grniys]

I was also going to suggest rice bags. Maybe do a couple different ones with different eo's in them for aromatherapy? I'm sure the older customer's would love that.

Quilted eyeglass cases? Sort of a Vera Bradley type style? The professional women and the older women would both possibly like that.

[LaughingHyena]

For a November craft fair how about Christmas decorations.

I've seen some nice ideas online for sewn felt ones, most were just cutting out 2 shapes, embellishing with buttons/embroidery etc then stitching them together with a little stuffing.

Last year I made some form salt dough with the children. We cut out stars and made holes. Once they were dry we painted them with glitter paint and added thread for hanging them up.

[Pariah]

Thanks everyone! Great ideas, I appreciate them!

[Pariah]

Hey, another Q... Has anyone had success with baked goods at craft fairs? My DH and I are good cooks, and it has been suggested to us that we make some food goodies to sell. What are some good food items for a craft fair? Would cupcakes be too messy? Or do people usually go for hard candies or chocolates? We're vegan and would be cooking vegan for this too so hopefully that would make our items more friendly to people with food allergies.

[MrsAprilMay]

If there are animals in your complex, you could do gourmet dog and cat treats. But I have to throw out the lap blanket thing again. They just love 'em!