how much $$$ to ask?

I think the money issue is always hard for a lot of us who WAH. Something that helped me tremedously and may also give you food for thought is a post I read once (can't remember where - no doubt it was from MDC!) about how to think in terms of what to charge people for your services... Hope it's helpful to you!

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Edited to add the info about where this quote was from. I was right, it was an MDC Doula thread ( http://www.mothering.com/discussions...78#post1547778 ) response by Gendenwitha

I think how you have it priced is a good start, as long as you are not underselling yourself, your time and your skills. My advice would to not price your things based on what you think people will pay for it b/c you'll be turning your work into a commodity, wh/ it is not, it is a functional piece of art.

Pricing your work based on how much your materials cost will only end with you in frustration down the line b/c you have also been putting alot into creating the pieces well above and beyond the material. i.e. your time, your care, and your creativity.

Figure out out how much your time is worth. Then add on what you feel the value of your creative talent is worth. Of course, don't forget your costs. Then double it or even triple it.

Also, take a look at what others are selling their pieces for. I would advise to take the price structure of many WAHMs into account but not weigh them in too heavily. I say this not b/c their work is inferior, it is usually of superior quality. The problem is many WAHMs underprice their work in an effort to make the sale.

Don't know if this helped, but my main point is do not undersell yourself or your talent

Kathy

Thanks for getting me thinking. Any other thoughts/opinions are still welcome!

I realize that other WAHM's probably won't be my customers. They are probably often like me, will look at the details of the quilt and go home and make one for themselves if they can sew and are interested. I live in a cottage tourist area (summer time anyway ) and I am thinking that my "customers" are likely to be people from the city or retirees wanting something handmade to decorate their cottages or gifts for their grandchildren. Many of the "cottages" in my small town are nicer than any house I will ever live in - money isn't a huge issue for these people. I think the quilts I make are a bit more creative and beautiful than many of the rag quilts I have seen. I will do some more snooping on-line at the prices of similar quilts.

Hi just my 2 cents here but I never charge more than twice (and maybe just a smidge more) what it costs to make my items... I have found that alot of people nowadays want nice things but for the standard of living being so high (at least around here) they cannot afford to pay higher prices... I mean with gas being nearly $3 per gallon here, we scrimp everywhere we can. So example if the quilt cost me $20 to make, then I will sell it for $40 to $50 and they seem to move very well... I attend craft shows all the time to sell my creations and always have good responses on all my items... any kind of craft you can imagine I have in there... quilts, quilted crafts, scrubs, scrunchies, plastic canvas, crochet, cross-stitch... all kinds of things! I guess it will depend on where you live, the kind of audience looking at your items, and how valuable you feel your time and effort is... while I feel my stuff is great, I have been doing it so long I can whip them out in no time flat, so I try not to overcharge cuz I am just human... not rumplestiltskin spinning straw into gold. LMAO... anyways HTH and good luck!

This is the formula I was taught by other crafters that vend:

cost + labor ( at *least* minimum wage for every hour you worked on the item)= wholesale

THEN wholesale x 2 = retail

Charge what you are worth!! Your time and efforts are valuable

Do you have a local craft fair/show where you could look for similar items? It might be a way to check for local prices. Even if you have to adjust for quality, etc. it would give you an idea of the local economy. I said craft fair because you can leave out the mark up step of a retailer. I was happily surprised to see that my prices were in line with the locals - like you, I had a hard time believing my stuff was worth so much. And I only shop at thrift stores and yard sales, and I would never pay $50 for a baby outfit (what I make). Never, even if I had that kind of money! But my customers are happy with my products and prices, so I must be doing something right.

I think the idea of checking out craft shows is a good one--also trying to sell through a local gallery or boutique. You might have to turn over a commission, but would probably get more. I've done some big quilts on "commission"--one was taking a bunch of antique blocks and turning them into three bed-sized quilts (this was for my mom's oldest and dearest friend and her two cousins); another was taking a bunch of t-shirts and making a (-n enormous, double-sided) quilt from them, for a retiring fire fighter. In each case, I charged a flat fee plus materials--and the fee was a lot lower than what some would do, but I factored in the pleasure that the projects gave me. So I guess that's another way of looking at it--keep track of how much the materials are, and then add what you'd like your "profit" to be, not based on an hourly wage. A lot would depend on what you need or want the money for. Is it for groceries or is it like the "butter and egg" money our fore-mothers had?

I'm like you--I wouldn't pay $150 for something I could make myself for $20. So it's really hard for me to gauge price. Is there a quilters' guild in your area? If so (if it's like my guild), you could go to a meeting as a visitor, for a small fee, and get some feedback.

Whatever you do, keep really good records, for tax purposes.

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I have to agree with this formula... if you can get that price for it. If you do decide to sell at a local boutique, remember you would be charging them the wholesale price.