Need advice on what to "DO" with my stitches!

[Duchock]

So I've been considering sharing my talents with the world. Not only my talents, but my passion of gaming too!

I'm not too crazy about setting up an Esty shop, so instead, my university is going to be holding an anime convention this year, and I was thinking about buying an artist alley table to sell some cross-stitching and various other crafty things (you know, just enough to break even). There's only one problem. Cross stitching is nice and all, but what can I actually do with them? You can't really pawn off a cute little stitching of a pokemon or anything. It's gotta be something people can use!

So I'm totally clueless in this department. What can I do with my stitchings to make them tangible and useful? Patches? Some sort of button? Those would be ideal, but how could I go about turning them into that exactly. Cross stitching doesn't do very well in those types of wear-and-tear environments either. Of course larger pieces can be framed and priced accordingly. But I don't exactly know where to go to get things framed for cheap either. Any help to get my idea off the ground would be greatly appreciated!

[stephaniem]

In the main tourist markets where I live, some people have set up some stalls with cute stuff and/or cross stitching stuff on. I've found the pieces are usually necklaces (hama beads). I've never seen any actual framed pieces...

BUT, I think you'd be surprised at what people buy at open areas/market-type stalls. If I passed something cute in a frame I'd definitely buy it, especially at an anime convention people are going to love to put that kinda stuff up on there walls! At those conventions, when you love something enough it is about more about collecting ANY kind of memorabilia than only useful kinds. So I'd recommend doing half/half. A few things that are framed, one off pieces and then in terms of 'useful'...

Maybe bookmarks, necklaces, other types of jewellry, COASTERS are always great (gives you a bigger surface area to work with and incredibly useful, you can probably find clear coaster cases on ebay - the kind you can insert photos in), keyrings, magnets, cushions, ipod cosys, coin pouches, socks, patches for stuff as you said.

I get my frames from Charity shops, so they come to about £1-2. You can also get glass-only (like no wooden type of frame, just the inner glass) ones for less than that to frame photos etc. they usually have clips on the outside to secure them. I frame them myself, too. I think if you look at SERVOTRON's thread in the techniques section, you'll see how to frame it really well at home.

Hope that helps

[johloh]

You can't really pawn off a cute little stitching of a pokemon or anything. It's gotta be something people can use!

i gotta agree with stephanie, I think you can pawn off a pokemon, if you put it in a cute little frame.

if youre looking to sell small items I recommend you try some perler beads too...they make GREAT coasters and fridge magnets.

[techno-ninja]

you could get those cheap cotton shopping bags, like these:
http://www.thecleverbaggers.co.uk/

and stitch sprites on the centre or corner of them, I know if i saw a bag like that with a cute mario or naruto (don't judge me :p ) I'd definitely buy one. Plus they are super cheap if you buy more than one and because you only need a small sprite/image they will be quite quick to make.

hope that's of some help to you


*EDIT: sod buying one, that's just inspired me to make my own!