Now, I'm no expert, by any means. I'm still learning and having fun with it. I haven't yet ventured in to some more advanced patterns like special stitches, clothing, and what not. I'm working my way up. For where I am, though, I think I am doing quite well and I am very proud of myself. I'm just loving what I do.
That is why I am considering opening up my own "shop" and selling the things I make. I love creating these things and want to make more. If I can make a little bit of money doing something that I love, then why not?
I have toyed with the idea of creating my own shop ever since I discovered Etsy and started learning how to knit and crochet. It's an idea that has grown with me the more I learn and the more I realize, "Hey, I can make that." Now, "Hey, I can make that" has become "Hey, maybe I could sell this." I just didn't think the selling part would come this soon.
I think the owl hat is what made me think seriously about selling some of what I make. It was such a success and so cute. I got so many compliments on it. It made me realize that I really was getting good at this whole crochet/knitting thing. Then, after I designed the bunny hat, so many ideas for other character hats came to me. If I could do a bunny then surely I could do a puppy, a bear, a fox, a monkey, and all of those adorable hats that I always saw on Etsy and dreamed of one day making. My Favourites list on Etsy is full of these patterns, but I never wanted to put out the money to buy them (especially since we have the baby coming and more important expenses to think about). Now, I have discovered that I can design them myself and if I can make successful designs, then I can make cute hats that other people would love to buy. It is at least worth a try! :)
The Shop
The shop would be called Lemon Drops and Gumdrops, same as my blog. I know it seems like a random name, and actually it is very random. There is no real reason for my choosing this name other than I think it is cute. Besides, I liked the theme and the things I could do with it, and all the colours that it brought to mind.
Eventually I would make and sell all kinds of things. It would be mostly child-oriented. Children's hats, clothes, baby things, etc. Maybe later on I would have the odd thing for adults. For now, though, I am going to keep it simple. I will sell what I know how to make. Hats and headbands, mostly, then maybe some booties, crochet/knit toys, and maybe the odd blanket. Down the road I would love to branch in to some clothing, as well. I have some great ideas running in my head. Some that I can start on immediately and others that will take a little longer, maybe even a year or two to get around to.
Also, it won't only be knit and crochet creations. When I learn how to sew I will definitely be making some children's clothes, maybe even a few adult pieces, and I am hoping some stuffed animals. I will make a lot more baby accessories and little hair accessories. But I haven't even started learning how to sew yet, so those are projects for later on.
Eventually I want to open an Etsy shop of my own, but for now I am starting small. I am going to offer my creations to Renfrew County and the Quinte West regions first. My goal is to officially open and start selling in mid- to end of May, after the little guy is born. Until then I want to use the time to build up my stock so that I am not trying to make stuff while trying to take care of a newborn and adjust to parenthood. However, I am going to put some little feelers out and try to sell one or two of my bunny hats in time for Easter, see what kind of a response and what kind of interest I get. If it is successful it will act as a nice little sneak peek.
None of my plans for the shop are concrete right now. I need to do a bit more research first. But this is definitely something that I want to do, whether now or in the future some time.
