| Would you prefer to be a starving artist with integrity | | | | Potter knitted into it, you are likely to have legal |
| or make a living with mass produced rubbish? Wouldn't | | | | charges of breach of copyright before you can draw |
| it be grand to have both? Learn to sell arts and crafts | | | | your breath. If you photograph the actors (not dressed |
| that you are proud of for astronomical figures. | | | | as the characters) you can use them in the designs - |
| Do you design patterns for hobbies crafts for your | | | | but they will no longer be popular. |
| own use? Great. You can make money by selling | | | | There are things you can do to take advantage of |
| them. Because you've already made up your patterns | | | | recent news. Some of them are decidedly inartistic, but |
| you already know every pitfall that you will come | | | | could make some money for you. For instance - I |
| across, as far as the handcraft is concerned. | | | | visited a bomb-site in Iraq and all I got was this lousy |
| Now for the bad news | | | | T-shirt. It's a revolting idea but it might sell. |
| * You have to learn all the basics and work advanced | | | | If you are really expert you might be able to make |
| patterns too before you can start. | | | | designs suitable for kids arts crafts. These have to be |
| * Designing is an art. Does every artist make money? | | | | the simplest designs of them all, and they also have to |
| No. | | | | convince the parents that they are simple enough and |
| * Copyright problems can bankrupt you. | | | | pleasing enough to entertain their children. Knitting, |
| If you've got what it takes none of these problems will | | | | quilting, and jewelry are very popular crafts for children. |
| discourage you. You are prepared to have the fickle | | | | You can even prepare designs for recycling. For |
| public refuse to like nine out of your ten designs. | | | | instance if you have a long-haired wooly dog, you can |
| Perhaps you already are an expert at crochet or | | | | collect the hair for several years, then wash it and |
| sewing embroidery designs and quilt patterns. | | | | tease out the tangles. Then you can make up a |
| You can use your sewing machine with your eyes | | | | garment without spinning the hair first. It won't work |
| shut. Great! | | | | with a long-haired hairy dog, because the hairs don't |
| Remember the people who use patterns are people | | | | bind together into thread, but wool is great. |
| who need them. So you will need to explain everything | | | | You can come up with recycling designs for the |
| simply. | | | | garden, using old margarine containers or soft-drink |
| What does the public want? | | | | bottles etc. |
| Visit your local stationers and look through the | | | | If you are an expert you will find it easy to make your |
| women's magazines for the handcraft article titles. | | | | own designs. You can design a radio-control aircraft or |
| Write them down. Visit Amazon and look at the | | | | baby crochet patterns that might be very popular |
| subjects that are most popular. Visit eBay and see | | | | indeed, and bring you a lot of money. |
| what handcraft items have most bidders. | | | | But patterns for hobbies crafts are always at the |
| If you find something that is in enormous demand, does | | | | mercy of the public. |
| this demand mean that you can sell your designs? | | | | Look at eBay at the prices for tapestry pictures. |
| Unfortunately no. Artistic things either click with the | | | | You'll probably find that the completed pictures bring |
| public or they don't . Most of the time there is no logical | | | | less money than kits do - in other words the |
| explanation. You either like something or you don't. | | | | craft-work is wasted, just because it's not popular with |
| Copyright Problems With Popular Items | | | | the public. |
| If you design a jumper with a photograph of Harry | | | | |