Preparing for Sale

It is just amazing to me how much time you can spend getting something ready to sell.  I am trying to liquidate some of my mother's fabric and linen stashes.  Mostly that equals fabric and aprons.  By the time I wash, mend, and iron...then get them photographed and sent to my daughter, so she can write a description and enter everything into Etsy, it has taken a fair amount of time.  Then when it sells she has to package and take it to the post office.  We are grateful to see things sell, but it does seem to take a lot of effort.  But, it is going to people who will enjoy it, it is not going to the landfill, it's helping my daughter catch up bills from her husband being out of work, and we are getting something for it instead of just donating it to a thrift store.  All good things.

I had posted on several doll sewing lists that I am on that we had fabric for sale.  Today someone posted that the fabric she had ordered a week ago still hadn't come!  Oh, my.  Now that is frustrating because someone else on that list may hesitate to buy something.  The woman didn't have the correct story either.  She says she ordered on the 2nd, but Paypal says she ordered on the 4th, which happened to be a holiday!  She got her order on the 9th, which I think is pretty quick.  The woman did post later in the day that the fabric did come, but still.  She could have emailed us directly rather than post it on the list.  The trials of selling on-line.  We had a pretty good response with the first batch of fabric.  I am trying to get another batch ready.  It's proving a little difficult since my camera is acting up and refusing to take pictures.  My birthday is coming up.  Maybe a new camera is in my future.

~Jane - who will tell you about the Mad Hatter Tea Party preparations on another day. 
 

Photographing Fabric

When I decided to sell some of my mother's stash online, I hadn't a clue as to how difficult and time-consuming it was going to be.  The worst of it?  Taking pictures of the fabric.  Oh my goodness, it is almost impossible!  :)

This is a nice, I believe silk or silk/rayon velvet.  I've purchased similar fabric in the past.  How do you get it to show up as velvet?   The next one is a pretty good picture of the rose taffeta.  The Black and White Plaid showed up okay.

Black Velvet

Rose Taffeta

Black and White Plaid or check depending on your viewpoint.

I took all the pictures and I can't even tell you which one this is supposed to be?  I'm not selling anything this color!  I think it may be the Pale Green Faille.  :)

Pink and White Stripe - Perfect for an Annabelle dress.  But is it silk or cotton?  I can't decide.  It's beautiful regardless.

Light Teal Silk...certainly not this bright!

Well, I went out and bought a new memory card so I can try again and take more pictures.  If you're interested in sewing for antique dolls, or vintage fabrics for crafts, check out my daughter's Etsy shop:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/littlesproutbasics .  There is only a limited amount of these, sometimes only one piece, so if you want something get it quick.  I'll be adding lots more fabrics over the next couple weeks. 

~Jane