If I made it, I’ll sell it

I’m well aware my business plan is deeply flawed. In fact, I’m not sure you could even call it a business plan, since it’s nothing more than “If I made it, I’ll sell it.”

My inner critic says, “anyone could make what you make and no one will pay what it really costs to make it.” Most of the time, I don’t even earn minimum wage, but I consider the making to be therapy (that’s invaluable) and as long as I recoup the cost of materials I’m content. So, I share what I make – on this site and on Facebook – and when someone comments they’d like to buy something, I’m happy to sell it.

I like the idea that things I created are out in the world being enjoyed by others. My last post about upcycled cat litter buckets prompted a few sales to like-minded friends – one who will use them to organize her art supplies, another who’s giving one as a Christmas gift, with her mother’s favorite things tucked inside.

Perhaps when others see what I’ve made, they’ll take a crack at making one, too. That’s the ultimate goal of an upcycler – inspiring others to make something beautiful or useful out of what would otherwise be thrown away.

This week, I’ve been upcycling the guts of composition notebooks. My boys rarely used more than 1/3 of the pages in the pile of them they were required to buy for school, and I’ve saved every one they brought home at the end of a school year.

I learned very quickly that tearing out the used sheets makes the binding weak, causing pages to fall out. So, I literally stitch on a new cover, following the holes that are already there and use extra strong thread (the kind used when stitching denim). The new cover is made from wall covering samples I acquired when I taught upcycling classes, making these creations unique, flexible, and any size I choose to make them.

Pictured: both full size and 5″ x 8″ (purse size)

A few years ago, I taught a group of Girl Scouts to make these, when they were earning a book binding badge. Gosh, I miss teaching others about upcycling and having a creative reuse center, filled with obtainium to share. That’s even more satisfying than selling my what I make. (sigh)