Nothing ventured...
Mick & I have recently invested in some side projects. We bought a nice inkjet printer to start working on the small press. We originally planned to buy an offset printer at auction, and use the space we were renting at the Mammoth to set up a printing press. Unfortunately, even at auction as technology moves on, those monsters never sold for less than $3,000.00 and required special equipment to move them. We rarely have $300.00 to spare much less $3,000.00. On top of that, the fire marshal recently closed the Mammoth - he didn't approve with the smaller artist studios in the building so he cut off the power and closed the entire place. All that work on the studio, all that money invested in improvements to the space - gone.
So, we bought the inkjet printer and we will buy a batch of ISBN numbers with his next paycheck. We are going to start by self-publishing him, and move on to some other writer friends of ours. He has a great eye for talent, and he already has a couple of projects lined out. The printer is pretty sexy, I confess. We can print wirelessly from anywhere in the house, as long as the device is connected to the same wifi signal. Right now, we are just working in black and white. It has color capability, but we'd have to buy a color toner cartridge. No need for that cost right now...
I don't know that this will ever be our main source of income, the Dirty Sacred Press. I don't care - it is important and enjoyable work, and we can help Kentucky voices reach a wider audience. I know we will publish some regional writers and poets as well, but the Kentuckians are going to represent the largest percentage.
And then there is my own side project... I recently researched and taught myself a dyeing technique called ice dyeing. It is experimental and beautiful, making soft whorls of transition between colors. I have offered to teach a class through the Louisville TimeBank to teach others how to do it themselves, but that won't make any money. I'll charge a modest fee to cover the cost of supplies, but making a profit isn't the point of that organization.
Last night, I ordered some clothing - a few plus-sized tops, some onesies and footed pajamas. I'm going to dye and sell these garments! In a conversation with piercemedeadly, she talked me into selling my stuff on etsy. I've never tried that, but I figured why not? I talked to Mick - I'd already bought more dye and soda ash the other night to the tune of $35, and I took advantage of an autumn sale to buy several garments from Old Navy at just over $100. I have about $150 invested so far - now I want to break even, and get ahead enough to buy more supplies.
This is a labor of love for me. I'm not out too much if this fails - in fact, I confess that I am focusing more on larger sizes of shirts to sell for a couple of reasons. For one, it is more difficult for plus-sized women to find cute clothing. For another, I can wear most of the shirts I bought if this all tanks. But... I don't think it will. I have a sneaking good feeling about this and am already thinking ahead at how I can expand offerings. I'm going to help Mom make a series of quilt tops when she returns from Texas - that is a possibility for a specialized market. I am also looking at swaddling blankets - easy and inexpensive to make, and baby products are popular. More importantly, bright hues and unusual patterns of baby products. I won't do much with pastels - frankly, those are easily found elsewhere. Instead, I'll offer vivid, juicy hues. I'm not much (read: at all) of a sewer, but this might motivate me to learn.
So, we bought the inkjet printer and we will buy a batch of ISBN numbers with his next paycheck. We are going to start by self-publishing him, and move on to some other writer friends of ours. He has a great eye for talent, and he already has a couple of projects lined out. The printer is pretty sexy, I confess. We can print wirelessly from anywhere in the house, as long as the device is connected to the same wifi signal. Right now, we are just working in black and white. It has color capability, but we'd have to buy a color toner cartridge. No need for that cost right now...
I don't know that this will ever be our main source of income, the Dirty Sacred Press. I don't care - it is important and enjoyable work, and we can help Kentucky voices reach a wider audience. I know we will publish some regional writers and poets as well, but the Kentuckians are going to represent the largest percentage.
And then there is my own side project... I recently researched and taught myself a dyeing technique called ice dyeing. It is experimental and beautiful, making soft whorls of transition between colors. I have offered to teach a class through the Louisville TimeBank to teach others how to do it themselves, but that won't make any money. I'll charge a modest fee to cover the cost of supplies, but making a profit isn't the point of that organization.
Last night, I ordered some clothing - a few plus-sized tops, some onesies and footed pajamas. I'm going to dye and sell these garments! In a conversation with piercemedeadly, she talked me into selling my stuff on etsy. I've never tried that, but I figured why not? I talked to Mick - I'd already bought more dye and soda ash the other night to the tune of $35, and I took advantage of an autumn sale to buy several garments from Old Navy at just over $100. I have about $150 invested so far - now I want to break even, and get ahead enough to buy more supplies.
This is a labor of love for me. I'm not out too much if this fails - in fact, I confess that I am focusing more on larger sizes of shirts to sell for a couple of reasons. For one, it is more difficult for plus-sized women to find cute clothing. For another, I can wear most of the shirts I bought if this all tanks. But... I don't think it will. I have a sneaking good feeling about this and am already thinking ahead at how I can expand offerings. I'm going to help Mom make a series of quilt tops when she returns from Texas - that is a possibility for a specialized market. I am also looking at swaddling blankets - easy and inexpensive to make, and baby products are popular. More importantly, bright hues and unusual patterns of baby products. I won't do much with pastels - frankly, those are easily found elsewhere. Instead, I'll offer vivid, juicy hues. I'm not much (read: at all) of a sewer, but this might motivate me to learn.