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# Check this out.
My girlfriend and I made this.



We're thinking of making more of them and selling them. It's basically a light box with a stained glass front- kind of a self-lit stained glass window, illuminated by a small battery powered fluorescent light inside. The wooden pattern on the front is original, drawn by my girlfriend, and we've found a good way to cut them out with minimal effort.

If you saw something like this for sale, how much would it be worth to you?
(I helped save b3ta! The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Mon 26 Nov 2007, 17:57, archived)
# It'd be worth every penny of 272k
/actually, sarcasm aside, they're rather nice :) never ask anyone what they'd pay for them, work yourself out total cost of materials,
and then the time in hours it takes to make them, then decide on your profit margin and there you go.
Visited a big craft fair yesterday and the difference in mark ups and pricing on a variety of similar products was amazing
(I helped save b3ta! The Great Architect is still waiting for his account to be deleted on, Mon 26 Nov 2007, 17:58, archived)
# i went to a craft fair once but i had to go home after i knocked over a windchime stand
i was seven at the time but i still hear those chimes on cold nights
(I helped save b3ta! Sheehan forevermore owes Ttssattsr beer, Mon 26 Nov 2007, 18:03, archived)
# There was a big one at Sandringham yesterday, all manner of tat was on display
I was particulalrly fond of the bloke selling 'Quillows' - half quilt, half pillow for around £120 a throw
(I helped save b3ta! The Great Architect is still waiting for his account to be deleted on, Mon 26 Nov 2007, 18:05, archived)
# ^^^^this
The biggest mistake people make is to leave their own time out of the equation. Pay yourself something more than the NMW and add on a tenner or so for costs - you used electricity and paid rent while you made this.

It's not really my kind of thing but it looks good and you should be able to shift some. I'd guess you're looking at a young 'studenty' sort of market so price accordingly
(I helped save b3ta! Baglady, Mon 26 Nov 2007, 18:17, archived)
# quite so, I do some freelance calligraphy for various projects
and I always used to end up pricing myself down because of the time it takes. Eventually, I thought 'sod this' and whacked it up to full price, plus 20%,
and I take probably double the commissions I used to take
(I helped save b3ta! The Great Architect is still waiting for his account to be deleted on, Mon 26 Nov 2007, 18:26, archived)
# I was hoping
for more of an upscale market...

On an hourly rate, charging $200 for it puts us both at about $8/hour, I would guess. Not terrible, but not great. Might be able to do them faster as we get better at them, though.

We did this one as a Christmas present for my parents. We've got another with a pattern like a Native American design of a bird that's almost done, but that one will probably be a one-off as it's a lot more intricate in terms of the cut stained glass. (It's for my girlfriend's sister.)

Just playing with the idea at this point- I think we need to make a few more to really get a better feel for it.
(I helped save b3ta! The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Mon 26 Nov 2007, 18:27, archived)
# may pay to do one or two of the different designs, and set up a small website/blog with a carefully set up series of pictures and write up, explaining them
use words like 'authentic', 'natural', detailed' etc etc, and tout them that way with an enquiries email.
It immediately makes them more saleable overseas and elsewhere, and the write-up/pictures will make them more 'sellable'.
You can then do them on a basis which is 'made to order'.

if you get several orders at once, you can amend write up etc to give minimum order time required.

try and get the website advertised locally and do a few cards etc to put in craft places/anywhere where money tends to gather.
(I helped save b3ta! The Great Architect is still waiting for his account to be deleted on, Mon 26 Nov 2007, 18:30, archived)
# Thanks!
Very nice tips! I shall do so this coming week.

We had planned on doing several different patterns- the one I posted, a sunset, a gothic arch and an art deco type of geometric pattern. Once we get a pattern to work, I can photocopy it on 11x17 paper for templates and then spend a day producing fronts- the cheapest part, to be honest- and assemble the boxes as needed.

A website would be a good idea!
(I helped save b3ta! The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Mon 26 Nov 2007, 18:36, archived)
# a few photos showing the process up the the end result, and a nice set of final pictures, designs etc all looks good
decent write up, few sugegstions for those who browse - 'ideal present for XXXXX' etc etc, and then an enquiries form.

Could be good, hope it works out :)
(I helped save b3ta! The Great Architect is still waiting for his account to be deleted on, Mon 26 Nov 2007, 18:38, archived)
# Good advice, sir.
I hope you don't mind me eavesdropping?
(I helped save b3ta! Heffrey wants to show you his wood at SmileMoon.etsy.com, Mon 26 Nov 2007, 18:42, archived)
# hehe, not at all sir :)
/he'll have a heart attack when I put in my invoice for the advice ;)
(I helped save b3ta! The Great Architect is still waiting for his account to be deleted on, Mon 26 Nov 2007, 19:04, archived)
# BIGGAR!
Edit : How very rude of me, I forgot to say:
£Fuck All
;)
(spartacus_mills and Rex Hamilton as Abraham Lincoln!, Mon 26 Nov 2007, 17:58, archived)
# Or if you're a merry can-
$Jack Shit
;)
(spartacus_mills and Rex Hamilton as Abraham Lincoln!, Mon 26 Nov 2007, 18:07, archived)
# i like this
it is very pretty
(I helped save b3ta! Sheehan forevermore owes Ttssattsr beer, Mon 26 Nov 2007, 17:59, archived)
# stuff like this sells better if you overprice it.
Try £100-£150 and get a poncy pub to put it up on the wall for sale (offer them 10%). Its really nice mate, go for it.
(I helped save b3ta! op op op op op I stink therfore I spam, Mon 26 Nov 2007, 17:59, archived)
# Thanks!
That's about the price range I was thinking of, but as I've never made stuff for sale before I didn't know if that was reasonable or not.
(I helped save b3ta! The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Mon 26 Nov 2007, 18:09, archived)
# How much did it cost to make?
(I helped save b3ta! ClanSoul, Mon 26 Nov 2007, 17:59, archived)
# his soul!
(I helped save b3ta! Sheehan forevermore owes Ttssattsr beer, Mon 26 Nov 2007, 18:01, archived)
# Haha
He should range them. Make smaller ones, etc.
For those of us with less money or bandwidth.
(I helped save b3ta! ClanSoul, Mon 26 Nov 2007, 18:04, archived)
# I have to guess, as we already had some of the materials
but I we bought about $30 of stuff for it, so I would guess it has about $50 worth of materials in it. We spent about a day making it.

Sorry for the size of the photo, but I was trying to show the detail. I can't get it to look quite right in a photo without the flash, and with the flash you can't really see the glow of the glass.
(I helped save b3ta! The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Mon 26 Nov 2007, 18:07, archived)
# Ooh
well you could always link to a big version, from a small one.
(I helped save b3ta! ClanSoul, Mon 26 Nov 2007, 18:10, archived)
# $50 for materials?
How big is that?
(I helped save b3ta! Heffrey wants to show you his wood at SmileMoon.etsy.com, Mon 26 Nov 2007, 18:12, archived)
# About 12"X18".
I used oak for the box, a battery powered fluorescent light, 1/8" thick birch plywood for the front, and some antique stained glass we had from some old salvaged church windows. Add to that two 4" piano hinges and a set of latches and brass screws and brackets to hold it together.

I think I can get the materials cheaper if I do more of them by ordering them online rather than going to the local stores.
(I helped save b3ta! The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Mon 26 Nov 2007, 18:17, archived)
# Not too shabby.
And I mean that in a good way. Definitely look into the sale price as a function of the replacement cost of your materials. I'm doing stuff right now where I've been diving into a wood pile I'd bought for $50 about ten years ago (probably 150 - 200 bf of oak and poplar), but try to price it as if I was buying it new. Keep in mind the 'art' aspect of it too. You can't just price it according to labor and materials.

Considering the size, I'd have ot say it's a $100 to $150 item.
(I helped save b3ta! Heffrey wants to show you his wood at SmileMoon.etsy.com, Mon 26 Nov 2007, 18:26, archived)
# that picture is bigger than god.
i'd pay about £7 if i wanted one. but it isn't demented enough for my flat.
(I helped save b3ta! grey kid is breakdancing to save a community centre, Mon 26 Nov 2007, 18:03, archived)
# FP now!
(Grandpa Flump Wee wee wee all the way home, Mon 26 Nov 2007, 18:05, archived)
# I can't make a judgement;
That picture is way too small. Make it bigger and maybe I'll be able to see it well enough to name a price.
(I helped save b3ta! Green Spanner and his magical lack of activity, Mon 26 Nov 2007, 18:06, archived)
# I've been doing some craft fair stuff too
I'd guess something like that'd be about $35-$40 stateside, so translate into real money accordingly.

My stuff's not nearly so intricate as that. (Check profile for my website link.)
(I helped save b3ta! Heffrey wants to show you his wood at SmileMoon.etsy.com, Mon 26 Nov 2007, 18:07, archived)
# that's great, it looks smashing.
hate to be a killjoy but might be worth actually linking it or resizing the picture so that the file size is under 50k?
(I helped save b3ta! Sunshine Elephant, Mon 26 Nov 2007, 18:34, archived)
# put in some colour changing
fibre optics and every paki in the land will want one in their front room
(Pouched_species, Mon 26 Nov 2007, 19:17, archived)