Stitch Your Way to a Great Income
Stitch Your Way to a Great Income
Donna needed a gift for her mother who seemed to have everything. She decided to search on the Internet to see if she could find something unusual she could make. She searched for hours and was finally ready to give up. Everything she found seemed like just a waste of time or would just add to the knickknacks that her mother already had sitting around her house collecting dust. That is, until she found this one site. They offered a software product that solved her problem.
She made the gift and when her mother opened it, she was so surprised and pleased by the unique creation. Now it sits on her sofa proudly displayed like a cherished possession.
Soon Donna started getting calls to make more of these items. Before long, Donna was making a nice amount of money from her initial gift to her mother.
Now, you’re probably wondering what she found, and how she could start making money with these items. Let me tell you how!
What She Found:
The software she found takes a photograph and turns it into a Cross Stitch pattern. By using photos of pets, children, family, and other precious memories, she has started a Photo to Cross Stitch Service. Her clients supply the photographs and she converts them into a pattern which she then makes into whatever item the client wants. These items can be samplers to hang on the wall, pillows, baby blankets, coverlets, or any other item that the client chooses.
How to Get Started:
The first thing you will need is the software which is available under the Resource section at the end of this article. It is fairly inexpensive and they provide a version for Windows and Mac.
The other things you will need are basic cross stitching tools (i.e., thread in a large variety of colors, scissors, and fabric for the projects). You could also purchase whatever else you need for the project just before making it. The software program tells you what colors and amounts you need for each photo converted.
You will also need some business cards. These can be created on your home computer using MS Works, MS Word, or Publisher. Business card blanks can be purchased at almost any office supply store and sometimes at KMart or WalMart. They are easy to print on your own printer. Of course, you could always use a printing service to do this but if you are starting your own Photo to Cross Stitch Service you will probably want to design your own cards too!
Getting Your First Clients:
You could always do like Donna did and make a pillow for someone that you know will cherish it. Make sure it is a person that has lots of visitors to there home and will help you promote your business! Also, give one of your business cards to every person you meet, and to all of your friends and family. Give them two or three so they can share the cards with others.
It is a good idea to take a digital photo of each item you create and put it into an album. This way when you encounter a person who is interested in your service, you can show them items you have previously created!
You could also place a small ad in your local classified section of the newspaper. Make it simple to avoid expenses. Something like: LET ME TURN YOUR PHOTOS INTO GIFTS 555-1234.
If you do not know how to cross stitch or want to use a different method of stitching, you can create your items with petit point or embroidery.
Before you know it, maybe you too will have a great income from staying at home cross stitching other people’s photos!
Resources:
http://www.ursasoftware.com/
http://www.embroideryoffice.com/eop.htm
http://www.originssoftware.com/
http://www.leavemeinstitches.com/
http://www.stitchcraft.info/photocon.htm
http://www.etsy.com/how_selling_works.php
