Sewing to Sell - Book Review and Giveaway (giveaway closed)

Have you ever dreamed of making money from your crafty/sewing hobby? If you have then you will want to pick up the new book Sewing to Sell from gingercake's Virginia Lindsay

This book is a great resource for those just thinking about starting a crafty (not just sewing) business to those who already have one and are looking for some new ideas and inspiration.  Virginia goes through all aspects of  starting and running your business, from coming up with your brand and vision (VERY important),  planning, materials, all the way to pricing and packaging.

The book is full of beautiful photographs and a TON of helpful hints (Lots of things I WISH I had been told when I started! :) )

Once you have got your inspiration flowing, and a plan in place, She even includes 16  unique projects to start with, and encourages you to make them your own.

It was hard to choose just one to sew up (they are all pretty great) but I settled on the Kid's Messenger Bag.

I love that all the projects are great 'blank slate' patterns, that really allow you to use your style to make them your own.  I also love that most of them are unisex and work for a diverse customer base (important when sewing for craft/trunk shows)

I made two (although I have a TON of ideas for more) with woodland animal appliques.

The only change I made was to omit the trim and add the applique rabbit and deer in felt. I have included the applique pattern for you to use to make your own! You can download the applique pattern here

 Virginia takes the guess work out of some of the most challenging aspects of starting your business. Each project comes with suggested pricing, ideas for packaging and even how to photograph each item! (super helpful)  

Here is an example of my photo set up , She mostly shows you setups using natural light (which I agree is the best), but I had to use my lights since it was a rainy day out. 

I also LOVE that she includes projects to make the most out of your fabric. This is especially great for those that are starting out and do not want to make a huge investment in the beginning. This bag used every bit of the needed fabric, with only a small scrap left over!

I recommend this to everyone who needs a push to get their business started, it is great for inspiration. And to seasoned business owners, it is a super way to rethink your business and to reevaluate your process.

Want to win a copy of Sew to Sell?  Of course you do.  Just leave a comment below by the end of Wednesday, January 21st!  (**Open to American and Canadian residents only)  And follow along on the tour for more chances to win  ***GIVEAWAY CLOSED***

 **thank you to Virginia Lindsay who graciously provided me with an e-copy of the book for review, all opions are my own :)

~Christine