Creative Exercises

I have now been selling T-Shirts on cafepress for over a year and a half. In that time I have sold about 50 items. Almost every penny of the revenue has been used to purchase other cafepress gear, for fun or silly gifts. Which means that I haven't really made any money off the venture.

For me it's more about knowing people like the designs. To think that someone named Lauren in IN is wearing a 'Bee' t-shirt I designed, or that Miha in Slovenia thought that my 'Monday' shirt was worth the international shipping charge. I'm not sure, why I care but it's just really rewarding. Additionally I guilt tripped Missy into a hasty t-shirt purchase.

With the elections heating up I see that some of the conservative designs I made are now moving. Last week my absolute favorite shirt, with a major stab at Ted Kennedy, finally made a sale. So somewhere in OR Ted is being abused. I can only imagine the horrified looks this person must get while walking around in it. For me, I would never wear it. I'm just not that bold in public. But just knowing that someone else has the nerve to be my voice, and pay me for it, is really cool to think about.

It has also taught me about failure. I've made lots of designs that haven't had the least inkling of a sale. Sometimes my humor doesn't make sense to others. No big surprise there! Point and case is the idea that started it all, 'Stop the Laundry'. I haven't moved a single one. I found that it doesn't matter, and it's more enjoyable just to do it, whether or not it sells. Better to try something and fail at it then always wonder.

I would encourage anyone who ever had the creative itch to give it a shot. It's a blast to get that email -"You've made a sale at Cafepress.com"