What's in a T Shirt?

From a white woman's T Shirt, a bottle of black fabric paint, a brush and a delicate black beaded necklace what can be made?

My original idea was to paint a tribal design on the back center, sew black glass beads around the neckline, and then sew the center motif of the black bead necklace to the front center. Then embellish with other small black beads as necessary. 

But when I began painting, I realized the quality of this t shirt was not good enough to warrant all that bead work. So I changed my mind a bit and did the entire design in paint with just a few beads to make it unique.  This accomplished two things: 1. I can see how the design worked out (and if I want to change it), and 2. This t shirt can be sold at a lesser price.  

                                  

Back of shirt

            

Front of shirt

Dots were made with a special paint liner that I brought back with me from my recent trip to Germany.

I like the looks of this and am now anxious to get to the store to get a 'just right' shirt to put my original design on.

When the other shirt is finished, I'll include a picture so you can see the comparison.

Back in the Swing of Things

Can handmade art/crafts be profitable these days?

In this depressed economy I find most of my art/craft only sells "on sale". My prices are good and I try to have things at all price points. Lots of lookers, lots of good comments, few sales. Tis also true of other vendors this season.

So what makes you buy at an Art Walk or an Art Fair? 

I'd love to hear your comments. Be brutally honest, please.