I have lupus, which for me means heart failure, respiratory failure,
kidney failure, joint problems, and low stamina, although I'm still
able to work, but I suspect I will only be able to work another year
or two at most, and I'll more than likely be wheelchair-bound and on
oxygen in the next 5 years or so.  I only mention this so you'll know
what drawbacks I
have to my request.  I would like to start a small craft business at
home that I can build up to supplement my disability payments and keep
myself busy.  I have quite a bit of room in my house for storage and
some disposable income, at the moment, for stock and tools.  I live in
a good-sized university town in Florida.

I never met a craft I didn't like!  I can quilt, crochet, knit,
mosaic, do woodworking, leatherworking, model with salt dough, papier
mache, sew, etc. etc.  I can't draw worth a durn, though.  I live in a
non-crafty area, so I would have to open up my own venues for selling
my wares (twisting shop owners' arms, and so on).  My son will do the
legwork for me, God bless him :)  Nobody around here
makes much so I don't really know what's a good seller, and I've never
tried to sell anything I make; I have just given it all away.  What
would be some good money-makers to try?

My most popular gifts, alas, will get me smacked down for
copyright-infringement if I try to sell them--such as decoupaged boxes
with anime toons on them, earrings with cartoon figures on them, and
so forth. I tried a google search on best-selling crafts but I didn't
have much luck, so I was hoping you all could tell me a thing or two.
Thanks :)

i am in the same boat at you.  i too googled for best selling crafts,
but did not get far.  overall in my personal experience, i find that
food sells the best; candies/baked goods.  i suppose if you are doing
something else, it depends on how and where you market your goods. 
the place sure makes a difference.  i tried to sell clothing once, but
i found that in my area, folks could care less about average priced
clothing.  i marked a $50. pair of shoes down to $8 and they still did
not sell.  pick something you feel you could manufacture for hours on
end without getting fed up, then sell it where the profit is good. 
that is what came to mind with me.  however with you, you may want to
do whatever you like and show a variety to of items to sell.

by the way, what else did you find out about the best craft to sell? 
i am going for the lowest cost to make or buy that will give me the
highest profit.  any suggestions???????????????

The best advice I got was go with what you really love :) I had
certain requirements so I made a list of possibilities and just weeded
out choices that did not fit those requirements; I'll give you some
examples.

I wanted a craft that could be picked up and put down at a moment's
notice, and not something that you couldn't stop until it was done.

I needed something that would pay a fair profit, as you know some
people are not willing to pay what it's worth for hand quilting,
crocheting, etc.

I wanted something where I could use my own designs and express my creativity.

I needed something I could do sitting down.

I have tentatively decided on woodworking, as I have money for
expensive tools at the moment, and space to work in, which makes it a
less-common craft.  It fits my time, energy, and design requirements. 
Now we'll find out if I can make a little money at it :)  I believe
the maximum net profit you can make while on disability is around
$10,000 a year and if I can make that I'll be perfectly satisfied.

If you want the lowest-cost crafts, I would seriously look into papier
mache, or salt dough.  They cost next to nothing and you can make all
kinds of useful and beautiful items.  My friends and family love the
papier mache boxes and salt dough clocks I make them but I have no
idea if they would sell.

About clothes--I find the only things that really sell are not the
low-end items, but the very high ones.  Make the best quality items
you can and sell them to boutiques.  I do know a lady that haunts
garage sales and flea markets, buys decent stuff, fixes it up and
sells it at her own yard sales for a decent profit.  This is also good
for curtains, linens, dishes, you name it.  Hope that helps :)

I make lots of stuffed animals and buy my patterns through ebay I only
crochet and really sell alot of them especially at Christmas. You said
you may get in trouble for using a wellknow name of something just
change the receipe/pattern/idea a little to suit your needs and then
you won't be accused of stealing ideas. Right now the biggest thing
with me is brownies and my co-workers at walmart are buying them
faster than I can make them. all different kinds I package them up in
dozen groups print out labels and put them in a plastic tray looks
really nice when I am done. Good luck with your crafts

We were pondering the same issue as you about a year ago. The big
craze in England then was scoubidous - a sort of plastic lace that the
children were weaving into keyrings etc. My wife thought she could
make those, or put beads on and sell them as necklaces or bracelets.
After asking around and watching children at craft parties, we
discovered that actually, the kids preferred to make the things
themselves. We then focused on turning our efforts to producing craft
kits that the kids could use to easily make fun things for themselves.
You can see the result on http://www.fun2make.co.uk .

My suggestion is therefore, use your knowledge and expertise to create
craft kits of the things you like to do, with really clear
instructions and sell those. Maybe consider holding workshops at your
home in the school holidays to show the kids (and parents) what to do.
For many people, the joy of crafting is in the creating, not the end
product - use that to your advantage.

Regards,
Clive