Is the general public really that ignorant?
#91
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 141
People who don't sew have NO idea of the work it takes to make a quilt. Some see a mass produced quilted bedspread at a big box store for $49.99 and think that's the price a hand made quilt should be. I'd say some folks just haven't a clue.
#92
They are just not thinking!
And I agree that it may have more to do with how much they are willing to pay than with how little they value our craftsmanship.
My neighbor does beautiful woodworking - Celtic knot open work wall art out of a single piece of wood. Are his prices too high? Not for the expertise and experience going into it, but for my budget, sadly true.
This is part of why I gift what I make. Plus I want to do it when I want to, how I want to and only if I want to. Some gifts are given several years after the original intended birthday, Christmas or whatever.
And I agree that it may have more to do with how much they are willing to pay than with how little they value our craftsmanship.
My neighbor does beautiful woodworking - Celtic knot open work wall art out of a single piece of wood. Are his prices too high? Not for the expertise and experience going into it, but for my budget, sadly true.
This is part of why I gift what I make. Plus I want to do it when I want to, how I want to and only if I want to. Some gifts are given several years after the original intended birthday, Christmas or whatever.
#94
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 9,563
My husband came up with a very good analogy. He said Grandma Moses didn't paint to try and make a living. She painted because she enjoyed creating something beautiful. Does that mean that if I want to buy one of her paintings, I should only offer $20 because that's what the paint and canvas are worth?
(Yes, he is a keeper and no, you can't have him. Lol.)
The woman opened her mouth and said very rudely to my MIL "Well it's not like you're a professional and what does your DIL know?" MIL stated that "Evidently, no longer than I've known her, she values me more than you and we've been friends (I thought) for many years." She went ahead and gave the afghans for the wedding presents but nothing more. The weddings have since past and she got a "Thank you card saying "Thanks for the afghans but since they're not our style we will donate them to the local shelter.
#96
Super Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,585
Is the general public really that ignorant?
My MIL has made many afghans for many members of her family. When I saw her earlier this summer she was working on a couple and was almost finished. She said they were shower gifts and then she would have to get a wedding gift. My jaw nearly dropped. I told her I thought the afghans were plenty "nuff" to cover for the shower and the wedding. I wish I had taken a photo. One was a beautiful white background with floral and the other was a light green background with floral for queen-sized beds. I did not realize that the mother of both of these recipients was sitting right in the same room. Open mouth insert foot all the way to the hip was my next move. She told me how much yarn she had used and how many hours she put into it. I told her then how much I thought her gift was a minimum. $650.00 for each afghan. She had done some applique. The woman opened her mouth and said very rudely to my MIL "Well it's not like you're a professional and what does your DIL know?" MIL stated that "Evidently, no longer than I've known her, she values me more than you and we've been friends (I thought) for many years." She went ahead and gave the afghans for the wedding presents but nothing more. The weddings have since past and she got a "Thank you card saying "Thanks for the afghans but since they're not our style we will donate them to the local shelter. She sent them a reply asking for them back (both). She said she would get them a gift certificate to a store of their choice to replace. If she gets them back they are going to her daughters who appreciate everything she does for them. DH wanted one but she was already working on one for us. I am excited but am still hoping she gets the other 2 back. Her girls don't know they may be the recipients. Itold her it would be our secret. That way no one would be disappointed. I think I've brought a bit of a dragon rise out of my MIL. My SILs have said they don't know what happened but after my visit, she changed. She now tells her kids she did this or that because she's worth it. She absolutely is. She gave birth to my husband which is her lifetime gift to me.
Jeanette Frantz
#97
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Hamburg,Western New York State
Posts: 4,856
I guess you make a quilt(?) for $75, if you use cheater fabric. I agree with you, the quality of a quilt for that price is VERY questionable. Truly , you get what you pay for.......................
#98
My MIL has made many afghans for many members of her family. When I saw her earlier this summer she was working on a couple and was almost finished. She said they were shower gifts and then she would have to get a wedding gift. My jaw nearly dropped. I told her I thought the afghans were plenty "nuff" to cover for the shower and the wedding. I wish I had taken a photo. One was a beautiful white background with floral and the other was a light green background with floral for queen-sized beds. I did not realize that the mother of both of these recipients was sitting right in the same room. Open mouth insert foot all the way to the hip was my next move. She told me how much yarn she had used and how many hours she put into it. I told her then how much I thought her gift was a minimum. $650.00 for each afghan. She had done some applique. The woman opened her mouth and said very rudely to my MIL "Well it's not like you're a professional and what does your DIL know?" MIL stated that "Evidently, no longer than I've known her, she values me more than you and we've been friends (I thought) for many years." She went ahead and gave the afghans for the wedding presents but nothing more. The weddings have since past and she got a "Thank you card saying "Thanks for the afghans but since they're not our style we will donate them to the local shelter. She sent them a reply asking for them back (both). She said she would get them a gift certificate to a store of their choice to replace. If she gets them back they are going to her daughters who appreciate everything she does for them. DH wanted one but she was already working on one for us. I am excited but am still hoping she gets the other 2 back. Her girls don't know they may be the recipients. Itold her it would be our secret. That way no one would be disappointed. I think I've brought a bit of a dragon rise out of my MIL. My SILs have said they don't know what happened but after my visit, she changed. She now tells her kids she did this or that because she's worth it. She absolutely is. She gave birth to my husband which is her lifetime gift to me.
#99
I'm doing my first craft fair in October, and am already bracing myself for the folks who think my prices are "too high". My lap quilts range from $40-$60, which is a STEAL, but I'm sure I'll hear plenty of the "but I can get one at Walmart for $25" remarks. I figure, let 'em go ahead and buy one at Walmart. The ones I've seen are poorly made, and constructed of thin fabrics. When it falls apart after 3 washings, they better not come crying to me! (And they SURE better not ask me to repair it! LOL!)
For the WallyWorld people, I'd be tempted to write up a sheet with 10 nearby Walmarts, their addresses and their phone numbers.
#100
I don't mind a bit doing binding. If anyone asked me to bind (with their supplies) for .30 per inch----------I'D DO IT!
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