Yesterday was good. It was quiet, uninterrupted and rather enlightening. I took a majority of the day putting together my BEAST of a tote and I slowly came to realize that there is a good possibility that selling my crafts is not the thing for me. At least, not now.
As I struggled to maneuver the heft of fabric through my sad little "home ec" machine from possibly the 1980s (Did I ever mention this? My mother bought this from my old high school when they sold their Home Economics machines for something like 20 bucks or less. It has numbers on it to show you how to thread. Very fun.), I found myself stressing rather than enjoying the sewing. Stressing about the fact that if I am going to charge someone for this it had better be darn close to perfect, and stressing about what on earth I was GOING to charge for it and was I-in the end- going to make about 50 cents an hour, and stressing about all the sewing that I really should be doing for my little family and instead I was trying to make what was likely to end up as a rather small amount for the work I was putting in.
It was then that I was awakened to a couple of realizations. One, I am way more about the overall appearance and function when it comes to sewing and not concerned enough about flubs like this which really matter if I am going to try to charge someone for my work.
I do realize that I could take all that out and fix it. But it really just doesn't sound like something I want to do. I think that this darling monstrosity is nicely suited for my jumbly house and maybe not for a price tag. I think that I had delusions of churning out beautiful things while my babes sat happily around my feet fiddling with bits of fabric and string and the reality is that they are far more likely to be stabbing at each other with knitting needles and throwing around my lovely buttons. I think, for now, I am tabling the idea of making a buck crafting and will just continue to save a buck crafting around here.
Speaking of which, I finally finished Ellerie's window shades a couple of weeks ago and I just ADORE them!
And now, joining them, is a colossal tote-instead of a plastic bin- for all the stuffies.
It seems right at home here. Oh, and I DID enjoy making it for US ;-). You never know with me, by this afternoon I could be changing my mind. I do have a nice little pile of knit washcloths started.... maybe i'll just stick to those for tagging.
It really feels good to be so decisive. ;-)
11 comments:
You and I are two of a kind! I have those thoughts all the time. Grand plans of sewing great creations to sell to the masses. Alas, they usually end up in the girls room or the sewing box unfinished. Hopefully someday when my girlies are just a wee bit older I will find the time to work on those dreams again. Love your toy bin. I would have bought it even with the wonky stitching ;)
Love, love love Ellie's window treatments! Adorable! How much would you charge? He he, just kidding!
I love this post! The window shades are beautiful, and the thought process here is honest and endearing. Go, girl.
Verification: slyrrus, which is, I think, the kind of speech I emit after a couple of martinis.
Perfectionism seems sadly to damper our enthusiasm for so many things!
decisiveness is good. can you tell me how to become decisive?
i LOVE both the tote AND the window coverings!
you described someone we both "know" and love with that imagery! :)
enjoy the rest of your weekend senza bambini!
nicola
http://whichname.blogspot.com
I love how stinkin' honest you are. Especially with yourself. If you enjoy sewing that it would be terrible to mess that up by making it a stressful job.
Reminds me of when someone once offered me a job at a quilt shop. I thought about it but almost immediately realized that then my most favorite hobby would turn into work. Ugh.
The blinds and tote are GREAT!!!
I love how stinkin' honest you are. Especially with yourself. If you enjoy sewing that it would be terrible to mess that up by making it a stressful job.
Reminds me of when someone once offered me a job at a quilt shop. I thought about it but almost immediately realized that then my most favorite hobby would turn into work. Ugh.
The blinds and tote are GREAT!!!
I love the colors in your daughters room and your curtains and toy bin are gorgeous!
Number 1) the Wonky stitching you point out is why I love your stuff to begin with! You and Kath, again I *sigh*
Number 2) Its like you were in my head during my catering job last weekend. I have decided that catering with the idea to make money has taken all the fun out of it! I suck at the business part of it. God bonked me on the head, I cried at the end (how ridiculous) and decided I am only catering for people I love now!
Love the giant tote and window treatment... they are so cute! Yah, I find certain crafts I do are best to keep to myself than to try to sell, since they are so time consuming. I don't think anyone would want to buy my $100 wool scarf (that how much it would have to cost, since I am such a slow knitter!)
LOVE the fabric bin. As soon as I get a working machine again, those are going on my "gotta make" list!
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