WINTER STORMS...................

It is winter in my part of the country and we have had a lot of snow, that combination keeps me indoors most of the time, but I don't want to talk about the weather, I want to show you what I have been up to the last few days.  I have been attempting to clear out some of my fabric stash, apparently I have way more than even I realized, but I have made good use of a few pieces.

 

As you may remember I made quite a few hoodies for Christmas this year and it seems I have become obsessed with them.  I like to take what I have learned and create my own design.

  Before I go out and purchase new fabric I wanted to perfect my work with fabric in my stash.

 

I have had many requests for hoodies and flannel shirts over the last few months, as well as some furniture re-do's.  Actually have several pieces in my garage that I will have to work on as soon as we get some warmer days, even though now I'm not sure I want to, but I have already committed, so I will fulfill my promise.

 

I make things simply because I really enjoy what I do, I don't do it to make money, it would then become a job and perhaps not quite so much fun.  I love making items for my children and grandchildren as well as for myself and of course, the hubby would feel left out if he didn't get something too.

 

I turn down most requests to make things for people simply because they don't want to pay for it.  My grandfather had always told me to charge twice what your materials cost for your time, well in the case of a flannel shirt, the cheapest I can get materials is around $25, but normally runs $40-$50.  At that cost when I quote someone $50 for a shirt, they cringe and if I can't find the supplies on sale, I have just made it for nothing.  In the case of a piece of furniture, paint may only cost $10 and even if I take into account the amount of wax and other supplies I use, it could be as cheap as $15.  Well I can spend 20 or more hours over the course of 4 or 5 days on a piece of furniture.  If I calculated cost of materials and time on these projects, even at minimum wage most people don't want to pay for something you just "made", but if they purchase it in a store they don't normally question the cost.

 

Not sure why I've been ranting on about this, but I guess my message is the next time you see something "handmade" remember the person who made it has spent countless hours on it and has paid for all the materials they used and you are often buying a one of a kind piece of furniture or a designer piece of clothing.  I like to think everyone who makes things are all artists and deserves the respect of buyers.