Would you keep doing it...

I make and sell jewelry - and most of my best "customers" have been friends and co-workers. Maybe I have been lucky, but I haven't had anybody ask me to make them something and not offer to pay. Usually that is the first question that is asked - how much would you charge to make something for me. If someone asks you to make something for them, you shouldn't be at all shy about telling them that they will need to pay for it, in a nice way of course. Point out that if they went to craft fairs or the like, they would pay much more for a nice quilt, but the materials do not pay for themselves and your time and skill are equally as valuable. All in a NICE way. Don't ever let someone else's opinion of the value or worth of your talents dissuade you from quilting again. Especially a child, because they seldom recognize the true value of handcrafted items. I am happy for you that your nephew did appreciate his quilt.

First of all, you should never let someone's opinion keep you from doing something you love. If you love quilting, get back to it! My guess is your niece is very young and didn't realize how hurtful she was being. I suggest this be a lesson for her on how to accept a gift gracefully, even if it wasn't what she wanted...she should know how much her reaction hurt your feelings. I make and sell crafts as well...and it was a hard lesson and road for me to travel to lean my own self worth regarding my crafts. I knit (you can see my work by checking out my website on my profile), and like sewing, knitting is time consuming and it's a skill. Educating people about this is a very important part of being a crafts person. Your time, skill, effort and materials cost money...and you don't work for free, or even just materials cost! When people ask me to make them something, I usually respond with "I would love to make that super long Harry Potter scarf for you, I charge $40 for a project of that size, so let me know if you are still interested." They either are, or they aren't. No matter to me. I'm happy to take on custom projects, but I don't work for free. Remeber, you are talented and you have a skill. And if you love quilting, sewing, or whatever else, who cares what other people think. I hope you are taking out your quilting right now... Happy Crafting!

I just took a peek at your quilts, and I love them. I like the eagle the best, but they are all really beautifull. I hope you'll continue to quilt if it makes you happy. Your neice must be too young to appreciate true value, with the originality and hard work you put into your project. For the people asking you to do a project for them for free, including materials, I would definitely charge them for materials and labor, unless it's a friend or family member that you want to give them the item as a gift. You could do a little research to see what similar items are selling for, and tell them the cost up front. By the way, after seeing your quilts, I think I might try and make one for my first grandchild, due in October. I was going to try and knit or crochet something, but I think a custom quilt will be nicer. I'll have to get busy now.

By all means keep making your quilts. That is something I've always wanted to learn. My aunt who raised me used to make them and so did my mother. I guess I don't have the patience. Believe me, I know how much time and effort go into making them, and I think they are beautiful. That was kind of mean for your niece to act in that way. You should overlook it. And to all those people who ask you to do projects for them free you should just tell them that you cannot do them for free because it is your livelihood and you deserve to be paid just as any other professional. Good luck to you and keep on quilting!

There are a lot of crafty people in my family, so there are many years when a lot of the gifts are hand-made. I know that when I was younger, I didn't always appreciate getting hand-made stuff, but now that I am older, I wish I had some of those items still. I also appreciate the time and effort that went into them. If your niece is still young, that may be why she didn't appreciate your gift as much. I know that I would love to get a hand-made quilt, and I'm sure that friends and other family members of yours would too, so don't keep your quilting stuff put away forever!

if i were u i would make money with the skill i have and it means respecting our self for that and our ability, ever try to open craft course and teach people who certainly will appreciate you for?

I know what you mean, It is the same with crocheting and quilting now days. I did let the opinion of a person let me stop making things and sewing stuff even my drawing things. Then everyone wanted me to do this and that nad I just tell them I don't do it no longer. I love quilting and crocheting and when I do it it makes me feel closer to my granny who has passed away. I shouldn't let the opinion of one person steal away my enjoyment of crafting and creating. Please don't let your niece take the enjoyment out of your crafting it is something you enjoy so still do it and be proud of your work. I am slowly starting a little back here and there but I know before long I will be up and buzzing with new projects at hand. Kids are that way sometimes even if it had been a expensive gift that cost alot if it wasn't a animal she wanted no part in it. So patch that big hole in your heart like I have to do and begin again. I also know what you mean when people want things done for free. Evidently they don't realize the cost of material and supplies now days to make things. I would put a sign out by your door for all to see custom crafts and let them know up front that it costs you and that you couldn't do it for less then what it cost you. Everyone wants a free ride sometimes especially family it's hard to say no , but it has to be done. Tell them to go to a craft store or a place they sell craft and materials,supplies and have them price things thereselves and they will be amazed at the cost of things then there is your time you put in a piece you cannot live on love alone..

Sweetie, you should keep on quilting, if this is what you enjoy. As far as free, blow it off. They are leaches, say "no." You cannot afford the materials or time. Your niece was very rude. She doesn't appreicate a gift of love, only materialistic things. Don't let that kind of person make you give up what you enjoy. Good luck, and God bless you.

Well as for the niece thing I would let it go and get back out your quilting. As for the ones that want you to do the big detailed projects but don't want to either pay you for it or buy the materials I would have to tell them no. I would explain to them that it takes a lot of time and money to make these both of which you don't have. If they still refuse to pay or buy then just politely tell them no. THey might get mad but they can get glad in the same britches they got mad in. LOL! I have ran into this also and at first I did it but I had to stop as money was getting tight. I hope that this helps.

I wouldn't stop crafting - giving any gift is tricky, and it's always hard to tell whether or not someone will love the item you give them. It's just hard on you when you put so much thought and work into the gift. And if someone wants you to make them something, I think you should just tell them you don't have time, but you're happy to show them how to make it themself or or show them a website that has instructions.

If crafting is your passion, you should not give it up. If someone wants you to make something, you should let them know up front this is what it is going to cost. If they don't want to pay the price, don't waste time. You are creating beautiful work and should be paid for it.

lol

I have made things for some relatives and found out that it was not the sort of thing that they liked. My mother-in-law who is 86 does not like home made gifts. I stopped making gifts for her as soon as I realized that. My family and my friends all love quilts and will gush over every quilt that I make . I love to quilt, and there is always someone who will appreciate one. Of course I need to replenish the quilts in my old house. Most of them have worn out . It does tick me off when some one wants something done for free. I let them know what it cost to make the item , and say and that doesn't cover any of my time . I must say I have had people do things for me for free. I offered to pay them and they said no. One lady that did that I found out that she liked to read so I sent her a new book that I had bought. Around here people often swap for services done .

Forgive me, I didn't read all the discussions with this post. That's too bad that your niece acted that way. I'm glad that your nephew loved it. I'm sure deep down, she probably appreciated it. I have had experiences like this. I have put my heart and soul into a craft item, and most people like and enjoy them, but I have one sister that always manages to "forget" it. I have an afghan (the ONLY one I've ever made!) that I crocheted for her, a cutting board, and a few other items that seem to find their way back to my house. I guess I don't mind, at least they are not getting thrown out, but it still hurts. I just remember that she's not one to appreciate hard work, and let it go. If you get the inkling to make another postage stamp quilt, I'd be a VERY grateful participant/recipient!!!!!!! LOL!

first of all, what kind of a person are you if you would be so insensitive as to actually tell someone who gave you a gift that you didn't like what they gave you?! crafts and hobbies make a person more well-rounded,a nd oftentimes keep us from losing our sanity =)...it's doing something that serves as some sort of therapy, some sort of escape from our otherwise frenzied, crazy everyday lives...a lot of folks have hobbies because it makes them happy and gives them a different type of satisfaction other than what they get from their work or everyday routines. keep at it. truly you can't make everyone happy, but you should give yourself more importance and definitely a pat on the back for taking up a craft that you love...

Well, as for the children, depending on their ages, you have to forgive them. Sometimes kids really want something and even though they really life what they got, they are so disappointed by not getting something else that they just say the first thing that comes to thier minds. I am sure that your niece loves her quilt and was just upset at the moment. If someon doesnt like something that I have made for them, I will feel a little bit hurt, but I don't stop my crafting. My crafting is really done for me and the enjoyment I get out of it. So, someone doesn't like something I made for them. I won't make them anything else. As for doing things by request, I just tell the people upfront that while I have no problem doing the project, I cannot afford to purchase all their requested supplies. I let them know that I will make the item, but only if they will provide all the supplies. If they aren't willing to buy the supplies, they don't really want the item or they don't really appreciate the time it takes to make the item. I also tell them that unless they don't mind waiting for me to get to the time in my time frame, they have to pay me for my time too. Most of the time, the people who really want the item and really appreciate the time it takes for me to complete a project will buy all the supplies and pay me for my time. The only exception to this is my sister. She buys the supplies, but I don't charge her for my time. She is visually impaired and I know that if she could, she would do the craft herself, but she cannot see it well enough. So she buys the stuff and I make the items for her.

Since I do bead work and beads are easy to spill I would make sure that the person that wants something from me would buy the materials and I would teach them how to put together any of the crafts that they like that I know how to. I would insist on their buying the beads especially so that if they spilt the beads I would not be out of beads, also this would teach them how much goes into putting together crafts. You might also have convert that will start putting together crafts on their own. And then they can tell people how much it cost in material and labor to put together the crafts.

I think quilting is a beautiful art. It's too bad your niece had such a bad reaction, but it wasn't the quilt that she didn't like, it was the fact that you didn't live up to her expectations. Having said that, think about how much pleasure quilting gives you and the personal satisfaction you receive from doing it. I gave a crocheted baby blanket to my cousin's daughter after her son was born and she never even thanked me for it. Nevertheless, I will always love crocheting and no one, not even a thoughtless person, will stop me from doing what I love to do.

Nope. She sounds like an ungrateful brat. I just wouldn't do anything special for her again. Eventually she might learn to accept a gift graciously.