AMEN TO THAT!
The only way to educate the general public is up front and be consistant with pricing. It takes a lot of time, effort, tools and expertise to make a nice quilt and because most quilts are unique or one of a kind, they deserved to be priced accordingly.
If you are going to design, shop, wash, iron, cut, sew, press, trim, sandwich, quilt, bind and take time away from yourself for others, why would any one think they shouldn't deserve to be paid accordingly, for their work of art with fabric?
Quilters have expensive tools, expertise, unique knowledge, creative capablilities, and passion for their work. What is that worth?
I have yet to sell a quilt, I have given them all away to family or charity, but I do realize the value of what I do. I dont' expect everyone to understand the value of a quilt I make, but I don't always appreciate the painted art, that other's are wiling to pay thousands for.
I think quilters need to stop short changing themselves and realize the value of their craft and not be apologetic about pricing, because your quilts have incredible value! People can only get what they really want if they are willing to pay for it, and if they really want you to make a quilt in their style and colors, then........ they need to pay for that custom made, one of a kind, value.
I have seen comments on here that it cost NOTHING to make a quilt because they used their stash. You paid for that stash at one time or another, purchased the machine you sew on, bought the pins, thread, rulers, rotary cutters, blades, pattern, etc. and spent hundreds of hours perfecting your craft. There is real value in all of that.
Just my two thousand cents! LOL!
Diane