That's the reason I quit sewing for others. I did some custom sewing for a local designer, a yacht. Embroidered enough fabrick with a chain design that formed squares to make a queen comforter, drapes, pillow shames, shower curtain and redid some window treatments they didn't like. Took me three months to do all that. The day after everything was delivered the designer filed bankruptcy. I had almost $2,000.00 of my own money into linings, etc. They owed me another $1800.00 for the work, never got a penny. I even paid to have the comforter quilted by a friend. I talked to an attorney but was told I couldn't collect or file a lean against them because I worked in my home and not their building. From that day I never did another job for anyone. Everyone thinks because you work out of your home it should be free. They seem to forget we pay for electricity, equipment, needles, supplies and of course our time. The only thing I make is gifts to give away. The people that owned the yacht got everything, the designer got paid by them. I'm the only one that didn't get a penny and I did all the work and bought all the fabric.

Learned a very expensive, hard lesson. I have a good friend that does custom embroidery. She doesn't give them the items until she has the money in her hand. If they come to pick it up without money she tells them they'll have to come back.

Wish I could do that.

A very nice neighbor down the hall asked what it would cost to make her a queen size quilt. I know she can't afford it as she is on Medicaid. I nicely told her that if she had to ask, she couldn't afford it. She thought it was funny and still seems to think I am going to make her that quilt. She tells everyone. SURPRISE!!!!!!! I don't like being that way and it makes me feel guilty, but I can't afford to do it. Have too many of my own family. Sorry, gals. Marge L.

What in the world are these people thinking? :roll:

That's too bad. But at least your boss did buy all the supplies. Hard to figure people out.

I would present them both a bill, then start adding on a service charge every month...

People in China are not going to work for peanuts much longer!

So very, very tacky and immature.

Why don't you say to them, you are stopping by the fabric store on your way home from work and you think you'll use the $ from the purses to buy some more fabric. Maybe then, they'll pay.

I just say No I don't want to. It was hard to say it the first time but it sure is fun to say it now! I would tell both the women that they may have forgotten to pay you for the purse but you remember they haven't. What rude entitled people they are to put you in this situation.

This is a very hard position in which to be placed, especially for those of us who are not by nature "business people." That being said, it is also a challenge in personal growth and allows us to learn to stand up for ourselves and stop being "yes-people" :oops:

When we don't get paid we have the responsibility to ourselves (and it is a reflection on our self-esteem) to remind the payee of the debt. They wouldn't do this to a store because it is called "stealing" - is it not? A gentle reminder to begin with, such as, "I think paying me for the purse must have slipped your mind. If it too much for you to afford at one time, you could pay me in installments."

Good luck and go after your money! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: