Need to rant...
11-14-2008, 12:45 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 465
Wise Janeen!!!! I hate to say it but I was one of those people. Years ago on a trip to Arkansas I bought 2 king quilts each with 2 shams. I spent around $225 for all of it. Now that I quilt, I can see now how one has basting as quilting and the other is falling apart. Now, I know that you get what you pay for!
11-14-2008, 01:18 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Pensacola, FL
Posts: 777
Originally Posted by Janeen
Here's a story for you about why people don't buy quilts...
A friend of mine quilts - she does beautiful work, she has a great relationship with a longarm quilter and between the two of them they turn out some fabulous stuff... impressive even...
ok, a woman at work kept asking Margie to make her two quilts for her twins - Margie kept telling her, 'no', that she did not want to get into the making of quilts for other people.. the woman kept insisting and getting downright belligerant about it. so Margie finally told her, 'ok, let me figure up a price so we both know what we're talking about....
So Margie figured up a price using good materials, batting, TIME, the long arm quilter, the backing, etc planning on doing a really good job and making 'heirloom' quilts for this woman's kids....
When she told the woman, "I came up with at least $500 for each quilt" the woman went ballistic and said - are you ready?? :-o
"But I can get a quilt at Walmart for $30!".... and Margie said, "Well, then, do that"
We stopped at Hardy Arkansas on our way home from Missouri a couple weeks ago - we've stopped in that neat little town several times and this last time quite a few shops had "handmade Ozark quilts" for sale.... but.. here's the strange part, these quilts all looked exactly alike - in each store and the "quilting" was nothing more than basting.... and these quilts were all under $150 all the way up to king size.... I didn't look for the "made in China by 6-year-olds" labels but I'm sure they were there somewhere...
We also stopped in Cracker Barrel where they had some really NICE quilts done on I'm sure computerized long arm machines - they were too 'perfect' to be otherwise... these were selling for around SEVENTY DOLLARS....
You can't buy the materials to make a GOOD quilt for that....
People who actually do the craft - no matter what it is - generally will say things like, "wow, great prices," or "fantastic work" or whatever but they won't buy because they also do the craft/sewing/ etc... people who don't know squat about sewing/quilting/crafting or whatever are only interested in the $$$$ they look at a thousand dollar quilt and it doesn't mean any more to them than the thirty dollar piece of junk from China made with material that will fade and fall apart because people aren't really interested in heirloom stuff anymore - they are the people who replace their bath towels by the season so they 'match', or decorate every year, or toss out the table ware and buy new because 'it's such a good deal at walmart'....
and that's what's got the whole world in a huge mess right now because we are a disposable society - toss it out and buy a new one - no need to make it last or keep it because it means something...
whew... boy did I get on my soapbox :mrgreen:
But I have a friend that keeps telling me I should try to sell my quilts on ebay - no, not gonna go there.....
If nobody else does - at least I know that *I* appreciate my quilts and I know what goes into them... :roll: :wink:
A friend of mine quilts - she does beautiful work, she has a great relationship with a longarm quilter and between the two of them they turn out some fabulous stuff... impressive even...
ok, a woman at work kept asking Margie to make her two quilts for her twins - Margie kept telling her, 'no', that she did not want to get into the making of quilts for other people.. the woman kept insisting and getting downright belligerant about it. so Margie finally told her, 'ok, let me figure up a price so we both know what we're talking about....
So Margie figured up a price using good materials, batting, TIME, the long arm quilter, the backing, etc planning on doing a really good job and making 'heirloom' quilts for this woman's kids....
When she told the woman, "I came up with at least $500 for each quilt" the woman went ballistic and said - are you ready?? :-o
"But I can get a quilt at Walmart for $30!".... and Margie said, "Well, then, do that"
We stopped at Hardy Arkansas on our way home from Missouri a couple weeks ago - we've stopped in that neat little town several times and this last time quite a few shops had "handmade Ozark quilts" for sale.... but.. here's the strange part, these quilts all looked exactly alike - in each store and the "quilting" was nothing more than basting.... and these quilts were all under $150 all the way up to king size.... I didn't look for the "made in China by 6-year-olds" labels but I'm sure they were there somewhere...
We also stopped in Cracker Barrel where they had some really NICE quilts done on I'm sure computerized long arm machines - they were too 'perfect' to be otherwise... these were selling for around SEVENTY DOLLARS....
You can't buy the materials to make a GOOD quilt for that....
People who actually do the craft - no matter what it is - generally will say things like, "wow, great prices," or "fantastic work" or whatever but they won't buy because they also do the craft/sewing/ etc... people who don't know squat about sewing/quilting/crafting or whatever are only interested in the $$$$ they look at a thousand dollar quilt and it doesn't mean any more to them than the thirty dollar piece of junk from China made with material that will fade and fall apart because people aren't really interested in heirloom stuff anymore - they are the people who replace their bath towels by the season so they 'match', or decorate every year, or toss out the table ware and buy new because 'it's such a good deal at walmart'....
and that's what's got the whole world in a huge mess right now because we are a disposable society - toss it out and buy a new one - no need to make it last or keep it because it means something...
whew... boy did I get on my soapbox :mrgreen:
But I have a friend that keeps telling me I should try to sell my quilts on ebay - no, not gonna go there.....
If nobody else does - at least I know that *I* appreciate my quilts and I know what goes into them... :roll: :wink:
11-14-2008, 01:58 PM
#14
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 2,524
What I have discovered at craft shows is that the junk that is bought and glued together sells for a ton of $$ while the beautiful stuff that actually took some work doesn't sell. I haven't figured people out.
I'm really happy to hear you made a good sale.
I'm really happy to hear you made a good sale.
11-14-2008, 03:17 PM
#15
Power Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 18,726
Oh, glad you did make that sale, maybe that will start the ball rolling.
As for the whole "selling handmade items for what they are really worth"...its impossible ...no one will ever pay what they are really worth. You just must get a reasonable amount of enjoyment out of making it. And that has to be worth something to you.
As for the whole "selling handmade items for what they are really worth"...its impossible ...no one will ever pay what they are really worth. You just must get a reasonable amount of enjoyment out of making it. And that has to be worth something to you.
11-14-2008, 03:57 PM
#16
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Central FL
Posts: 4,829
Sweatshops overseas turn out tops by the dozens. As long as they are assembled here, they can be labled as Made in the US. I have a feeling that some I've seen just had the overseas tags ripped off.
You can't buy the thread for a big quilt for what some of the falsies are going for.
I'm glad you made some money. I'm scared to try the craft shows here - you need a tax # and entrance fees are pretty high, even at the flea markets.
You can't buy the thread for a big quilt for what some of the falsies are going for.
I'm glad you made some money. I'm scared to try the craft shows here - you need a tax # and entrance fees are pretty high, even at the flea markets.
11-14-2008, 04:57 PM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 535
Here's another thought - it may just be your location. I know you're next to the door and people see your items as soon as they walk in and that's great. HOWEVER, a lot of people (me included) will say to themselves "Well, I'll hit that stand on the way out since I don't want to spend all my money right away" and then spend their money further down the line.
I'm glad you made a least one sale and hopefully tomorrow will bring more $$! :D :D
I'm glad you made a least one sale and hopefully tomorrow will bring more $$! :D :D
11-14-2008, 05:14 PM
#18
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,688
I know just how you feel! I didn't sell one thing for an hour and sure was regretting the HOURS I spent on making stuff over the summer and after school. But no one was buying anything. And I ended up selling more photos and books than quilted items. Sigh...
Hope your pockets are full soon. :D
Hope your pockets are full soon. :D
11-14-2008, 05:27 PM
#19
Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: In the middle of a mess...
Posts: 20,025
I'm glad you sold something and yes....it's a 2-fold thing....coming down to money and people not knowing what they are actually getting with what we make.
On another note.....my Heart Quilt that I made for auction....well, it went in the auction....$100. I was sick! I actually had to walk out of the room! They started the bidding at $75, which is what I set, but it stopped at $100. I couldn't believe it!! There was an elderly lady there that was visiting her granddaughter. She had walked up to it before the auction and I walked over and started chatting with her. She had such good things to say about it even to the extent that it would bring in a TON of money. I knew that neither her nor her GD would bid on it only because the GD looked to be 20-25 and there isn't much money in their family, especially military family. (she did win a scrapbooking basket for $10) Once the auction was over, the lady walked up to me and told me how sad she was but that the people wouldn't know good craftsmanship if it bit them in the nose. lol She told me to not make one for next year because I would only be wasting my talent. I agreed with her. Not making one. I did have a lady ask me if I was making another for next year. I laughed in her face and told her that wasn't going to happen!
But, I digress.........
I hope you do better the rest of the time you are there.
Good luck!!
On another note.....my Heart Quilt that I made for auction....well, it went in the auction....$100. I was sick! I actually had to walk out of the room! They started the bidding at $75, which is what I set, but it stopped at $100. I couldn't believe it!! There was an elderly lady there that was visiting her granddaughter. She had walked up to it before the auction and I walked over and started chatting with her. She had such good things to say about it even to the extent that it would bring in a TON of money. I knew that neither her nor her GD would bid on it only because the GD looked to be 20-25 and there isn't much money in their family, especially military family. (she did win a scrapbooking basket for $10) Once the auction was over, the lady walked up to me and told me how sad she was but that the people wouldn't know good craftsmanship if it bit them in the nose. lol She told me to not make one for next year because I would only be wasting my talent. I agreed with her. Not making one. I did have a lady ask me if I was making another for next year. I laughed in her face and told her that wasn't going to happen!
But, I digress.........
I hope you do better the rest of the time you are there.
Good luck!!
11-14-2008, 08:46 PM
#20
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 2,295
It's nearly impossible to sell anything custom made for enough to truly pay for it. I'm not sure what people look for when they go to craft fairs. Mostly I think it's a case of wanting to support our local artisans.
Tomorrow I will spend all day at our local craft fair, thankfully not trying to sell my own goods. I couldn't stand it. But, as I walk around and look at what is there, I will think of you.
Terri, what a devastating experience to have all your hard work become a bargain for someone. I sure hope they appreciate what they have bought! If I were there I would have bid that quilt up for sure. I can say this because I just attended a fund raiser and walked out with nearly $500 worth of auctioned items paying far more than I should have but wanting to donate. Fund raisers are NOT the place to go bargain hunting :evil:
Tomorrow I will spend all day at our local craft fair, thankfully not trying to sell my own goods. I couldn't stand it. But, as I walk around and look at what is there, I will think of you.
Terri, what a devastating experience to have all your hard work become a bargain for someone. I sure hope they appreciate what they have bought! If I were there I would have bid that quilt up for sure. I can say this because I just attended a fund raiser and walked out with nearly $500 worth of auctioned items paying far more than I should have but wanting to donate. Fund raisers are NOT the place to go bargain hunting :evil:
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
mpeters1200
Main
40
05-25-2010 04:32 AM
