Need to rant...
11-15-2008, 05:11 AM
#21
Power Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 18,726
Terri, that group should be ashamed of themselves. Not for buying your quilt for such a cheap price...that is just sad. The real crime here is that the group was too cheap to donate to a good cause and that is the really sad part. Unfortunately things are tight everywhere and it shows up first in donations to good causes. :cry:
11-15-2008, 05:20 AM
#22
Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: In the middle of a mess...
Posts: 20,025
Well, the people who got it, I KNOW they appreciate it. The woman saw it a few days before the auction and had asked me about making one for her. When I told her that it was going in the auction, her eyes lit up! I'm glad she and her husband are the ones that have it. She really appreciates it. I am going to make a bag for them to store it in when necessary, but I doubt it will ever be stored away, unless they are packing out and moving.
But like it was stated before,,,people will pay $50 for one that is cheaply made at Walmart or some other place, but aren't willing to spend the money for something that has "blood, sweat and tears" put into it.
But like it was stated before,,,people will pay $50 for one that is cheaply made at Walmart or some other place, but aren't willing to spend the money for something that has "blood, sweat and tears" put into it.
11-15-2008, 05:37 AM
#23
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Missouri
Posts: 1,822
I am really glad you have brought this up:))I think it would be great if other vendors could step up and give some possiblities of ideas for this. I know we are not dealing w/normal economy, and has hit many really hard. Which could be why the pot holder sellers. Which is a great idea! I believe in the diversity of prices in booths so all could walk away w/something. I use to drool over homemade quilts....I can not tell you how bad I always wanted one. I so loved homemade. My prob. was I tried and couldn't...and, I absol. couldn't afford one. It would have been the difference of paying for my rent. (well, a few months at the time)I know there are others walking around appreciating your work and many do know the difference between the china/usa made ones. Terri is right-you do get what you pay for.
Hold your head up high...smile and treat them all like they are your 100th customer. Have someone sit in for you and go browse yourself to see everything from -how busy, -how are other booths set up-lighting-etc. Is there anything for you to learn from here? There could be! Keep us posted and don't take this personally. It is just a hard time for most of us to ride out at the moment. Skeat....who has rambled waaay too much:))
Hold your head up high...smile and treat them all like they are your 100th customer. Have someone sit in for you and go browse yourself to see everything from -how busy, -how are other booths set up-lighting-etc. Is there anything for you to learn from here? There could be! Keep us posted and don't take this personally. It is just a hard time for most of us to ride out at the moment. Skeat....who has rambled waaay too much:))
11-15-2008, 06:21 AM
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Odessa, Texas
Posts: 878
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:
11-15-2008, 06:25 AM
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Odessa, Texas
Posts: 878
[b]
well, AMEN TO THAT!!! it cost me $218.00 to get this one quilted by a long armer pro. other people (friends) have asked me to make them one for free and i say yeah right - like i'm just gonna hand you a $1,000.00 bill (if there is such a thing). I've got $500 in this quilt not counting my time and I'de have to be starving to death before I would even sell it.
well, AMEN TO THAT!!! it cost me $218.00 to get this one quilted by a long armer pro. other people (friends) have asked me to make them one for free and i say yeah right - like i'm just gonna hand you a $1,000.00 bill (if there is such a thing). I've got $500 in this quilt not counting my time and I'de have to be starving to death before I would even sell it.
11-15-2008, 06:52 AM
#26
Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: North East Lower peninsula of Michigan
Posts: 6,230
Originally Posted by tlrnhi
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!!
11-15-2008, 07:01 AM
#27
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Chandler, Arizona
Posts: 149
Lots of good comments here. Usually quilters talents aren't appreciated except by other quilters. I did a lap sized quilt for our RV club to be used in a drawing. We actually got more in the drawing than my materials cost. But the best thing was the comments i heard from those looking it over. A friend won the quilt, so I'm happy about that. I'll probably do another for next year, since that one went over so well.
11-15-2008, 07:18 AM
#28
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Maple Grove, MN (by way of GA, NC, PA, NC, AL!)
Posts: 1,548
Originally Posted by QuiltinLee
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
Also, I've made items for silent auctions and I am thrilled with whatever they go for. I made two totes that went for $60 and I am currently working on a lap size quilt for another auction - i know it won't fetch much, probably around $75 or $100 and that is fine by me. I love using my skill and talent toward a good cause and that is $75 or $100 more than what they had before, so I'm happy about that.
I have decided to NOT make items for sale because I don't want to turn my hobby into a job, although I will make something for someone if they pay for the fabric. My talent and love of quilting is gift and the more I get to do it, the happier I am, and if I get to use my talent for a good cause, then that is even better!!
My 2 cents!
11-15-2008, 08:23 AM
#29
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Pine Grove, California
Posts: 2,816
The economy is just so bad right now. People are holding on tight to their money and spending it on essentials only. (that's what the news said anyway) You and your quilted items can't compete with shoddy goods produced in China and elsewhere where workers are paid 17 cents an hour!!!!! (I am glad you made one BIG sale, though......)
(Also, I've noted that many people go through a Craft Sale looking for ideas they can reproduce at home. They don't spend a cent but have a "good time" looking!)
(Also, I've noted that many people go through a Craft Sale looking for ideas they can reproduce at home. They don't spend a cent but have a "good time" looking!)
11-15-2008, 10:34 AM
#30
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: currently central new jersey
Posts: 8,623
Originally Posted by Moonpi
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.
if u get a tax # you don't have to pay taxes on anything that u buy pertaining to your 'business' such as machinery, thread, notions, etc. u do have to pay taxes on your sales, but if your sales are less than your expenses you are okay for, i think, three yrs. a tax # is free, but u do have to submit quarterly tax forms to the irs. big deal! it's not like you're general motors or anything. maybe u should ask a merchant or tax person that you can trust to be honest with u.
you would have to keep a book on what you spend and what you sell.
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