That is a very good idea. I will be using that idea. :XD: :XD: :XD:

I just have to share this - My neighbor came over this evening, to ask me a question, while she was here, she saw a table runner I am making for a swap partner. She says, "Hey, that's really nice, and oh, BTW can you replace the zipper in my son's Levis? I hate to do it on my new machine, and risk breaking it, but yours is older." Hers is the cheapest one from Walmart, mine is a 'special edition' quilting machine, that I paid ten times as much for! I have to keep reminding myself that it is still illegal to shoot stupid people! Grrrrrrrrr! :hunf: :hunf: :hunf: :hunf:

In this economy people just have to understand, we all have obligations, bills, budgets ..just cannot give everything away. Try to explain the cost of things....for me the other issue is my time...not that I want paid for things...I just dont have enough time to make what I want for my family and (wouldnt it be nice) FOR my home lol.

Tell her how much and what kind of fabric you will need and let her do the shopping for it. Charge her to sew it.

Don't do it. She can't be all that nice if she is trying to get over on you. She won't even respect you afterwards . She consider it a weakness which she will keep trying to exploit.
I make it a policy not to do business with anyone in my congragtion. They all seem to think there is some kind of automatic discount they can claim.
And don't dicker! just say kindly with a smile on your face that you will not accept her propsal and that she should have a nice day.

I agree...lay out the costs to her..add 10% to cover gas to shop. Let her know that you can do the item for set amount...and that it's below what you would normally charge...and that's it... let it drop, unless she comes to you and wants the item made.

Take her shopping and let her buy the fabric and supplies. Then she would understand that 12 dollars doesn't go very far.

She's trying to make you feel guilty. Don't do it. If she was such a sweet lady, she wouldn't act this way and understand where you're coming from. I know many people who use this ploy. I got caught in it when I first started sewing for others, Then I got smart.

if the guilts get to you-have a glass of wine and forget about it!!!!The only other suggestion would be to have her buy the materials and, if you are really moved by the Spirit, sew it for her for the 12.00 if you feel you must meet her demands. Good luck

I have to keep reminding myself that it is still illegal to shoot stupid people :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

I agree with hopetoquilt

Here's my thought- if she is a dear friend and you really want to do it and have fabric left over from something else then do it. But not if it is going to make you wish you hadn't.

Goodness gracious.....$12.00 doesnt even pay for all your hard labor....I would simply tell her go buy the fabric and the pattern and come back and and show her how to make it and then say hmmmmm so will you sell it for $12.00 lol....sorry a little humor here I dont mean to be mean but gosh I think like the other post its insulting.....Just Me Trish :)

Where on earth did she come up with $12???!!! Good heavens, with the price of fabric and the investment of time to complete a project, that is just silly. Perhaps she would accompany you to a LQS to purchase the fabric. Then...you could decide whether to charge her for your labor (would depend on how good a friend she is) or to "gift" it to her.

I worked in a quilt shop and almost everyday someone would ask for a discount because they were making a project for charity. My boss said that she would put them on her mailing list to let them know about sales. (Now it would be e-mail addresses) Yes, some customers got huffy. When I asked my boss about it she explained that it was THEIR charity...not hers. She was there to make a living and support her family.
People would come in and ask her if that was all the buttons she had. It was a $40,000 inventory! I sure learned a lot about customers expectations.
Most customers are great. Some you really should not do business with. Even a pastor's wife can be disgruntled and spread an unkind word. She should buy the pattern and figure it out or take a class. You would be giving her the opportunity to be creative. (Proverbs) To ease your conscience, you could offer to quilt it (a table runner) for the $12.00...maybe. With material costing $10.50 a yard now.....Ouch!
Very Sweet may be passive-aggressive or clueless. Either way...Watch out. That said...You ask the Lord for things in prayer and he always answers. Sometimes he says NO. If the Lord can say no....so can we. Reminds me of a local woman who does masterpiece work and wanted me to machine quilt her quilt for her. I told her I could never do a good enough job or justice to that quilt. Instead of being understanding and complimented, she told me that I better get off my high horse. That only confirmed my decision not to quilt it or do business with her. If she complained in a guild of which she was the founder and member of several; I'm sure there are others who would understand and not touch her quilts either. If I did quilt it and it wasn't up to her standards...can you imagine????

HA! HA! LOL. I have to shorten my husband's levis which is bad enough but I'll be damned to hell if I'd ever replace a zipper! Geeze!

I know how to replace zippers, but choose not to. If it's a broken zipper it goes to GW or the trash.

I agree with the others. Take her to a fabric store and see how much it costs. Then the labor.

Tell her what fabric, wadding, backing to buy and maybe make it for free

You've gotten some great advice!!

Tell her what your supplies would cost. Tell her what your time is worth, I'd not go lower than $8/hr., preferably $10. People just don't understand what goes into making a quilt.

After reading this, You certainly have the right to be annoyed! I just had a new classmate on campus balk at my quoted price for a quilt.

She told me " They only go for $55 at Wal-Mart!" Yeah so I was upset and annoyed. My first thought was to tell her where i thought she could stick that Wal-mart quilt... but told her instead...You get what you pay for.

People who have never seen the prices or the effort that goes into making a quilt are clueless. I find the best thing to to is to briefly explain that you are not being unfair and then go through the estimates of each type of price for a quilt (i.e. fabric per yard, batting, thread!, and all that). Some just don't know prices. They only see a quilt.

I think that when people appreciate others talents they have no problems paying for it. Quilting takes time and money both of which is worth paying for, pastors wife or not. So I agree with another quilter, she said, set your price, make sure you include your time and money and then its her choice. You'll do great!

why on earth should you give your time and labor free because of guilt feelings...not a good mix.
she has the issue if she is offended...not you.

I wouldn't worry about saying no to $12 for making something. Depends on her age, but sometimes older people live in a different world when it comes to costs. I know my parents do. Paying someone what they should be paid is just difficult for some people.

Whether or not she's a pastor's wife is irrelevant. It would be far more relevant if she were a friend of yours--no matter her DH's occupation.

Justflying....you are so right about the age thing.....my parents were like that, they think their still in that era when things were not that expensive......but you got to luv them anyways.
Trish

ditto - what deanna says