Giving VS Selling
Big discussion thread on my favorite Youtube channel today was about selling or giving our art work. The thread got started by the leader of the channel who does a home-based business. She is a wonderful artist and crafter and does at least 3 videos a week, has her own "preferred products" line on Amazon, and has almost a half million subscribers to her Youtube channel. Yet, she admits that she doesn't always like the pressure of "having" to be creative all the time. She talked about when she had a studio in her town and had small children and the pressures. She also talked about going to craft shows where she taught. The pressure of planning lessons, making sure she had the supplies, etc. She said that sometimes she just wants to sit in her living room, have a cuppa and draw, paint, knit , etc without pressure to video it, or "put it out there." She advised her followers that it's okay to just create for ourselves, not to feel pressure to sell what we make, or even try to please someone else with our art.
I agree. I tried selling some crocheted things at a local shop. Some sold, some didn't. I sure didn't make much, however I did make enough to buy the yarn. Nothing for the time involved making the things. Then I tried some jewelry which I designed myself. I had very little luck selling it. I ended up taking home some necklaces that didn't sell in a few months, and tossing them in the trash. Another shop in town asked me to make some greeting cards to be sold in that shop. I said that I would try it. I made 15 cards to start with. The store owner loved them, asked me for more when her stock got low. I made some more, but it was so hard to come up with new ideas. It was too much pressure, and took the joy out of a thing that absolutely love to do. I finally quit making cards to sell. I love making cards (as you probably have guessed if you've checked out previous posts on here), but I don't want to sell them. I make cards for friends and family and the people I love. It gives me great joy.
I have a dear sweet friend who recently got asked to knit slippers to be sold in a local store. She hesitantly agreed to "try it." She got busy knitting and before long had 7 pairs of slippers ready for the buyer. I was with her when she showed them. The buyer was impressed, but said she needed more pretty soon. She wants to buy them from my friend in groups of 10 prs. Okay, this would work, I guess. BUT, I noticed this week that my friend had begun another pair, and she said that she started it the last week and hadn't done another thing with it in a week's time. I wonder if the pressure of "having"to create is stifling her desire and ruining her mojo! If so, I hope that she tells the shop owner that she's done making them. She would be better off just making a few pair and giving them to her friends and family and the people she loves.
Does any of this make any sense. E-bay and Esty are full of stuff to buy if someone wants it. So are craft shows and church bazaars. Let the people who like to make and sell go right ahead and do their thing. As for me, I worked for 52 years on a "job." I don't want another one, so I will continue to make and give for that's what I do! You cannot put a price on "joy."
Until next time,
Go! Create something!
JF
I agree. I tried selling some crocheted things at a local shop. Some sold, some didn't. I sure didn't make much, however I did make enough to buy the yarn. Nothing for the time involved making the things. Then I tried some jewelry which I designed myself. I had very little luck selling it. I ended up taking home some necklaces that didn't sell in a few months, and tossing them in the trash. Another shop in town asked me to make some greeting cards to be sold in that shop. I said that I would try it. I made 15 cards to start with. The store owner loved them, asked me for more when her stock got low. I made some more, but it was so hard to come up with new ideas. It was too much pressure, and took the joy out of a thing that absolutely love to do. I finally quit making cards to sell. I love making cards (as you probably have guessed if you've checked out previous posts on here), but I don't want to sell them. I make cards for friends and family and the people I love. It gives me great joy.
I have a dear sweet friend who recently got asked to knit slippers to be sold in a local store. She hesitantly agreed to "try it." She got busy knitting and before long had 7 pairs of slippers ready for the buyer. I was with her when she showed them. The buyer was impressed, but said she needed more pretty soon. She wants to buy them from my friend in groups of 10 prs. Okay, this would work, I guess. BUT, I noticed this week that my friend had begun another pair, and she said that she started it the last week and hadn't done another thing with it in a week's time. I wonder if the pressure of "having"to create is stifling her desire and ruining her mojo! If so, I hope that she tells the shop owner that she's done making them. She would be better off just making a few pair and giving them to her friends and family and the people she loves.
Does any of this make any sense. E-bay and Esty are full of stuff to buy if someone wants it. So are craft shows and church bazaars. Let the people who like to make and sell go right ahead and do their thing. As for me, I worked for 52 years on a "job." I don't want another one, so I will continue to make and give for that's what I do! You cannot put a price on "joy."
Until next time,
Go! Create something!
JF
I understand what you are saying. It can get to be a chore and yes I hadn't done anything in the last week but it was because I was just being lazy and having fun reading. Today I sat down and am almost done with the one slipper that I was working on. But yes, I'm not sure if I will make any more after this. I guess time will tell. If they sell good. I might. Depends on how I feel and what is going on with my life. It was fun. For now anyway.
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