The value of handmade.

It happened again today. I was with my parents at our local community market, where our family sells all natural pastured poultry and free range eggs {and grass fed and finished lamb when we have it} raised on our farm. I always set up some of my items on the next table down. I don't really sell a lot at the market- the first week, back in May, was successful, but ever since then things have been slow for me.

Two ladies were looking at my wallets. One of them was holding one, talking about how much she liked it and how she was looking for something like that to fit in her purse. She asked me how much it was, and I told her (I also had a sign next to the wallets with the price). She quickly put the wallet back and walked away from my table.

My first reaction to this is to laugh. Nothing can cause more awkwardness than money. :) But then I get a little angry. People who don't sew, embroidery, crochet, knit, make jewelry, or do whatever kind of crafting or creating that you do don't understand. Because they don't make the items, they don't understand the process. They don't understand that you have to do the research, buy the materials, come up with the design, spend a good amount of time actually making the item, and bring the item to the venue to sell (which, if you sell on Etsy, involves taking item photographs, writing descriptions, advertising the item, and packaging and shipping it when it does sell).

Well, I can't say that everybody doesn't understand. Because some people do. Some people feel strongly about supporting handmade, even if they themselves don't actually craft anything to sell. And I seriously appreciate those people- thank you!

Because before I began sewing and crafting, I didn't get it. I'm not blaming anyone, because I was the same way! I'm a bargain shopper- I've always been. I shop clearance racks and use coupons. I rarely, if ever, pay full price for books, movies, or clothes. Before I got involved in the handmade scene, I probably would have scoffed at a $25 wallet. Because I didn't know how many hours of careful work went into that wallet.

So what's so special about handmade, anyway?

Handmade provides a personal connection between the creator and the customer. Handmade items aren't mass-produced in a factory on foreign soil by a faceless, underpaid worker, with an inspection sticker stuck somewhere inside. Handmade items are, from start to finish, the result of the creativity of somebody. Each stitch (or whatever the case may be) is made with care, and as ridiculously cheesy as it sounds, love. :) People who create handmade items are really excited about what they do. We love our job. We love making something beautiful and high quality, and the best feeling ever is when, hey, someone else loves what we make, too!

So I'm glad that now I realize the value of handmade. Sure, sometimes I see really beautiful handmade items that are out of my budget. But now I don't think, good grief, who's going to pay that?? I think, good. They have a lot of time and effort invested in that, and I know that someone will come along who is able to purchase that lovely item. (Most of the time, guys. Every once in a while I come across really over-priced stuff. For example, once a tiny little embroidery hoop with a small circle of crocheted "mold" or something made the front page of Etsy...it was around $100. Really? But most of the time, I find that people tend to underprice their items rather than overprice.)

Handmade items cost more because they're worth more. It's as simple as that. Crafters can't compete with big box stores and mass-produced items. I can't compete with Walmart or Target's wallet prices. But I don't have to. I'm selling a completely different item and a completely different experience.

So I'm through with apologizing for the prices of the items I make. Because I'm shy and like to avoid conflict, I won't be able to do anything other than ignore or laugh at comments (or reactions) people have to my items. Maybe that's why I wrote this post. Because if I was brave or eloquent enough, this is what I would say to those people.

One more little thing- I need to mention that I know that this kind of sticker shock (for lack of better phrase) is mostly connected to different geographical areas and the economy and culture of those areas, and just how people grew up. I live in a small Southern rural area, outside of a small town. Most of the people around here don't have a lot of money, or either their families struggled financially growing up. Selling handmade items in a rural area is a little different than selling them in wealthier urban areas, I think.

All areas have little quirks- things that people are willing to spend more money on, and things that they're less willing to spend money on. My dad faces this exact same thing sometimes with our farm products. People will walk up and say, in a very demanding way, "I'll take one of your chickens." We pull out a chicken and ask what size they'd prefer, and they ask how much they are. Dad tells the price per pound. They say, "Oh, that's more than I wanted to spend," and speedily walk away. Other customers don't even blink an eye at the price, because they know that our chickens are so much healthier and tastier than that pale, chemical-injected chicken you buy at the grocery store that came from a cramped, filthy chicken house. Ahem. :) My dad says that most people are willing to pay hundreds and thousands of dollars a year for pharmaceuticals but won't pay for good, healthy food.

Well, I'm glad I got all that off my chest. :) Now I can sit back with my bowl of awesome watermelon, listen to my scratchy record, and enjoy the thunderstorm we're having. And laugh because, after fiddling around with my record player and accidentally leaving it on the 45 setting instead of the 33, Frank Sinatra sounds like he just swallowed a lot of helium.

Also, yesterday I began my Etsy shop makeover with some new item photos and listing these wallets which have never been listed before. I also have some more items to list this weekend.

Sleepy Owls Wallet

Hot Pink & Aqua Butterflies Wallet

Cats & Dogs Wallet

Until next time,