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| Click on picture to get to Blueberry Fields Instagram feed. |
They arrived a few days later in a pretty little envelope after traveling all the way across the Atlantic ocean from Canada. Together with some dried pressed leaves from Monique's own Maple tree, they were carefully embellished with a personal sweet note from the maker herself. Thank you so much Monique, I truly love them to bits and they are everything I imagined if not more. ♥♥♥
Since then I wear them all the time; inside and outside, on jogs, with my coffee, driving, crocheting, doing laundry. They are soft, colorful and comfy. I have ordered a pair of matching leg warmers as well, which Monique will make for me with love and attention, just the way she did with these fingerless mittens. If you want to see more of Monique's creations you are most welcome to visit her wonderful Blueberry Fields' Etsy shop.
Don't you just love buying handmade???!!! There is nothing more satisfying and nothing more worth the money spent. And talking about money - please all you crafty makers out there - charge for your handmade items.
Don't give your creations and hours spent away for free. The buyer who appreciates the craftsmanship and work behind an handmade item is out there and will pay the requested price. We don't make the handmade industry a favor by giving away handmade baby blankets, shawls and mitts for nothing, just to get a sale. Someone who doesn't want to pay for what he or she gets is not worth the creation you've made. It is as simple as that. This is my opinion and I believe in it strongly. Be proud and patient and the right client will come to you. And he or she will tell his friends, who will tell their friends. And she or he will come back. Again and again and again for the great feeling of supporting a sweet artist somewhere in this world. I will. Come back to Blueberry Fields' Etsy shop. Again and again and again. And maybe you too.
Kärlek
Annette
You are so right! Thanks for speaking out loud, it helps us crafters. The mittens are beautiful, and I love the personal touch with the beautiful leaves. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteSandra
You chose well Annette, I wish everything was handmade x
ReplyDeleteDear Annette,
ReplyDeleteI totally and wholeheartedly agree with you. It is a real shame that so many of us designer makers feel we have to sell ourselves short. We lovingly create and make, every stitch has a thought attached to it...That's worth a lot!
Happy weekend, Heike :)
Well said! I have too often heard people commenting that they could buy something similar from a supermarket for half the price - obviously without a thought as to how and where the items are made. I've just made some armwarmers myself and I'm just as in love as you are - although I do feel a bit weird wearing them indoors (I draw the line when bathing however!) Yours look fab x Jane
ReplyDeleteOh these mittens are beautiful, and usually I will say...I can make them myself but I would be the same...I would have to have 'those' pair :)
ReplyDeleteAs a crafter I'm in total agree with you!
ReplyDeleteEvery work has its hours and is important for those who make them to get so appreciation from it. And why not money?
I charge for my items, and just for family I do a little discount, besides them I charge regularly the price I intent to and think is just.
Love the mits by the way :)
Love,
Cat
I love your blog and all the things you make! I couldn't agree more about pricing things accurately to reflect their true value. I am planning to open my own Etsy shop in the spring and I can only hope that I will , as you say, find the right clients. Finding things that are beautifully handmade is indeed a joy, as is the contact with the maker. I will go and have a look at her shop now!! Jen x
ReplyDeleteBeautiful handmades, I love her shop, I would love to buy it all!!
ReplyDeleteI am a big believer in buying handmade too. LOVE the mittens. I will go check out her shop.
ReplyDeleteXO Kris
my sweet and dear Annette, what a beautiful post, what else can i say but thank you for your lovely words about my work. I am so in love with your blog, i love to admire your gorgeous handmade, your lovely home and children, love where you live, even had hubby look at your glorious garden and the countryside that surrounds you . thank you again my friend xoxoxo
ReplyDeletemy sweet and dear Annette, what a beautiful post, what else can i say but thank you for your lovely words about my work. I am so in love with your blog, i love to admire your gorgeous handmade, your lovely home and children, love where you live, even had hubby look at your glorious garden and the countryside that surrounds you . thank you again my friend xoxoxo
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. ;)
ReplyDeleteWell said Annette and well done. Your gloves are just perfect - I am going to have a look at the site myself as they are adorable. Loved this post Annette, have a wonderful weekend. Big hugs
ReplyDeleteDorothy
:-)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
lovely mitts!!! your words, too!!!!!
ReplyDeletexxxxx Ale
These look lovely Annette, soft and beautiful.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Gill xx
Love your mitts, they're gorgeous and amen to supporting handmade <3
ReplyDeleteS x
But if people charged what they really cost to make, no one would buy them! Those mitts would have taken hours to make and are sold at no more than 3 hours at minimum wage and that is very fine yarn too. They would take a lot longer than 3 hours and that doesn't include the cost of the yarn itself. A pair of socks takes 20 hours or so to knit (with sock yarn) and no one would pay it. I spent days making a small bag - 4 and no one would pay more than £15 for it, despite all the embroidery and hand stitching. People will not pay true costs. Even those who want to, as they simply can't be afforded.
ReplyDeleteEven at the prices I do charge in my shop, I couldn't afford to buy my own goods, and although I have gone for higher end prices, most of my labour is free. People don't have the money, it is why we don't manufacturer here but buy cheap goods abroad. It is how it is and you can not blame people for it. I can't afford even the cheapest shops sometimes and my goods from those shops do have to last - they are not throw away. People have not got the money and don't see that much added value, that makes it worth it to them. Often high-street prices are the same as handmade. I work 8-9 hours a day at a stretch making something with no break, sewing by hand. It is a sweat shop as it is very hard work . The more 'handmade' the more the exploitation. I work only by hand, no machines. When people buy at low prices, that isn't supporting hand made, it takes advantage of it. When people sell at low prices, it keeps the prices low. Your mitts are worth much more than you paid - you paid no more than for many manufactured ones. People like my things but I can't charge 8 hours of labour costs for a tiny 10 cm cushion, no matter how pretty and how embroidered and hand stitched. I can't make a bigger one as that would be ridiculous (I would never sell it), I wish that I could!
There are no easy answers and no one really is to blame, it is just the economic climate we live in and the way industrialisation has made things.
Oh, your new mittens are sooo lovely!!! Very nice colors!
ReplyDeleteYes, yes, I so much love hand made things too :)
Have a wonderful time and enjoy your new mittens :)
Jolana
well said Annette, and the gloves are lovely! I can see why you are smitten, Heather X
ReplyDelete