I really enjoy quilting as a hobby, and often make bags and cushions for friends and family as gifts for birthdays and Christmas - and I love doing so. Most of my friends and family appreciate all the hard work and effort, not to mention the cost of materials, that goes into making something really special just for them. Sometimes I have been asked to make things for people to give to someone else as a gift, and they are happy to pay a fee to cover the cost of materials etc. However, there are one or two who balk at the idea of having to actually pay money for something handmade - it's almost as if I should be grateful they've agreed to have it, and that I should just give it away!! Recently I was asked to make a quilt for a friend, for her to give to one of her friends as a gift, and when I mentioned financial payment, she was extremely rude and was shocked that I even expected to be paid!! So - what should I do? At the risk of losing the friendship, I declined to make the quilt, and haven't heard from her since! Anyway, have a look over here at this blog post - it looks at all the costs of making a quilt - the fabric, the thread, the wadding, the hours spent designing and creating, and even the "hidden" costs, like all the years of experience and hours spent honing my craft. So.... do I end up with a princely sum that means I'll never have to do my day job ever again? No - of course not. This isn't about what I get paid for creating something special - but about what it is WORTH.
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