People ask me sometimes, “Is my crochet or kitting worth anything?”
Do you feel like because it’s your hobby that there is little value in the end result of your stitching?
I am here to tell you that there is tremendous value in your stitching skills!
It’s more than a hobby. More than a “post apocalyptic life skill”, though there is some truth to that one!
It takes years of practice and study to develop these skills! And you are not only creating art, but often something that is useful to boot! When you undervalue your work, you make everyone else’s work less valuable as well.
There is a story about Pablo Picasso that I have no idea if it is true or not, but the “moral of the story” is valuable nonetheless, so I will recount it loosely: Pablo was sitting on a park bench sketching, when a woman sat down. After observing him for a few minutes, she asked if he would draw her, and he agreed. After showing her the sketch he told her it would cost $5000. She was appalled, exclaiming “That only took you 5 minutes!” To which he replied, “My dear Lady, it has taken me over 50 years of study and training to be able to do that in 5minutes.”
It’s ok to give away your time and the items you make, but please do it becasue you are a loving and generous human, not because you don’t feel your handmade items are not worth anything! If they weren’t worth anything, then the person asking wouldn’t be asking! :)
It’s also OK to sell the items you make! :) Just remember the bigger value you are providing! It’s not just an item, it’s your talent, your skills, your love, your time. You are providing the recipient with something they cannot make themselves (otherwise they would), you are providing something that is going to make their life better, by keeping them warm, or clothed, or keep them from burning their hand!
Can you get that at WalMart? Yup … BUT, 2 year, 5 years, 10 years from now will you still want the mass produced thing from the box store? Not likely.
You are creating heirlooms.
NOW, get out there, and make beautiful things; knowing that you are bringing value to the world with every stitch.
Love, SuziQue
It’s more than a hobby. More than a “post apocalyptic life skill”, though there is some truth to that one!It takes years of practice and study to develop these skills! And you are not only creating art, but often something that is useful to boot! When you undervalue your work, you make everyone else’s work less valuable as well.
There is a story about Pablo Picasso that I have no idea if it is true or not, but the “moral of the story” is valuable nonetheless, so I will recount it loosely: Pablo was sitting on a park bench sketching, when a woman sat down. After observing him for a few minutes, she asked if he would draw her, and he agreed. After showing her the sketch he told her it would cost $5000. She was appalled, exclaiming “That only took you 5 minutes!” To which he replied, “My dear Lady, it has taken me over 50 years of study and training to be able to do that in 5minutes.”
Can you get that at WalMart? Yup … BUT, 2 year, 5 years, 10 years from now will you still want the mass produced thing from the box store? Not likely.
You are creating heirlooms.
Love, SuziQue