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Post by Shepherdess on May 27, 2014 0:28:53 GMT
Felicity do not feel bad she got a very good deal and she got something she really wanted. I had a look at your etsy shop and your work is beautiful and is underpriced in my opinion. As the others say do what makes you fell good that's why you do your art but don't feel you overcharged her.
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Post by felicity on May 27, 2014 7:26:10 GMT
Thank you Ann! With all support and considerations I think I will let it go. If she is going to be a regular customer in the shop they will find the way to give her some discount or little present. Anyway I hope she enjoys it! Thanks for your nice comment about my ETSY works! Pricing is always tricky!
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Post by jufergu on May 27, 2014 12:48:54 GMT
I imagine that the shop owner took a percentage of the sale. If so, she keeps books and pays taxes on what she earns. You signed a contract with her and had to jack up your price to pay her percentage. It's just business. The laborer is worthy of her hire. Move on.
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Post by felicity on May 27, 2014 14:31:20 GMT
I will Judy! I already do!
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Post by carole aka craftywoman on May 28, 2014 7:00:34 GMT
The tea cosy is so beautiful I understand why she saved up to buy it, I also completely understand why you feel the way you do.
We all have to save up to buy things, particularly things to enable us to do our craft so don't feel bad about it. What I would do is write her a little card thanking her for appreciating your work and hoping she has many hours of joy from it. It will be the centre piece of her life, telling her friends and if she receives a card it will make it all the more personal.
Does anyone else do this? put a little card with your work, I don't but I'm thinking it would be a lovely idea and so personal.
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Post by felicity on May 28, 2014 8:16:06 GMT
Thank you for your support Carole! She is a buyer in a real (not internet) shop here in York and I have no way of contacting her directly. I think I am getting over it now but it was rather emotional...
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Post by zed on May 28, 2014 10:03:27 GMT
Felicity, when I did my one and only craft fair just before Christmas, a fella was really admiring one of my notebooks. I don't think most of the people there realised there would be a craft fair as it was mostly a Christmas Dinner event, and a couple of people said they'd have to go to the cash machine (ATM) including him. Anyway, the fair was only an hour and we packed up while the dinner was going on, and I felt really bad because he really liked the notebook. So, a few days later I saw some photos on Twitter from the event and his name was there, he'd told me roughly where he worked, so a quick google gave me his work address. I sent him the notebook and a note saying I hoped it was a nice surprise and not creepy He was really nice and encouraging at the fair, I was really nervous and he genuinely admired my things and it gave me a massive boost. It really did mean a lot, especially after a year of soul crushing failures. I wondered if it was the right thing to do too, but what it boiled down to was he made me happy, and I wanted to return the favour Edit: I should say that he did really appreciate it, and offered to pay for it. To me someone being genuinely appreciative is worth far more than money. (I wonder if that will work with my utility suppliers next time the bills are due? )
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Post by felicity on May 28, 2014 11:00:11 GMT
Nice story! As I don't make a living by selling my felt so to sell for £25 or £20 doesn't make much difference for me. I understand that it appreciation which matters. For me sales are a proof of it.
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Post by zed on May 29, 2014 8:54:51 GMT
Yeah, sales do seem to give a sense of validation
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Post by lyn on May 29, 2014 9:08:30 GMT
I agree - sales do validate what you do.
So does publication in a magazine. Well, in the eyes of the extended family anyway. All of a sudden you're lifted from hobby-ist to serious maker...funny that...nothing's actually changed...just perceptions.
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Post by zed on May 30, 2014 9:08:32 GMT
Yeah, that is true Lyn. And making a 'real' book. Beyond Nuno is 'just something you can download', but is suddenly a lot more impressive when it's something which can be held and flicked through. Even though, technically it is inferior.
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Post by Shepherdess on May 30, 2014 12:45:17 GMT
It is funny Zed you would think with the change from books to eBooks taking over publishing you would think people wouldn't have that attitude. pricing is big with things, if your prices are to low people do not think they are worth anything. sometimes you sell more by putting your prices up. Here in N America the term crafter has a really bad connotation. When forced to label myself I say Felter or Artisan. From Lyn's comment it sounds like Hobbies has the same connotation there. Zed tell people you are a Technical writer doing detailed instructions for fiber artists. Felicity I would double your prices, you do beautiful art on your tea cosies and you make the tea cozies. If you did them flat and put them on canvas they would be "Art" and sell for much more.
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Post by felicity on May 30, 2014 13:52:46 GMT
Thank you Ann, I am thinking about it! Closer to winther may be...I still have a feel that felt is for colder season never mind what it is. Or may be people start to think about Xmas presents in September already?
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Post by Pandagirl on May 30, 2014 14:28:55 GMT
Ebooks are the standard and are the future. I have many writer friends who only publish ebooks now. I stopped buying hardcover because I ran out of room! Ebooks are not considered inferior. Zed, you have the luxury of publishing what you want and how you want it. Many authors would love to be able to do that. I personally love the convenience of being able to take dozens with me at all times. :-)
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Post by koffipot on May 30, 2014 17:50:51 GMT
Lots of good advice there Felicity. I think we all understand how you feel and it's difficult to be objective when it involves your own work. Everything we make has a little of ourself in it and that's what makes it so special. I think this lady appreciates that. It's a very beautiful teacosy by the way.
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