Handmade Pledge Revisited

Recently, a friend stopped by to visit and I was putting on the finishing touches to this Daisy quilt. She asked me how much I would sell something like this for and I told her around $45.00.

Her comment floored me...'$45 for handmade, I wouldn't buy it, I can get a blanket/quilt at WalMart for $10.' She is right, at Walmart you can purchase a blanket or quilt for probably less than $10 and it was probably made by 8 year olds in some sweatshop in China, since that is where most of WalMart's things come from lately.

I am not a famous quilter, I am not Amish, I don't have a quilt show, or write articles in magazines, I haven't published a book and there is nothing wrong with these people, matter of fact their love for quilting was my inspiration.

But, my time counts. The cost for the material I put into a quilt counts and I just don't understand why someone wouldn't rather purchase at WalMart than handmade. I am in an Alice in Wonderland apron swap and several of my tuck-ins I purchased from someone who makes handmade items. School is starting soon and the girls will have a few handmade hair ties and barrettes from a Zibbet/Etsy or Artfire shop.

I undertand the waning economy, I understand people tightening their belts, what I don't understand is how someone can put so much time and effort into making a quilt and then sell it for $20 & free shipping like some do on Ebay. I simple won't give something away for nothing, it defeats the purpose of having a handmade shop.

WalMart makes millions on its cheap junk because when the item you paid $5 or $10 falls apart and it likely will, they are counting on the fact that you are going back and buying another one. A handmade artisian is counting on the fact that they put so much time, effort and love into making their product and knowing you are happy with it, that when you come back it will be because you still have what you purchased and are thrilled with it.

So, whether you are a crafter, a quilter, a producer, a buyer....when you make your next purchase for something and you want it to be special and most likely something unique that no one else will have...check my right sidebar for a few special shops...choose handmade, I can almost guarantee you that the service and quality of your purchase will far surpass what WalMart has to offer!

One More Quilt...Well, Almost

This is almost finished...I did most of the hand embroidery last year while recovering from my spinal fusion surgery, it has just taken this long to finish making the large X's for kisses on the floral squares.

It just feels good to have this and another quilt almost completely finished in a little under 2 weeks & it gives me hope that someday I will finish my granddaughters biscuit quilt and the hexagon quilt I seem to be working on forever.

The only quilt I will probably never finish is the one I was making for my mom during her struggle with breast cancer. It was done with pink ribbon fabric and had pictures of all her grandchildren scattered throughout. The day I returned from spending time with her husband, I put it away...haven't even looked at it once & not sure at this time, that I ever will.

Here are a few up close pictures of the detail that went into the hearts and then inside each heart is hand stitching of another heart. I used a variety of colored threads for each square and each kiss!

The back of the quilt will be finished with this wonderful orange background fabric filled with beautiful Gerbera Daisies. The fabric is called Daisies and was designed by Donna Dewberry for Westminster Fibers and is a fantastic cotton fabric.

The pictures just don't do the back fabric justice as it looks like the daisies are actually hand painted with an oil based paint, they are that fantastic. I can't wait to complete this quilt as it has been haunting me for over a year now & of course, once it is completed, I have done some more destashing and am still moving forward with that project and cutting some of my stash down to the bones!