I've had an opportunity to see a lot of new craftspeople show me their work. I hate, hate, hate to say this, but it has to be said.
Most of it just isn't up to snuff.
Now, all of us have to start somewhere. I did. I shudder now to think of the first "cool stuff" I made.
And if you are thinking of doing very small local shows, the quality of your work might be "good enough"--for awhile, at least.
I also understand that some people are desperate to earn money from their work. Sometimes that means they feel they have to chose expedience over quality. When it comes to people's livelihoods and life choices, I hate to tell other people how to live their lives.
Oh, not really. I just accept I have no personal authority to do so.
I still feel it's always better to put your energy into something you can be proud of. Please make sure you are constantly educating yourself on how to make your stuff even better. It will make everything that follows later so much easier.
From my talks with new people just starting out, many of them are trying to sell their work locally--and it can be an uphill battle.
Perhaps they live in an economically depressed area. Perhaps they are selling in flea markets or school fairs. They may have a few pieces on consignment in a friend's store or even a hair salon. Maybe they feel they have to compete with imported goods which sell for rock-bottom prices.
Or they may be so enthusiastic about their craft, they are selling work before they've fully mastered the techniques.
Whatever the reason, I cringe inside when I see jewelry made with cheap materials and poor finishing techniques. I bite my tongue when someone's quilting stitches are half an inch long, and the binding has been sloppily sewn on--or worse, no binding at all.
Sometimes the person uses inferior materials in an effort to keep prices low. I despair when I see an intricately-knit, beautifully finished sweater or afghan made in cheap synthetic yarn, or a carefully strung necklace made with fishing line and base metal findings. All that work! All that time and energy, going into something that will not last past a few uses.
Color choices are also a minefield. I try to be open-minded. After all, color can be highly personal. And color rules can be exquisitely broken with great results, in the hand of a master, whether intuitive or trained. But I would advise everyone to think twice before using red, yellow and blue together unless you are knitting for a small child or an elementary school teacher. Oh, or a Muppet.
One delightful woman spoke of how the work she made came from her heart. But her samples were sloppy and poorly made. I cautiously asked her if she felt her heart was in the pieces she was showing me. No, she said, she was trying to make something she could sell quickly at a low price.
"Look, you're telling me your heart is on fire when you make this," I said. "But when I look at your work, I don't see that. I see cheap material, poor construction, sloppy finishing. Everything about this piece says, 'I don't care'. How did you FEEL when you saw this on display in the store?"
She admitted she felt ashamed of it. I urged her to make something she would be proud of, and we could brainstorm of other places she could sell it.
Find wholesale sources to alleviate your materials costs. Practice your techniques so you can work more efficiently. Batch up work so your time is more productive. (Think how long it would take you to make cookies if you made them one at a time...)
If you can't sell your work locally, think about other audiences you could target. With the internet, the telephone, the fax machine and digital cameras, there's no excuse to think your only market is the one in your hometown.
Do good work--and it will take you further than you thought possible.
Take the time to inform and educate yourself about your craft. Learn the proper finishing techniques. If you come up with short cuts, make sure they do not detract from the overall look and appeal of the piece. Don't MESS with your craft, MASTER it.
If you take the time to learn how to do it right NOW, it will go easier on you later. When you go for the bigger and better shows, or the juried shows, or your state guild or league, you'll be a mile ahead of the other people who didn't take the time.
