Recently after wasting two days trying to design my own business cards, I finally outsourced it to a talented work-at-home mom / graphic artist. In just a few hours she created two gorgeous designs that took my breath away with how perfectly they captured what I was seeking.

Why didn’t I just outsource in it to begin with, instead of wasting two days trying to DIY it? It was a huge lesson for me.

But buying art / craft items is one area where I do consciously support others who do what they love.

I’m a jewelry artist myself, and sure, I could possibly get the supplies and make a copy of some of the items that I’ve bought from other jewelry artists. But copying is against my nature – and I LOVE the spark, the energy, that comes from a piece that’s created by another artist. Copies never have that spark.

And if I copied jewelry designs I like instead of buying the original pieces from the people who created them, I’d miss out on all the lovely relationships I’ve built with the artists.

As a result, I have a wonderful collection of jewelry made by new friends. And when I’m choosing which jewelry to wear each day, I smile as I think of the individual talented people who made them. Right now I’m wearing Lynda Carson’s earrings and loving them!

I love knowing that in buying other artists’ work, I’ve encouraged them to keep creating beautiful things to put out into the world.

But if I’d copied their work, to DIY my jewelry collection instead, I would have deprived these new friends of an opportunity to profit from their passions.

That would make the world narrower and emptier for them and for me.

Bless you! So sorry to be far behind the curve on this, have just discovered Tara and this wonderful blog. As I was scrolling down the comments and nodding nodding yupping sighing agreeing, I came to your post and my heart went out to you in thanks for “getting it.”

I hope this message gets to you and finds you at a place where your life is getting more blessed with every day that goes by.

I’d also like to encourage you to reconsider denying yourself the gift of live music or plays or films or whatever. If it helps, you can always tell yourself that musicians need to eat too and they are really good at something it would take you huuuuuuuge amounts of work to get as good at yourself.

Art is not extra!

Thanks so much,
A flute player and singer

thanks for your article! It is true, a lot of people who are creative and crafty have many skills, but it is good to focus on what you do and love best. I can do a lot of things, but if I try to do too many things at the same time, I won’t get anything done properly. And I just get stressed and run around in circles because I run out of time! So I stick to my knitting…and when I have money to buy, I buy nice unusual things from fellow crafters. I find this far more satisfying than buying one of a thousand samey things in a high street shop.

I also find that creatives and crafters often do buy from other crafters or swap with them, especially on local markets. Because we appreciate handmade…

Also, many DIYers can earn monsy from another skill – teaching! In the past, I’ve taken classes from artists I admire, and am now considering taking an online class.

Great read, thanks for the post!
oxo,
S!

Thanks for continuing to write on this topic. I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!

-Kristen