January 14, 2011

The Price of Craft & How I Became Apprenticed to Myself

A guest post by Chantelle Brightbill of Clothscape.

homesteader bag by beesnetta - click image to see more

Visit any online crafts forum and you will see that one of the most hotly debated topics is pricing.

How can you learn to price appropriately? There are many formulas floating around out there, this one from the Fine Craft Guild is good. But the variable that gives us all the most problems is the hourly wage. We ask ourselves ‘If I set it low am I undervaluing myself? But is my work really worth a higher price?’ There is such a large emotional component.

Like most new pro artisans I started selling by valuing my labor at only a few dollars an hour. I had some experience at making my craft, and none at selling it, but I figured I would learn as I went. In essence I apprenticed myself.

the process of apprenticeship

I was familiar with the concept, after completing an apprenticeship in cabinetmaking (furniture making) in Australia, in the late 90’s. By drawing on my experiences as an apprentice, I have gradually increased the wage I pay myself, and minimized the soul searching and guilt.

As an apprentice I had to complete classes at a technical college in order to move to the next year, and receive higher wages. We had ‘book’ classes learning history, drafting, estimating and materials. But for me the real focus was the shop projects: pieces of furniture we were required to make. I looked forward to these assignments with a mixture of dread and excitement. I knew I was going to be challenged and exhausted by these projects. But I was also going to learn at the feet of masters.

The skills of my teachers constantly amazed me. I remember my teacher simultaneously teaching a class and hand cutting a perfect dovetail joint. In about 10 minutes. I was constantly inspired to improve my own skills.

we need a push

How is this relevant to you as an artisan – or even an employee? Well after I had completed those shop pieces I felt great, I could see what I had learned and I definitely felt like I deserved a raise. Most of us need that psychological push to pay ourselves a higher wage. To graduate from first year to second year apprentice, or from apprentice to journeyman. Or even from journeyman to master.

So challenge yourself.

If you feel guilty about raising prices, make a ‘graduation piece’ or cornerstone project that pushes your skills to the limit, and demands all you have to give creatively. Don’t think about whether it will sell. Ideally it will be something that you keep for yourself, as an artistic record of progress. Show it to friends and colleagues who you can trust to appreciate the skill involved, and give honest feedback.

You will likely see you moved along your own apprenticeship path, and deserve a raise. I like to challenge myself in this way every now and then, to give me a real sense of how far I have come as an artist, and it helps me see how far I have to go. Do I need to ‘sit at the feet of a master’ and take a class, or be mentored? Am I moving in a new direction? What does my piece mean in relation to my product range, is it time to change the line up? Answering these questions helps me grow as an artist.

So where am I now? I currently see myself as at a journeyman level, but I aim to one day move on up to that hallowed hall of masters, and be confidently paying myself the corresponding wage.

Chantelle Brightbill is a quilter and textile artist creating under her label Clothscape.

Filed Under: guest posts, mindful spending Tagged With: , 9 Comments
January 10, 2011

what’s mine is yours: craft & collaborative consumption

recycled wallet by seaoats - via papernstitch - click image to see more

As we find ourselves in the second week of a new year, it’s time to guess what will be coming in the next 50 weeks. Trends! What’s new? What’s hot? What will so-and-so do this year?

One trend gaining momentum in 2011 is collaborative consumption. Collaborative consumption is the idea that we can get by with less if we have more accesss to what we need. We don’t need to own a car, a bike, a vacation house, or a fancy dress to be truly happy.

Just like many of the consumer trends of the last decade, the new arts & crafts movement is ahead of the game. You will see both collaborative consumption & collaborative production on Etsy, Twitter, and Facebook. People are looking to make & buy with an eye for sustainability, not just in raw materials but in the what-goes-around-comes-around of it all.

How can you indulge in a littler collaborative consumption and become a trend maker?


1. Think about where you get your supplies. Search Etsy for people selling their scraps and leftovers. Partner with a group of makers to buy your supplies wholesale instead of retail. Organize a supply swap with other local crafters.

2. Try Swap Bot. You can collaboratively consume just about anything using Swap Bot. It’s a great way to get exposed to art & craft from around the world.

3. Splurge on that dress/bag/jewelry you want. Since handmade goods are pricier than those coming off the assembly line, buying what you love can seem prohibitive. It’s time to splurge. Use your social networks to find a friend who loves what you love and go halfsies. You wouldn’t wear it all the time, anyhow!

4. Have a party. Invite your friends (and their unwanted clothing) to your place for a party. Mix in some sewing supplies and swap clothes while you repurpose & reclaim something old into something new.

Of course, there’s no wrong way to indulge in this trend. Use your community (both digital and analog), use your brain, and use your money to create a more sustainable paradigm for crafting!

How else can collaborative consumption change the way you craft?

Filed Under: mindful spending Tagged With: , 9 Comments
December 28, 2010

our underselling problem

A guest post by Michelle of Wicked Whimsy.

Underselling. The term is probably not familiar to your average layperson, unless they’ve worked in retail a lot or studied business practices. But it’s a practice that, whether done intentionally or not, can seriously harm independent businesses and designers. Underselling is selling at a lower than fair price, not charging a fair, livable rate for time and materials.

I could talk about all the solid business reasons for not underselling (perceived value associated with price, making a profit, you shouldn’t be competing based on prices anyway, etc.) and I could talk about how many people have false beliefs about money, which makes them actually want to undersell. But here’s the simple fact of the matter:

Underselling harms you. It harms other crafters and small businesses, as well.

It’s one of my theories that when we don’t value our selves and our gifts, it directly harms other people. If we know and acknowledge our worth, and our gifts, and their worth, we are infinitely more likely to give ascribe the value that is due to others, and their gifts, and their worths. The underselling dynamic is one of the places where this shows up most clearly.

When you don’t charge enough for your services or goods, it has an automatic effect of making it harder for others to make a decent living from their services or goods. You’re directly affecting other people, just trying to make a living doing what they love. You’re hurting your own community.

It can also affect your customers, which isn’t something a lot of people think about. If you have to sell multiples of what you make just to break even, then you can’t spend the time that each piece deserves. Don’t you think it would be better to charge a fair price, fair enough that you can lavish care and detail on each piece? Your customers will thank you.

And of course, it harms you too! If you can’t make enough money to support yourself, you’re going to end up stressed out. You’ll have to work more to make a living wage, so that means less time with friends and family.

I understand; most people have deep-seated issues about money, because of the way our society acts about it. But selling yourself short isn’t the answer – it never is. You’re worth more – I really believe that, and you should, too.

(If you’re looking for pricing advice, here’s a short and sweet little article on pricing for Etsy and I’m sure you can find oodles of advice at Tara’s very own the Creative Empire.)

——

Michelle Nickolaisen is a rainbow-haired writer, blogger, and all-around creative maven making her way in Austin, TX. She writes at Wicked Whimsy about saturating life with constructive creativity, among other topics.

{image credit: liquid paper}

Filed Under: guest posts, mindful spending Tagged With: , 16 Comments
November 29, 2010

embrace the hunt

silver deer necklace by markhed design

deer necklace by markhed design - via papernstitch - click image to view more

We are predators. We hunt game for sport. We hunt our houses and our mates.

But there is no greater pursuit, no more daring a quest, than the hunt for a bargain.

Hunting season has begun and the shoppers have loaded their weapons.

Oh, we love the hunt.

Waking at the break of dawn, pushing, shoving, pouncing on our prey. It’s not the stuff we want – it’s the fish story.

“You got that for how much?”

“It was 97% off – and I had a coupon for another $1 off. And it was the last one.”

Never mind that it wasn’t on the list before the sale sign was spotted or the flyer researched. Never mind that the giftee didn’t ask for it. Never mind that the reviews said it wasn’t that great or that you have something similar or that it won’t be used more than twice.

It was on sale.

I’m no minimalist. I like stuff – and a healthy amount. I enjoy shopping and I enjoy buying. I have scoured the sales racks and thumbed through the Sunday circulars.

But I’ve lost my taste for the fresh blood of a sale. Cheap is no longer a reason to buy.

Embrace the hunt but reevaluate your prey.

It’s time to hunt bigger game. When resources are limited, you have to seek out that which will sustain you the longest. Instead of looking for the best deal, hunting things that waste your time, money, and energy, pursue the best gift. Stalk the unique experience. Follow the scent of special.

The perfect gift is out there – eluding you in the bushes, covering it’s tracks, running faster, jumping higher. You can catch it.

This year, you may find the perfect gift somewhere you don’t expect. You might find it at the flea market, the church bazaar, the boutique in town you keep meaning to visit, or at the new restaurant down the street. Get out & explore.

Find new hunting grounds.

Seek out your prey.

Corner your quarry.

Pounce.

Filed Under: holiday, mindful spending Tagged With: , , 6 Comments
November 26, 2010

How to Give a Gift That’s Win-Win-Win

A guest post by Jenny Alexander of The Painted Lily.

3 ceramic pears

ceramic pears by orlydesign - click image to view more

The holidays are officially upon us! My radio is ablaze with Christmas carols already and stores have been playing them for weeks now.

Everywhere we turn, especially right after Thanksgiving, there are gift choices laid out in front of us like a feast before the king. It’s like a Vegas buffet with something for everyone. Any store that you might visit has all of their best sellers and biggest sales right by the front door to catch your eye and snag what’s in your wallet.

But maybe you don’t want a run of the mill gift. Maybe you want something different. Giving a handmade gift is a great option. Giving handmade goods means that your loved one is receiving something beautifully and thoughtfully designed, something personalized just for them, something one of a kind or something that you don’t find in a store.

It’s a wonderful gift to give, full of thought and great intention!

What you might not realize is that giving a handmade gift, bought directly from the artist, is not only great for the recipient and great for you (cause you’re so thoughtful and sweet!) but is also terrific for the artist. It’s a perspective you might not have considered before and is something good to think about when deciding whether or not to give handmade items to the loved ones on your holiday list this year.

Artists are a hard working bunch, putting so much of themselves into their work. Putting that much of yourself out there isn’t always easy and artists are often left questioning their vision…

  • Is it good enough?
  • Will anyone like it?
  • Does anyone “get it?”
  • Should I even continue on?

The artist might have put other parts of their life on hold. Maybe they’ve quit their day job to make this dream happen. Maybe they’ve got a family to support and other little lives to maintain.

As a consumer, every handmade purchase you make directly contributes to the life of another person… a real live person who is paying bills and buying groceries just like you do. You are allowing that artistic mom to stay home with her kids and still live out her dream job. You are supporting that college grad to step out on their own and be a small business owner. The retiree you just purchased from may be using the profits from that sale to pay for doctors’ visits or medication.

I’ve been running my own art business full time and, to be honest, each sale still gives me a thrill. Each friendly communication exchange with a buyer who loved what I made, still makes me shine a little brighter each day. The knowledge that people are using and enjoying the pieces I make, brings me great joy. My customers urge me to continue and tell me that they appreciate my work, my vision. They don’t even need to say a word – their “buying dollar” says it all.

My customers are helping me to contribute to my family’s financial situation and we are living a much bolder life than we could without their support. My children are learning the power of following your passion and are seeing the hard work it takes to make things happen. What a powerful lesson that my customers are allowing me to teach.

There are lots of ways to find handmade gifts this year to check off your Christmas list. Start keeping an eye out in your local newspapers or in your neighborhood for signs about upcoming holiday craft shows. These will be great ways to discover local talent and meet the artist in person.

And, don’t forget to check out great sites online like Etsy, ArtFire and Supermarket for hundreds of thousands of gift ideas. Buying on sites like these really opens up the choices for you and I guarantee you’re going to find things you’ve never seen before!

Buying handmade items as gifts, during the holidays or anytime of the year, is a win-win-win situation for the giver, the receiver and the maker.

As a consumer, buying handmade gives you great power – the power to directly affect the life of another human being.

What a thrill, what a responsibility, what a gift!

Jenny Alexander is the collage artist behind The Painted Lily. Her work is inspired by the imagery of the past and the comfort of home.

Filed Under: ceramics, holiday, mindful spending Tagged With: , , , , 8 Comments