“Oooh. I’ll take one.”

It seems to be a problem for anyone who makes something or has some kind of talent. Eventually, someone will say, “I love that. Can you make me one?” And then i’m left with the dillema of whether I should remind them that i don’t work for free, or if they already know that. most times, people want something without knowing what it even costs.

I was wearing a pendant I made yesterday and a coworker said she would love one just like it. Well great, but how do i respond to that? “alright, sure. that’ll be $60 payable in advance and since no two are exactly alike, i’ll bring yours to you and you have to buy it whether you like that version or not.”

Otherwise, it’s my evening spent making their pendant (or bowl or platter or vase), firing it for 2 days, then bringing it to them just to have them be shocked at the price, or tell me they don’t need it after all.

i made the mistake recently of telling someone that I sew. Or, really, that I know how to sew. i could see the wheels in her head turning. so today she comes in with a shopping bag to my office and says, “i need to ask you for a favor. i’ll pay you.” (right. like i could ask for payment for a favor). She wanted me to shorten some straps of a dress she wanted to wear on saturday.

1. i don’t have time to do that.
2. i don’t want to do that.
3. if i had time or the inclination to sew, i’d be sewing my own things. or cleaning.

i told her my sewing machine is packed away and that I don’t really have time to do it. she just looked at me, i guess thinking that if she looked at me long enough, i’d just do it. so i said, “it looks easy though, you could probably do it.” she laughed, which i guess meant that she doesn’t have time for things like figuring out how to sew. like i do.