Soo unfair

[Seahorse]

I just went into a couple of high street clothes shops and I got really jealous of their jewellery.
I actually prefer some of their stuff to mine.
And the prices are so low for really pretty stuff.
How are we meant to compete??!!

Im off to drown my sorrows in a box of fererro roche.

[PeggyCrafts]

Hi Seahorse

firstly, hmmmm ferrero rocher, good choice! :)

secondly, don't get disheartened by the stuff available in shops. There are sooo many reasons why our home-made crafty things are better...


1. you'll never spot someone else wearing the same thing
2. people can never look at it and say 'ooh I saw that in (cheap shop e.g. primark - insert your own here) - leads to red cheeks on wearer's part
3. You can make jewellery to match your own outfits
4. it's fun to make
5. you get nice comments about it!

hope u feel better - enjoy the ferrero rocher :)

Helen x

[candles by lisa]

Don't forget the bottle of wine to go with the choccies.

We will always be up against the mass produced market I'm afraid but take heed the shop stuff is generally naff and will turn your finger, wrist, neck green in roughly 2 seconds flat!!!!

Your things are fantastic and you aren't going to see Primark selling them that's for sure!!!

Cheers.

Lisa

:mf:

[Seahorse]

Thanks for your words of wisdom.
Il try to be less down.

Realised the mag I advertised in wont be out for another week, things may pick up then.

[youyours]

I so agree with you all, having something that nobody else have is so much more fun and interesting. :)

[colourart]

Don't we do it because we love it, there's so much satisifaction from creating your own work and then someone else appreciating it.

Your can 'compete' by being unique and good quality, take inspiration from what you see out and create something which is by far and away superior.

Enjoy the Ferror Roche, they always help :)

[Seahorse]

Ive just bought some craft things fo rmy 'winter collection'(I like to sound posh)so thats cheered me up a bit.

[Tip Top]

How big is the box of chocs?;)

Your stuff is fab and much better than the cheap stuff - yours is really well made and a lot of thought, attention and love has gone into making them too!

[Poppy4lee]

I just think it's sooo easy to be overcritical of your own stuff! By the time you've finished making it, you know every nook & cranny inside out and you may even be fed up with looking at it. I bet if you saw a piece that you'd made while you were suffering from amnesia (God forbid you do ever suffer from amnesia), you'd love it and think 'I wish I'd made that!'

[craftyjan]

the stuff on the high street cant compare to handcrafted jewelry for originality and in most cases quality so dont compare it with your own

[Selina]

Greetings from sunny Florida where I'm on holiday!!! I saw some really pretty Mother of Pearl pendants in Monsoon, memorised them (didn't dare take a photo!) and went home and made some very similar. I sell them at £8, Monsoon sell them at £12.99. The last little craft fair I did, a lady commented that my jewellery was very Monsoonish!! I took £108 that day in a little village hall so must be doing something right! Selina

[steve-bead]

Hi,

Im not sure where you've been looking - i often find myself poking around the jewellery collections whilst the wife is looking at cloths or what have you, and I cant say I ever remember seeing anything as nice as the craft jewellery i see at craft shows and that!

Of course - im not actualy going to buy any myself (my ears arn't pierced for a start), but think if i was i would prefer the unique appeal of hand made items - most of which are priced pretty low and represent serious value for money when you think of what you are getting!

Hats off to all you crafty people!

All the best

Steve