Selling what you have made is a double edged sword. You are pleased that someone likes your work enough to want to own it, but sometimes parting is difficult, like seeing your offspring off into the world never to be seen again. I first experienced this when I had a watercolour, which I was very fond of, accepted at the Royal Institute of Watercolour Painters open exhibition in 1989 at the Mall gallery, and had put it up for sale for what I thought was a lot of money (£200) and it sold. I was at once delighted and flattered and also sorry to see what I felt was my best watercolour ever, (and probably still is) gone. Although I do have a rather poor photograph of it somewhere, the likes I have never achieved again. It was of greater bindweed which grew in abundance in our first garden. Someone has just bought my leaf journal and I am very pleased and flattered. I still have it at the moment and will actually part with it next week, so I keep having a look at the pages and giving it a little stroke. Luckily this time I have a good set of photographs to remind me of my baby.
One for the archives.
However I do have another which I am adding to my Etsy shop of which I am almost as fond.
This one has a richly embroidered cover and blue pages. I hope someone falls in love with this one too. I do love making my patchwork item and they have my heart in them, but the hand-made books have a little bit of my soul.
Meanwhile here is my finished covered journal.
You may guess I am rather fond of French knots at the moment
It will come with a blank journal, but not a shell.
It has taken hours to take the photographs with a couple of reading lamps and an improvised light tent which I managed to melt a hole in with one of the lamps. I thought it was going to be brighter today. Oh well!
I hope you have a bright week,
Jill
14 comments:
Your journals and covers are so beautiful. I want to hold them and look through them. I feel that I will own one someday soon, hopefully, too!! Thank you for sharing what you so lovingly create. I am a big big big hamemade handmade journal fan...
They are real treasures. Thank you for sharing them with us.
You do beautiful, unique work. Sometimes it is hard to send your babies off into the world, but others will fall in love with them, too. They are marvelous! :)
Yes, parting with good work is a little like sending off a child. Bittersweet in many respects. Congratulations on your success. It's well deserved.
I loved that leaf journal! It was on my Christmas list....:( but I'm thrilled for you Jill! Here's to many more successful Etsy sales!
x x x
Hard to part with Jill, but there will be many more to follow, I get the feeling this is just the start and that is good.........
Whata conundrum (is that the word I mean?!) I am not surprised that your things are selling so well they are so beautiful and to own one would be to own a real piece of art but I can imagine how hard it is to see them go. The leaf journal is stunning and I love the little blue book too. Well everything you produce is beautiful and your success with your little shop is well deserved.
Jane x
Jill,
The leaf journal is a treasure. I've no doubt it will be cherished. I think I'd be frightened to write on the pages in case I messed it up but whoever owns it has to add their perosnal stamp to it now don't they? The enthusiasm for what you're doing stands out a mile in your posts. Keep at it! Lesley
I know what you mean Jill, I have a couple of pieces that I don't think I could easily let go of. But on the other hand I don't have the space to keep them all. It's nice to see them go to a good home.
Lovely work, Jill and demand provides an incentive to create more. Good idea to have quality pics for your archive though. x
It is hard to let things go, but we must, just need to have lots of babies!
Thanks for the tip, I'll try Picasa, too. Busy now tho making for 4 craft fairs starting this Saturday - anything left I might start an Etsy shop!
Absolutely lovely work Jill, well done on your success.
Your leaf journal is utterly gorgeous! I keep looking at my Frances Pickering book and thinking 'I must have a go'....you definitely inspire me Jill.
All your work is special....I hope you continue to do well.
All your items are wonderful. I love the leaf journal and the French knots look lovely on the flower
Anne x
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