What do you do with your works?

[sdb777]

I've looked through the forum section with all the completed workings. Kind of wondering what you do with them after your done?

Sell? How would you figure you labor cost?

Put in a special room and admire? Wait for the grandkids to fight over it after your gone?

Gifts?



Scott (just wondering) B

[rhull]

Mine are strictly gifts, either for LOML or for relatives (or occasionally friends or coworkers). I've never sold anything; my work isn't that good.

[maverick31]

I end up giving a lot away as gifts, here recently people will bring all kinds of wood and want to trade for it. When I feel something is made good enough to sell I will sell it. To determine cost I do a market search on ebay/etsy/local craft stores selling something similar and I also factor in how much time and money I have in the item and figure it from there.

[fredbelknap]

That's a good question that I haven't answered yet. I got stuff setting on shelves, some I use for different things, I give some stuff away. I do mostly bowls and if someone likes a piece I usually just give it to them. I'm making a couple for Christmas gifts. I have always believed form should follow function so making a lot of things just to sit around gathering dust really doesn't appeal to me to much, however I do like to make pretty things but there has to be a limit. You couldn't sell a pen around here for $20+ with a gun so I don't think I will explore that rout. Guess I will just do it for fun.

[Ruffnek]

I keep some give a lot away and sell some.

Once a year, I attend an art festival with Boodrow and sell my turnings. My MIL frequently will come by and pick up several for her church auction or family reunion auction. My son and his wife confiscate whatever catches their eye and I give lots away.

Most of my flatwork projects are either commission or built for myself.

I simply price the pieces at whatever I feel they are worth...sometimes they sell, sometimes they don't. But, like Boodrow says, I'd rather throw it down in the road and run over it with my pickup rather than sell something at less than the value I have assigned to it.

[Beezlebub]

For stuff my wife doesn't abscond with, I either sell or put in local church or charity auctions.

[sawduster]

I've sold a few pens and other turnings for my own profit, sold some more pens to benefit a church in Haiti and given away other stuff as gifts from the LOML and I or for our church to give on special occasions. Right now I'm needing to make up a bunch of pens to donate for our church bazaar in a couple weeks, and maybe some other turnings.

We've kept most of my flatwork stuff, but I've made a couple pieces for our church and a wheelchair accessible baby bed for a wheelchair bound couple in our church.

[boodrow]

I give some away , not many. Like I used to say when I was a mechanic in the real world , " Im in no way associated with good will" The wood dont come cheap , the time spent dont come cheap , so why would I give my chit away? Im still in the red on my investments on machines and supplies. I never considered to do this as a loosin project . That sounds like my real job with the postal service loosin billions per year. Although I still feel like its good theropy for me in my shop.
Boodrow

[admin]

I keep the stuff that doesn't make the cut to become gifts or for sale. I sell a few knicknacks along, nothing fancy. And, I give a lot of the stuff that I make to friends and family as gifts.

And, most of the stuff I make and do not really like gets burned.

[rhull]

Dec 1, 2009 19:24:00 GMT -6 boodrow said:

wood dont come cheap , the time spent dont come cheap , so why would I give my chit away?

I think you're missing out on a real opportunity here, Boodrow!

Look see:

My SIL's family cut down an ash tree in their yard and gave us the good portions for firewood. I turned one of those ash bowls I posted a couple weeks ago for them for Xmas. That gift cost me nothing, but it's probably equivalent to one $50 gift that we need not buy for them this year. ;D

[Doug B]

I sell almost everything I make these days, or trade for someone elses goods. Recently traded with my neighbor who does window tinting - we both feel like we made out like bandit! I have traded for turning materials many times.

My mom saw something she really liked the other day, so I gave it to her since I knew she wanted it.

I'm like Cody and Boodrow that I would rather do almost anything with something I've made than sell it for less than what it is worth to me. Luckily, most folks I've dealt with do not try to dicker.

[sachbvn]

Doug - you, Cody, Boodrow - have a really good point.... selling/trading something for less than it's worth.... that does kinda give ya a terrible feelin' don't it? Like.... if I'm gunna give it away.... I will. This isn't our "job" - we do this for fun, a hobby. We don't need to run "sales" because... well, at least in my thought - I'm not competing against anyone.

If I was at a craft show - and a dude was selling similar items as me.... cheaper.... I'd rather not sell any pens than to lower my price because his were lower.... if they like mine more - they'll buy mine, otherwise - I'm ok with that.


Zac

[Doug B]

You got it Zac! Selling your hand crafted goods is very, very personal. Someone trying to get you to sell at a lower cost is not simply cutting into your profit...they are saying your work is not worth what you are asking.

That is completely different than someone who is re-selling something they did not make.