Is Anyone Really Satisfied With Their Work?

[Matt S]

Down the "that'll do" road lies bonded leather, sloppy fit and raggedy edges. Nothing is perfect, certainly not me or my creations -- and they never will be.

[RiverCity]

You'll always see your own mistakes, and seeing them and wanting to improve them means you care. I look at each of my mistakes as a learning experience, and try not to make the same mistakes twice. Doesn't always work out that way, but its how I try to improve.

Chuck

[bizbeblu]

Nope. Probably never will be. As you all know, our fingers, eyes, and ears felt/heard/saw the less than perfect moments in the creation of our work. I've created beautiful basketwork stamped large purses that were wonderfully received and paid for. But I remember/see/feel each less than precise imprint of the tool. OCD? Maybe. I think we have to acknowledge that the process of creating is what is important and accept that the product, i.e. the point were we finally say, "I can't do anything more with this" will always be less than the ideal.

Or to put it bluntly, if I could make a perfect thing, why would I bother?

Robert

[Leela Valley Leather]

My grandfather once said to me (he was a blacksmith) "The day you stop being critical of your work is the day you need to walk away". I asked him what he meant by this and he told me that when you stop caring about your work it will show and others will notice.

Personally I'm never completely satisfied with what I produce, BUT, as another local leather worker pointed out 99% of people who look at your work will never notice the things that you think are not good enough. From a commercial stand point your products need to meet the expectations of your customers, beyond that you start to run into the law of diminishing returns.

As an example, is it worth your time and their money to spend an hour or more putting a perfect mirror like burnish on the edges when a nice smooth and even finish will see the customer happy?

[bizbeblu]

My grandfather once said to me (he was a blacksmith) "The day you stop being critical of your work is the day you need to walk away". I asked him what he meant by this and he told me that when you stop caring about your work it will show and others will notice.

Personally I'm never completely satisfied with what I produce, BUT, as another local leather worker pointed out 99% of people who look at your work will never notice the things that you think are not good enough. From a commercial stand point your products need to meet the expectations of your customers, beyond that you start to run into the law of diminishing returns.

As an example, is it worth your time and their money to spend an hour or more putting a perfect mirror like burnish on the edges when a nice smooth and even finish will see the customer happy?

A good question. A master cabinet maker I apprenticed with briefly (too young/impatient to stay at it), always finished the backs of his cases just as well as the fronts. I asked him about it because no one would ever know the difference. His answer, "I know." I had no answer then and, even these many years later, still don't.

[groovytech]

Satisfied? usually-with the caveat that the customer generally makes that determination.

Happy? If I have met a challenge and won, regularly enough.

In Awe of my Awesomeness? Twice- but that feeling keeps me pounding away..........

[MADMAX22]

My grandfather once said to me (he was a blacksmith) "The day you stop being critical of your work is the day you need to walk away". I asked him what he meant by this and he told me that when you stop caring about your work it will show and others will notice.

Personally I'm never completely satisfied with what I produce, BUT, as another local leather worker pointed out 99% of people who look at your work will never notice the things that you think are not good enough. From a commercial stand point your products need to meet the expectations of your customers, beyond that you start to run into the law of diminishing returns.

As an example, is it worth your time and their money to spend an hour or more putting a perfect mirror like burnish on the edges when a nice smooth and even finish will see the customer happy?

A good question. A master cabinet maker I apprenticed with briefly (too young/impatient to stay at it), always finished the backs of his cases just as well as the fronts. I asked him about it because no one would ever know the difference. His answer, "I know." I had no answer then and, even these many years later, still don't.

Had to quote both of ya guys as you have gotten some great advice by craftsman both with crafts that require a great attention to detail even if its not being scene. By the way I think any cabinet maker has some form of OCD lol.

I have had to struggle with not thinking an item is good enough and that is what keeps me trying to make things better. I know that even when I point out to people that the edges are nicely burnished and rivets properly set and in the correct areas or that the stitching I do is the best for dependability I can tell that most dont really have a clue what I am talking about. I am happy they are happy and more then anything that I dont get an email a year later saying it fell apart. I think most times I look at something whether it be a knife I made or a leather project and think to myself if another person that makes these items sees it what will they think. I would hope that they could look at it and be like "thats a nice piece you got there".