LNLeather Posted November 16, 2013 Report Posted November 16, 2013 Everyone’s circumstances are different than ours… buyers and sellers - some are just doing the best they can, some are handicapped, some are just learning, some are getting better with encouragement… some can’t afford better, some know the seller and are trying to be supportive.... some like the item for a number of reasons and if you knew how bad you made someone feel because of your comments about their work, you might not make it public next time.... I think there is room for everyone to try ~Cheryl There are many things in life that will catch your eye, but only a few will catch your heart... pursue those...
Members TXAG Posted November 16, 2013 Author Members Report Posted November 16, 2013 (edited) Ok, as far as the etsy guy I posted a link to in my first post -- in order for someone to "feel bad" about what someone else says about their work implies that they actually care what other people think. That is clearly not the case...they think their stuff is awesome and slopped it together like that intentionally so it would look "artsy-craftsy" or something (I happen to think it's because they don't want to 'waste time' doing things the right way when they think what they did was 'good enough') and they're happy with how it looks. They don't care what other people think because if they did, they'd take some time to cut straight lines, finish edges, and stitch straight. It shows a lot of arrogance for someone to put something like that up for sale. But that's just my opinion. I agree with almost everyone else in that's posted in this thread. Also, there's a huge difference in reluctantly selling items that aren't up to your own standards....and selling stuff that looks like that and not giving a crap about what it looks like...even being proud of it looking like that. Edited November 16, 2013 by TXAG
Members Sylvia Posted November 16, 2013 Members Report Posted November 16, 2013 Hold on here folks. Art is in the eye of the beholder. Some people LOVE the rustic look of things. Just because we hold ourselves to a higher standard doesn't mean that gentleman's stuff is crap. I'm personally in the process of "dragging behind the car" a nice piece of HO leather I am making a holster from. The person wanted it to look old and worn... and he's paying me to do it. I asked him 4 times if he was sure... he kept saying "Yep" so I beat it with a lava rock yesterday... scuffed it up with 80 grit sand paper... and will sand at it again when the thing is finished so it looks like it's had the hell worn out of it. Please step down from your high horses.... and come back to earth. We each have our own idea of what looks good... A teacher pointed at me with a ruler and said "At the end of this ruler is an idiot." I got detention when I asked "Which end?"
Contributing Member JLSleather Posted November 16, 2013 Contributing Member Report Posted November 16, 2013 (edited) Okay, Okay, Syl - yer right Each his own. BUT, I done heard some fellas got boyfriends. Long as they aint sellin it at MY house ... Oh, yeah .... send us a message let us know how the project's comin' Edited November 16, 2013 by JLSleather "Observation is 9/10 of the law." IF what you do is something that ANYBODY can do, then don't be surprised when ANYBODY does.
Members Drifter Wade Posted November 16, 2013 Members Report Posted November 16, 2013 Walmart and other places like them cater to a much different clientele than most of us grew up around. The younger generation of working people follow fads that change rapidly. If you look at the boarded up storefronts in small communities that used to sell products that workers took pride in making, and realize that they could not compete with the Walmart stores that moved into the area, you begin to realize that everything has changed from the buyers perspective. When I'm asked why my items are priced so high, and I explain that the material and workmanship is far superior to the bargain store version and that it will last for many years, I get a funny look with a response like,...."Who cares, I like new things all the time." or, "I can buy five new saddles for the price of one of yours.".......There it is.
Members GrampaJoel Posted November 16, 2013 Members Report Posted November 16, 2013 "Drifter Wade, I get a funny look with a response like,...."Who cares, I like new things all the time." or, "I can buy five new saddles for the price of one of yours.".......There it is" There it is indeed. I once watched a leather booth right next to mine sell little leather crosses. Truly nothing fancy, for the price of $8.00 each. They had a piece of lace in the top to hang from, and sparkles on the cross. That booth sold out of about fifty of theses crosses. I in the meantime my booth right next door, with my higher end and higher dollar, stuff, I didn't sell a thing. There is a market for true craftsmanship, but few of us ever get there. To sell a saddle for $30,000.00 as some of the better saddle makers can do, or to sell a set of rawhide reins/ romal for $1500.00 is something few of us will ever have the pleasure of doing.
electrathon Posted November 16, 2013 Report Posted November 16, 2013 Hold on here folks. Art is in the eye of the beholder. Some people LOVE the rustic look of things. Just because we hold ourselves to a higher standard doesn't mean that gentleman's stuff is crap. I'm personally in the process of "dragging behind the car" a nice piece of HO leather I am making a holster from. The person wanted it to look old and worn... and he's paying me to do it. I asked him 4 times if he was sure... he kept saying "Yep" so I beat it with a lava rock yesterday... scuffed it up with 80 grit sand paper... and will sand at it again when the thing is finished so it looks like it's had the hell worn out of it. Please step down from your high horses.... and come back to earth. We each have our own idea of what looks good... Sylvia, This is a perfect example of what we are talking about. I am guessing he did not come to you and tell you to make twisted stitch lines, bad cuts, poor fitting edges. He wanted a nice item that was distressed to show age. Like a nice leather jacket that is distressed does not look like worn out vinyl.
electrathon Posted November 16, 2013 Report Posted November 16, 2013 "There are a lot of leatherworkers that do very poopy work, on here too." Boy, that is going to make us newbies paranoid. ChiefJason, I agree. I have some hanging in the shop that I won't ship but they are very functional . I won't sell them until I get better. I recently made a couple for some paying friends and the response was great. Makes me feel a little better. My first ones were terrible but I didn't know how bad they were. Between Cas City and here, the bar is being established. One step at a atime. If you see that you are not yet doing good work you will hopefully learn and do better. Choppy lines, bad cuts and such are not attractive. As you learn you will make fewer and fewer mistakes. That is different than selling bad work and thinking it is good. Much of the stuff sold at Wal-Mart looks good, just is made poorly. This discussion was primarily about work that looks bad from day one.
Members Red Cent Posted November 16, 2013 Members Report Posted November 16, 2013 A very subjective matter, judging leather work. https://www.facebook.com/redcentcustomleather?ref=bookmarks http://www.redcentcustomleather.com/
Members Sylvia Posted November 16, 2013 Members Report Posted November 16, 2013 A very subjective matter, judging leather work. Exactly!! Just like any art. I personally don't like abstract art... but it sells for millions. I don't like junkyard art... but it sells too. I just think it is poor form to express ones distaste for another's work in a public forum. Opinions like assholes stink...but we all have one. A teacher pointed at me with a ruler and said "At the end of this ruler is an idiot." I got detention when I asked "Which end?"
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