Review: VERRRY INTERESTING
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 27, 2013
I've dabbled in a lot of things, one of the most obscure being basketweaving. Yeah, yeah, I've heard the jokes. I even made a few before I took my first lesson. It DOES require lessons, the first few times anyway. It takes lessons, needlenose pliers, wire cutters, clothes pins, various sizes of splint, sometimes preformed hoops and always a large container to hold warm water. Oh yeah, and waxed dental floss. (Some people have even used Kudzu for baskets. Too bad someone doesn't package the stuff commercially. Maybe then we could export the processed stuff to Asia as well as use it here. Wonder if it would make a dent in the supply?)Occasionally I tie a basket to a specific shape to dry. I tie my heart basket to get nice curves and my market basket to get sharp corners.I was exploring the possibility of selling baskets. The woman who taught me sells baskets to the state parks. She said if they paid her $40 for a basket they would slap an $80 price tag on it when it went into the gift shop, and she had to sign a contract stating she wouldn't sell to anyone else.I've donated baskets to my children's various schools for fall festivals and made them for teachers' Christmas presents when my children asked me to do so.My children knew how long it took to make each basket. They only asked if the teacher was special. Then I was happy to oblige. Lots of teachers go beyond what's required of them. If I could do some little something to show my appreciation, I did.But this book showed me something I already knew: no one really understands how much work goes into a basket, so I could earn a better paycheck at McDonald's.Many of the people who sell through Etsy make jewelry. Some earrings can be made in less than an hour; I've done it. Other pairs take three to four hours. A pendant can be easy while a bracelet or necklace can take the better part of a day.I've made quilted, lined purses with pockets on the inside and monogrammed a few. That's about an afternoon of sewing. You'd be surprised how many ignorant people look me straight in the eyes and say,"Make me one."People have no concept of the amount of time it takes to make something.If you have a hobby, other than basketweaving, you will find this book addresses all the questions a rookie might have, from selecting your company icon to setting up a shipping account with whomever you chose. You're even cautioned to separate your items by size, interest and season. And just in case you have customers who drop in, keep your sales area neat.So I admire those people who can make a living at Etsy. It seems, though, that people have poked fun at basketweaving too many years for me to add my name to that list.