All the time! I'd go to craft fairs and other such crafty places, spot something I like and think "I won't buy it, I'll make it." And did I? 99% of the time, no. Sometimes because I later decided I didn't really want it or because I just didn't have the time.
A lot of the time it was because I just couldn't make it as pretty as they did. I didn't have the right colours or materials and when I put what I did have together it just didn't work.
Now I look back on these occasions, I realise that what I should have been doing is supporting the artist. If I like it, I should buy it. I should take home a little piece of them and their creativity.
At Woolfest last weekend there was the most beautiful stall, H-Anne-Made. Anne makes the most amazing stitched collage pieces and I wanted to take home every piece. She had kits. But it was the tins I loved. I admired the paper, the stitching and the lovely message 'a tin to keep my treasures in'. The thought crept in, "I could make that." I wandered off and continued shopping. Later, I met Mr Bunny and hound myself telling him about the tin. I returned to the stall and had another good luck at it. I then thought to myself, " it's gorgeous. Buy it. This artist gas worked hard to make this and you could own a piece of her creativity. You won't make one and, if you did, it would never be like this one." So I bought it. And I'm so glad I did. I know that I would have been so gutted if I hadn't.
So, what am I trying to say? We each have our own crafts. Mine are crochet, felting and a teeny bit of sewing. I dabble in others but they are my main areas. It is ok, in fact it is amazing, to buy a piece by another artist because you are not only supporting them but also buying a piece of their creativity.
Next time you see a piece and think 'I could make that' remember the tin!
The Tin
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