dragonlady7

could never afford the shit i want if i didn't make it myself

via https://ift.tt/xUQzkMd

dollsahoy https://dollsahoy.tumblr.com/post/678723902542856192/i-see-comments-on-this-that-are-like-yeah-pay :

dollsahoy https://dollsahoy.tumblr.com/post/678168576238157824/so-when-i-had-the-idea-to-make-a-skirt-from-that :

So, when I had the idea to make a skirt from that cheater quilt print, I did a search to see what other cheater quilt print skirts were out there

and I found a small label, made in the USA brand cheater quilt print skirt, made from a custom (probably digital) print, and in a different style than I could even possibly make from what I had of the fabric available

that costs about $400.

Now

my initial reaction was “hooooooo why does that cost that much”

but then I thought a moment

and decided I should be asking

Why don’t I consider my own sewing

which is entirely one of a kind
often made from vintage fabrics
and sewn with about 30 years of experience

to be worth that much?

I see comments on this that are like “Yeah! Pay the artist!!”

and while that’s a very valid point

this post is more about realizing that the things you make

for yourself

would have a very high value if factors like ‘fair compensation for labor’ were considered.

So I need to, like, stop thinking

“yeah, I made this from second hand cloth that I got for dirt cheap/somebody very generously gave me, with an old pattern I’ve had forever, and I’ve made that pattern so many times that I can get the whole thing sewn in no time, therefore this only worth the equivalent of finding something like it in a thrift store on half price day, because that’s how I acquire the rest of my clothes”

and start thinking

“completely one of a kind, made with vintage cloth and loads of experience, means this thing I’ve sewn for myself is really quite nice, even if I did, say, make it on a whim to use up the last bit of a particular fabric”

I am the artist. I need to value my work.

It just…gets weird when I realize that I couldn’t afford to buy the stuff I make for myself 😅 (Your picture was not posted)