My best friend and I have opened an etsy shop. We had been talking about collaborating for a long time and finally came up with a name, a logo, and stock. For some reason, however, I find myself completely unable to actually put my baby quilts in the shop. I have no real excuse for this, I’m sure it’s making my friend angry, but I just…can’t do it. In an ideal world all I would have to do is make the quilts and maybe take the pictures, and someone else would write a clever description, decide on a price, upload it all to etsy, field any and all questions, and deal with the post office. It sounds so stupid, in my head, out loud, and especially written down.
It takes me back to when I was in school and didn’t do homework or projects. Or practice music, or try at all at gymnastics. The only thing I’ve ever done that made me feel proud and brave was running the 100m sprint in grade 7, I came in first place. That is the first and last time I can remember feeling confident.
I promise, none of this is intentional, I hate it more than anyone who I’ve pissed off, I assure you. I just really, really, don’t want people looking at me, judging me, thinking about me. Maybe that makes no sense, especially with writing a blog that’s named after me, but there it is.
You should buy the magic zigzag pillows, all of them, they are seriously fucking amazing.
I want to start selling my quilts/other creations because we’re dead broke…but I find it very hard to sell or give away something I’ve made. Not because I think people will judge it or not like it, but because I think it’s do fucking awesome and I want to keep my awesomeness close by! However, my just being awesome isn’t going to buy a new fridge or replace any windows, etc :D
I like keeping stuff for myself too and I love giving quilts as gifts, most people I know appreciate the time, effort, and care that go into them. I’m not even worried if people will buy them, maybe. Oh, maybe that’s completely it.
Yes I love to give homemade things as gifts! I was actually offended when I saw a gift quilt being used as a dog blanket. Not that dogs don’t deserve nice blankets… I felt it was a misuse of my hard work though.
I would love to be able to buy your creations! Seriously, I’ve always wondered why you weren’t selling your quilts. Go do some damn wind sprints and build up some confidence, because Christmas is coming and I’ve got some shopping to do. I just added your shop to my favorites.
this is a great idea! I love the cushions and baby quilt – and I’m more than a little jealous of the cole & son wallpaper in the background (tried to convince my husband we needed this in our living room but failed!)
I think it’s always hard to put yourself out there creatively – but sometimes you have to take the wild leap and just do it :) You make beautiful things – there will be people out there who would love to purchase them!
(I can’t believe someone was using a homemade quilt as a dog bed – I would be very offended by this too!)
Your quilts are awesome! I’d love to buy one. And I wouldn’t use it as a dog blanket either. I’d lose my mind if someone did that.
Anxiety sucks. I’m going through some right now, which is affecting my confidence, which is making the situation and the anxiety worse. I can’t change the situation right now either (though I’m working on it), so all I can do is learn how to be ok with it. It sucks! But, I guess it’s good life training? When I can’t be ok with it, red wine also works.
so amazing!!! I love your colour match ups. :)
Quilts as an art form require a lot of ‘Mothering’ to create much like tattoos do, it’s like giving birth to a unique being, and you want that creation to have a good and long life of it’s own- oh the anxiety! If I’m right then you’d have little anxiety selling/giving away greeting cards featuring your work, and lots of anxiety putting your babies up for sale to the highest bidder… it just feels immoral. Maybe you could create a spin off product (post cards?) that you can sell while holding onto the quilts, until the right buyer/giftee comes along. If you give someone a card and they remark how they’d love one of your quilts use it as an opening to ask; “what would you use it for?” and then maybe deep in your heart you’ll know they’d do well with a Caitlin quilt, or maybe better with a fruitcake from the mall (or the Chinese quilt). You art is your love, it’s you: anxiety over giving or selling what you love away sounds normal and healthy to me.