There’s an innate contradiction in how we value craft. That tension between understanding the thought, dedication and love that has gone into a homemade gift, where tatty corners, uneven surfaces and loose threads are forgiven, embraced and even celebrated and at the same time an inclination to judge a handmade item in a store, turning it inside out to see how it was constructed, picking out its flaws, looking at the price tag and thinking, I could make it myself. I would wager that most crafters (me included) have done that on at least one occasion. In many scenarios recreating that item will take you far longer than anticipated, and if you’re anything like me, cost you a few nights sleep as you put yourself under unnecessary pressure to match and better the quality of a craft that you might never have even attempted before this moment. In fact, if you paid yourself a living wage for those hours, the reality may be that it would cost you far more than the store-bought item. So where does the value lie, and why should one person’s time and efforts have a greater worth than another’s?
© 2024 Erika Knight
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