Connie's gifts in exchange for fish!! x

For the last few days i've been stealing time to make some more baby gifts for a friends niece. I had recently made them some baby gifts for their own new little daughter (See For Gracie) and they asked me to make some for their little niece Connie (also my own nieces beautiful name). They asked if i could find some pistachio green and pink fabric and luckily enough i had a little snippet of some Amy Butler fabric (who else!) which had the perfect colour combination so i headed off to my favourite local store The Cotton Patch to get some more. I actually Surprised myself with how well behaved i was and only came away with what i needed (although so many other gorgeous fabrics seemed to be calling out to me to take them home!) 

So i finished the little bundle of goodies today and dropped them off this evening - luckily they loved the fabrics ( who wouldn't) and then came the really tough discussion of how much they owed me!. I really find this hard as i completely struggle with how much to charge friends - friends who we have known for years and who have helped us out and vice verse- but discussing money with people is another matter - should i even charge them at all!. However if i am to turn this little venture of mine into something i realise that i have to charge and friends are more than willing to pay me for my time - but god do i struggle with this. Anyway luckily i came up with a solution (if somewhat strange) that they would pay me a certain amount to cover my materials and then the rest they would pay for in fresh fish! - stay with me - you see for a while now they have been buying some fresh fish for us from their local fish monger who sells the most amazing fish (oh how i wished we lived on the coast) - so i asked if they could supply us with fish for a couple of weeks and then that way we would be even.

Phew - that way the decision on how much they pay will be shifted to them and i don't have to come up with an awkward figure - chicken i know - and i know i need to handle this situation better but i'm sure as i start to make more things i will get quicker and will get more of an idea as to my costs. 

Anyway hope you like the little gifts - will let you know how good the fish tastes x

Comments

[ecbowden]

Hi there, from Sydney,
Your work is so amazing! I don't know how you find the time, I wish I had a cleaning fairy as I have 2 little ones.

These gifts are beautiful. Maybe you could work out in advance how much you feel things should be sold for and say "well I usually charge people XXX, but for you guys lets say X." That way you are giving 'mates rates' and you all feel good about it. Also they will feel okay about asking you to make something for them next time as they have paid their share. Cheerio.

[Littlebuttontales]

Hi Elizabeth, thanks for stopping by and for your suggestions - i'll try this next time - i've never been good at charging friends! As for your cleaning fairy - i've asked for one from Santa this year (its my only hope) Hope you pop back soon x