09/07/2026
So what are you looking at? First, six seasons of Law and Order BBC that it took me to get step one of creating handbags almost finished. I am not done, I ran out of some product and have to wait for Amazon to get it here.
In the picture. First, the stack on the left is the fabric selected to make bags for upcoming events. In the bins, each fabric cut 8 times @ 8x14 pieces. Each one then has 4 pieces of batitng and 8 pieces of stabilizer.
Its all preparation for the embroidery and sewing of a product to sell at my events.
However, that isn't the point of my post. The point is the video a fellow vendor sent me this morning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JsKhd0VULg
I agree completely with this. At many events I encounter vendors selling Temu, Shein, Scentsy, all kinds of items where people simply order something, put it out for display and charge more than what they paid for it.
True crafters, makers, hobbiests, artists spend hours desiging, perfecting and then making themself vulnerable by putting their product out there. We allow judgment of people we don't know. We do jumping jacks inside when a complete stranger validates our vision with a purchase.
One thing I learned to pay attention to was who the organizers allow to participate in an event. I appreciate organizers such as Haylie Rowberry who limit vendors whose merchandise isn't food or created through hours of work.
Yes, I have 3d prints, but every one I have ever offered are custom prints. Seeing the market so flooded with junk prints it makes it impossible for the customer to see that the customs print actually took skill to create not just a download and send to a printer with 30 seconds of skill.
I feel strongl about vendors being creators not shoppers. Nor those who pay 10 cents for the license to download and sell another 3d printed dragon or toy that cost less than a dollar to make, that I opt not to participate in events where my hours worth of work, which I ask more money for are competing for a sale.
Sure, my item costs a bit more. But I actually have to "work" to create them. I use multiple skills and techniques to put them out there. Trust me when I tell you there are "learning expierences" (failures) in developing a product.
I would hope customers will take the time to recognize the difference. One is a product you could have ordered yourself and paid less, but had to wait a few days for the mail. The other was hours, days, weeks in the making.
Enough that 1 vendor can binge watch 7 seasons of a television program just preparing the first step of many to prepare for an event.
