Sometimes Appreciation Is Better Than Money!

(Zakka Japanese Fabric by Inagaki)

      I know you're probably wondering, with me making that statement about appreciation being better than money, that I must've lost my fool mind! ^_^ But when I tell you why I say that, you might hesitant in your run for the straight jacket. LOL
     My story starts with a tiny, tiny thing...sorta like the tiny breakfast items on the material in the header photo...Had you noticed them?! :-) ...My tiny, tiny thing is gonna get noticed though!...

       It's a men's lapel pin, actually two of them. I had a customer request that I make him two navy blue thread lapel pins. And he specifically wanted them to be smaller than an inch (2.5 cm). 

    He's going to a wedding in a couple of months where the bride is an avid crocheter like me! I think it's pretty cool that he would go out of his way to order something so special to wear just for her! And it makes me feel even more special that he would trust me to custom make them for him! :-]
     

     I would be lying to you if I said 'I can't wait to make them again for some other customer'...because if I never have to make them this small again I'll be happy! LOL I had to use a size 10 steel hook and sewing thread to make them!!

     It was slow and intense! Each stitch had to be just right...including the center bud, and my special crocheted backing that had to be sewn separately and then sewn onto the back of it! Without the backing, the button wouldn't attache correctly. And yes, the buttons had to be sewn on too!

     I make some small lapel pins already. But those are much larger...they're 1 & 1/2 inches! (3.8 cm) LOL...And believe it or not, that small amount of difference is a world of difference to my gnarly arthritic fingers and watered up and crossed eyes!! ^_^


    The customer was so nice. In the correspondence during the back and forth about the specifics of what he wanted, and my showing him the progressive photos, the customer kept saying 'I know it'll probably end up costing me more, and I'm willing to pay it.'

    He made me start wondering if I was charging too little! ^_^ But my price was my price!...After I listed them for him, and he saw the photos of the finished product, he paid for them immediately and then left me the nicest comment in the "Note To Seller".
     I won't get into too many of the details, but I wanted to share how it made me feel....FANTASTIC!! :-) ...He was amazed at the detail I was able to do, with them being so small. He said that all of my hard work was greatly appreciated! :-)

     Then he said...after he already paid for them, mind you!..."I have made the payment you listed, however if you think you ended spending more time than you originally thought I am happy to consider paying you more."... almost got weepy! ;_; How often do you get a customer that appreciates your work that much?!
     And in fact, I had two of those customers yesterday...because the gentleman that had me custom make the boutonnieres for his wedding paid for his yesterday too. And he expressed the same great appreciation for my work, and said he couldn't wait to get them!...The fact that he's a repeat customer thrills me to no end! :-)

    Between all of the nice words...and a night of sleep...I don't know what I'm gonna do with my rested 'blowed-up' head today! LOL....Yes I do. I'm gonna put some knowledge in it. I've got studying to finish for my meeting tonight...I'm thankful that I have the reality of my faith so that my head doesn't blow up and fly away!!! ^_^ There "are" more important things in the world than a tiny crocheted lapel pin! ^_^


       But still...it made me feel all bubbly inside. :-) Have a good day, Everybody! 



Build

You can build a reputation,
build a fire, build a stair;
You can build a neighborhood,
build a table, build-A-Bear!

You can build a layered cake,
build some buildings, build a boat;
You can build a website business,
build relationships remote.

You can build vocabulary,
build up friendships old and new.
Build up globe-ular relations
if you really wanted to.

You can build upon your knowledge,
build a table, bridge, or train;
build a step into the future,
or just shelter from the rain.

You can build an awesome snowman,
and not waste him. Make a cone!
Or can build up folks around you,
so they never feel alone.

All this building talk,
shows the things that you can make
if you build a wordy poem...
and you also stay awake!