This piece — the one hanging from the tree, catching light like whispers — didn’t fall into the world fully formed. It was gathered. Built. Felt. It took hours. It took thought. It took me.
People often ask, “How much is this?”. And I smile, because what they really mean is, “Why does it cost that much?”
So let’s talk about it.
The Bones: Materials
The beads, the wire, the driftwood — they cost £7.22.
Not counting the tools. Not counting the time spent combing beaches for wood that speaks.
The Blood: Time
It took 4 hours to make. Not just stringing beads — but choosing them, balancing them, letting the piece tell me what it wants to be.
If I paid myself the UK minimum wage of £12.21/hr, that’s £48.84. And that’s just labour. Not artistry. Not experience. Not soul.
The Skin: Packaging & Postage
If it sells online, I pay around £5 to wrap it safely and send it off. That doesn’t include card fees. Or the time spent photographing, listing, answering messages.
The Hidden Costs: Selling Spaces
Even selling locally at The Crafty Collective — where this piece is priced at £25 — I still pay:
- Shelf rent
- Insurance
- Card processing fees
So no, I’m not pocketing £25. I’m lucky if I see half.
And if I sell on Etsy? To earn the same as I do locally, I’d need to list this piece at nearly £90. Because fees stack. Algorithms demand ads. And handmade is drowned out by mass‑produced noise.
So Why Do I Still Make It?
Because I have to.
Because art is how I breathe.
Because some people see the piece and feel something — and that’s worth more than numbers.
And because every time I sit down to create, I’m choosing to make beauty in a world that worships speed and cheapness.That choice — that rebellion — is worth every penny.
If You’ve Ever Wondered Why Handmade Costs What It Does…
It’s not greed.
It’s survival.
It’s fairness.
You’re not just buying a thing.
You’re buying time. Skill. Emotion.
You’re buying a moment where someone chose to make beauty instead of scrolling past it.
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Comments
Well said and beautifully written.