Have you ever said "NO"

[Kenny_S]

Well after church today, A couple of the ladies came up and said they were haveing a both at the local MayFest her in Caney the last weekend of May and would have be able to carve some items and donate it to them for sell. Well, I was Flattered and said yes, I believe I could get a couple of items done for them. Well,,,,,,,,, It wasn't a couple of items. :-[

They had seen the pins my little bride had been wearing to church and other places and they want 20 dove pins and 20 rose pins of various types of wood and color. Guess, I better get busy and get them cut out and carved,eh?

Glad to do it for them and I hope they sell for them.

[squbrigg]

LOL....Well those ladies certainly know how to organize a sale! You do all the work and they get some of those great pins they have been eye'in, and raise money for the church at the same time.

Just kidding....glad you are generous with your God given talents. You bride will be very proud of you. But you do have to learn to say no.

Bob

[dart]

I find it very hard to say No. I even find it hard to ask for money for my work. But if someone wants to donate something for my work I think that's ok. But this is just me. Everyone has an opinion and I respect that too. I see no harm in donating for the church. I put money in the collection plate and feel good about doing that. I'd donate my work to my church with no regrets. Jim

[nadcarves]

I finally did..had a character who used to come by and ask for carvings for a wildlife group. Or to have something carved.This went on for 6/7 years,never got any return business. The last year,I did a gun stock ,Grizzley bears either side,flying geese,the nine yards and then some,,maybe this was the year I would finally get some business.Drove 50 miles to drop it off, said I was leaving,met a couple of carvers,and a couple of hours of yacking later,said, Hey come and see my gun stock....Went to booth, the' carved by' sign missing, in a trash can ,aged with coffee. The other' donated by' signs also there.....I realize that,maybe the signs did add clutter to the booth,but without the implied clutter,they would have had nothing to raffle off..........

I've never said no, but people need to realize the amount of time it takes to carve things. I did some butterfly pins that took 3 hours to do. And if your like me you get bored doing the same thing over and over again. Personally like a little variety in my carvings. : Have fun carving all those pins and don't cut your self.

I am very careful not to just say no. It is a very hard thing to do but it seems when you donate to a charity it seems to snowball on you. The next thing you know you are being asked by every group to donate something. I think you have to pick your groups carefully and if like I do I donate now to four a year, Big Brothers,Big Sisters,Women and Childrens Center and the Lung Association. Explain to the others that approach you that you are already committed and usually they understand. Having said that if something else comes up like some family burned out or something like that I will make exception but I think that you have to draw the line somewhere.
Colin

[lorax]

It seems to me, that it's easier saying know to a paid commision than a freebie for some reason.

[macktruck]

I have a neighbor that wants a spirit staff. she hasn't offered any money yet. it's done but waiting to see if she'll make an offer.
seems like everyone wants them for free. another neighbor wanted a spoon\fork set with grape clusters on the handles. for free again. those grapes take forever to do.
macktruck