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A Cautionary Tale

Stone Conversations : Archive 3 : Message 00347

From: "lmhtwb" <lmhtwb@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2003 15:14:54 -0800
Subject: A Cautionary Tale

Hi Linda,

Quoted text begins.Last spring, a friend saw a carving I did in alabaster of my Pit Bull,
End of quote.

Rosie, and asked if I would do something similar of her dog, a black Great
Dane. I was hesitant, thinking that a lanky, leggy creature like a Great
Dane would be a difficult subject for a beginner, but finally I agreed. I
ASSUMED that she would offer me a fair payment for my work. <snip>

Been there, done that. Ever since then, even with friends, I require at
least 1/3 down, 1/3 when it's mostly done, and 1/3 on delivery, or I make
sure the piece is something that I could easily sell to someone else. Most
of my friends fully understand, since they know that marble is not free, I
have bills to pay, and there's only so much time in a day for carving, but
most of all, they respect my talent and think it's only fair to compensate
me. I've actually had arguments with one friend when I wanted to give her a
piece for Xmas. We sent that check back and forth at least 3 times. (We
finally decided on her commissioning me to do a companion piece for the
gift.)

Then again there are those 'friends' that believe I should either give them
a piece for free or for only the cost of the stone. And being the nasty
person I am, I don't go along with them. I've always wondered with friends
that expect freebies if they would like to donate me their time and money
for various jobs I have around the house.

Linda Hornberger

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