Evelyn Rose loved to sew.
Evelyn was known for her talent making aprons and pinafores for her friend's children.
She would dawdle in the fabric section of the Kresge and the Five and Dime three blocks from her home.
She knew that the gingham went on sale for .59 per yard the week before Mother's Day and she prepared her budget for the event.
Evelyn made plans to cut out several aprons for that week, knowing those in her church would inevitably ask her to make something special for their mothers at the last minute.
She had a way of knowing people that way.
She knew that most people don't plan that well for Mother's Day. That is the nature of mamas. They are used to taking back seats to others. That is how they are wired. This year, it was going to be different for Evelyn.
She had been saving and the pin money in the little ceramic sugar bowl in her kitchen cupboard was growing and Evelyn nearly had enough.
Last year, she found this pattern. It was .50 full price, but as luck would have it, that day it was featured in the Kresge as a Summer Sewing Special and Evelyn had the amount for the discounted pattern.
Evelyn had wistfully viewed a lovely summer shorty nighty set at the downtown Neumode store, but with a price of $7.50, she knew it was just wishful thinking to ever own such an extravagant item.
But then the pattern opportunity appeared and Evelyn placed it away for the chance that some day she would obtain the fabric to sew it.

Evelyn did indeed have apron orders. Three from unexpected sources. One kindly woman purchased the needed fabric for Evelyn for her special order. And after completing the very festive apron for the customer's mother, using the provided material with some of her own rick rack and her own embroidered embellishment, Evelyn wrapped it up in tissue and presented it to the kindly customer. Since the customer was unaware with sewing amounts, she had overbought by quite a bit, but Evelyn folded the extra material neatly with the crafted gift apron.
Kindly Customer was well pleased with the detail and workmanship. In her delight, she paid Evelyn the amount she required and as she started out the door, she handed Evelyn the extra fabric in the tissue, smilingly stated that Evelyn certainly could use it for something, couldn't she?

One cannot properly understand the glee with which Evelyn felt. Knowing that she could create her longed for Summer Shorty Nighty with a minimum of inconvenience to the budget, filled her with a sense of independence and competence. And quite a bit of happiness.

Setting aside a time after the children were in bed and hubby was busy with a book, she entered her sewing area in the basement with a determination and pride.

Her knotty pine sewing area, off the laundry room was quiet and small. Surrounding her, was the tools of her trade; her mother's old Singer sewing machine, her baskets of trims and tapes and her rows of colorful threads. All these things inspired Evelyn and she set to her task with a bit more energy than usual, given the time of the day.

Evelyn prepared the fabric and unwrapped a package of wide bias tape to finish off the scallop of the top of the shorty top.

It was there that, for the first time, she read the Wright's Guarantee included on the wrap around package:

' This material is fast color and perfect in workmanship. Should it be faulty in any way, we will reimburse you for the reasonable cost of your labor and all materials used in making the article on which it is applied.'

Evelyn put down her scissors and sat back in her chair.

What if the Wright's tape did not perform as expected time and time again?

What if her longed for creation did not meet expectations due to faulty trim?

Would she have to cash in the guarantee to be compensated for the damaged goods?

Surely, an opportunity to make something so special for herself would not pass this way again.

God Forbid, the tape should fail her, she would have to take advantage of the most generous guarantee provided by the Wright's Tape Company. She would have to.

Therein lie the problem.

Evelyn could not for the life of her, figure out just how much her work was worth.

She knew how to figure for fabric and notions and patterns, but when it came to charging her customers, she was totally lost.

This thought plagued her and she needs your help.

Just how much is our crafting worth monetarily?

When a creation is made and some of our soul and spirit is put into it, just how do we figure a price?

Let us help Evelyn figure out how much her work is worth......

Leave a comment with your insights and formula.....

Evelyn Rose Thanks You.....