One of the inconvenient truths of life is that often beautiful things are delicate. Think of fine china. If we’re lucky, we can have something beautiful that we can use; like china. The balance is that even though we use the beautiful thing, we know we need to treat it delicately. We wouldn’t call fine china cheap because it can’t go in the dishwasher.
This is why I refer to most, if not all of the items I sell as “functional art.” The items are usable and many can be used daily for years; if you treat them delicately.
Some of my games are more expensive than a mass produced plastic game but less expensive than high end acrylic games that can cost hundreds.
My games are more expensive than store bought games because they take hours to make. One, specifically, I have to personally import the mold because it isn’t available in the US AND the mold is difficult to use.
The price of the games are an indicator that they should be taken care of. I’ve seen unreasonable people suggest that the price should mean they’re more durable. I don’t sell trash bags or paper towels. Think a plate versus china.
You wouldn’t pay hundreds or thousands for china then give it to a toddler to eat off of, would you? I’d hope not.
Buy plastic games if you want to be rough.
I’ve also noticed comments online of people complaining about the quality of coffee cups and stainless steel tumblers that have vinyl decals on them. I tend not to use this method for this reason. I do use rhinestones which can come off as well. When I do, I note the care necessary in the description.
Cup and tumbler makers use different processes and different media to create different looks. They all have advantages and disadvantages. Here are some materials that may be more durable than others but they tend to not give the same range of colors and design options. Also consider that some methods used to preserve work to make it more durable can alter the aesthetic.
In the case of the vinyl decals, people make comments like, “These are so cheap.” “These are glorified stickers and they peel off.” “I washed it one time…”
I assure you that the cups and tumblers with vinyl decals don’t peel because they “cheap” or due to some fault of the maker.
These are shots of my husband’s very expensive, professionally made tumbler made by one of our favorite companies.
As you can see, the decals have almost peeled off completely.
When we buy expensive clothing or cars, we’re careful with them. We don’t paint in a wedding dress then call the dress cheap when we can’t wash the paint out or if the fabric gets damaged from washing the paint out. We’re extremely careful with things that cost a lot or things we value even if it was a dollar.
Take care to follow the care instructions for items you buy.
If you want to buys something from a small business owner, don’t be turned off by the care instructions. Appreciate their honesty and generosity as they help guide you through extending the life of your beautiful piece.
Consider your care instructions as a badge of honor. You’re buying a work of art.
Artisans and makers spend exponentially more time making products by hand. Think about that before you disrespect a small business owner by calling their work cheap, overpriced, poorly made or not worth it.