And because I LIKE doing it, I want to continue to LIKE doing it. So I do what _I_ like, and not what other people want me to do. Which isn't to say that I won't pick out the occasional pattern that I'm not that fond of to make for somebody I really like or appreciate. I tend to do small, but intricate pieces for the girls' teachers at Christmas. One of them nearly fainted dead away. Consider THAT gift appreciated. :-)
Even Dad, who is a woodworker, runs into it. He'll occasionally agree to make something for someone. Usually at a price. But his preference is to make what he likes to make. He'll bend that for me, if I want something specific. He made me a swift for my yarn that I adore. But he's made it clear that he's done making casework. :-) Too much for him, and he just doesn't really enjoy it.
I do find I can shut it RIGHT down by offering to teach the grabby-hands to knit/sew/etc. Now there are some pushy souls this doesn't work with. But it's my standard response. When somebody sends me a "Pin" of something they want (Yep, this happens!), I respond with, "That offer to teach you to knit so you can make whatever you fancy still stands."
I think sometimes it gets under my skin because I'll have people pull it on me at work. "I want the doctor to just look at this lump real quick, but I don't want to pay an exam fee!" Well, that's just too bad, innit? It may only take me "a couple of seconds" to look at it. But it took me a couple of seconds and 8 YEARS of education to tell you what it is!
Even Dad, who is a woodworker, runs into it. He'll occasionally agree to make something for someone. Usually at a price. But his preference is to make what he likes to make. He'll bend that for me, if I want something specific. He made me a swift for my yarn that I adore. But he's made it clear that he's done making casework. :-) Too much for him, and he just doesn't really enjoy it.
I do find I can shut it RIGHT down by offering to teach the grabby-hands to knit/sew/etc. Now there are some pushy souls this doesn't work with. But it's my standard response. When somebody sends me a "Pin" of something they want (Yep, this happens!), I respond with, "That offer to teach you to knit so you can make whatever you fancy still stands."
I think sometimes it gets under my skin because I'll have people pull it on me at work. "I want the doctor to just look at this lump real quick, but I don't want to pay an exam fee!" Well, that's just too bad, innit? It may only take me "a couple of seconds" to look at it. But it took me a couple of seconds and 8 YEARS of education to tell you what it is!
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