Craftsmanship

I have been reading Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture by Ellen Ruppel Shell. First she looks at why we like cheap and curiously enough how we undervalue things that are inexpensive. In one study it was found that students reported their full cost pain killer substantially more effective than the same painkiller with a lower price -- so we gravitate toward these deals and then we do not appreciate the product.

Then she looks at some of the underlying costs of this drive to the lowest possible price one of which is a devaluation of craftsmanship. For those of us involved in producing beautiful quality crafts products that will last for years and survive to be handed down this poses some extra problems. Of course I think this tendency is a problem for all of us, and for society, but for those of us who are going the extra mile to use craftsmanship to create beautiful functional joy, it is a more immediate problem.

And then there is the problem of sewing machines. As I said earlier mine died -- almost but maybe not quite completely. It was cheap and it died young. Because I am not now willing to repeat my mistake and buy another equally cheap machine I have resorted to borrowing my mother's. A used machine she was given the first year of her marriage, which means in stead of a two year old machine, I am using one in excess of 50 years old. Quality and craftsmanship can really pay off in the end.

Anyhow although Cheap provides no answers, the book poses some difficult and important questions about sustainability and quality, questions I think are especially important to those of us for whom producing quality crafts is a lifelong habit and a matter of pride and joy.