I did the normal Christmas craft and gift shows recently and I am getting so cheesed off with doing them because the events company that organises them are too interested to get the money rolling in rather than looking after their exhibitors. I was one of many jewellery people at the show and I was one of a very few who actually handcrafted the jewellery and the majority was bought in stuff from China, horrible quality but cheap so as people are trained to find a bargain they home in on this type of jewellery. When I was speaking to a couple of women who handcraft glass products they were also finding the same problem.
We are getting pushed out of the market, handcrafted pieces are not important to people anymore and if we are not careful craft shows will disappear along with the people who handcraft, if people wish to by cheap pieces from china that has a shelf life of a few months then so be it but people need to know that we are slowly disappearing. I feel better now I have had that moaning session!
