Magazine Project Madness!

As a keen crafter I read a lot of magazines that feature hints, tips and projects for you to make and sell. Most of the time I think these magazines are fantastic. Incredible. Extremely relevant and useful. However, there is one part of these magazines that I have occasionally doubted. I have given them the benefit of the doubt up until now. But in the latest issue of one of my favourite craft magazines was a feature that made me think "Ok, enough is enough! I must speak up about this and find out if I am the only one who feels like this!"

What am I talking about? The projects featured in these magazines. You know the ones: "Make this for £X and sell it for £Y". Sometimes I think "But no one would pay that much for that project". At this point I should probably point out that I live in the North East where generally everything costs less than in other areas of the country. Which is why up until now I have given these projects the benefit of the doubt, because maybe people who live in London, for example, would pay that much for that project because the cost of living is higher there. 

So why have I changed my mind? I changed my mind because of a project in the latest episode of a craft magazine. This project made me shake my head and check that I had read it correctly. I had. But I still couldn't believe my eyes...

This project was telling you to paint pebbles so that they resembled bugs and then sell them in sets of five... FOR £15!!!

WHAT?! 

Painted pebbles... Now to me that sounds like a great project to do with the kids. A fantastic rainy day activity, something to keep the little ones busy. But they are seriously suggesting that you paint loads of these, split them into groups of five and take them to a craft fair. Then sell them for £15 a set!? If I did that around here I would be laughed out of the building! We are in a double dip recession! Surely I can't be the only one that thinks this?Would you pay £15 for five pebbles painted to look like bugs?

I want to finish by saying that I do honestly love these magazines, they advise and inspire thousands of crafters but I feel that some of these projects need a dose of reality! Let me know what you think =)

Hayley x