Another rant, and now I'm really sad.

[mommomrebecca]

O.K. I feel like every one is picking on me. (Not here.) Someone totally stole some original ideas from me and left me crushed, and now, inspired by the thread asking for doll hair, I went over to mdc to see if I could find dollmaking chitchat to cheer myself up, and discovered by own business being discussed and accused of being "too pricey."

And for the record, the dolls my sister and I make are completely original (with the nursing magnets, I haven't found anyone else who does that) and take hours upon hours to create, as anyone knows who has attempted dollmaking. And our prices are practically HALF what other people charge. HALF. And we price them that way because we care more about kids having great dolls to keep forever and play with than making a ton of money. We love it, and it makes us happy to know children take our dolls to bed with them at night. So there.

[nyllek]

:hug Don't let the meanies get you down.

[RufusBeans]

I think your dolls are underpriced :butterfly :hug

[twirlgirl]

screw the meanies
its the same as hearing people balk at the cost of say longies. They have no idea how long it takes to make them!
Dolls, especially nice ones are very time consuming and require the skill to make them.

so brush off those bad vibes and smile!
remember what your mama taught you...those that talk like that are just jealous of you!

or use a variation of Pam's come back... "make your own damn dolls"

[blueskymama]

:mwah I think your dolls are really cute. People who have never made dolls just don't understand how much time is involved. Don't let 1 or 2 people let you down.

[jessanddanny]

That's awful...some women are just nasty when they're actually jealous that THEY can't do what you can!! You do awesome work...don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

[Sabrina]

I absolutely love your dolls! I only wish I had been able to get a set for xmas, Lila and Amia would have loved them. I think they are so beautiful and I love the magnet idea. :)

I agree w/Kelly. Don't let the meanies get you down!

[Susan_WW]

:hug I'm so sorry mama! I think your dolls are beautiful and well worth the money :)

[imonion]

{{{Rebecca}}} people are just mean sometimes, and like others have said, maybe some is from jealousy?? You do awesome work and your dolls are beautiful!

[mommomrebecca]

Thanks, Mamas :grouphug

I had some chocolate truffles and calmed down a bit. It's just hard to put your heart into something and know you're being paid like $2 an hour or something ridiculous like that or even less and then have someone say you're not even worth that? It's exactly the longies thing you all know so well.

And I love the make your own damn dolls :getu comment!

[cozystitches]

Hey Rebecca,

I'm sorry for the meanies..besides..I heard mdc mama's (not those who are here mind you) can be VERY mean!

I do want to say, that I had originally thought ALL waldorf type dolls were way over priced, :yikes BUT then I started making ONE for my dd. Oh MY GOODNESS! I now totally understand why these dolls are so expensive. My doll is taking me FOREVER and it does not (by any stretch of the imagination) look near as good as the ones I've seen.

So..I say :moon to the meanies and just enjoy yourself. I get mad at people who say my yarn crafts should be priced a $5 for 10+hrs of work...GRRRRR

Hugs,
tammy

[pmcgary]

You get what you pay for - so if they want el cheapo dolls that is what they will get.....from someone who is less of an "artist" than you!

I must say I have not been impressed by the comments regarding MDC....I know there are probably all sorts of good things going in too....but it just seems so, well CATTY......
I will just stay over here and chat away wiht NICE mamas - who actually think about the fact that there is a person with feelings behind comments they may be making.

[ravingcutie]

I'm so sorry they don't appreciate your hard work. I gotta go see your dollies now! Call me dumb, but I've never followed your link or had the privilege to see your dolls.

<skipping off to see rebecca's beautiful dolls>

[Ruth]

I second that Pam, we don't really have an equivalent to mothering magazine here and from the one copy I've seen it seems like it's a bit militant in the way it pushes ideas across - I'm all for open forums and freedom of speech and everyone is entitled to their own ideas and information to make their choices but you shouldn't push your own ideas down other people's throats. So I shan't be going to MDC, I really like WWF because it has a purpose and everyone here is really nice and supportive whether it's stuff regarding knitting or personal issues. Thanks for being there guys :grouphug .

And Rebecca I really like your dolls - we don't really have anything like that here either and when my dd is a little older I will definitely want one for her. Don't listen to the meanies :getu .

[blueskymama]

I think the mama who made that comment just edited her post on mdc.

[marnie]

i saw a waldorf style doll, in a footed-jammies type of outfit with hood (no hair) in local store. it was about 10", adorable, very well made, and $96.

far too rich for my blood, but the owner said she can't keep them in stock.

you charge what you think you're worth, period. someone will buy it, someone won't.

[botannie]

Yeah, I feel like should come clean here. The person who made the comment was me. I actually was trying to recommend her dolls, but I think it came out the wrong way. (The mom was looking for low cost dolls) What I said was that where's waldorf made beautiful dolls, but they are abuit pricey -if you are looking for low cost dolls. Anyway, I edited the thread, and apologized privately to Rebecca. I certainly wasn't trying to put down her business or undervalue her work. Ok, I feel like crap now. I don't even know why I'm admitting this - I guess I'm just feeling really attacked without anyone hearing my side of the story.

~annie
(where is the running away and hiding your head in shame smilie when you need it)

[ravingcutie]

I just got two of Rebecca's gnomes for my girls stockings. Your dolls are beautiful!

I think I'm going to call them dwarves. Dh & I are reading the Hobbit aloud to the girls. The wooly bearded gnomes are just perfect "dwarves"!

[stormintheattic]

Anyone who's ever even attempted to make a doll should know that all your stuff is WAY underpriced and so beautifully made!

I keep going to your store and hoping that the "Faires- coming soon" sign has been replaced by some actual fairies! I cannot wait!

Oh and if I ever strike it rich I want a custom made sliging dark haired daddy with a blond boy toddler & a redhead dreadlock mommy with a darkhaired blue eyed little girl....o to dream...

[RufusBeans]

:hug Annie

[pamelamama]

Mamas, it always comes back to the same ol' thing.. we're all just trying to do our best for our kids and families.

I for one, LOVE MDC and must remind you that mamas there are pretty much the same as mamas here! We mostly came from there, you know! IF not for MDC I would not have found my wonderful loving local mamas group, I wouldn't have had my success with cloth diapering, I wouldn't have great resources and support for babywearing and gentle discipline... the list goes on.

So don't forget your empathy when something someone says gets you irked. Try to hear what's behind their words.

Rebecca, I am hearing you say you need appreciation for the hard work and creativity you've put forth? Well, I 'll say that not only is your doll work lovely, IMO, but your presence on this board brings great energy, light and humor!! You rock, mama!!

Now everybody Lay OFF MDC!!! :getu

I am glad everyone likes this new smilie. ;)

:heart Pam :heart

(It's my forum I can be preachy if I want to.)

[indiegirl]

Ok, I haven't read this thread so excuse me if I repeat anything.

First of all, I just looked at your dolls yesterday for the first time. They are amazing and I am totally inspired. Here is my train of thought whilst visiting your site and after I left:

1. I'd like to purchase a doll for Violet
2. Waldorf dolls are expensive, wood toys are expensive, I wish I had lots of money to get rid of all our plastic today and deck my kids room out in pure Waldorf-type stuff
3. Your stuff is less expensive than Joys Waldorf Dolls
4. I wonder if I can make a Waldorf doll

Your stuff is beautiful and well-priced. People want heirloom quality stuff but are not willing to pay for it.

I'm sorry someone stole your idea.

Jesse

[Susan_WW]

I just tool a look at these:

http://www.whereswaldorf.com/Dolls/FT/fairytale.html

And now I want one of each for dd for Christmas! They are just toooooo cute :love

[mommomrebecca]

No hard fellings, Annie.
I had no idea with the different username, as I am not a regular at mdc and was just feeling hurt, I didn't mean to be a troublemaker. I don't think you are an evil person or a mean one, or anyone else at mdc. I enjoy chatting with everyone here and have gotten a lot of good advice at mdc. I already know you all appreciate the work we put into our nursing dolls, as we have made several for wwf Mamas! I thank you all for your support as always. I just counted up how many custom dolls we have made since Nov.1...nearing 50! So anyway, no biggie, no worries.

[Ruth]

Now I feel really bad for the things I said about MDC. Sorry guys - each to their own. I wasn't trying to insult anybody Pam, I think we have a slightly different approach to these things here though - it's not for nothing that we Brits have a reputation for being reserved you know :stern: this could be my 'stiff upper lip' smilie LOL.

[pamelamama]

Ruth: :hug No worries! :pink :heart :cheer

[botannie]

Rebecca- I'm glad you're feeling better. :hug As for me, I think this is my clue that maybe I'm spending way too much time on the computer and maybe I should take a break for awhile. Its just too hard to handle being called names like that when you are 35 weeks pregnant and very emotional. Especially when nobody even saw what I really said.

Aloha (for now..)
Annie

[pamelamama]

Annie, I think people were just quickly jumping in to support Rebecca... not meaning to hurt your feelings at all! :hug

[pmcgary]

I think the whole issue of "cost" can be touchie...I mean a can't afford a lot of pricey things....but tht doesn't mean that they aren't good...and well worth the money (that I don't have - but wish I did)

It is also very hard to get points across when all you have is the keyboard. Sometimes things get misunderstood...esp. out of context.....

I think maybe there is something in the air too b/c I am having "hassles" with one of my other lists too....The group got reprimanded by a mod. for off topic stuff....And I get touchy b/c it appears that it is only my OT posts that get the nasty....So I go lick my wounds and in a few days return....

[blueskymama]

I think its time for a :grouphug :grouphug :grouphug

[mommomrebecca]

:grouphug Please don't go, Annie, now that I've cooled off a lot I can completely understand how hard it is to be on your end of it. Everyone was making comments about an anonymous random person, and not about you or meaning to hurt you. The last thing I want to do is upset a pregnant Mama!

[Quinlonsma]

Annie :heart that is sooo something I would do! Last Xmas my sister in law told me she had sewn her dress herself and I said "Wow! It's beautiful! It doesn't look like you made it at all!!" Meaning of course that it looked SO WELL MAdE it looked professional but.... when her sweet face fell I realized the mis wording and apologized and explained and kept explaining until she laughed but still.... I'm almost known for it. Anway, it's wonderful that you were referring her products to others and perhaps the fairies of irony will grace your beautiful unborn with one of these dolls one day =)

[Jewel]

I just wanted to say I am new to this board and I think everyone is just wonderful here as I am sure they are at MDC. I have not had the pleasure of going to MDC yet only because I am new to this whole diapering thing (I am a recent first time grandmother) and I have just learned about MDC through this board. It is so easy when typing to be taken the wrong way. Rebecca and Annie my heart goes out to both of you ladies.
Annie please don't go.
We love you both ladies.

[mommomrebecca]

Yeah, and I've had MUCH worse said about me. A couple months after I had Eleanor, I was carrying a newborn even, some woman looked at me surprised and said "You're having another already, when are you due?" And all I could say was no, I'm not, very quietly. That was devastating. So at least you weren't telling people I look pregnant or something. :bigups:

[meco]

Ok, I came late :snow And I am glad you are feeling better, Rebecca. And Annie, I am sorry you were misunderstood. That can be tough in and of itself. Especially when you meant no harm. :D

I think MDC Rocks too. :D

**********
So.....because something is handmade, one of a kind, homemade and orginal it is pricey?

But a plastic, light up, mass produced, made in China toy that costs the same is a great deal? You pay for quality. You may for the fact the one woman sat and HANDCRAFTED something.

They should be comparing it to other art, because that is what it is--not merely a doll. And compared to other pieces of art, I would say it is a BARGAIN price.

Some people are insensitive, rude and inconsiderate. I thought that nursing doll was simply divine. I want my son to have one. In fact, I want to buy one and go there and rave about the DEAL I got on your doll, how it is worth far more than money (really isn't a nursing doll priceless nowadays?) and how special it is.