OK, show me where on the ticket machine I can insert CAYANNE FREAKING PEPPER to get my subway ticket in the morning.

Seriously, because that would be pretty freakin' cool.

You go, girl.

Hah, i so feel you. i am on a "hating my friends for their inconsideracies" thing now too.
It's been fueling me to write more and invariably that makes me feel better and defuses the head steam.
Still, i keep weighing the worth of what might "destroy friendships." Maybe it won't maybe, maybe it should, maybe i don't care anymore.

Oh my god I'd love to find someone who could alter a kilt for me. There is no one.

I don't dare. My buttons don't even stay on when I sew them.

I know what you mean. If it was someone I wasn't close with I'd go batshit, friendship be damned.
I think people assume that because I like to sew I don't mind doing it for other people for free all the time.
I did just text him to say "you want to pay me X. Divide that by seven and a half. And note how much lower than mimimum wage it is." So, we'll see.

I'd almost be happy with absurd trades in exchange for an alteration. Alteration on a kilt is cake. Just moving stuff around a bit.

This is an attempt to pay for a full custom kilt made-to-measure.

There are some things i won't do for friends any more unless i know it's for free like a gift or something i'd want to do anyway. And some friends i will never work with again, period, because they think they can push the line or be flaky.
i find i just flat line things in the business is business way now. Some people just need to be put straight. Some people are just rude and/or self absorbed nad i'm tired of being the only one who comes through.

Being disappointed is so disappointing, especially when you try your darnest to keep up your end.

god, and just the fabric for those things is astronomically expensive.

He provided fabric. I would have demanded at least the money for that upfront otherwise.

KD-

People that get upset that you won't do slave labor for them are not your friends and don't really apprciate your talent. I used to be a commercial artist/illustrator in a previous life and I occasionally get requests from people to do flyers/posters/business cards etc. My strict policy is: if it seems like a fun project and there's no pressure attached to it, I'll do it for free. Some people will not want accept free labor because they want more control, or have a deadline or whatever. If they want to pay me, then it's a commercial relationship and a price will be arrived based entirely on what I think is fair, generally that's expensive and I'm mostly just trying to get them to go away. I do this because I like doing the work but I hate doing the business part, and since I don't need the work, I'll make it worth the PIA factor. It pays to have a healthy amount of ego about your work, it can save you from being a victim.
If you are doing this as a business, make an agreement before any work is done about the payment schedule. If I were you, no one would take posession of any work untill it's paid for and they'll pay for the material up front. And charge by the hour, not by job or at least charge based on an estimate based on what you think is a proper amount of time. If someone needs something rushed, there's a charge for that, too. Anyone who won't agree to reasonable conditions isn't worth dealing with if you let them get away with it once they'll just come back and do it again.

well, is it at least a tartan that's easy to line up, and not one of those asymetrical ones?

I'm impressed with anyone who can even thread a sewing machine. I can't imagine not being grovelling-ly grateful for anything anyone ever sewed for me.

Kelly, alteration on a kilt is a Big Deal, and apparently it's so easy for you that you don't value it highly, or at least your friends don't. You sound like a freaking Sewing Goddess. Your friends should be buying you lavish gifts, and you should never have to buy your own drinks, ever.

I have a huge stack of stuff to hem, and curtains to make, and it's a huge pain. Come live in Maine and be my pal, and I will pay you in my own home-made Curry Powder. Much better currency than cayenne, any day.

Oh, no you don't. I bid yoghurt and honey. And olives.

Thanks everyone.... I'm much better today. A friend of mine called me and told me his halloween idea, which I'm so psyched about I could completely pee myself.

Taz- my local grocery has started stocking a Greek yogurt with a little packet of honey in it. It is so yummy I just can't stand it. Every time I eat it I think of that episode of AbFab where the local speciality involves licking yogurt and honey off a nubile. Mmmmm.