Mama you're just proving my point; to wit: the stuff you make is high quality goods, and should not be compared to the crap in the stores.

More and more, I'm pleased to say, we're seeing a return to people demanding quality---and being willing to pay for it. The whole artisan thing is based on that idea, that hand-crafted, quality products have intrinsic value.

I see that myself, with the custom cutting boards and chopping blocks I build. They are almost price insensitive. People are tired of paying a lot of money for the mass-produced, flat-grain boards that warp if you look at them cockeyed. As a result, they don't even blink at the prices I quote.

We make our own boards as well - much, much better and they last a lifetime.

I still have my great grams rolling pin from the 1800's - still looks great too! My great gramps made it for her.

I have my Mom's iron skillets that were her Mom's and Mom's granny's before that.

Just imagine all those wonderful meals they made filled with love - and now you have all that!!! And everything will taste better in them than in new ones - believe me. There is more to the "seasoning" of a cast iron pan - they are also seasoned with love and you can't tell me they aren't!

My hat is off to all of you!!! Excellent discussion full of wisdom and truth! Mama you could earn some smackaroos with your hand sewn items! The love with which we cook our meals, sew our seeds and tend our gardens, clean our home, make our crafts......whatever.............there is no way to acurately place a price tag on that! There is great satisfaction-- how do you sum that up money wise? Impossible..........enough said.