On Wed, 26 Nov 2003 04:39:57 -0500 (EST), (Arch) wrote:

Hi Bill, Thanks for you thoughts and pics. You need not be nervous
about showing your work. The pieces are a pleasure to view. The biped
holder perhaps a little less so! I know the show will be a success
for you. Best, Arch

Fortiter,

well, I learned something today, the first day of that 3 day show. The
'cheaper' piece ,
http://users.starpower.net/extree/wood/PB235536.JPG
sold within an hour and a half at $245...ane the little piece at the
bottom right, which was just a flat section I had bandsawed off in the
mounting process and then polished, brought $20 soon after!..The woman
who got it said she was going to pierce the edges with a Dremel and add
thread or fiber windings and wear it as a necklace.

The only point of this is to note that there is a market for almost ANY
pretty piece of wood, and that it is terribly hard to answer Arch's
original question easily...since it took me 4-5 hours of hard work to
make that bowl, and the little flat slices took maybe 10-15 minutes
each..You do the math..*wry smile*.......I did learn long ago that
'perceived value' is the important thing....if a shiny piece of wood is
going to be used as jewelry by a woman, it is worth more than the same
thing made into a refrigerator magnet......

In the same way, turned items are *usually* of greater 'perceived value'
as art objects than as candy dishes...especially if they have
natural/rough edges or holes in the sides! Later in the day today, I
finally sold a few 'useful' bowls with solid edges......but I am aware I
always need to have some of both types available, as some people WANT
functional items and/or have a limited budget.

Maybe in a few more years, I'll write a treatise on pricing! (I HATE
pricing! I know now why many turners keep everything or just give stuff
away as gifts..
.....so, we shall see how it all goes for two more days.....