How can I politely respond to this request?

It also bears mentioning that other prizes were donated and she chose mine.

My guess is that she was pleased with your work wood-burning and chose you, as opposed to the actual prize.

I think you could probably stretch a bit and say something to the effect of “I donated the weaving because I have a large weaving commission and that’s what I’m currently set up for. However, because of our past relationship, I’d be willing to set that aside and do a wood-burning for you. Sorry, due to prior commitments that’s really all I can do at this time.”

I might do better, let me think on it.

As succinctly and politely as possible let her know that the stated prize was the weaving. Normally that would be the only choice available. However, you are willing to make an exception this one time only because she has previously appreciated your wood burning so much.

But due to time and available material constraints, that’s all you can do. Then, just to clarify, ask her if she still prefers the wood over the weaving.

That gets the point across without excessive detail. Don’t even mention your other skills or projects.

If she’s not a total dimwit, the “constraints” line should get the point across.

If she’s really dumb or annoying then result to stronger. But hopefully she will get the hint :)

@ibstubro put it well, I think. It’s possible to word this politely. Explain to this person you value your past interaction, but at the present time, you have more time to devote to weaving. You’re happy to do wood burning, but there really isn’t time to do other things.

Accept the compliment. This person believes you are talented, and they want to know what else you’re capable of.

You weave fabric? Wow. I’m coming to your house for the apocalypse.

A little. I do warp-faced bands – good for purse straps and guitar straps and decoration on garments. I want to build a warp-weighted loom so I can do actual fabric yardage too.

You could give her a menu of choices, but offer what you actually consider equivalent, which does not have to be the equivalent money rate you would charge to someone paying cash. It would also not be impolite to just say “2 yards of weaving or X inches of wood burning”. But maybe you would not find it a problem to offer other things you do, if you set the amount to something that to you seems equivalent, including your willingness. So, if you could do something else but would rather not, offer only a little bit of it as an option – whatever you really wouldn’t more annoying that doing the 2 yards of weaving.

Was there a formal announcement of the prize somewhere? Where did she see the notice from which she chose your prize? Point her to that and remind her that that’s what you offered and that’s what you agreed to, and providing substitutions is outside your intent.

In other words, don’t say what you won’t do. Say what you will do.

If it were me i’d respond directly to the question thusly, “I can do bunny shadows”
That’s just me though.

Great advice above.
A way to avoid future endeavors for this type of thing, might be in saying: I so appreciate your choosing my works for various purposes, however, my heart just isn’t into other projects (add right now if you might, later at some point). I’m trying to create what my heart is about, at this point. And stick to it.
I dislike being stuck into a task by another’s insistence.
It must be beautiful works that you create. They sound like they are your heart’s visions.
Good for you!

I haven’t read all of the responses, so maybe I’m going over ground that’s already been plowed, but here goes, anyway.

Instead of viewing the request negatively, as if someone is attempting to weasel something out of you that you don’t want to part with, perhaps there is a way to view this in a more positive light as a jumping-off point to negotiating future commissions or sales. Maybe even development (more or less at someone else’s expense, even though the only ‘expense’ to the other person is “Here is your free prize; I hope you like it, but I think it’s a horrible first attempt at… bunny shadows, or whatever.”) of a whole new crafting area for you.

(Okay, I admit it. I read @ucme‘s response, because I often like them.)

What do you do that you would like to do in a business type relationship? What craft work would you like to sell (to this person or to some other)? Or what craft would you like to take a whole new crack at, but just haven’t made the investment of time or materials to attempt yet? (And whatever investment you make now – whether the person likes it or not after it’s complete – would constitute the “prize donation” you already agreed to.)

I would keep it short and friendly. “Hey Mary, I donated a certificate good for two yards of hand-woven fabric trim but for you, because of our past connection, I am willing to provide an equivalent value of wood-burning instead of trim. I wish I could do other things for you but I’m unable to at this time.”

I would just say I’m glad you won the weaving prize and I’m sorry I can’t offer a substitute. It’s a bit blunt but the lady is pushing her luck.

The reason I worded it the way I did was because @Seek said she wanted to keep it polite, and also she seems to have a past connection to this woman, so bluntness seemed a little, well, ”blunt.”

@jca

You’re right. There’s no sense using a blunt approach when a little finesse will do the job nicely.

Plus it’s obvious that this lady really likes @Seek‘s work so there’s no sense insulting her.

A little appreciation for her previous enjoyment of the woodburning doesn’t do any harm. And if it precedes the limitation, it kind of makes it a little easier all around.

Only resort to bluntness if she turns out to be a total dimwit who can’t take a hint :)

I’m flattered you like my work, but the reason I offered the weaving prize is because I have the time within my workload to fulfill that pledge. I said I’d do the wood burning because of our past interactions, but I can’t offer any other substitutions. I just don’t have the capacity within my schedule.

That’s what I’d say.

Thanks everyone. Here was my response:

“I did donate the (I believe it was 2 yards) of inkle weaving, and we talked about trading for wood-burning, because you had been pleased with my work on your crossbow. I’d be happy to do either for you, but I’m not really available for anything else at the moment, what with Christmas and BARF coming up.”

(BARF is the local Renaissance Festival, where I have part-share in a booth and work with a couple of other people)

Crap.

“Honey, no problem. We can do stuff after Christmas. I just wanted to know what other talents you had.”

I’m not good at this whole human interaction thing. Like, I want to make things and sell them, I just don’t want actual customers that have, like, requests and junk.

BARF takes me all the way to April, though… so there’s that.

I don’t budge on that stuff unless it is something I have lying around already. My time is precious. I would absolutely NOT make something new for a freebie. You should tell her that you donated that prize because you had that in stock already and you aren’t willing to undertake ‘new’ work because that wasn’t what you donated. If you had donated ‘a work of custom art made to order’ then, you would be obliged, but you didn’t. Just let her know that the prize is not for a custom order, but for what you originally stated. If she wants a custom order, then perhaps invite her to discuss what you might be able to do for her after April, but for a price.

I’d just leave it at that, unless she presses you further. She obviously likes you and you’re dangerously close to damaging that.

What are you going to have in your BARF booth? Is it possible that she just select something then, if she’s in no hurry? Time and materials, she’s in what? $60–75 range?

If you’re going to have some variety in your booth, you might suggest that – a specified amount of credit at the booth. Make it kind of ultimatimish.
“I’m concerned that if we don’t do it (very) soon, that I won’t have the time until I’ve recovered from BARF – some time in April.
If she seems amenable to that, then spring the booth credit on her and forget about it.

Totally off subject but just out of curiosity, was that crossbow a working model? There not being much of a market for crossbows, I am guessing that it was the product of somebody else’s project.

We’re both in the same medieval reenacting club. This was a toy crossbow, but I do know people that make the real thing.

Maybe she’s willing to pay for your work. Are you open to it then? If not, make it clear now that you’re not available for any kind of work.

I think it’s very good of you to be flexible at all @Seek. You don’t owe this person anything. Even if you know her and you’ve done work for her before, you made a commitment to one thing and you’ve already been flexible about that. I think your response was fine.

@Seek

Speaking of Weaving:

There’s a program on my DVR which I have set to automatically record each week and I just watched the one for today and it was an interview/demonstration with Juanita Holstrom, a professional weaver. At one point she takes Eric, the host, into her studio and it’s wall to wall looms of all sorts. It looked like weaver’s heaven; it was so impressive.

It was on my local station and depending upon their choices might be available in your area as well. The title is “A Craftsman’s Legacy”.

If your local PBS doesn’t carry it, I’m sure you can find it online somewhere.

Others following this thread may enjoy it as well since it features a wide variety of artisans/craftspeople of all types.

In addition to their website, they’re on Facebook, have their own YouTube channel, and apparently www.tvguide.com has episodes from both seasons available to watch online (not sure whether free or not).

In addition to this weeks focus on weaving, they’ve done episodes with a stained glass maker, a woodworker, a metal engraver and numerous other artisans/craftspeople.

Anyhow, I think you’d really enjoy it so here’s the main website for starters and I’m sure you can find it online somewhere (since it is PBS rather then regular commercial TV.) Happy hunting.

www.craftsmanslegacy.com