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When does a small imperfection add a unique and desirable mark of individuality to a homemade object? When does a mistake turn a potential masterpiece into something fit only to be thrown away?

There are no hard and fast rules. It all depends on the intention of the maker and the reaction of the person who receives the item as a gift, or is considering whether or not to buy it.

Some of my most treasured possessions are little gifts made by my children when they were small. Nobody else would consider these examples of craftwork beautiful, interesting or even useful, but to me they are priceless. The 'imperfections' remind me of the hard work and concentration that went into their creation, the sense of achievement their makers experienced, and the pride with which they were offered to me. A personalised gift, made with love, always has that extra something that money cannot buy.

On the other hand, when buying something from a stranger the most important consideration is quality. I always choose handmade rather than mass-produced items when I want something unique; but I also look for articles that have been made with care and skill. I am willing to overlook a tiny fault in an intricate pattern for example, but I am not going to waste my money on something that looks as though it's been made as quickly as possible, from the cheapest materials, and will soon fall to bits.

It's the personal touch in homemade crafts that make them so appealing. Many years ago I bought a beautiful pottery bowl. Close examination reveals that it is not exactly symmetrical, and on the base there is a faint impression of one of the potter's fingers. If the bowl had been produced in a factory it would probably have been rejected by the quality control department for being flawed. But when I see those imperfections I vividly remember meeting the potter and picking 'my' bowl from a selection of bowls - each one of which seemed to have its own distinctive character.

If you are a craftsperson you cannot be truly proud of a finished article unless you know it is your very best work. If you put the maximum amount of thought and effort into your creation you may well see imperfections that other people do not even notice. But don't let that worry you. Your slight 'mistake' is proof that you are human - not a machine. Perhaps your next creation will be even better. After all, practice makes perfect.

Learn more about this author, Lyn Dee.
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