I did a small town flea market last October. Only sold 4 small mosaics. Art is not appreciated in Mississippi.

A woman called me at XMAS wanting a mosaic for a friend. I heard her gasp when I said that my mosaics were worth $110 a square foot. I knew she wouldn't pay it before I said it. But, if I have to do a custom for somebody, they need to appreciate the work.

Thanks for the feedback. Yes, I've seen the same thing with people who make stained glass pieces too. No one seems to understand the amount of work involved in making them. This particular table top is for a friend. I'd told her it would cost "several hundred dollars" and she said she wasn't swayed by that price. My husband said $500, I was thinking $450. On Etsy, that seems to be the low water mark for something this size and complexity, they go up from there. I want to make it worth my time, but because she's a friend, I do want to charge something on the lower end of the range than if it were for a stranger.

If there is any chance of somebody else seeing your panel and wanting to hire you, come up with a full retail price. Tell your friend after the two of you have come to an agreement. This may eliminate difficult conversations with people who have no appreciation of skilled work and want big box store prices.

Yes, that's a really good point. I do want to give my friend a discount, but I don't want her telling a bunch of people I don't know how much she paid, then have others expect the same price for something similar. Yours is a good suggestion, thank you!