Does it really...

...make a difference?

Using expensive or cheap craft tools; that is.

From a personal point of view, I have to say, if it means the difference between being able to craft or not...I will happily make do with my £ store bargain or Charity shop find. Afterall, when pennies are limited I'm sure most of us would rather spend them on lovely materials to actually make something with.

But...!!!

If we are all honest, isn't there a 'feel good' factor to being able to reach for a nice craft tool.

I have loads of pairs of scissors - although you would never believe it when I actually need to use a pair LOL - and amongst my collection I have ones from bargain stores (they do their job), some slightly dearer ones that I bought because they had pretty handles or came in pretty colours and my dearer craft specific ones (my Tim Holtz, X-Cut and Fiskars ones).

Did I really need to buy the Tim Holtz ones?

Yes - after trying a pair that belong to a friend I realised how much better the handles were, especially when needing to do a fair amount of cutting, and the non-stick coating seems to make them cut more smoothly (they were also on promotion in a store that I visited so it would have been rude to pass up on a super low price). However, I would not want to misplace them or allow them to be used by folk for any other purpose. On the other hand, I have some small very sharp non-stick scissors that came from a supermarket. They only cost a couple of pounds and whilst I wouldn't want to lose them, I don't think I would fret too much.

I have all manner of crafting tools and they have been sourced from a multitude of places but it is still 'nice' to have some that are a bit more special...

 I have quite a lot of crochet hooks and most of them are those dull grey metal ones but I do have a few coloured plastic ones to throw into the mix. That didn't stop me drooling over a new range of items that one of my local craft stores started to stock.

Take a look at this lovely case that comes complete with hooks in 15 different sizes and still has space to add more if you wish...

 ...and this little dumpling case containing stitch/row markers...

 ...well I have to say, the temptation was just too much - what is a girl supposed to do, especially when she has a completed loyalty card just waiting to be used...

...yes, I couldn't resist and I now have both items in this beautiful teal colour scheme. They were not cheap (the cases are made from silk fabric) but they are beautifully made and they make me smile when I reach to use them. They are something special...a treat...and I just love them. Are they any better than my boring grey hooks in their plastic box or the nappy-pins that I have been using as markers - no, probably not but they make me feel good. There is a 'touchy-feeliness' about them that makes them a pleasure to use and isn't that part of the reason why we craft - the enjoyment?

I also have a veeeeeeeeeeeeery large collection of knitting needles. Some were given to me by my Gran, some by my Mum...many were freebies with magazines. Over the years I have added numerous pairs myself (often because I needed a particular size and all the ones I had were in use on UFOs **unfinished objects**). I do have a couple of pairs of beautiful carved wooden needles that I picked up at a craft show many years ago...

...these are a treasured possession. Like the crochet hooks, they don't work any better than any of my other needles but they 'feel nice'.

I suppose I could go through all my crafting tools and identify a general mix of cheaper items and some more considered purchases...does this change whether they do their job - no!

I see no purpose in throwing away money on cheap items if they don't work, but then again, why pay lots of money just for a brand or current trend. Balance is important. None of us have money to throw away these days so sometimes buying cheap can be a false economy but then again we don't want to blow all our available cash on something that we would then be frightened to use in case we 'spoilt' it.

Bog standard work horses will let us endulge in our crafts but go on...admit it...it does feel good to have a few 'special' items in our tool boxes..................................................................