You don't sound bitchy, it's just a decision that we each make separately as bookwrym said.

For myself, I'm kind of with you. There are a fair number of really good corsetmakers out there these days who all have different interests, so there's no shortage of people ready and willing to take a commission that you aren't... If you're fortunate enough to be in a position where you can focus on your interests and turn down orders that don't capture your imagination then why wouldn't you? Yes, there's nothing to stop someone doing whatever they like with your work once it's theirs (not just alterations, but breaking it apart to look at the construction and all sorts), but that doesn't mean that you have to like or invite it

So for me, I don't take commissions on plain pieces for someone to embellish after the fact (except on rare occasions when it's just the addition of crystals and I trust that person's abilities). If they want a very plain corset for that purpose then there are other brands they'd be better suited to working with. I want to create things for people who chose to work with me *for* my aesthetic, not despite it. It isn't about being bitchy or snobby, it's about recognising where you want to be within the market and sticking to that goal.

One-woman businesses (especially artistic ones) do not have to be all things to all people. If we want to specialise and restrict the type of work we put our name to, we can. Whats more, I personally think the industry as a whole ends up more creative and interesting when we do.

I don't think you sound bitchy at all, just selective and there's nothing wrong with that! Your clarification about the painting across the front made me think I'd probably make the same decision as you not to accept the commissions in the first place. And you said to see that done would break your heart, and doing something that will result in a broken heart is never a good thing.

I've occasionally had performers who have ordered pieces from me ask further down the line if I minded them applying rhinestones to their corset and I've always been a little shocked that they'd ask my "permission" to do so. It is a nice gesture though, taking the previous opinions on this thread into account. Working with performers, I almost always know they have no intention of keeping their corsets crystal-free, but they usually don't have the budget to have me do it for them. I just make the simple designs as beautifully as I can and hope the best for their fine motor skills and aesthetic sense!