Have any of you turned a hobby into a business?

[awakenedsoul]

I was wondering if any of you have turned a hobby into a business. I began selling some of my hand knit items in December, and it's really going well. I opened a business account at the credit union, and began taking orders. I always wanted a home based business in mail order, and this fits the bill! I can do the knitting in my cottage or out in my orchard. It's peaceful, quiet, and comfortable. I ride my bike three miles to the post office, and send off the packages. So far socks and sweaters have been the most popular items. I charge three times the cost of the materials, and use high end yarn. I buy the yarn when it's on close-out or clearance. What used to cost me money is now making me money! How about you?

[Sad Eyed Lady]

Wow that's wonderful awakenedsoul. I too knit, but don't think anyone would pay for my socks, and so far I haven't tackled a sweater! Do you sell them online? I've had a couple of hobbies that I've made a little money doing. The first one was writing. I had a friend who was a very good writer and had things published in some well known magazines, then one day she told me the way she really made her money was she wrote, (on a regular, on-going basis), for romance magazines. Remember, True Store, True Confessions, etc.? She encouraged me to give it a try. I wrote my first story and took it to her for critique and I asked her if she thought it was "too hokey". I remember her reply was "it's just about hokey enough to sell.". So, I sent it in, it sold and I was hooked. For about 5 years, off and on, I wrote these stories. I didn't deal in the sleaze that some did, tried to have a good point to my story, (I tackled subjects like homelessness, obesity, and so on), and enjoyed it till the market really dwindled. The other hobby has been selling things on ebay. I started out selling some things to get rid of stuff in the house, and after awhile I was looking around at other places for things to buy that I could resale on ebay. I don't guess you would really call it a business at my low volume but it feels like it sometimes when I am packing and shipping.

[gimmethesimplelife]

AW I love it! What a peaceful and pleasant way to make some side money and on your own terms. I think one of the good things about the economic downturn is that more people will end out doing things similar to what you have posted here but I'm betting not all will have the gratitude and great attitude about it. More power to you! Rob

[awakenedsoul]

Sad Eyed Lady,
I love your story about writing! That's great. Your friend's comment was funny. I used to write for a magazine, too. I made about $300. a month in extra money. It really helped me, financially. Plus it gave me a nice portfolio. I loved how I could work in my pajamas and just hit "send" on my computer. I'm looking into self publishing a book, too. The magazine I was writing for went out of business. But, it was several years of great, inspiring work. I loved the other writers. They were excellent.
gimmethesimplelife,
Yes, exactly. It feels good to use your inner talents. I think I would also like being a personal chef. You're right, attitude is everything. My body feels much healthier and energized when I make a conscious decision to avoid negative patterns and people.

I haven't been selling on line. I've given them to a few people as gifts, and then they've ordered several more pair. My customers are wealthy. They will pay for the cashmere and alpaca items. I find the yarn on EBay and at sales. I've always had "champagne taste on a beer income" so it's fun. It keeps me busy and that way I don't waste time, energy, or money. Although I should be better about my housekeeping...

[Kestra]

I'm working on it but I haven't made any money yet as I'm mostly in the business development phase right now. I want to take my loves of spreadsheets, charts, technology, money management, telling people what I think, teaching, writing, editing, and helping people and become a personal money coach. I'm working on a website to start with, but there's a whole bunch of elements in my eventual goal.

I'm also trying to use my dietary requirements and love of eating + laziness of cooking and develop a food blog with restaurant reviews and super easy recipes. Also no money from that yet.

I've only been working seriously on these things since January and still have a day job. But I'm making progress. Even though I'm not currently paid I treat these activities like a business. I've never felt so great about my life as I do now - working so much on my own projects. I think I'm the type of person who is much better off working for themselves.

[nswef]

Awakened soul, Profit can be used to hire cleaners!!!! Neat that you get to work with beautiful yarn, send it off and people pay! Congratulations.

[Kestra]

And awakenedsoul that's a great story about the knitting. You must knit a lot. I think it took my almost a year to finish a pair of socks.

[CeciliaW]

There's a lot of discussion on different 'maker' forums that I'm on about how to price your work.

The general consensus, if you want to make a profit/living from your efforts, has been to triple your materials and add in your hourly rate. This is from people who do make a living making things.

There are tons of people on Etsy selling stuff for double the cost of materials, which is pretty much a sure fire way to make sure you can't continue doing this because that's basically just feeding a hobby.

Of course you have to balance things like your time and enjoyment against making less than minimum wage and whether or not your hands/wrists will hold up to the increased sales.

It is possible to charge a fair price and make fewer items, thereby insuring that you can continue doing this for a while instead of wearing out your body and your joy trying to turn out too many items at too low a price.

It sounds like a good thing, so enjoy!

[CeciliaW]

PS.. the house and it's need for cleaning, will always be there. Cleaning is endless, thankless work. :)

[awakenedsoul]

Thanks for all the replies. You've got me giggling.
nswef: Great idea! But, I'm too cheap. I used to keep a beautiful home, so I need to put in a couple hours a day on cleaning and get back to that discipline.
Kestra: That sounds good. You're smart to start while keeping your day job. It really makes a difference to treat it like a business. Yeah, I do knit a lot. I feel like I've done it before. I work on socks all the time, so I'm getting faster. I got it down to a week, and now I can do them in a few days. (if I have to...but I don't. I don't like to be rushed.) I do a basic pattern and buy gorgeous hand painted yarn from Eastern Europe. The yarn makes all the difference.
CeciliaW: Thanks. I do it more for extra money. Fortunately, I have enough money for my expenses. I live on $20,000. a year. I don't feel worn out, but I balance it with other things: exercise, farming, housework, and reading/writing. My prices are high, but I'm getting what I ask: $70.00 for a pair of socks, $300. for a cableknit sweater. Some of my customers tip me, too! So, it's just fun and exciting for me. I've always had little side jobs like this that give me cash flow.

Now, I'm going to clean my kitchen, mop the floors, and put the clean sheets back on my bed!

[CeciliaW]

awakened soul

Well done! You are charging what the work is worth.

[iris lilies]

DH does carpentry and light construction for his full time job. He taught himself everything when he was living on the farm with his parents. And then he renovated the house we are living in to sharpen his skills. He has a degree in horticulture and worked in the plant sciences for a while, but he went out on his own some years ago in this little business and has never lacked for customers. Some of our friends with big old houses and no skills begged him to go into business so that they could hire him. 15 years later, they are still keeping him busy.

[iris lilies]

Wow that's wonderful awakenedsoul. I too knit, but don't think anyone would pay for my socks, and so far I haven't tackled a sweater! Do you sell them online? I've had a couple of hobbies that I've made a little money doing. The first one was writing. I had a friend who was a very good writer and had things published in some well known magazines, then one day she told me the way she really made her money was she wrote, (on a regular, on-going basis), for romance magazines. Remember, True Store, True Confessions, etc.? She encouraged me to give it a try. I wrote my first story and took it to her for critique and I asked her if she thought it was "too hokey". I remember her reply was "it's just about hokey enough to sell.". So, I sent it in, it sold and I was hooked. For about 5 years, off and on, I wrote these stories. I didn't deal in the sleaze that some did, tried to have a good point to my story, (I tackled subjects like homelessness, obesity, and so on), and enjoyed it till the market really dwindled. The other hobby has been selling things on ebay. I started out selling some things to get rid of stuff in the house, and after awhile I was looking around at other places for things to buy that I could resale on ebay. I don't guess you would really call it a business at my low volume but it feels like it sometimes when I am packing and shipping.

I love that you did this! And I wondered how those True Confessions type magazines were doing these days.

[ToomuchStuff]

I've done things that I enjoyed for me (hobbies) where people wanted to and did pay me. My experience went the opposite way, to the point that things that relaxed me, no longer did, because I was working on other peoples problems. At one point, a hobby I enjoyed, became a personal necessity, and then became a job. (ended up working 7 days a week for a three years, with 9 days off total)
During that time, I had someone else trying to hire me for something else. I had no life.

[SiouzQ.]

I am in the middle of trying to build up my jewelry business (if interested, go to Taliswoman@SiouxStudio on FaceBook). There is so much I don't know and need to work on with the actual business end of it, like finding galleries, art/craft fairs, whether to do only wholesale or a mix of wholesale and retail, how much time and money I can and need to put into it...so many things to consider, like eventually building a real website, marketing, taxes, etc, etc. Meanwhile, I have my day job at Whole Foods (who could potentially become a vendor). My big thing now is trying to cut production time and keep my material costs low; I am still working on pricing and what the market for my pieces might bear.

In a perfect dream world, what I really would love is to be able to do is hire someone to do the business end of it ~ what I really enjoy is being the designer and making the prototypes that could then be manufactured by someone else! One can dream. I cannot leave my day job at this point, but I have the idea that someday in the far future I could go down to part-time so I could spend more time on this business. I am working towards that end by having a housemate so I can pay off my debts faster and build up my savings fund.

[Selah]

SiouzQ, I have been following your Facebook posts for your business and want to congratulate you for hanging in there and doing your work! Don't beat yourself up for not going more quickly...you've accomplished far more than I have and many others, all while dealing with a demanding job and tough Michigan winters. One thing I would suggest for you to help you get a few pieces in place is to use sites like Fiverr.com or 3 to 30.com for getting great web designers, SEO mavens, graphic designs, and so on. You could even hire a virtual assistant in India to do the legwork with contacting galleries, helping you put together a press package, and so on. Some of the Indian VA companies charge as little as $40 a week for ten hours of professional help.

[gimmethesimplelife]

I am in the middle of trying to build up my jewelry business (if interested, go to Taliswoman@SiouxStudio on FaceBook). There is so much I don't know and need to work on with the actual business end of it, like finding galleries, art/craft fairs, whether to do only wholesale or a mix of wholesale and retail, how much time and money I can and need to put into it...so many things to consider, like eventually building a real website, marketing, taxes, etc, etc. Meanwhile, I have my day job at Whole Foods (who could potentially become a vendor). My big thing now is trying to cut production time and keep my material costs low; I am still working on pricing and what the market for my pieces might bear.

In a perfect dream world, what I really would love is to be able to do is hire someone to do the business end of it ~ what I really enjoy is being the designer and making the prototypes that could then be manufactured by someone else! One can dream. I cannot leave my day job at this point, but I have the idea that someday in the far future I could go down to part-time so I could spend more time on this business. I am working towards that end by having a housemate so I can pay off my debts faster and build up my savings fund.More power to you! I really mean it! More power to you! I have read your posts of trying to get your body to adjust to the schedule that your employer requires of you and here you are taking matters into your own hands in a very positive way by working on a way to bring in income on your own terms - good for you. I look forward to your posts of victories and challenges on the road ahead. Rob

[awakenedsoul]

awakened soul

Well done! You are charging what the work is worth.

Thanks Cecilia. I'm happy with it. The customers are returning, so that's encouraging.

[awakenedsoul]

iris lilies: That's fantastic! That's what I'm talking about. A hobby into a business into right livelihood. Wow! Life is much more enjoyable when you are passionate and enthusiastic about your work.
Toomuchstuff: I know what you mean. I've heard other people say that, too. If you're overworked it's stressful.
SiouzQ.: Good luck with the jewelry business! It sounds like you are taking the steps to make it happen. I like your idea of hiring someone to do the business end of it, since you like the artistic side.

[Float On]

Awakenedsoul, since you were last posting here we have closed our art studio business, sold off our equipment, and shut it down after 27 years of making glass. We NEVER considered it a hobby. It was business all the way, but something we loved. We were 70% wholesale and 30% retail in our most busy years. Currently I have a lot of scrap glass that I would say is still in "hobby" status. I break up old pieces that didn't make it, re kiln them and create jewelry and a few wall hangings. I have a couple of galleries and I'll probably re-open the Etsy site (which is where I was found by these galleries). I was asked by my knitting group if I'd make some buttons out of our glass so I'm excited to give that a go. This has a limited life span because I only have what glass scraps I have unless we rent time in someone else's hot shop or I buy scrap from another hot glass artist. My photography hobby (I taught myself so I could get the jury and product shots I wanted of our glass) has morphed into people photography. I've been hired a few times to do Sr photo sessions, have a family booked for an upcoming session (as soon as there is some real spring green outside) and I've been asked to do some product photography of another artist we know.

[gimmethesimplelife]

You'all have inspired me! I am going to buy some rough malachite and some rough tiger's eye and run them through the tumbler I purchased for $10 at a yard sale and see if I can make anything sell-able from the polished stones. If not, I'm not out that much and at least I will have tried. Rob

[Sad Eyed Lady]

What inspiring posts! So many people taking a hobby or loved business (Float On) and making it work. There is something satisfying about creating something or in my case with ebay selling, using an alternative means to add some dollars to the pot without going out into the workday world. Like most of you, I have spent many years as an employee and my time for those many hours a day and week belonged to someone else. I like this freedom to do or not depending on my schedule.

[SiouzQ.]

Thank you Selah and Red Fox (wherever she is) and everyone and the ideas on this forum that have encouraged me. I am a LOOOOOOONG way from being able to make a living at it but it is something I enjoy doing and the fact that other people seem to like my art and sometimes want to purchase it gives me a purpose for doing it in the first place. I have this loose long-term plan that due to my frugal lifestyle, some careful investments, large savings pot, working on being debt-free, having housemates, selling my plasma, selling my art and taking on odd jobs, that SOMEDAY I might be able to go to part time at-will work, which would leave me the time I need to really become an artist, without starving. I am willing to work real hard now while I have the energy to make this happen as I age.

[Kestra]

Thank you Selah and Red Fox (wherever she is) and everyone and the ideas on this forum that have encouraged me. I am a LOOOOOOONG way from being able to make a living at it but it is something I enjoy doing and the fact that other people seem to like my art and sometimes want to purchase it gives me a purpose for doing it in the first place. I have this loose long-term plan that due to my frugal lifestyle, some careful investments, large savings pot, working on being debt-free, having housemates, selling my plasma, selling my art and taking on odd jobs, that SOMEDAY I might be able to go to part time at-will work, which would leave me the time I need to really become an artist, without starving. I am willing to work real hard now while I have the energy to make this happen as I age.

SiouxQ, I've been following you on FB for a while and I really like many of your pieces but I'm not a big jewelry person so haven't considered buying anything myself. But if I might offer a suggestion, when you post a new item on FB it's not that obvious how one would buy it. I'd share the photo with my FB friends except I don't know what to say. "Here's a great piece of jewelry" isn't as good as "hey, my internet friend makes this stuff (hint hint - maybe you want to buy some)". Anyhow, I know you are having trouble with the business, marketing side of things. I may be able to help you out in a mutually beneficial way. If you're interested in this at all PM me or let me know here.

[IshbelRobertson]

When my family were young, and living in London, i got together with a friend who also had a young family and we offered a catering service to the local area. Mostly, it was dinner parties for friends and then friends of friends, or buffet style party foods. Then we were asked to supply a sandwich service to a couple of small, upmarket companies. The business, which had been started to make us a little money became almost a full time job! After a couple of years, my husband was posted overseas, but my friend kept it going and started to employ staff... She now owns one of the poshest catering companies in the London and South East!

[awakenedsoul]

When my family were young, and living in London, i got together with a friend who also had a young family and we offered a catering service to the local area. Mostly, it was dinner parties for friends and then friends of friends, or buffet style party foods. Then we were asked to supply a sandwich service to a couple of small, upmarket companies. The business, which had been started to make us a little money became almost a full time job! After a couple of years, my husband was posted overseas, but my friend kept it going and started to employ staff... She now owns one of the poshest catering companies in the London and South East!

Wow Ishbel! That's a fantastic story! I love hearing about successful people who use their talents and follow their dreams. I used to work for a woman in my neighborhood who was a caterer out of her home. She was French. She hired me, (at age 13,) as her assistant. I would serve the courses, clear the table, do the dishes, and help her stay on schedule. She was so nice, and so artistic! She would set me a little place at the table in the kitchen with my own plates of her delicious food. I remember she put a small vase with a tiny rose on the table for me, too. It was sweet. She was like that. Very kind and loving...

[awakenedsoul]

Awakenedsoul, since you were last posting here we have closed our art studio business, sold off our equipment, and shut it down after 27 years of making glass. We NEVER considered it a hobby. It was business all the way, but something we loved. We were 70% wholesale and 30% retail in our most busy years. Currently I have a lot of scrap glass that I would say is still in "hobby" status. I break up old pieces that didn't make it, re kiln them and create jewelry and a few wall hangings. I have a couple of galleries and I'll probably re-open the Etsy site (which is where I was found by these galleries). I was asked by my knitting group if I'd make some buttons out of our glass so I'm excited to give that a go. This has a limited life span because I only have what glass scraps I have unless we rent time in someone else's hot shop or I buy scrap from another hot glass artist. My photography hobby (I taught myself so I could get the jury and product shots I wanted of our glass) has morphed into people photography. I've been hired a few times to do Sr photo sessions, have a family booked for an upcoming session (as soon as there is some real spring green outside) and I've been asked to do some product photography of another artist we know.

Float On,
It's good to hear your news. I'm glad you were able to sell your equipment. I'm sorry you had to give up a business you loved. The buttons sound cool! I buy a lot of buttons for my hand knit sweaters. I bet your knitters will buy from you! It sounds like the photography is taking off! Congratulations.

[awakenedsoul]

Sad Eyed Lady,

I like the freedom, too. You can make the most of your time. It's also much for energizing.

Rob,

Good luck with your project. I find when I wear all of my hand knits to a cafe, I'm like a sandwich board for knitting. People respond to the energy of something done by hand. It's got your personal stamp on it.

[SiouzQ.]

Good point, Kestra. I keep meaning to add in each item I post that I have a PayPal account (I've never used it yet, so I haven't gotten that familiar with how it works). I think what is happening is that the things I need to do that are out of my comfort zone I tend to procrastinate on forever. And now I have a Smart Phone so I need to get that "Square" thingy that allows me to take credit card payments over my phone. I have the next two days off from the day job and these are the things I really, really need to just GET DONE and not keep pushing it off.

But first a nap (I just worked five days in a row and feel really tuckered out).

[Gardenarian]

Not a hobby, but I did open my own second-hand store - a lot of books, artwork, and whatever else I found interesting. I found I just HATED retail. But you never know until you try!

[awakenedsoul]

I'm amazed at what people are able to sell on EBay! I see people at the post office making money that way. (usually clothes.) I sold all of my old books on Amazon.com. I charged mid range prices, wrote a detailed description, and everything sold quickly!

[SiouzQ.]

I just went past $2000 total sales for the year so far on my jewelry and jewelry repair sales business! And it's not even the holiday season yet :)

[Tussiemussies]

Hi awakened soul,

Wow, you never cease to amaze me with how talented you are and about all of the really creative things you have done and do. You are such an interesting person! You definitely make me want to challenge myself...Thank...christine

[awakenedsoul]

Hi Tussiemussies,

How sweet of you. Thank you. I think everybody is talented and has unique gifts. I am lucky that my mom wanted to be a dancer and took me to classes at a young age. I had very creative, successful, master teachers. What I've done is because of them. Training is everything in the arts that I practice. Glad to hear you are challenging yourself. That's great.

I am in awe of the medical team that helped me after the bike accident. That's a real calling. Another art form...

[Davidwd]

We'll, not really a hobby into a business but an offshoot from my employment.

I was a very unhappy lecturer at our local college and for my own interest had been working on the antimicrobial effects of silver and how it's activity could be boosted with different underlying metals. After a few years I came up with a very effective system, patented it and I now manufacture it from home. It was very risky as the start up costs were huge and sourcing manufacturing equipment that worked on domestic electricity was a challenge. Now after a few years it is now turning a profit, I have a website www.aquamidas.com and I work from home on my terms!

I am in the process of decluttering, simplifying and finding contentment. Reading all your posts help and inspire me. Thank you

[Aroha]

I wanted to take up piano lessons again so I began teaching beginners in order to pay for my own lessons.

Now not only have I gained so much satisfaction from my improved playing but I also find I love the teaching for its own sake, AND I earn money to spend however I want.

[SteveinMN]

I have ... sort of. I have a slow but relatively steady trickle of clients for my photography business. I'm thinking the trickle could be a small stream, but I'm also finding that it's a battle of technology as cheaper cameras take better pictures (despite the person behind the shutter) and that most real-estate agents are quite satisfied with not only mediocre pictures, but a poor assortment of them (you really need to include in the listing a picture of the boiler?). And I have to combat my interest in retirement -- trading my time to save money for our household -- which takes away from time spent networking/prospecting for the business.

I'm fortunate in that we do pretty well on DW's income alone and that what I earn can be plowed back into the business. We're coming up on a dry period, though (people don't tend to shop for houses during the holiday season and remodeling slows down when it's cold and people are always in the house). So I'm thinking about a Plan B -- either a McJob or perhaps expanding into fine-art photography in time for the holidays.

[citrine]

I love creating things...either art or décor. DH and I have done a couple of "handyman" type jobs, we have sold things at garage sales, and I have sold about 20 oil paintings a few years back. I am taking a Woodworking class starting next week so that DH and I can start a business. I have made two rustic blanket ladders for our home and he has made two gallery shelves for a client. Next class I need to take at the high school is how to sell on Etsy and Ebay :)

[awakenedsoul]

SiouzQ,That's excellent! Congratulations! It sounds like you are on a roll with your jewelry. I hope you get a lot of repeat business.
David, I'm so glad your investment paid off in profits. That takes guts!
Aroha, Teaching is one of the best ways to learn and improve. I think it's great that you are teaching piano. Teaching dance used to pay for my dance lessons, too.
Steve, That sound like turning a hobby into a business to me. The fine art photography sounds neat.
citrine, 20 oil paintings! That's fantastic! Good luck with Etsy and EBay. Some people do really well in those venues.

[TxZen]

Yes and Yes. I have my own pet sitting company- making enough to keep food on the table and I do marketing jobs on the side, mostly for start up and small businesses. :)

[iris lily]

I just went past $2000 total sales for the year so far on my jewelry and jewelry repair sales business! And it's not even the holiday season yet :)

That is GREAT! Good job, I know that cash comes in handy for you, and you are doing original work.

[SiouzQ.]

I've had another good month so far; I sold one of my art guitars in addition to five pairs of earrings in the New Mexico gallery! They requested that I ship more earrings because they are almost out of stockand their busiest time of the year is coming up with the Balloon Fiesta in October. I also need to freshen up the stock at the two local galleries and I need to get ready to ship items to another gallery in Los Alamos for their holiday show. In addition, I am hoping to get into our local indie art fair in December. Jeez, this is getting almost a little overwhelming when I think about what I need to do. I better get moving! I think I am in pretty good shape, I just need to get very organized and see which items need to go into "production" mode.

I can't quit that pesky day job, yet, at any rate...

[SiouzQ.]

Sheesh, I am on a roll! I went downtown to one of the boutiques that is carrying my work with a batch of new stuff for consignment, and she ended up paying for the two pieces she owed me that had sold, and BOUGHT the new lot of work she picked out for wholesale! I have a check for $342.50 in my hot little hand!

However, I ended up leaving the shop with a $95 pair of nice slim pants (much needed for my niece's wedding in St. Louis later this year). I literally have two pairs of pants to my name, both are kind of ratty jeans that I wear to work, so I don't feel bad about spending the money as a early birthday present to myself. It saved me from searching the mall for family occasion appropriate attire (a fate I consider worse than getting my fingernails pulled off) and I got to support a very nice local business that has been good to me.

That brings this month's sales total to $587.00!

[Tussiemussies]

Sioux, that is just fantastic that the want for your work is growing. It's nice to read how things are positively progressing for you. Keep up the great work!

[Zoe Girl]

That is so awesome, just getting back into the swing here so I go to read the entire progress at once.

I have decided to expand my 'no fast food clothes' year into offering mending, altering and up cycling services. I even want to sell the clothes I have adapted because i wear them some and then am ready for a new project. I am wondering about doing one or two craft fairs this year if I have enough stuff, mostly just need to get it on etsy because that has not been kept up. But I got inspired by everyone. I love doing the work I am doing so selling is a bonus and will eventually lead to sustainability but I can work into it. Looking for advice to work in without losing my mind. My goal is to earn enough to go on silent retreat.

[awakenedsoul]

I do a lot of mending, altering, and darning, too. It's a good feeling to use your skills for side income. I wore a summer top that I knit to the yarn shop yesterday. I'd redone the pattern and made it more of a sixties, hippy top. People loved it! One woman asked me for the pattern. Most of the stuff I did was a result of "mistakes". I accidentally did a seed stitch border rather than a ribbed...I liked the airiness of it, so I left it. I used vintage needles that are marked differently than the modern needles. So, the seed stitch was larger that the stockinette on the body. It looked blousy, and I liked the drape, so I left it that way. The neck line came out more like a cowl, since the cotton/linen yarn stretches. I sewed on a recycled wooden button at the top and added a pleat down the middle. It fixed the fit, and gave the center of the top an angle. One lady commented, "I like the the button..." All that stuff, (sewing, mending, and darning,) is really fun. I'm a person who got a "D" in sewing in junior high, so I'm thrilled to be having success with making hand knit clothes now!

[sssun]

I am in the middle of trying to build up my jewelry business (if interested, go to Taliswoman@SiouxStudio on FaceBook). There is so much I don't know and need to work on with the actual business end of it, like finding galleries, art/craft fairs, whether to do only wholesale or a mix of wholesale and retail, how much time and money I can and need to put into it...so many things to consider, like eventually building a real website, marketing, taxes, etc, etc.


SusieQ, my sister set up a similar online business and I've learnt a bit about making the leap from hobby to pocket change (and beyond, hopefully, eventually) from her. She makes silver jewlery part-time and sells her products online. She started with an Etsy shop and has very recently bought a .com domain because she wanted to have a blog connected to an easy shop. The idea is to compliment the Etsy site with content about her lifestyle as a craftster. Having the blog, where she will post how-tos and lots of pictures, adds a personal touch that makes her more memorable. I think it's just as important as having a Facebook or Twitter site. I don't think you should be daunted by the business and technology side of things, either. I helped her build an online shop in a weekend and neither of us have much tech know-how. This (http://www.1and1.co.uk/create-an-online-store) is the site we used in case you are looking, but there are lots of options out there. I would also do a search for 'small business marketing tools' on Google; there is a suprising number of apps on the market for entrepreneurs. I wish you - and my decidedly more creative/brave sibling - all the best.
:)