I
wrote this post several years ago about my thoughts on having a cottage
industry in the home as another revenue source.
If you are looking for ways to increase your income stream you might
want to check it out. Click here.
Do
you already have a cottage industry of some kind? If so, please share with us what you do to
earn extra money for your household.
I think this is a great idea. Sewing can be a good cottage industry. Unfortunately though I have tried quilting for a few people but honestly there is no way to make money at it at least from a hobby perspective. Most of the time I am told - hey i'll pay you $50 to make x quilt. Now this usually includes them expecting me to provide the supplies. Fabric is very expensive now. I am so glad I have a stash at home (mostly gifted to me by my former boss) and I don't have to purchase much if any. Its not just fabric either - batting,thread,backing and time. So now I make gift quilts for those I choose to and that seems to work for me. I used to make baby quilts for lots of people but I have been burned several times with that - no more. I am very selective about who gets one. I maybe the exception to this but most quilters I know have the same views.
ReplyDeleteI agree, I don't think you can make money with quilting. Most people don't seem to appreciate how much time and work goes into one. Smaller projects seem to be the way to go.
DeleteYOu can, but it seems to fall into three categories:
Delete*Either you make them really fast, of cheap materials
*You present yourself as an artisan or artist -- so can charge a higher price (fewer pieces made, but you get paid more for them)
OR
You do quilt restoration. Which is fussy, painstaking work -- but I charge $20 an hour, PLUS the cost of materials. And I have plenty of people asking to hire me. I teach this kind of work, but know very few people who actually do it. It's not only financially rewarding -- you should see the faces of people who see their restored quilt, and know their beloved piece is going to live a while longer. Emotionally rewarding, too.
Oh wow. You need to do online classes for those that want to learn more about this type of quilting. If you already do let me know and I will post about it.
DeleteI used to do craft fairs and farmers market every year. I made soup mixes in a jar, bread mixes, cookie mixes, brownie mixes and spice packets/ bottles. It was a good money maker but sadly times and my health changed. Oh and at the holidays peppermint bark. I once sold 400 bags of it. I miss it some days as it satisfied my creative spirit (it is all in the packaging and good ingredients) Oh and I made candy bar bouquets too. I still make some of these things for gifts. We have a cottage industry law in our state and as long as you follow the rules and prepare foods safely (from approved lists) you can do this in your own home. If I couldn't do it that way I would borrow a commercial kitchen from a local church. Take care.
ReplyDeleteI did some craft fairs one time. They are a lot of fun. I enjoyed it.
DeleteI sew and sew well, design, and sell. Well, until this last year. I started making Cabbage Patch clothing for my 2 daughters' CP dolls. I turned it into a means to support myself wholly. I made items for Teddy Ruxpin, pound puppies and items for parrots to wear (special order) I designed clothing and took to a boutique. I made Victorian clothing for antique window mannequins that moved. I even made a pair of leather laceup shoes, and the cobbler put on a real sole. First, I restored each mannequin and upholstered a stool on which one mannequin knelt, watching a train go around a tree.
ReplyDeleteMy cottage industry covered many skills I had honed from the age of four. Other skills I learned from watching parents.
My doll clothing and other clothing were in many craft shows and paid ALL the bills as this was my only source of income.
After I sold Cabbage Patch clothes to many dogs, I quit the CP clothes and sold dog clothes designed for dogs to many pet stores. This was welcomed and I sold many, still supporting myself from my sewing room.
If I had not decided to return to school, I would still be sewing and selling.
Years later, I sold many 4 ounce Ball jars of cayenne jelly, even going to a Farmer's markets.
I would highly encourage anyone to find a niche and fill it.
Wow! You did a lot!
DeleteI:
ReplyDelete*write articles (including my own blog)
*write books (#8 is at the editor's now)
*do quilt restoration
*help out at a friend's property, in return for some rent
*do personal property appraising (everything but houses and cars/transportation)
I used to also do some catering and secretarial work, but haven't done that in a while. I did cater a cousin's wedding a few years ago. I have also made quilts to pay for a dental crown for Husband, and swapped for a chainsaw. Put in a day helping out for an artist, in return for a print I wanted. Swapped baked goods and help for a variety of things we needed and/or wanted. I'll do anything that's legal and not immoral!
Those of us "Jack Of All Trades" can come up with a lot of things we can do to earn extra $$. You are amazing!
DeleteBack in the 80s when tuition was affordable, I earned 1 semester by making/selling my fabulous fudge. When I graduated, I was soooooo happy to have someone I worked with wanting to "take over" if she could have my recipe. She benefited for several more years.
ReplyDeleteI am a quilter, but people do not want to pay the value. I will never consider it for income. I used to take mine to work as people wanted to see what I did. I once took a KING I finished for my sister over 2 years. I had over $800 in it. One person asked if I would sell it. "I wouldn't take $5000 for that quilt". He was quite shocked. :-)
Quilting is an amazing art form.
DeletePS to my comment: I would love to be in a barter system though for services/goods needed.
ReplyDeleteThat would be awesome, wouldn't it?
DeleteMy husband and I refurbish, refinish discarded furniture to resell. We sell on Facebook marketplace and do two yard sales a year (only 2 per year allowed on my town). It has slowed down a lot, a lot of people in our area are doing the same thing. I used to babysit on weekends too, but that all came to a grinding halt with covid. So it's just surveys for me and a little furniture for my husband as extra streams of income.
ReplyDeleteI think once I retire I'd like to do more with furniture. I really enjoy it.
Delete