Turning a Hobby into Cash

About two years ago, I decided to turn my crocheting and writing hobbies into some extra cash for my family.  I was just getting my feet wet, when my daughter was born with some special needs and I needed to take a complete sabbatical from my seedling of a business. Now, 18 months later, I am ready to continue restart my at-home business.

"Business" whoa, that sounds overwhelming.  I am  not looking to create a huge income or anything.  Honestly, I would be beyond thrilled with an extra $200 a month.   However I was quickly confronted by the same obstacles I faced before and am determined to work my way around them, as so many other homemakers have done before me.  

What are these obstacles? 

• My fears of rejection, and failure:  "Will friends and family think I am being ridiculous for even attempting this?" "What if people do not buy my products?" "What if my products are not good enough to sell?" "What if I spend all of this time and energy for nothing?"  

• Guilt: for spending so much time crochet and writing, hobbies that are not yet making me money, but take time away from my children and other responsibilities. 

• Carving out time from my already full days to work my business and balancing my home and business life:  I find that I go between two extremes: days where all I want to do is work my business and I struggle to pull myself away and days where I can get motivated to do anything with my business.  When I am "working," I have constant interruptions from my preschooler and toddler. 

• Actually selling the items I make, which of course requires advertising, pricing, packaging, etc: How do I get my name out there?  Will people really pay that much?  How will I ship my products so that they look "professional"?

•  Distractions and interruptions from my little darlings when I am working on my business: A preschooler and toddler at home--need I say more?

• Creating a business plan I can live with. 

I imagine that many of you face these same obstacles.  So, over the next several posts, I am going to share my business plan and work through these obstacles with you.  I hope these posts inspire or encourage you to take the plunge and turn your hobby into an at-home business too!

God Bless and happy crafting!  

Sarah

   

Mass Bag for the Little Ones

           It's 9:00AM on Sunday morning and I am running around my house like a mad woman, putting shoes on tiny feet, and shoving little arms in teeny jacket arm-holes, pouring some cheerios and milk in small, plastic containers for my toddler and getting my sling ready for the baby.  I find a few small, quiet  toys for my wee ones and get all of us out the door.  I lug the infant seat, diaper bag with one hand and hold my toddler's hand with the other and we waddle into church.  My little darlings are fairly quiet during church, but looking at Down on the Farm and playing with plastic keys don't seem like spiritually fulfilling activities for my little angels.