Starting from scratch...
I always have tried making extra money on the side, whether it has been working another job, or just doing a few odds and ends. I decided I was going to do another job, but something I love!
It started when a friend of mine had a list of stuff wanting to be made for a new baby. I had always been one to make baby gifts for friends expecting and never thought about being paid for them. The woman had some patterns picked out and then requested more and then even more. I made them and thought they were cute so I snapped a quick pic with my phone and posted it on Facebook. After that business EXPLODED! I wasn't trying to do this as a business it just fell into my lap. After the initial Facebook requests I just started snapping pictures of anything crafty I decided to do.
After all the publicity online I decided to start going to Flea Markets selling recycled stuff like "tab" bracelets and earrings, bottle cap jewelry galore, and other miscellaneous beaded items. After that I wanted to go bigger! A few people suggested for me to sell my stuff at some local festivals. I didn't know what to think about that. I had to go online and learn about places how to "get in" to these events and what sells, what's popular, etc. I went to my first event in Westminster, SC it was called the SC Apple Festival. Everyone knew about it except me and I lived 10 miles from it! Well After getting into that festival, that made me addicted. The excitement of kids, parents, the need to have to come to my tent, versus the others, I just wanted more!. So I decided to continue my online stuff with Facebook, always snapping pics, then went to a Moe's Handcrafted Creations page on Facebook and then online with Etsy and more festivals, even harder ones to get into.
Business did very well for a few years, but working my full time job and working on the weekends too, it got overwhelming with my work schedule to prepare for all of the events. I eventually started gaining more business on Etsy with making new pictures and requests. It got SO popular at one point I said I was done with festivals, not enough hours in the day! Now I successfully run my Etsy shop, with not so many new things (since the same old stuff keeps on a selling). I do try to add new things, but balancing a Full time job, a part time job, running a farm, and a partnered business, I just don't have so much time anymore.
So that about sums me up and where I am now. Just a full time working girl with a part time passion for crafts. Maybe one day I will get to do this and farming as my full-time job instead!
Thank you
Maureen (Moe) Whitman
(Moe's Handcrafted Creations)
It started when a friend of mine had a list of stuff wanting to be made for a new baby. I had always been one to make baby gifts for friends expecting and never thought about being paid for them. The woman had some patterns picked out and then requested more and then even more. I made them and thought they were cute so I snapped a quick pic with my phone and posted it on Facebook. After that business EXPLODED! I wasn't trying to do this as a business it just fell into my lap. After the initial Facebook requests I just started snapping pictures of anything crafty I decided to do.
After all the publicity online I decided to start going to Flea Markets selling recycled stuff like "tab" bracelets and earrings, bottle cap jewelry galore, and other miscellaneous beaded items. After that I wanted to go bigger! A few people suggested for me to sell my stuff at some local festivals. I didn't know what to think about that. I had to go online and learn about places how to "get in" to these events and what sells, what's popular, etc. I went to my first event in Westminster, SC it was called the SC Apple Festival. Everyone knew about it except me and I lived 10 miles from it! Well After getting into that festival, that made me addicted. The excitement of kids, parents, the need to have to come to my tent, versus the others, I just wanted more!. So I decided to continue my online stuff with Facebook, always snapping pics, then went to a Moe's Handcrafted Creations page on Facebook and then online with Etsy and more festivals, even harder ones to get into.
Business did very well for a few years, but working my full time job and working on the weekends too, it got overwhelming with my work schedule to prepare for all of the events. I eventually started gaining more business on Etsy with making new pictures and requests. It got SO popular at one point I said I was done with festivals, not enough hours in the day! Now I successfully run my Etsy shop, with not so many new things (since the same old stuff keeps on a selling). I do try to add new things, but balancing a Full time job, a part time job, running a farm, and a partnered business, I just don't have so much time anymore.
So that about sums me up and where I am now. Just a full time working girl with a part time passion for crafts. Maybe one day I will get to do this and farming as my full-time job instead!
Thank you
Maureen (Moe) Whitman
(Moe's Handcrafted Creations)