Sunday, July 6, 2008

Do I Want a Craft Business?

Sometimes I try to get something going selling my handmade items. I have a craft sale on my driveway once a year, most years, and put an ad in a local paper. Rarely do I sell more than $25 worth of items. Rarely do I get a lot of foot or vehicular traffic.

I’ve researched places on the internet where I can set up shop. I mentally plan the items that are not from copyrighted patterns and dream about posting photos of them and selling them for a nice side income. I never get very far in these plans.

I used to think it was because I didn’t have enough items already made for sale. I also used to think perhaps I was focusing on the wrong items. I think the real reason is that I love crocheting and making other handcrafted items. If I begin selling them, then it becomes work, a job, an income-producer. That means a little pressure. That means the joy and pleasure goes out of it.

There are some things in life that I can do, and enjoy it, and still make money at it, like writing and editing. But handcrafts are pure joy for me. I don’t want to lose that. So, I guess I’ll just muddle along and sell a little here and a little there, and be happy about it.

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