So has anyone quit their day job to bring their handmade dream to life?

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Permalink Reply by Daisychain Jewellery on July 31, 2008 at 6:39am

I officially set up my business nearly 2 years ago. I was teaching full time but also selling my jewellery and teaching jewellery workshops at the weekends and when my little boy was born it was really now or never! In theory I'm making a good profit but I've just kitted out a silversmithing workshop (okay, a shed in the garden!) so I'm putting the money back in the business. I hope to start drawing a very small wage in the autumn, but at the moment my contribution to the household is buying things that the business can cover (computer stuff, contribution to elec & gas, mileage on car etc) and, of course, raising my little boy. I am so lucky that my OH is so supportive, not just on the financial side but also so encouraging of what I'm doing.

When I handed my notice in at school I was a bit nervous that people would think that I was taking the easy route out, that I couldn't handle the heat, especially as until then people were expecting me to get more promotion and maybe end up as a head teacher. I was really surprised when collegues came up to me saying that they wished they had my guts to make my dreams a reality! I do have some friends who think that I'm just playing at a hobby until my little boy goes to school and it's time for me to go back to work, but they're realising that I'm serious about this.

I am very lucky that I have the skills to teach jewellery making, as that makes up half of my income at the moment and sees me through the quiet post-Christmas times. It seems as though the economy is actually helping me in this - people are keen to learn new skills so that they can make things themselves and potentially save money.

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Permalink Reply by DeAnneDeSigns on July 31, 2008 at 1:41pm

I am hoping that I will make a living selling my work online. That would be great! I have been sewing handbags and totes and selling on Etsy. Take a look at my shop when you have the time. I will be adding some new items soon! www.deannedesigns.etsy.com Thanks.

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Permalink Reply by Dahlia Soleil on August 1, 2008 at 8:46am

I'm almost 2 years full-time. Its been an amazing journey. I started selling to extend my stay-at-home mom status but it was hard to make ends meet in the beginning. I picked up a part-time job and sold my stuff part-time. Once it picked up then I waited a year of consistent sales to take the plunge. Haven't looked back.

But its the hardest job I've ever had in my life. The hours are long and there's alot more to running a biz than making products. I eat and sleep my business. I'm not looking back though cause I can take my daughter to school and pick her up and the school breaks are easy to manage. Nothing beats being able to take care of her needs at any time. Good luck to everyone.

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Permalink Reply by amocro on August 1, 2008 at 5:28pm

Hello!
Here’s my story: I just quit my job as a Montessori Preschool Art Teacher to become a full time artist. I will be moving from Boston to Maine in September to lessen my expenses (RENT!). I graduated from Massart with a BFA in community art education and run a mail art project called S.i.C.A.r.T! (currently on a break but the website is: www.sicart.blogspot.com) I am a firm believer in the power of community and hope to meet fellow artists who feel the same way.
I am working like crazy on some paintings a paper cuts for my etsy page. Check it out if the wind takes ya there:

Etsy Buy Handmade amocro

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Permalink Reply by Art+Ghosts on August 2, 2008 at 9:09am

hello there!
i didnt actually have a day job, i was unemployed after university, but it does now function as my living.
it is pretty difficult to make ends meet somtimes, but still, i wouldnt care to change it!

it isnt what i would call a 'success' story, as such, but i do admit that 5 years ago i would never have thought that i could actually make a living out of my art work. i didnt even share my images online!

the most difficult (financially) thing is being single/unmarried - simply because none of my household bills are halved and i receive no support from the government, etc. you find yourself working 24/7 to make ends meet, unless you are extremely sucessful, i think. it is important to make time for relaxation and get offline at times!

but on the whole, i would greatly encourage making he move:)

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Permalink Reply by Duni on October 21, 2008 at 8:58am

I'm lucky enough to be able to work from home, so I get to squeeze in a couple of extra hours crafting, while other poor people commute to/from work, BUT I wouldn't be able to live off designing and sewing bags. Not possible. I set up a translating business, and I also tutor. I have a wonderful husband who supports me in all my creative endeavours ☺

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Permalink Reply by Penguinsplunder on October 23, 2008 at 5:13pm

Sort of. I quit my job because it's a bit hard on my health and luckily my husband supports me trying to run my own business. I actually started a figure painting business, and have just started my handmade shop and such. But I'm trying to devote all the time that I can to it. I would love to be able to continue this so that I can be a stay at home mom when the time comes.

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Permalink Reply by Cheryl Millard on October 24, 2008 at 9:04am

I did not have the balls to just quit on my own, but through a series of events at work, including an on the job injury, I was fired from Costco( A COOKIE CUTTER BIG BOX RETAILER) and used my 401k and my unemployment to start up my business, I sold resale clothing to support the jewelry design part of the business. It was called Inner Winds it was in Silverdale Washington, I also participated in the Art Walks to get press for free.Because of that injury at Costco(negligence on their part) I am applying for SSI/Disability because my chronic pain has worsened. I no longer have the business but it was a great experience that lasted for 7 years. My best friend told me to do one thing everyday that makes you afraid.

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Wilczynski on October 24, 2008 at 5:23pm

I was just laid off from my job, and had to do a lot of evaluating as far as what I wanted to do now. I really don't want to work in an office for the rest of my life. So I've decided that I will work part-time and then work on my jewelry business as well, and hopefully get to a point someday where I can do my jewelry full time! This is a really recent development (the last day of my job was a week ago today), and I haven't got a part-time job yet, but I'm working on it, and in the mean time I'm glad that we have money in savings so it's not the end of the world if it takes me a couple of months to find a job. (Thankfully my husband has his full-time job, but it isn't quite enough to support us alone.) Until then, I'm working on my jewelry and trying to get it all going!!

~ Jen
http://jmwjewelry.etsy.com
http://jmwjewelry.blogspot.com

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Permalink Reply by Eva Summers on October 24, 2008 at 5:46pm

I have designed and made bears for 30 years. Most of those years, I also held a full time job and did 30 or so craft shows every year.. In the early 90's, my husband was laid off and I decided to take my retirement money out of where I worked and we sold everything and bought a travel trailer and we went on the road to to craft shows. It lasted two years and we got so burnt out from working 16 hours days just to keep up with the stock for the shows that we quit and went back to regular jobs. We don't regret doing it but we would never do it again. We are at the age now that we are retired and we still do a couple of craft shows a year and last year I added a website. Business on the website has been slow but it has paid for its self and bought the supplies that I needed. It will never be anything that we could live off of but between the shows and the website it gives us a little extra to go with our retirement money.

Eva
www.ejcrafts.com
www.evascrafts.blogspot.com

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