No craft jobs!!

[Seahorse]

After yet another discussion with a friend about me buying a house, i have said yet again, I dont have the money and I dont want to get a job Im going to hate just so I can spend a fortune on a house .

I dispise the idea of spending 8-9 hours a day doing a job that will drain me of any happiness I have left just so I can see all the money go down the drain on solicitors,stamp duty etc.

I know I have to change my ways and get a better paid job, its really stressing me and making me very unhappy, but why arnt there any craft jobs??!!

I currently work in an office where Im employed to answer the odd phonecall and I get under £800 a month.

I know its my fault Im stuck in a rut.Does anybody want their hobby to turn into a job?


.......aaaand end of hysterical complaint.

[Tigger]

Yeah, I often wish I could turn knitting into a job! Though the thing is, I tend to pick it up when I feel like it, and then put it down and not do it for a few days. The question I have really is would I continue to enjoy doing it if I HAVE to do it?

Tigger
xxxxxx

[Seahorse]

Good point.

My job is so dull Ive made craft work for myself, bosses dont mind.Suppose thats one blessing in disguise.

[Tigger]

sounds a good blessing to me seahorse.

I think the other problem with getting paid for crafting, it would only be ok if you were self employed. I would hate having to craft to order.

It would be fun to work somewhere like a craft shop though
Tigger
xxxxxxx

[Seahorse]

Hmm, I used to be into fashion and people kept suggesting working in a clothes shop, at the time I was working in a toyshop and from that I could tell it would just be like working in a shop except Id be selling clothes.It wouldnt be like i could have free clothing or try things on all day, its would be working in a shop.

I suppose it would be good seeing new craft bits coming in but unless the boss would let me try things in the shop, it woudl again be like working in any shop.Id be surrounded by goodies but not be able to use them.

My boss just had a scroll saw delivered, he let me try it out but the wood kept 'jumping' leaving very unstraight lines on a piece of wood i wanted to use so that is that idea out the window.I was gona get a scroll saw for myself but it doesnt do what I want it to do so Im back to square one and a craft dream is once again at a stand still.

Im so pesimistic today,I hope i snap out of it soon.Grrrrrrrr.

[liz15a]

I'm sorry but I had to join in - your pessimism had cheered me up a bit I'm afraid to say Seahorse!

I've been on a serious downer for a while now and have just handed my notice in on my 26k a year job today after 5 years - so however fed up you are, there's always someone else in the same or worse situation not very far away! I'm probably going to wake up tomorrow wondering what I was thinking of but sometimes you just have to do what feels right.

I've no idea what I'm going to do now - no job lined up either. So believe me you're not the only one having a bad day/month/life!

[Tigger]

eeeeppp liz, thats kinda brave! Hope you find a new job really quickly. I guess you'll get more time to craft for a while though which could be cool.

Tigger
xxxxxxx

[Seahorse]

Wow Liz 26k!!!!!!!
My God, you are one of those lucky peope who earn in the double figures.

But...money is not everything.WELL DONE TO YOU for quitting.I hope you live out your dreams, whatever they are.Keep us posted.

[Seahorse]

Just reminded me, I found a job sit today.I was looking down the dull su headings of jobs it offered and all of a sudden it said 'Art and Craft.I unwardly jumped for joy, clicked on it , only to find it said 'sorry, there are no jobs in this catagory'.


What a surprise!

[Tigger]

urgh seahorse, how disappointing :(

Tigger
xxxxxxx

[Bea]

Hi Seahorse

You'll find you are not the only one but you are the only to speak up. I want to change jobs too. I was happy doing my 9-5 job until a few months ago.... Actually probably years, gradually, I felt I didn't want to do this anymore but what else? Now I found a hobby I like, I spend my days trying to think how can I turn this into a job. I have opened an ebay shop and registered as self employed but I cannot make a living of it, it seems at the moment. So I am still thinking of ways I can change jobs and do something I would enjoy. I have another idea which I am exploring... In the meantime, I'll keep the 9-5 job to pay for the bills...

Working in a craft shop sounds good but there aren't that many craft shops around, is there? However, I think more and more craft shops are running classes and might look for reliable people to run them.

Keep looking for jobs in crafts and local papers, you never know, something might turn up... You could also approach craft shops directly.

Bea

[Seahorse]

Hehe, Ive been telling any stranger that will listen that I hate my job.
Its my own fault but I love complaining, and im good at it so il carry on.I welcome one and all to join me.

It seems craft is big in America with things like scrapbooking but as you say, there arnt many craft shops around.
There is Hobbycraft and one other tiny shop near me and thats it.
Our one and only local fabric shop closed down about 8 years ago and not been replaced or relocated.

What happened to making stuff!!

Good luck to you Bea,keep us posted.

[stillscrapping]

Thought I'd tell you my story.

I worked as a senior manager for a large company and earned a lot of k's a year. In June I had a heart attack. (I am 49 and female.) I decided then, along with my husband and family, that I needed to make some serious changes to my lifestyle.

I now run my own scrapbooking and cardmaking stall on our local market. I love it as I only work 3 days a week, which is enough at the moment but if I wanted there are loads of other markets around.

It can be cold and wet but I love talking and selling scrapbooking all the time! I also joined up with TLC who are an American Scrapbooking company. You can sell these products wherever you like...ebay. craft fairs, party plan ect. Or you can just use their products for your own projects!!

Don't earn as much as I did (at the moment, though I have high hopes!!)but I'm a lot happier!!

Julie

[Seahorse]

Now thats a story I like to hear.WELL DONE YOU!!!

[Tigger]

Yeah well done indeed Julie!! Kinda sounds fun, and why earn loads of money if you don't enjoy life?

Love
Tigger
xxxxxxxx

[Sharron2468]

:lol: Well i started to work for myself about 6 months ago.

I really love selling cardmaking and scrapbooking items, and just like you other ladies enjoy other people realising that this is a fun past time.

I opened an Ebay shop, found a few good suppliers and do a market stall on Sundays.

It's hard sometimes getting up at 6.30 with to children but i don't answer to anyone buy myself.

Mind you all the money I get in Tax Credits and such help.

If you can get together a small amout about £1,000 it is possible to do this and if you don't try you don't know.

Good luck all. :D

[kirstietaylor]

the ladies post above is very inspiring. I really beleive that you have to give these things ago. I have always dreamt of having my own business and now i am finally doing it. It doesn't have to cost alot of money, if you are shrewd and take your time. I booked the wedding show i am exhibiting at this weekend 6 months in advance, just to set myself a deadline, i was no way ready then and had hardly started making any tiaras, i didn't even have a company name to give the exhibitor organisors. I just worked every evening (only time available as have 2 small children). Lets hope it pays off, but if it doesn't i am so glad i have tried!

[janette]

I started my own busines in June of this year, I was lucky enough not to need to work, my partner and I decided when my youngest was born that I would stay at home until he started school.

I do alot of work to order, and rather than finding it a chore I find it a challenge. I love the work that I do and hope to build it into a full time business when the kids are all at school.

at the moment it doesn't bring in loads of money, and it's never going to make me a millionaire, but I'm happy in what I do, and after years of answering to stroppy bosses Its wonderful.

I would reccomend it to everyone, but only if the bills can still be paid, as without my partners income the worry of how to pay the bills would have taken away the enjoyment and replaced it with alot of stress.

Janette

[0103media]

Hi Seahorse,

I think the best thing to do is start selling your crafts whilst you have a job...

Build a basic websites and start the ball rolling...

Then if you have a web link in your signture to your site.

I bet with all the good advice you give on this forum you'd get at least 20-50 visitor a day...

Start off small and keep expanding... You then get to a point were you got not time for your fulltime job and the money (this is not about the money but..) will be the same or more...

I'm sending you a private message that might interest you...

[Seahorse]

Ahh thanks.
Yep good advice, as Im sure ive posted before my job is so dull Im writiing this while in the middle of writing out an order for charms!!

My own website sounds a bit scary, may happen one day.

Im worried coz I go through phases and this may be one of them but at least I know I love to make things so I doubt il lose interest.

[Seahorse]

Once again i have been perusing the job sites.
Every job description has the word IT in it, or it just screams at me 'dull office job'!!!!