I am a housewife and I am very much free in the evening for like 5 to 6 hours. Sometimes I feel that instead of wasting of my time it is better to do some handicraft and earn some money.
Please advise me as to how I can do any handicrafts at home and sell those. I am not able to do even a part time job as my husband does not allow me. I am experienced in different fields, also hair and beauty therapy.
All of your responses are highly appreciated. Thank you.
By smile from Bahrain
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He won't "allow" you to take a part time job? What WILL he allow you to do? It sounds like everything hinges on that.
When it comes to something like this, I think you need to follow your passions. What things do you like to do? Let that guide you.
I wish you the best -- I hope you find something you love, and that you can be successful with it.
There is a website where people sell handmade items called etsy.com. You could try going to that site and getting ideas on things to make and sell.
I was married to a control freak for 20 years. Until our girls were in their teens I wasn't supposed to work, which was the way we were both raised and my now "ex" was willing to work on 40 hr a week job that paid real good, and took all the extra work he could find, plus doing carpentry work on the side. Then when he decided I should work, any of the jobs I could obtain, weren't suitable to him, I'm talking production work, etc.
I worked in the workforce for 20 years. Made a very good income, fell into the trap of thinking that was what gave me my identity. Then after an illness that my husband suffered I reexamined what was really important and what gave me my biggest satisfaction. This has to be your decision and only your decision -what gives YOU the greatest pleasure. In my case we had never had it with me at home and then when my husband was well and I could go back--he did not want me to. He was very happy that I was home and doing home things. He liked it that I wasn't as tired and as soon as he was off we could go play & not wait on my work schedule.
I have a couple of ideas:
Keep a child at night for a night shift worker. Police, nurse, waitress
To sell a craft you have to have a market for what you do. If it is baby blankets. Make up a bunch and advertise them or email a picture to everyone you know and ask them to email everyone they know-someone will need a baby gift for a shower.
OMG These women trying to give you advice when all you wanted was an answer. Here's a good one. I Work @ Sally beauty supply and we sell hair extensions to young college girls like its the last water on earth, but they do not want to pay for a hair extension storage case (look @ sally beauty.com) that is overpriced even when on sale. Start making satin cases of different lengths (for shorter and longer hair they range 8" to 18") and customize them maybe with a picture holder or their name on the front.
To thehairwhisperer:
Butterfly20 DID say, "please advise me . . . " and that responses would be appreciated.
I stay at home. My husband earns more than enough, and I feel blessed to be able to stay at home. I take care of our daughter and am able to volunteer at her school several times a week. When he and I discussed whether or not I should "go back to work," he said it was up to me. I make jewelry and cards whenever I please (was even contacted by the Martha Stewart Show), and sell them to people I know.
And I still wish all the best for butterfly20, and I hope she finds something that works for her.
You can sew for the public, just let people know you can sew, put a sign on mailbox & in news paper, also call fabric stores, they may need somebody to sew for them, good luck.
I find making anything to do with the yard is very desirable today. Folks will spend money on yard art, even during hard times. I have made some different types of ornamental planters filled with simple colorful flowers and had good results. I find unique looking containers at auctions, yardsales, etc. and fill them with good dirt and add a couple of hens and chickens(flower) etc.,and they sell like hotcakes. An attractice finished product sells good.
Well, it's warm where you are, and there may be some cultural
differences between what we might do, and women in Bahrain might do. I'm thinking your primary market would be for women and girls, right?
Since you are experienced with hair how about getting some clips and gluing decorations on them: beads, feathers, anything that makes them attractive to your taste. Undoubtedly others will like them too. Could be for girls and women both.
How about perfumed oils for the hair? Or salves, creams, etc.
Continuing with my assumption that your market would be women, what is it reasonable to expect women to have to spend for themselves, on this sort of thing. What kind of craft skills do you have or would like to learn: crochet, knitting, designing? What materials are available to you easily? Where are the places you might market what you produce, or are you thinking of selling online? Have you checked out etsy.com for ideas? Look up jewelry, handmade, nice offerings there of new jewelry made from old jewelry, which doesn't need more than a small pair of pliers, some extra metal rings in appropriate color, and some wire, and earring wires. You could use old jewelry to make hair clips too, as above. Some artists are
using old things in new ways, which blends our memories with our contemporary life; I kind of like that approach. As you visit friends, and walk around, is there something that is very familiar to everyone which could be used in a new way?
Let us know what you are up to, okay?
ETSY.COM will give you hundeds of ideas. Everything on this site is handmade. Good luck!
Start a garden. If you don't have the space in your yard; then get some big Rubbermaid containers/buckets, drill holes in the bottom of it, fill with dirt, and plant either seeds and/or plants. I have a huge garden in both our yard and in a series of big Rubbermaid containers/buckets. Last year everything did really well in both the containers/buckets and in the yard as well as we have about 15 fruit trees. You will have to trust me that it will keep you very busy tending to the garden as well as it will cut down on your grocery bill. With the economy as bad as it is it pays to plant a garden.
Michelle in Maryville, TN
Butterfly, I don't want to be intrusive, but I have to ask are you happy with being told what you are allowed to do? Is this what you were expecting of your married life?
I think there were some great ideas in the feedbacks above, I am certain you can use your knowlege of the hair and beauty biz to find something fab and profitable to make and sell and keep your husband content, if that is the right thing to do.
Hello butterfly20! Although I am European, I lived in Dubai for 7 years due to my (European) husband's work commitments, so I DO understand the culture for ladies there. Women in the U.S. have a different kind of freedom than yours but that doesn't mean that you are stifled or unhappy, it's just a different culture. No more, no less. I was thinking that if you crochet or knit, how about making some pretty lacy shawls that would look so nice in the evenings when you go out? Sometimes the air conditioning can be a bit too cool in places. Or else you can make (this is assuming you can knit, crochet or embroider) some nice little evening bags to sell to your lady friends? There are so many free patterns you could find on the internet. Good luck to you!
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