Taking a hobby and going professional....

[Steph]

Wish me luck! I have been doing stained glass since I was 20 (11 years) and don't have a single sun-catcher or window in my house. Every time I make one, someone asks if they can have/pay for it....then I give it to them. I have never been able to make someone pay for something I have had so much enjoyment making.
That's about to change. A lady that just bought an antique store has asked me to make stained glass for her store as a "local artist". I have thought about this for 2 weeks and made my decision to go "pro"
The biggest issue I had was....what if the thing I enjoy so much as a hobby, becomes a "job" I am going to take the risk, if it becomes tedious, I just finish up the year and move on.
I am also thinking about contacting other consignment/craft stores in the area and seeing what they have to offer artists (I use that term loosely) If that option doesn't float my boat, there are always farmers markets in the area.
Anywho, short story long.....I'm stepping out on a limb...wish me luck!

 

[Jman]

Steph, I wish you luck. If you did it part time, maybe that would tell you how much you liked it or felt like a burden instead of something you enjoyed. Question: I have a couple of designs I thought would be cool as stained glass. What do you think?

 

[lytehouse]

Wow....I hope it works out for ya. Nothing like being your own boss! You could post your work here on the forum too..."J" sells custom signs here.
Best of luck to ya Steph :rockon:

 

[Steph]

Steph, I wish you luck. If you did it part time, maybe that would tell you how much you liked it or felt like a burden instead of something you enjoyed. Question: I have a couple of designs I thought would be cool as stained glass. What do you think?

With a few modifications, they would work great! There are a few things that are impossible for glass to do in your designs, but that could be fixed! Did you design these?

 

[Jman]

With a few modifications, they would work great! There are a few things that are impossible for glass to do in your designs, but that could be fixed! Did you design these?

Yes, back in 04. I thought it would need some mods. I was thinking of making a lamp or metal picture frame with some back-lighting. You are right, though, it definitely needs a little modding to make it happen.

 

[Steph]

Yes, back in 04. I thought it would need some mods. I was thinking of making a lamp or metal picture frame with some back-lighting. You are right, though, it definitely needs a little modding to make it happen.

They would look great as metal with back-lighting! Very talented. As soon as I get a portfolio made I will post some pictures of my work...as I have given everything away lol So far I've made a bee and am working on a "Sunbonnet Suzie" (the little girl with the bonnet you see on quilts and in gardens) I aiming for the old ladies with that one :rof:

 

[Jman]

They would look great as metal with back-lighting! Very talented. As soon as I get a portfolio made I will post some pictures of my work...as I have given everything away lol So far I've made a bee and am working on a \"Sunbonnet Suzie\" (the little girl with the bonnet you see on quilts and in gardens) I aiming for the old ladies with that one :rof:

Would love to see some of your work. Thanks for the compliment.:Flash:

 

[grommit]

I turned a hobby into a job many years ago and never looked back, so good luck.
:rockon:

 

[Cloggy]

I think it would be great if you can make this work, being your own boss & doing a (professional) hobby as a job, that would be cool :thumbup:
Go Steph go :cheer::cheer::cheer:

 

[jsteinb95]

Good luck Steph!!!

You could post your work here on the forum too...\"J\" sells custom signs here.

yeah, and Dennis gets a commission.

 

[inkrediboy]

I turned a hobby into a job many years ago and never looked back, so good luck.
:rockon:

What was that hobby Grommit?

 

[boo68]

Steph, I wish you luck. If you did it part time, maybe that would tell you how much you liked it or felt like a burden instead of something you enjoyed. Question: I have a couple of designs I thought would be cool as stained glass. What do you think?

Nice designs Jman Good Luck Steph, be sure to post some of your work. I'd love to, as I am sure we all would, love to see your art.

Deb

 

[Steph]

Wow....I hope it works out for ya. Nothing like being your own boss! You could post your work here on the forum too...\\"J\\" sells custom signs here.
Best of luck to ya Steph :rockon:

Thanks Brenda! I'm not so sure how selling stained glass on here would go lol I can see selling signs to motorcycle guys....but suncatchers? I think I would go belly up real quick

hmmmm..... unless I designed a FZ6 suncatcher.....:rof:

 

[grommit]

What was that hobby Grommit?

Playing with computers.

 

[Jman]

Playing with computers.

That would explain the super cool, fancy avatar and signature.

 

[grommit]

That would explain the super cool, fancy avatar and signature.

Well actually thats just plain theft.

 

[Nelly]

Well actually thats just plain theft.

Possession is 9/10ths of the law mate lol.

Back on track,

Go for it Steph, start small and see where it goes.
The first year will be the tough one. You may not need to give up work totally.

Nelly

 

[fast blue one]

Earning money from something you enjoy ? go girl :rockon:

 

[Steph]

Go for it Steph, start small and see where it goes.
The first year will be the tough one. You may not need to give up work totally.

Nelly

As I've been an at home mom for the last 2 years...I can't see giving up my day job lol When we found out that my son had Aspergers Syndrome, I quit work to stay home with him until he went to school full time in grade 1. That time has come. We don't NEED the extra income(hubby is a Radiation Protection Supervisor), but I love working and a little extra money to throw at the Fizz is not a bad thing :rockon:

Thanks for the good wishes folks!

 

[Botch]

As I've been an at home mom for the last 2 years...I can't see giving up my day job lol When we found out that my son had Aspergers Syndrome, I quit work to stay home with him until he went to school full time in grade 1. That time has come. We don't NEED the extra income(hubby is a Radiation Protection Supervisor), but I love working and a little extra money to throw at the Fizz is not a bad thing :rockon:

Thanks for the good wishes folks!

Ah, that answered my major question, were you quitting another job to pursue this. Sounds like, No, so go for it!

I had dreams of selling my nature photography for a side income when I moved to Utard, but every joker with a camera has a gallery around here. Same with my woodworking, although I'm still planning on doing that when I retire from the Guv'mint. My third moneymaking hobby, playing music, petered out about a year ago and I can't see playing "Sweet Home Alabama" for $75 a night anymore (26 years is enough...).

At least my hobbies return something; I could be playing golf every weekend.