Image: sxc.hu

I operated a dressmaking and alterations business for a number of years that evolved into a quiltmaking business.  These enabled me to be at home when our daughter was small. 

At Home Biz Notes, I’m writing a series, with tips on operating these businesses, that you might like to follow.  The tips also will apply to many arts and crafts businesses as well.

Let me know what tips you have to add.

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Series on Sewing Businesses at Home Biz Not

Kara Mastin photo

If you’re operating a crafting business, you may be wondering if or how President Obama’s “changes” will affect yours.  Will some of the policies he’s introducing and, in some instances, already passed have a positive or negative effect?

I have a “change” poll at Home Biz Notes, where you can express your opinion.  You also can write your view in the comments section of this post or the one at Home Biz Notes.  It would be interesting to see whether you expect, or already see, a change of some magnitude.

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Does Obama’s “Change” Affect Crafting Biz?

Image: sxc.hu

With all the “changes” occurring since President Obama has taken office, whether you agree or disagree, you’re likely to feel some effects in your life and craft business. 

Over at my Home Biz Notes blog, I’ve set up a poll, where you can express your thoughts about the changes this is bringing about or will cause in your craft business.  Since many crafters have developed an income source with their talents, they may be looking into the changes that could occur to this method of making a living.

Even if you live in another country, you may be wondering how changes in the United States could affect you.

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Will Obama’s “Change” Affect Your Craft Biz

Sarah O. Green, of Mountain Ash Design, creates aprons from vintage and other recycled fabrics for a unique business that I feature at Home Biz Notes.  She also makes other items from these fabrics and older clothing that put her in the category of  operating a “green” businesses, as well.

Aprons that bring back memories seem to be making a comeback.  I also recalled that my first “clothing for sale” project consisted of aprons  I made to display at my mother’s general store.  Her store was in New York State and I lived in Texas, where my husband was in an Air Force pilot training program.  As a way to use my sewing skills for earning money, my mom suggested I stitch up some aprons she could sell.

My first sewing project ever was an apron with drawstring waist made from a printed feed sack.  My 4-H leader, Aunt Mary, taught me to use a treadle sewing machine with the apron project.

Do you have apron memories?  Collect aprons?  Make aprons?  Wear aprons?

(Amazon image)

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Aprons in Art, Business & Memories

Also, they can put together e-cookbooks or CDs to give as free items to customers, readers, and blog/web site visitors.  This is one way authors have promoted their books and crafters their other products.

Over at Home Biz Notes, I described how I’ve been involved in creating free e-cookbooks as promotional giveaways for my books.  This was a project initiated by author/publisher Kathleen (Katy) Walls.

Check out the post, Developing a Free e-cookbook for PR, and learn more about the two I’ve been involved with.  We have also compiled an anthology of our writing this was as a freebie.

(Cookbook cover by Katy & Martin Walls)

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Cookbook Idea for Crafters

Image: sxc.hu

This is hiring outside professionals, services, and workers to do some of your production and take the workload from you. They don’t work at your place of business, but generally from their homes.

Also, you may decide to outsource your bookkeeping, tax work, and other organizational tasks.  This has become popular with many doing it via the Internet.

 Outsourcing doesn’t mean you must send your work overseas.  Frequently you use someone locally. However, when online type services are involved, you can utilize businesses and individuals literally from around the world.

 If you’ve outsourced, I’d enjoy having you write me and let me know if you found it helpful or whether you discovered disadvantages.

Also, check out my post at Home Biz Notes, Outsourcing – An Option for Your Home Business?

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Have You Considered Outsourcing?

Blogging also can be an enjoyable experience as you share with others some details of your crafting world.

• A blog is a place to display your work and photos.
• You can call attention to your web site or sales site like Etsy.
• Daily or periodic posts on your blog help your fans keep up with your projects.
• You might describe classes and workshops you teach.
• Host other craftspeople on your blog.  Their followers then will visit your blog to learn more about them.
• Monetize your craft blog so that you can earn an incidental income.  (Visit my Home Biz Notes post, Learn from Lindsay’s Writing for Your Wealth Blog, to discover more about this.)

How has blogging helped you?

(Amazon image )

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Blogging Your Way to Crafting Success

“Going Green” With Your Home Business

Finding Your Home Biz Niche

Outsourcing – An Option for Your Home Business?

What business topics would you like to see discussed at Home Biz Notes?

(Art.com image at Amazon)

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Mary Emma Blogging at Home Biz Notes Again

Image: sxc.hu

Check out Jean’s post, How Do I Start a Home Business, for great step-by-step suggestions.  Here Jean also talks about getting your customers and will continue the discussion in another post.

In my next post, I shall present information on some reasons why a crafting home business isn’t so rosy as you might think at first glance.  Look at all angles when determining whether to start one and realize that operating a crafting business isn’t the same as pursuing a hobby.

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Tips for Starting Your Crafting Biz

Thanks to Mary Emma Allen for guest posting on Blog Fabulous. Mary Emma Allen writes four blogs for b5media: Alzheimer’s Notes Quilting and Patchwork, Home Biz Notes , and One Book Two Book.

“Setting my kids up for Alzheimer’s! No way! I’m a good mom,” you exclaim. “All the kids play soccer and football and sports like that.”

When I saw my granddaughter and her teammates stopping soccer balls with their heads and taking whomping hits, I cringed. That’s not how we played soccer in my day. (Yes, I did step into a depression on the soccer field and broke my leg during PE class. But not my head.)

Then there’s all that head contact when the kids play football at school and on community teams from a young age through high school. I’d wondered what damage results.

We generally wouldn’t let our kids beat their heads against a wall, no matter that we often hear that old adage about stone walls. So why in sports?

Is long term damage incurred in young minds and brains with head banging and concussions? Studies have come out that apparently connect football players’ brain injuries with memory loss and possible Alzheimer’s in older age.

The NFL, Concussions and Alzheimer’s disease

Ex-NFL players suffering from Alzheimer’s qualify for assistance.

Is this information something for parents to consider when they encourage their youngsters to participate in these sports, especially when there is so much pressure for winning teams, personal recognition and college scholarships?

What are your thoughts? If your youngsters play football or soccer or other head contact sports, does this concern you?

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

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Soccer Moms Setting Kids Up for Alzheimer’s?