A bit embarrasing! If I were to make beaded earrings/necklaces/bracelets etc would anyone want them?!

[fastasleep]

It's just... we're skint, I'm pregnant (again)and I feel incredibly guilty! I'm 18 and didn't get the chance to do my GCSE's or anything... the only skills I have are beady ones lol with a little DIY refresher course I could make -

One of a kind imaginative beaded earrings, bracelets and necklaces...

Personalised embroidered cards (I'd do the embroidery onto fabric and then have it framed in a birthday type card) you could have your mum's favourite flower and a personal message for mother's day for example..

I could do any type of personalised embroidery for example if you fancied having a little pink top for your DD with her name and her favourite animal or butterflies or flowers etc embroidered on it I could find a good quality top and then hand embroider anything on it (not sure it's perfectly legal to sell on other shop's tops though, but charity shops do!)

Obviously personalised stuff would take a bit longer than normal internet shopping, and really I'd need a gallery of examples or a website (preferably free!) and I have no idea where to get those things!

I know it's not the most exciting list of 'skills', but I feel really guilty about spending all DH's hard earned money.. I'd love to know whether you'd be interested in anything, or have any ideas of other beady things I could make and sell?

Sorry about the length!

[fastasleep]

Oh poo I could've spelled embarrassing right! I knew I'd make myself look a bit thick!

[anorak]

My sister and I have a little craft business and she makes jewellery. Of all the things that sell on our stall (we do the odd Christmas or summer fete) jewellery is always one of them.

My advice would be to invest in a few basic materials and make some samples you like. Then see how it goes. Don't expect to make huge money from it, but have a go, you might get enough to pay for treats now and again. When my sister was younger her dh was in the army and she used to make quite good money making jewellery for the wives to go with any dresses they wanted to wear for functions. She used to use the party plan method then, giving 10% worth of jewellery to the hostess.

[anorak]

I meant to say, jewellery is always one of the best sellers on the stall. I made it sound like the understatement of the year!

[Fastasleep]

Thanks anorak, I'm just fed up of feeling useless... it's the SAHM disease I think.

[paolosgirl]

I was at a craft fair at the weekend - the jewellry and things seemed to be going very well. Another thing that was selling well were little crocheted bags (adult ones, the kind that you wear across you chest IYKWIM) in lovely colours.
Why not make up small batch of things as anorak suggests and see how they go? Good luck

[paolosgirl]

Also - how about going to Monsoon and Accessorize and getting ideas? They have the loveliest (but very expensive ) stuff

[fastasleep]

Thanks paolosgirl I love Monsoon jewellery...I could happily make stuff like that all day, all I need to do now is make my mind up about what I'm going to make, buy the raw ingredients and find somewhere to display everything...hmm! Lol!

[gscrym]

Also consider wedding type things. My friend just got married and trying to find unusual but cheap-ish jewellary was a nightmare. Try talking to hairdressers as well, if you could make hair clips, head-dresses, they may display them for you for a small fee.

[fastasleep]

Thanks gyscrm, I've always wanted to try my hand at wedding stuff!

[jayzmummy]

Go for it fastasleep...thats what I did and I love having a bit of my own pocket money to spend. I hate taking money out of our account and spending it on me but my card and jewellery money well thats mine and I can feed my habit of buying far to many crafting bits and bobs without feeling too guilty!

[hi5]

I know a girl who makes simple but effective necklaces using silk and Szwarowski (sp!) crystals - I have bought a few and I find that they make lovely presents. She doesn't really sell them on a large scale but I am sure that they would be popular if marketed correctly. You could mention the link to crystals having beneficial properties to counteract negative effects of mobile phones- it may encourage more interest in some areas. Its a simple line with only crystals and silk string and fasteners for your outlay. Good luck whatever you decide.

[fastasleep]

Well bites nails! I just bought all the jewellery stuff I need to start making 'examples'

[firstbabyandnervous]

Best of luck with it all hope it goes well

[lunachic]

i know someone who made bead jewelrey and sold it on ebay she was good at it and fairly well from the sales good luck x

[lunachic]

meant did fairly well

[fastasleep]

Thanks! I'm all nervous now!

[dyzzidi]

I would love some personalised stuff! As regards to jewellery and bags etc you could do a bit and then maybe have a look in sctual bridal shopd the ones I have been to have a crap selection of accessories.

If you needed quick cash you could always sell them on a sunday market/ car boot kind of thing.

I always like different quirky looking necklaces but struggle with matching earrings to them maybe you could do come sets?