Jewelry Making Guilt?
Do you ever wonder if you are making a mistake? Do you ever feel a little guilty for doing something for yourself even though it means less time for your family?
Primarily she is talking about starting a jewelry making business. And along with these questions, she feels pressure to start making a profit right away. I think this is a typical scenario for anyone starting a business of just about any kind, not necessarily just a jewelry business. People expect you to be successful almost right away, and if you aren't, you and they question the whole point of it. But, business is not like that. To expect immediate success, I believe, is unrealistic.
What do you think? Are you ever feeling guilty for the pleasure you have spending time making jewelry?
Do you have a jewelry business and feel pressure to make a profit right away?
Comments
No because when I do something for myself, I’m more fulfilled as an individual. When you are happy with yourself, you can then devote more to your family and their happiness. What goes around, comes around. I also have a roller cart that I can pull into the family room and have all my supplies right there. I’m able to create some fun pieces while we watch a movie together and I also ask my family’s opinion on each one. They become my “focus” group and I end up with a truly original piece when I’m done.
I loved the comment by Kacey, I started my business at 66 years of age after retiring from a full time job, so I don’t have children at home. The store where I had my jewelry sold to another company and I felt like I was fired for the first time in my life, so now I am starting over. It is slow at first but picking up, I too bring my things to the family room from time to time to be with my husband. I don’t really feel guilty, just try to keep housework done before starting on a new project.
I am lucky in the fact my kids love to make jewelry too. My 8yr old daughter and 14 yr old son have started to design jewelry to sell also. And I took a wire wrapped ring class with my son the other day. I don’t expect to make a profit right away. Just keep your face out there and eventually you will start selling.
Yes, I do feel guilty sometimes. I have spent a lot on set up and learning and am just beginning to sell. I have not been able to work outside the home for a while, so creating jewelry is good for my mental health…something I love to do so much that I would do it just for me. My DH wants to see some return for my investment.
Guilt! It should be a four letter word. I feel guilty about every aspect involving my jewelry making. From spending money on supplies, to the fact that the rug isn’t clean. I try to read self help books to encourage myself…but it all comes down to the fact that I feel I should be doing something else. Even if my children are both in college and I work fulltime.
Nope…I don’t feel guilty about taking care of myself. Jewelry making is self care and I get a great deal of pleasure out of all aspects of the craft.
Guilt is a waste of time, energy and leads to nothing but tension headaches and lower back pain. I refuse to indulge in the emotion.
No, I don’t feel guilty. I started making jewelry as a way to keep my mind sharp (I’m 55 years old and Alzheimer’s disease runs in my family). Also because it’s just a lot of fun! Also, I’m hoping to supplement my income when/if I retire in 10 years or so. I’m starting to sell a few pieces here and there and that does help me feel good about it too.
I feel guilty sometimes, like when I’m buying more supplies *again* after making no sales, etc. I have such a huge store of stuff, and lately, I have begun to try and take responsibility for that by forcing myself to use my reserves and only buy the staples, like wire, stringing wire, crimp beads, etc.
My husband has been so supportive and is so kind and courteous about the whole thing. He knows that for me (because of my truly artistic personality), selling is not even my primary goal. The money is not even what gives me joy when I sell. For me, the creative process itself brings the greatest joy. The more complicated the piece, the more heavenly I feel when the piece is completed. When someone buys my work, I feel such joy because of the fact that someone liked what I made and wanted it–more than that they bought it, if that makes sense. It validates my artistry in a way.
Lately I’ve been more purposeful in my business because I want to become self sufficient in my hobby, as in, only spending what I make to continue this hobby that I love. No more dipping into our household finances. Not that it’s too big of a deal, but I’ve been doing it so much for so long and my husband has been so nice and so supportive, that I’m starting to feel like I want to give something back.
It’s not about pressure, not about guilt. Just about me making a reasonable goal–first becoming self-sufficient. If I start to turn a profit beyond that eventually, then great!
Yes & No. I used to feel guilty quite often - however - this year I am finally showing a consistent sales growth (outside of shows and stores) and word of mouth business has become strong enough that I (and more importantly my family) believe that it is time and money well spent. No one’s happy if the Momma isn’t happy.
Yes I do feel pressured. My family feels that is just a little hobby and I should not spend money on it except to make myself something cute. I feel like I am fighting up hill. I have taken Small Bussiness classes thru our Community College and gotten my Federal I. D. #. They check and could not find any one out there with my business name. I due need to get my Sellers I.D. since Oregon does not have a sales tax.
Also, I need to regesture my business through my state.
I am setting up an area for my business but am finding my Husband keeps putting things in there and and does not offer to help me set it up because it is just a hobby.
I feel defeated before I even get started.
But i am still out here trying.
Thank You
Karen
Hey Karen,
Don’t give up!
It sounds like you are serious about giving this a go if you have gone to the trouble of doing small business courses.Just keep doing what you love despite the obstacles and eventually people will get the message!
Hi,
For all of us who have the guilt, a wonderful designer had some good advice to me that a happy, full-filled member of the family is a better member of the family. To Karen, believe in yourself, and your family will come around.
I do feel guilty for the amount I spend on what essentially so far is a hobby from which I occasionally make a bit of cash in return! I hope to increase my sales to a level that when my youngest goes to school full time I will have a decent little business doing something I truly love!
My partner is very supportive actually - he sees that it makes me happy and keeps my brain working which can be a challenge for a stay at home mum! He points out that a happy mum means happy kids and that is what’s important! Plus my girls enjoy beading too and especially enjoy wearing the fruits of my labour!
Still feel guilty over the money though!
Guilty? Yes, sometimes, I do feel guilty. I lament the fact that supplies are so expensive, and living in Hawaii, there are some supplies that one cannot find–and some internet places charge an incredible amount just for shipping!
Right now I am too timid to go out there and try to find someone to buy my creations. I do, however, give away a LOT of the things I make. I sold quite a few spiral bracelets when I was helping my husband fund-raise for a church trip to China, and really enjoyed it.
I work part-time, so I have enough time to devote to making jewelry. As Gloria said, as long as I keep the house in decent shape, I don’t feel as guilty.
I now have a neighbor who likes to make jewlry, too, so we have decided to get together to order online(and share the shipping costs)and make jewelry together, so I’m looking forward to that! As she is a go-getter, I may get over my timidity and actually find a place to sell my treasures.
I’ve been making jewelry for two years now and the expenses are enormous. I have a huge inventory of gorgeous pieces, however, I’m finding that every craft show is overloaded with jewelry vendors to the point that customers are feeling overwhelmed by all of the jewelry offered. I’m starting to feel like I’ve hit a wall and may end up losing alot of money I’ve invested in all of the beautiful lampwork beads, semi-precious stones, silver and crystals. Worse yet, I’m feeling that my design talent will be going to waste if I’m forced to stop and there really isn’t any other creative outlet so suited for me. It’s just that the show promoters view all jewelry makers in the same “box”. Just more jewelry . . .
Hmm… I suppose that I do feel a little guilty. But only when I walk out of the store and realize we just spent $50 on crystals. Once we start working on the stuff, it goes away. My wife and I have only been married a couple of years and she got me hooked on this jewelry stuff (I’ve always been an artist at heart and this is a great creative outlet). We use it to spend quality time together, so we don’t have to sit in front of the TV or spend our time fighting…
It’s a great, creative and productive activity that brings us together.
There is so much ugliness in this world, don’t feel guilty about contributing something beautiful.