If you've ever dreamed of turning your handmade hobby into a full-time business, you've probably heard the advice:
"Take the leap."
"Go all in."
"Quit your job and follow your passion."
It's exciting advice.
Sometimes it's even the right advice.
But after years of running our jewelry business, I've found myself telling my kids something very different.
Don't quit your day job.
They both need a stable income. They both need health insurance. They both need other benefits, like retirement, that come with regular full-time jobs.
Our Jewelry Business Has Always Fit Our Life
I've always considered our jewelry business a side hustle.
That doesn't mean we don't take it seriously.
Will & I absolutely do.
- We invest in quality tools and materials.
- We spend weekends at markets.
- We make A LOT of jewelry.
- I maintain our website and Etsy shop.
- I write blog posts.
We're always looking for ways to improve and grow.
But this business has always been designed to fit our family's life—not the other way around. We wrote more about that philosophy in Why Staying Local Works for Us.
Years ago, I packed away my metalsmithing tools and put my Etsy shop on "Vacation Mode".
For more than twelve years, I barely made any jewelry.
Not because I stopped loving it.
Not because I failed.
Life simply looked different.
Those were the years our children needed me at home.
Between school, sports, family activities, and everything else that comes with raising kids, I didn't have time to spend weekends traveling to art shows or building a business.
So I stepped away.
Once both kids were in college and out of the house, I unpacked my tools, reopened my Etsy shop, and started all over again.
Looking back, I don't regret that decision for a second.
Sometimes your business grows.
Sometimes it pauses.
For me, family comes first.
That's okay.
Success Doesn't Always Move in a Straight Line
Last year was one of the best years we've ever had.
Our sales were record-breaking.
Markets were busy.
Customers were shopping.
It felt like everything was moving in the right direction.
This year?
It's been much quieter.
We haven't changed much.
We're still making sterling silver jewelry by hand.
We're still creating new designs.
We're still setting up at markets nearly every weekend.
We're still adding products to our website and Etsy.
But customers are spending more cautiously.
Whether it's inflation, higher everyday expenses, economic uncertainty, or changing shopping habits, many people simply aren't making as many discretionary purchases.
That's part of owning a small business.
Some years are amazing.
Some years are harder.
Markets Aren't Guaranteed
One lesson I've learned is never to depend on a single source of income.
If all of your income comes from one market...
What happens if that market suddenly disappears?
We experienced something very similar last year when our local market closed abruptly.
Thankfully, a group of dedicated vendors stepped up and created the Corvallis Makers Market almost immediately.
But for a while, none of us knew what would happen.
It was a reminder that something you've counted on for years can change overnight.
The same thing happens with art festivals.
This year we weren't accepted into a couple of the larger shows that have been excellent events for us in the past.
Those weekends represented a meaningful amount of potential income.
But jury decisions are out of our control. We wrote about that experience in When You Don't Get Accepted to the Art Festival.
Sometimes you get accepted.
Sometimes you don't.
You simply move on and look for other opportunities.
Online Sales Aren't Guaranteed Either
People often say,
"Just sell online."
If only it were that easy.
Our Etsy shops have been slower this year.
Our website has been a little busier, though not enough to sustain our business on its own.
I'd love to generate a much larger percentage of our revenue online because online sales don't depend on weather, booth fees, travel expenses, or jury acceptance.
But online selling has its own challenges.
Search engines change.
Algorithms change.
Competition grows.
Advertising becomes more expensive.
Customer habits shift.
And platforms aren't permanent.
Etsy, for example, is known for occasionally suspending shops without much warning. Whether it's an error, a policy issue, or something else entirely, it happens.
That's why I've never wanted our business to depend entirely on Etsy.
It's one reason we've continued investing in our own website.
Is our website bringing in all the sales we'd like?
Not yet.
But we're continuing to improve it through SEO, blog posts, Pinterest, and adding new products every week.
At the same time, I'm beginning to explore wholesale opportunities.
Will wholesale become another significant source of income?
I don't know.
But I'd rather keep building new opportunities than depend on only one.
Why Price Points Matter
I've always encouraged Will to create jewelry across a wide range of price points.
He makes beautiful handmade sterling silver chains and gemstone jewelry.
Some pieces sell for $150.
Others are $250 or $400.
They're worth every penny.
The craftsmanship, materials, and time involved are significant.
But not everyone walks into a farmers market ready to spend several hundred dollars on jewelry.
Especially during slower economic times.
Some customers want a statement piece.
Others are looking for sterling silver stud earrings, a stacking ring, or a thoughtful gift under $50.
Those customers matter just as much.
Offering affordable pieces doesn't diminish your higher-end work.
It simply gives more people an opportunity to become customers.
Those smaller sales often keep a business moving during slower seasons. If you're curious what's actually been selling for us, check out What Actually Sold Best at Markets in 2025.
Different Seasons of Life
One of the things I appreciate most about our business today is that it serves each of us differently.
For Will and Claire, who are both in their twenties and living on their own, our small family business provides supplemental income that helps them live comfortably without relying on financial support from Mom and Dad.
I'm incredibly proud of that.
For me, it's different.
My husband and I are beginning to think about retirement.
I've always hoped this jewelry business would continue to be my side hustle, my creative outlet, and something we can continue enjoying well into retirement.
I'm not trying to build a giant company.
I'm trying to build something I can pass onto my kids to take over (down the road) if they want it.
I'm building something I enjoy that also provides additional income and flexibility.
That's success in my book.
This Isn't Financial Advice
I'm certainly not a financial advisor, and I'm not suggesting that everyone should keep their day job forever.
Everyone has different goals.
Different responsibilities.
Different financial situations.
I'm simply sharing the advice I've always given my own children and business partners.
Build something you love.
Keep learning.
Keep improving.
Keep adapting.
Diversify your income whenever you can.
Don't depend on one market.
Don't depend on one festival.
Don't depend on Etsy.
Don't depend on your website.
Don't depend on social media.
Because any one of those can change tomorrow.
Final Thoughts
Owning a handmade business has brought our family opportunities I never imagined.
It's allowed us to create together, travel together, meet wonderful customers, and build something we're proud of.
But it's also taught us to be realistic.
Businesses have highs.
Businesses have lows.
Markets close.
Weather happens.
Festivals reject applicants.
Online sales slow down.
Algorithms change.
The businesses that last aren't always the ones that never struggle.
They're the ones that keep adapting.
The goal isn't to depend on one source of income. It's to build a business that's strong enough to survive when one of those income streams disappears.