Many of us have many hidden talents that we need to dust the dirt and webs off and start using them, especially if we are wanting to make some profit from them.

I’ve met many creatives that have so much ingenuity and talent and makes me wonder, where can all this creativity come from?

Have you ever thought, wow, why didn’t I think of that?! If you have talents that you thought, oh what am I going to do with that?

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Don’t be afraid to expand on your talents and even allow them to help you make income. Especially if you’re a stay at home mom or work at home mom that’s looking for additional income.

Today, I want to introduce you to a creative mom that uses her creativity to make money from home. Let’s meet Katie, designer and owner of Befitting Beads.

Tell us a little about yourself.

Hi! I’m Katie, a WAHM of two crazy little boys and a spoiled cat. I live in the beautiful city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and enjoy theater, people watching, crafting, and “Netflix and chill.”

Would you consider yourself an introvert or extrovert?

I’m very introverted! I love people but absolutely need alone time to recharge and care for myself.

Tell us about your products/services? How did you come about this idea? How did you begin?

I make jewelry and ornaments primarily using bead-weaving and wire wrapping techniques. I’ve always loved making jewelry and learned how to bead-weave after I graduated college. I gave a few creations as gifts, and friends started suggesting I open an Etsy shop!

Did you have startup costs?

I bought beads and supplies from Michael’s before I opened my Etsy shop, and I got business cards printed. Etsy also charges $0.20 per listing. Besides that, I didn’t really have startup costs.

How long have you been in business? When did you start seeing income?

I’ve had my Etsy shop for about 2.5 years now and I also participate in local craft fairs every once in awhile. Besides a few sporadic sales, I started seeing an income about 9 months after I opened.

Did you have any bumps on the road at any time? How have you overcome setbacks?

It was difficult to not see sales right away- I almost gave up a few months after opening. Instead, I decided to be proactive about learning more about marketing and SEO.

I read tons of blog posts and implemented some new strategies, and that’s when the success started!

Did you self-teach or took courses?

I learned how to bead-weave from a book I purchased. When it comes to business and marketing I’m self-taught, minus some helpful blog posts and a few great Pinterest tutorials!

How do you come up with the many different pieces/services?

I pull a lot of inspiration from nature, as well as plenty of experimenting! I make pieces I would love to see in stores that are unique, intricate, and personal.

For many that are thinking of becoming entrepreneurs, what advice would you give them?

Treat your business as just that: a BUSINESS. Write a business plan, figure out a “work schedule,” and don’t be afraid to ask for help and invest in yourself! Also, never stop learning.

I still look for new beading techniques, ways to improve my listings, and tips for online marketing. The entrepreneur’s job is never done!

How do you balance work and life?

Not easily 😊 I’ve learned along the way how to ask for help from others and how much time and energy I can afford to spend on my business.

Getting my toddler on a schedule helped- nap time rocks!

We’ve also worked on independent play a lot, and he has periods of time where he is content to be alone. Every day is different, though, I’ve definitely learned how to go with the flow!

Any additional comments or advice?

Being your own boss is an amazing feeling! It’s a lot of work, but if you’re doing what you love it is so rewarding 😊

Conclusion

If you’ve been thinking about becoming a work at home entrepreneur, you can take it from Katie that if you’re motivated and love what you’re doing, by all means, be your own boss. 

Like I mentioned in this post on 7 Steps to Spring Clean Your Mind, Body and Soul, sometimes we tend to have our talents hidden off in a corner of our personal closets to collect dust and not use them. Sometimes we feel we’re not allowed to because we have mommy duties or we tend to put others before ourselves. 

If you have special talents and creative juices and have been wanting or thinking about making income from them, just Go for it! You will feel happy that you’re using your talents and at the same time make some income.

To visit Kelli:
Etsy | Facebook | Twitter

Use coupon code WAHMSpecial on her shop for 30% off one order! Expires by 11:59 on March 17, 2017. Don’t miss out on this special!

*This post contains affiliate links or ads and I’ll earn a small commission if you shop through them.  My family and I will greatly appreciate this as this is how we help provide income to our household so we can continue bringing you amazing content.