Making your own business

[Tink]

Not being someone who's comfortable spending my dh's money on my own "wants" I've been checking into various ways to make some spending money and still be able to stay home. I belong to a site that consists of gardening fanatics like myself, and have started playing around with a craft they're doing to help defer the costs of their plants etc.

What they're making are Garden Totems, and they're very addictive once you get started! I'm just wondering if anyone here has seen them in their area, or if you might have one? I've not seen anything like this in my area.

Garden totem pictures (http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/1360565398042749929Muvnal)

[Janet]

Not sure which are the totems...LOL I'm such a dork! Is it the ones with 2 or 3 levels? They are pretty.

[Tink]

Totems can have only one or numerous levels. They're all different, all made with items that have been repurposed, and often consist of glass, ceramic, etc.

Here's another site that gives good examples:
http://www.valleyeasttoday.ca/evergreengardens/Odds/totems.htm

When I first saw totems, I was unimpressed... after having seen them tucked into a garden and peeking out with sparkle and flash my mind was changed. The items pictured sell for $25 - $65 at flea markets, or off the persons front lawn.

[DianaB]

The garden totems are really cute!! I think that if you could put a candle in them it would look really nice too!!

[Tink]

There you go Diana! You'd be a natural with ideas like that! Each one is unique to the person who made it and can include whatever ideas your mind can think up and find a way to apply. I have several ceramic bunnies I want to work into some of mine. LOL

[Marilyn]

People stick all sorts of decorative things in their gardens around here, didn't know they were called totems. I've never seen any quite like the ones in your photo's. People here use glass balls, figures, metal objects of all sorts. Looks like a really cool project!!!! Let us know how it goes!!! The glass ones are really pretty.

[highlans]

Have never seen any thing like these over here but I love them, would be good as pressys for people who have every thing.

[AngieDoogles]

Oh Tink. Those are cute! Looks like you've found a fun hobby. I hope you are able to profit from doing something you enjoy!!

[DianaB]

Tink, I was looking at a Country Living magazine yesterday and ran across something that I thought that would interest you. They had taken a globlet and turned it upside down and (I'm sure it was glued) placed a plate on top of it. They used a ceramic plate, but you could use a glass plate too. You could serve so many things from it! Really cute! With all of the shabby chic style it was something that would fit right in with that decor.

[Tink]

1527 This is a clear totem... my first effort to make one. The patterned glass really sparkles in the sunlight.

1529 This is my blue birdhouse totem. I love the color!

1530 My green totem with the articoke top really compliments the pink flowers surrounding it.

1528 My child size cowboy boot with hen & chicks growing in it.

[Janet]

I think they are really nice Tink. You did a good job. Did you have the materials on hand or did you have to pick some up? Ya know, I'm just not sure I would ever want one. I don't know. I do know one thing, you'd have to run like the dickens to get it out of a hail storm....lol

[Tink]

LOL Janet, I think you're right!

I "kind of" got my first order for one yesterday. My cousin was here and she asked me to make one to donate to a benefit auction. As she said, It could be a good way to get them seen and do a good deed at the same time. lol

[DianaB]

Oh, Tink, they're really cute!! I think that as you keep going you'll come up with even more ideas for it!! Very nice!!! (You could make one with a small saucer and a wide candle on top to use indoors!)

[AngieDoogles]

LOL Janet, I think you're right!

I "kind of" got my first order for one yesterday. My cousin was here and she asked me to make one to donate to a benefit auction. As she said, It could be a good way to get them seen and do a good deed at the same time. lol

That's awesome! Good luck!

[Janet]

Oh, Tink, they're really cute!! I think that as you keep going you'll come up with even more ideas for it!! Very nice!!! (You could make one with a small saucer and a wide candle on top to use indoors!)


That's a great idea. I think I would probably like one better in the house instead of in the garden.

[Mandy]

Those are nice Tink, its great to have a hobby and make some money from it. :)

If you like, i can send you some garden decoration ideas from here.

[Tink]

Mandy, I'm always looking for more new ideas, so would love to see what's being done there. Thank You!

[Mandy]

Ok... i have PM'd you for your email adres :)

[Tink]

My goofy, wonderful, chatterbox of a man just got me my first official sale!
His dispatcher is a lady he really likes, so they've become friends as well as co-workers. While discussing what they did over the weekend, he told her about my totems, and was amazed to learn that she actually knew what they were! LOL

Anyway, she placed an order for one and was all excited that she could choose the colors, size, etc.

[AngieDoogles]

My goofy, wonderful, chatterbox of a man just got me my first official sale!
His dispatcher is a lady he really likes, so they've become friends as well as co-workers. While discussing what they did over the weekend, he told her about my totems, and was amazed to learn that she actually knew what they were! LOL

Anyway, she placed an order for one and was all excited that she could choose the colors, size, etc.

Wow, congratulations on your first sale Tink!! Way to go! What a good man you have. :)

[DianaB]

How exciting!!! Your first sale!!!! Congratulations, Tink!!!

[Janet]

Way to go Tink!!!! You're going to make a bunch of money girl...

You should take a couple around to the Flower and Garden Shops to see what kind of interest is out their. I think you've got yourself a summer job!!!