Happy Holidays to all...whether your stuck in bed or not....

Before RSD i was very active im my church and community and family when it came to anything having to do with the holidays. I am mostly stuck in bed and cant serve my church or be active in my community.

I am financially strapped this year and looking for ideas to find a way to earn extra money from home and I am looking for ideas of things to make that are not too hard or cost too much. I know how to crochet so i have been crocheting presents and i make jewelry so i can do that too.
Last year i sent cards to soldiers at Walter Reed hospital to cheer them up and let them know i was grateful for their service.

What do you to earn money from home and do you have craft ideas that make good presents? Whatever holiday you celebrate, please share your ideas.

Thanks
Lori

I'll try to remember to come back here. I have a dr appt in 2 hrs, and hurry has been totally deleted from my vocabulary!

Hi lori, It sounds like you like the artistic side like I do. I am home also, and got involved with mosaics. I do go to thrift shops for cups, plates and anthing else at garage sales. my neighbors know I collect and give me their broken china. It costs very little to start up. Wood, cement pavers, tile, slate can all be used to put a mosaic design on. Lots of free books on it in the library. It is fun and anyone can learn how. Just another home hobby that helps me to cope with my dissabilities. Glad you like making things too. ginnie

Thanks Ginnie

I never tried that...Do you have any projects that you would consider easy to do that i should try first? I made an ashtray once when i was a child for a Christmas present for my mom, you made me remember that, its a good memory, thank you.

So what would you recommend? If you want to try crocheting a scarf is a good simple project to try and there are several videos to learn from online. I tried to learn to knit with an online video and it was hopeless, just couldnt make it work. I am going to go to one of those free classes that Michaels or Joanns craft stores offer on the weekends, maybe they can teach me in person.

Thanks for replying!
Lori

Hi Lori,

I too make jewelry at home, and I have sold a few pieces here and there but what is hardest for me is letting go of something I spent so much time wiht LOL. Stringing is easiest (i.m.o.) and ( I'm not sure what medium you use) but I am a beadweaver and silly me has to use those tiny little seed beads I do get frustrated thouhg but I refse to give in to them little buggers so if I have to take it out and redo it, so be it.

I also design/sew and make pretty good money at that, mostly corsets, but that does take some time to master, and even for as long as Ive been making them, I still learn something new with each one.

Maybe you could crochet some Christmas doilies? My mother used to make those as gifts and everyone loved them. She also crocheted these little bells and put real bells inside each one, connected two of them together, added a pin on the back and they looked beautiful on everyones outfit/coats, etc. She did sorta the same thing with these mini mittens, mini candy canes and mini Christmas trees.

Hopefully I gave you some ideas, but if you need more, just hollar and I'll get this ole brain ticking and go through some of my files of crafts and will even call my mother. I've been doing different crafts since I can remember and love it!

Hugs and take care
Dee

Hello Lori, I am taking break from cutting some Christmas 'paperdoll' chains. I have some patterns I could email you. It just takes 12" of paper folded properly a few cuts and you have four Angels or Christmas trees or Wreaths or Santa'a sleigh, or Reindeer, or Snowflake(now a few cuts won't make it on this one). They keep my mind busy and I can slip one in a card of encouragement to someone or include it in a reminder for an up coming Bible study.

I think I've decided why I like this time of night though. For some reason, heretofore unexplained, I have less irritation, pain, and brain bombardment. Mornings are the worst. Hard to focus on anything. My last injection is wearing off and I'm wondering what is next. Oops, I think that was a rabbit trail. back to subject.

I also have a pattern for making small angel decorations from Christmas ribbon. Ribbon, small wooden bead, very thin wire and a glue gun required. Pretty simple. I did sell them at one time, I made them as a pin for your coat.

I also make angel tree ornaments out of drapery tassels - small to large. Not much required again, glue gun, tassel, wooden bead, hair, gold ring for halo.

Let me know. Gonna be busy(doesn't take much as slow as I am) until Saturday, but I will be back. I have to sit down sometime. My feet are beginning(again) to object to anything remotely resembling a shoe or a sock. I try to reason, but 'queenie' says no. Now 'blanche' is more amenable to temporary inconveniences like socks. But she wasn't the one injured, she's just come along for the sympathy ride.

Back to business, it is too cold in here to stay too long.
pat e

All the women and girls on my Christmas list are getting handmade jewelry from me this year !

It's an especially tough time of year to be in a financial pinch. I am this year and it's killing me !

I wish I had an original idea for you.

Have you ever read "the Body Broken" by Lynne Greenberg ? It's about her struggle with chronic pain......she specifically talks about how many fellow CP'ers she has met that are also crafters. It's something we can do at our leisure that still makes us feel creative and like we accomplished something.

HI Pat

Thank you for your kind reply! Im sorry to hear about your feet, did you read the post about "Earthing" Im going to try it, maybe you could try it for your feet and see what happens, I am going to try it too, I have feet problems as well.

Yes , I would love to make these projects you have mentioned, Paper chains are fun and pretty and so much you can do with them! What ever patterns you feel up to sending me would be greatly appreciated, I will make them all. The tassel angels sound adorable too! Thank you kindly
Lori

Many of my friends will get some jewelry from me as well and I even crocheted a coat for a friends dog...lol. I have scarfs made for my sister and her son, still much to do.

I am gifting music this year. I was told when it was discovered how severe my arm fracture was, that I probably would not be able to play very well again. Well, on that one thing I beat the odds, so I am playing for everyone this holiday. Another project that I am going to work on for next year is compiling a cookbook for my family with all of my grandmother's recipes in it. We lost her this past February, so I think that this is something that everyone will like. Two years ago I made a scrap book for my dad that contained all the letters he wrote home while he was in the Marines. I really enjoyed this project, and gained a lot of understanding of him as a young man and of the culture of that period. Blessings to all, Lisa