Crafting: More than just a hobby

by Philip S. Ruckle Jr.

Making craft items can be more than a therapeutic hobby, it can also progress into a money-making activity.

“It’s a great distraction from all the other stuff and stress in life that’s going on,” says Chelsea Matusko of Barco. “I’ve always been into the crafting thing. I painted for a while and then I drew some, but my hands couldn’t handle it.”

Matusko says about the time she gave that up, she saw some jewelry and necklaces she liked and decided to try making some of her own.

“Some of them were kind of pricey,” Matusko recalls, “so I thought I could make these myself. I just got into it then and basically it turned into a love.”

Starting out with macrame, Matusko says she started making small jewelry items, primarily hemp jewelry, and that led to wall pieces like tapestries and dream catchers.

She then progressed to micro macrame, a technique that uses a thinner cord than traditional macrame to create more intricate and delicate macrame jewelry.

“I’m doing micro macrame items like mini key-chains and things like that,” Matusko continues. “Recently I started dabbling in resin.”

Known for its crystal clear and often beautiful surface, resin is an almost ideal choice for the production of jewelry and small accessory items.

Even so, Matusko says she likes to stay with certain basic materials for her creations.

“I like to use a lot of natural stuff like flowers, shells, rocks, and things of that sort,” she explains. “But I also like to use other things at times. Pretty much whatever I can find and put in it.”

Once an item is created Matusko might give it away or sell it.

“When I first made items it was for gifts,” she advises. “Then I started accumulating a lot of stuff. So I started doing a flea market here in Elizabeth City. I would do that during the springtime. Now I have my own Etsy account for an online marketplace, then there is Instagram and a Facebook page where I try to sell stuff to people online.”

Matusko says making an appearance at places like the River City flea market in Elizabeth City can help on two fronts. People browsing the vendors there can make a purchase on the spot or, having seen what she has to offer, they might go through an online account for a purchase.

“It just depends on what is better for them,” she continues. “The online sales are a little better when I go to the flea market and I’m able to put my cards out there. I’m able to get to know some customers. Typically that’s when I get a lot of hits online, when I’m selling in person.”

That’s not to say the cash is always flowing at a flea market.

“There was one flea market,” Matusko recalls, “I can’t remember the name of it, but we just went one time because there really were not any sales. You really do have to find your demographic.”

Often helping Matusko at a flea market is her neighbor Sharon Bryant.

“A lot of times I help Chelsea man and fill the booths,” says Bryant. “She brings most of the stuff.”

Bryant says most of her items are crocheted, although she used to do a little bit of quilting.

Like Matusko, Bryant started out making gift items before advancing into the retail market.

“I would do a little bit of quilting, crocheted stuffed animals, mostly for gifts when babies are being born, for my nieces and nephews, or I would make them blankets,” explains Bryant. “Of course my kids love it.”

Branching out, Bryant started setting up booths at her daughter’s elementary school craft fair. Now she still does craft fairs but also frequently helps Matusko at flea markets.

“Usually we do the flea market over the summer,” Bryant continues. “And then crafts show at the school around holidays. Schools often have a lot of craft shows leading up to Halloween and Christmas. And there are several schools around.”

Setting prices requires a lot of Googling to check what prices others are selling at and what people are paying for them.

“I try to check and see what other craftsmen are selling at, and of course cover my cost,” Bryant continues. “I try to set some kind of median price around what other people are selling.

The ideas for craft items generally come from a pattern or a book.

“I can pretty much make anything that has a pattern,” Bryant explains. “I don’t do a whole lot of freehand crochet, but if I can

Sharon Bryant photo

Sharon Bryant produces most of her craft creations as a hobby during her free time.