YOU ARE NOT ALONE - A companion online community discussion board for The Mental Illness Happy Hour podcast with Paul Gilmartin

I've been wanting to sell my crafty creations for a long time, but I hadn't ever gotten past the inertia and finally do it. But a local nonprofit that I volunteer for opened a little artist's shop and I got to be a part of it! Nothing too fancy. Some knitted/crochet projects mostly. But I'm starting to make jewelry out of broken/vintage jewelry pieces and buttons, and that's been really fun. I've always felt like my stuff wasn't good enough despite complements, because all I really do is follow a pattern. But the jewelry has proved a fun challenge, trying to figure out what to do with each piece. I know I sold at least one thing so far, so that's pretty cool. Anyway, here are a few pictures:

Awesome! How wonderful that you can create such nice things.

Neat stuff! I've always really admired the commitment it takes to knit/crochet things, as I have the attention span of a goldfish. All art is pretty much following a pattern. Even Jackson Pollock followed a pattern, he just didn't know it

Hey, whether you use patterns or not, your stuff looks cozy and awesome. I started crocheting a dog sweater months ago and have yet to pick it up again so don't sell yourself short on feeling accomplished with all these projects!! Also think it's great you're crafting for a cause, this is making me want to get back on my yarn grind.

Thanks!

I recently had to decide whether or not to renew my contract selling there. I hadn't heard anything from them for a while, so I had assumed I hadn't sold anything. I decided to renew and consider the space rental fee a donation, and then when I stopped by I saw that I'd sold 3 more necklaces! 4 total, so that makes me feel good. (Hoping the knit stuff will start selling as well now that it's not a million degrees outside.) And it motivated me to make some more this week. I'm always happier when I'm making stuff, but sometimes I get into a funk and I can't get over the hurdle to actually to it.

That's great to hear! Especially since you said you had just started with the jewelry.

I can totally relate about crafting in general. I love making things, last year around the holidays I got super into making custom body scrubs with essential oils and packaged them in decoupaged little jars. It always makes me feel better to be creative especially when it's with someone else in mind but I agree that depression makes it really difficult to get excited about anything. Sometimes just finding the right supplies can get me going in the right direction, maybe take a trip to a thrift store or flea market for some interesting little trinkets? Or even just a trip to the junk drawer works too.