AseanHive Community Challenge #45: Side Hustles - DIY Saved My Day

Dilemma

When you face a dilemma pertaining monetary matters and you tend to be having second thoughts on how to meet both ends, you suddenly think on what to do inorder to cope with your financial shortages. I've experienced such when hubby was still on standby in Manila and waiting for his ship.

Ukay-ukay: Saved by the bell!

Since I love making pouches and DIY bags when I was still single, I passed by a rummage store commonly called as ,Ukay-ukay and saw some colorful knitting cardigans from Japan . Something sparked in my imagination: Why not make a pouch out of it? I started pulling the strands to make a cord out of it then I closed the base to make a tote bag. I bought it for 10 php and sold it for $1. The sellers liked my idea so they started asking me about how much it would cost them (my labor fee) if they provide the materials then they sell it for a very affordable price. I ventured in making traveling bags too and they liked it. That started my little business.

My mother-in-law who was a seamstress saw my abilities. Since she often travel to Cebu, she bought a slab foam and saw that there were handle straps and zippers by meter. She bought some and gave them to me having in mind that it can be of use for my bags. Indeed it was! I added some snaps and clamps to make it just like any other bags! My sales was overwhelming guys.:) I even started buying second hand made in Korea leather overalls and created leather bags, backpacks and traveling bags. I made the scraps into make up organizers and wallets.

Unemployment

(Photo: A sample of my tie-dye scarf turned into summer dress. This was taken 2yrs ago with Antonia as my model and it was posted in one of my needleworks activities)

• My mother-in-law who was a seasoned seamstress gave me more tips and techniques on how to sew dress and gowns which added to my sewing prowess. When my mother-in-law died, hubby decided to stay home and took over the supervision in the family farm, we went short of funds. I decided to make the trendy tie-dye outfit! It was made of flour sacks then we remove the prints through a long process such as boiling water with zonrox or chlorine then brush it until the prints are gone. The reason was that the sack cloth is more comfortable to wear and easy to tie-dye

Tragedy

The photo above was taken when I was still working as Board Secretary of the Consultants namely STV Lyons & Associates Contract package #4 under the Roads & Bridges Highway Management Project of the DPWH when my daughter died and hubby was forced to come home and cut short his contract. Her baby was merely 8 mos.Old as shown on that picture beside my scooter. Things changed drastically in our lives! It was such a devastating tragedy which shocked us to the core! I was forced to resign because I just couldn't concentrate with my tasks. Things were such in turmoil that my hubby and myself tried our very best not to be carried away and move on for the better for the sake of our young siblings.

Because of this, we were financially tight that we need to hold our strings for that moment. I've thought of making side hustles instead of borrowing money to some friends. People tend to look down on you when you do that thing, right? But there's no other option when your stomach is empty with a family to feed. Sigh...

In my case, I used my ability to sew and crochet. I was not ashamed to sell pot holders ang rugs. My kids even enjoyed selling at the market stalls since we live just in front of the public market. Of course, they're old family friends and they know my kids. They're more than willing to help their mom in their own little ways. Of course, that was during weekends. We sell it for 10 pesos and they get 3 pesos commission.:) In front were coffee shops and food stalls hence our pot holders sold like hotcakes!

(Photo: I made a nursery bag out of a second hand crib cover with pockets which I turned into side pockets for feeding bottles, measuring 20x8x12. It was a big one)

While I got busy with those bags, I thought of making it big as in bigger in size. I looked for wide skirts and the thicker it was the better or something nice to be converted into shoulder bags, backpacks or traveling bags. Again, they liked my work and they gave me the materials to work on and they pay me immediately. My sideline became trending and others even tried to imitate my workmanship!

I bought lace drapes and thick ones then I turned it into bed covers and pillow cases with lace and throw pillows as well. My rich friends asked me to do the interior for them. This time, it was already one roll of fabric for the whole living room from seat covers and drapes up to the bedrooms. It was awesome and overwhelming and they pay well. My friends bought remnants from the Ukay-ukay store in which my services was asked that I never ran out of orders. I only stopped for the time being when I went to do office works again. However, I still made bags and all that when time permits. The good thing is that I enjoy what am doing!

More and more!

(Photo: A sofa cover of one of my clients.)

When my friends saw that I also made sala set covers, they also started to make orders.

That's another seat cover as you can see. I keep the scraps I like to create wallets and organizers especially the shiny and thick ones. I said, I only need a zipper and foamy lining to make a wallet and make-up organizer or holders. See that pink floral organizer and wallet? That's the scrap from the beautiful Sala seat covers. Antonia is business minded too, she liked it and said that she's going to sell it to her classmates so she got a box and placed it inside. It was all sold out and she was very happy to be of help, she said. Actually, I gave it all to her as her extra pocketmoney :)

Sweet Side Hustles

When the jackfruits at the back were ripe, I decided to sell sweetened jackfruit for $2/tub.

My daughter said that she's going to make her special cupcakes and place it in a box with stickers to make it more presentable.

She added banana cakes and Choco nuts before she left to work in the hospital. With instructions that 10% of our proceeds must be given to our church as pledge.🙂

Facing The Wrath of COVID-19

The pandemic caused by COVID-19 had shaken the entire planet! Borderlines were set, face Shields and masks were compulsory! Since the outbreak was unexpected, there were shortages of masks everywhere! My kids couldn't cross the borders and senior citizens were not allowed to go out. I decided to let Antonia stay with her other Lola (granny) since she has many cousins inside their compound that will keep them active despite the prohibition. I too, thought of making some fabric masks because masks were out of stock everywhere. That saved my day guys and thankful to my grandson as well that it was timely he aboard his ship. He took the responsibility of providing my provisions and my neighbors would include my package provided by the city government and drop it in our house. I sold the fabric face masks for 20 pesos only to help them as well.

I am ever grateful that things are back to normal though there are still some variants that kept on popping! It's good enough that we have come this far.

It's always a great advantage to be self sufficient especially in times of crisis. This is all for now, thanks sir @justinparke for this awesome community.

Love,