Turn Your Hobby into Cash

Check out these people who have turned their spare time activities into money. From Duct Tape Design to Crochet to Truck Driving, these folks are making it in the hobby business!

CARVING WITH A CHAIN SAW

You have been doing this for years, and you are getting really good at it. Find yourself a big tree, cut it down and cure it, then make a big bear for your front yard. (Make it big enough so that the most determined thief can't move it). Carve a sign advertising your art; include your phone number or email address. Expect people to pull up to inspect it. Pretty soon they'll be begging you to make monkeys, dinosaurs, mailboxes and porch dragons for them.

George Kenny of the George Kenny School of Chainsaw Carving in Snoqualmie, Washington, teaches students how to carve fish, eagles and bears with a chainsaw. He believes creating art is good for people. "I call it carver therapy - you kind of get into your own little world making and creating things."

Clubs are helpful for the beginner. Members mentor other, less experienced members, teaching them tricks and techniques. Surprisingly, the hardest part is to keep the newbies from reducing the log to a heap of chunks and chips before they can get themselves stopped. A delicate touch is needed!

ART FROM DUCT TAPE?

We all know that duct tape is handy for all kinds of projects, from taping your dog's mouth shut to jacking up that dragging muffler, but who ever thought you could make art of it!

Vanessajean at Vanessajean.com makes all kinds of accessories from duct tape and sells them online: wallets, totes, clutches and handbags ranging from $20 to $75, and that's only a sampling. Her designs are original and quite elegant!

The Duct Tape Guys make roses and bows from duct tape, also a munchie bowl for your car (an empty soda can and some - you guessed it! DUCT TAPE!) plus a grappling dummy you have to see to believe.

TRUCK DRIVING FOR WOMEN