Three Empowering Stories

The Potter's New Beginning

Eleanor Vance had always lived by the clock. For forty-two years, her life had been a meticulously scheduled symphony of school runs, committee meetings, and the gentle hum of a suburban existence. Her husband, Robert, was a successful accountant, and her two children, now teenagers, were thriving. On paper, Eleanor had achieved the elusive "perfect life." But beneath the polished surface, a quiet yearning had begun to stir, a faint echo of a dream she’d tucked away decades ago.

That dream was clay.

As a young woman, Eleanor had spent countless hours in a dusty, fragrant pottery studio, her hands lost in the cool, yielding earth. The wheel had been her sanctuary, the kiln her oracle. She’d even harboured ambitions of opening her own studio, but life, as it often does, had presented a different path. Marriage, children, and the practicalities of adult life had slowly, imperceptibly, sealed off that creative chamber of her heart.

The first crack in her perfectly constructed world appeared not with a bang, but with a polite, almost apologetic, whisper. Robert announced he was leaving. Not for another woman, he insisted, but for a "different life," one that didn't involve the meticulous scheduling and quiet hum. Eleanor was blindsided. The symphony of her life shattered into discordant notes.

The initial weeks were a blur of tears, legal papers, and the bewildered faces of her children. Eleanor felt adrift, a ship without a rudder. Her friends offered sympathy, her mother offered advice, but nothing seemed to fill the gaping void. One rainy afternoon, while rummaging through an old box in the attic, her fingers brushed against something cool and smooth. It was a small, perfectly formed ceramic bowl, her very first piece, imperfectly glazed but lovingly preserved.

Holding it, a forgotten warmth spread through her. The scent of damp earth, the feel of clay beneath her hands – it all rushed back. A tiny spark ignited in the ashes of her old life.

Hesitantly, she sought out a local pottery class. Her hands, once so nimble on the wheel, felt clumsy and stiff. The clay wobbled, collapsed, and mocked her. But something shifted within her. The frustration was real, but so was the joy of creation, the quiet focus that pushed everything else away. She remembered the sheer satisfaction of bringing something beautiful and tangible into existence from a formless lump.

She started small. Her kitchen table became her makeshift studio. She bought a small, second-hand kiln. Her children, initially wary of their mother’s newfound obsession, soon grew accustomed to the faint scent of clay and the occasional clatter from the kitchen. They even started offering critiques, usually involving whether a mug was "cool enough" for their friends.

Eleanor's first pieces were simple: mugs, small bowls, planters. She sold them at local craft fairs, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and exhilaration as people picked up her creations, admired them, and sometimes, bought them. The money was modest, a stark contrast to Robert's accountant salary, but the validation was priceless.

As months turned into a year, Eleanor’s confidence grew. She experimented with glazes, pushing the boundaries of colour and texture. Her work began to develop a distinctive style – earthy, organic, yet with a modern elegance. People started seeking her out. Local cafes commissioned her mugs. An interior designer spotted her work and placed a large order for decorative pieces.

The old Eleanor, the one who lived by the clock, was slowly fading, replaced by a woman whose hands were often stained with clay, whose hair was perpetually a little messy, and whose eyes held a new, vibrant sparkle. The divorce had been a brutal ending, but it had also been a forceful reset button, pushing her back to a path she'd abandoned.

One crisp autumn morning, Eleanor stood in the empty storefront on the high street, the keys heavy in her hand. The "For Rent" sign had been taken down. Soon, "Eleanor Vance Pottery" would grace the window. It wasn't the grand studio she'd imagined in her youth, but it was hers. It was a testament to resilience, to the quiet power of rediscovery, and to the beautiful, messy, and utterly unpredictable nature of a second chance. The scent of fresh clay already seemed to fill the air, promising new beginnings.

And so, Eleanor, no longer defined by what she had lost, but by what she had found, stepped into her new life. The wheel, once a forgotten dream, now spun with the rhythm of her renewed purpose, each turn a testament to the fact that sometimes, the greatest masterpieces are forged not from perfection, but from the beautiful, courageous act of starting over.

25 Empowering Side Hustles for Women to Boost Your Income

In today's dynamic world, many women are looking for flexible ways to supplement their income, pursue passions, or even build a path to financial independence. Side hustles offer an incredible opportunity to leverage existing skills, learn new ones, and create an additional revenue stream that fits around your life.

Whether you're a stay-at-home parent, a full-time professional, or looking for a creative outlet, there's a side hustle out there for you. Here are 25 empowering side hustles for women that can help you achieve your financial goals:

Leveraging Your Skills & Expertise:

1 Freelance Writing/Editing/Proofreading: If you have a way with words and an eye for detail, offering your services as a freelance writer for blogs, articles, website content, or even as an editor or proofreader, is a highly flexible and in-demand side hustle.

2 Virtual Assistant (VA): Many businesses and entrepreneurs need administrative, technical, or creative support. As a VA, you can offer services like email management, scheduling, social media management, data entry, and more, all from your home.

3 Online Tutoring/Coaching: Share your knowledge! If you're an expert in a particular academic subject, a language, or even a life skill (like career development, fitness, or healthy living), you can tutor or coach clients online.

4 Graphic Design: For the creatively inclined, graphic design is a sought-after skill. You can create logos, social media graphics, branding materials, or even digital products like planners and templates for businesses or individuals.

5 Social Media Management: Businesses are constantly seeking help to manage their social media presence. If you're savvy with platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, or LinkedIn, you can offer your services to create content, schedule posts, and engage with audiences.

6 Web Design/Development: If you have a knack for coding or using website builders (like Squarespace or WordPress), you can design and develop websites for small businesses or individuals.

7 Bookkeeping: For those with a head for numbers, offering remote bookkeeping services to small businesses can be a steady and profitable side hustle.

8 Consulting: If you have professional expertise in a specific field (e.g., marketing, business strategy, HR), you can offer consulting services to help others with their challenges.

9 Resume Writing Services: Help job seekers craft compelling resumes and cover letters that get them noticed.

Creative & Craft-Based Side Hustles:

10 Selling Handmade Goods (Etsy, etc.): If you're crafty, turn your hobby into income! Sell jewelry, art, custom apparel, home decor, or other handmade items on platforms like Etsy, Shopify, or through local markets.

11 Selling Printables/Digital Products: Design and sell digital products like planners, journals, budget templates, wall art, or educational resources that customers can download and print at home.

12 Photography: Turn your passion for photography into profit. Offer portrait sessions, event photography, or sell stock photos online.

13 Blogging: Start a blog about a topic you're passionate about. Once you build an audience, you can monetize it through advertising, affiliate marketing, or selling your own products.

14 Baking/Catering: If you love to bake or cook, you can sell custom cakes, cookies, or offer catering services for small events.

Service-Oriented & Flexible Side Hustles:

15 Pet Sitting/Dog Walking: Animal lovers can earn extra cash by offering pet-sitting or dog-walking services in their local area.

16 House Cleaning/Organization: Many busy individuals and families are willing to pay for reliable house cleaning or professional organizing services.

17 Errand Running/Personal Assistant: Offer to run errands, do grocery shopping, or provide other personal assistant services for those who need an extra hand.

18 Rideshare/Food Delivery Driver: If you have a car and some free time, driving for rideshare apps (like Uber or Lyft) or food delivery services (like Uber Eats or DoorDash) offers incredible flexibility.

19 Event Planning/Coordination: If you're organized and love bringing ideas to life, you can offer your services to help plan and coordinate small events.

20 Mobile Notary Public/Loan Signing Agent: Become a certified notary and offer mobile notary services or specialize in loan signings, which can be quite lucrative.

21 Voice-Over Artist: If you have a clear and engaging voice, you can offer voice-over services for commercials, audiobooks, e-learning modules, or podcasts.

22 Product Testing/Online Surveys: While not always high-paying, participating in online surveys or testing products can be a low-effort way to earn some extra money in your spare time.

23 Reselling/Flipping Items: Find hidden gems at thrift stores, garage sales, or online marketplaces and resell them for a profit on platforms like eBay, Depop, or Facebook Marketplace. This can include furniture, clothing, or collectibles.

24 Rent Out Your Space/Items: If you have a spare room, a vacation home, or even a car, you can rent them out on platforms like Airbnb, Turo, or JustPark to generate passive income.

25 Laundry Service: Offer a pick-up and drop-off laundry service for busy individuals or families in your neighborhood.

Tips for Success:

Identify Your Strengths: Think about what you're already good at or what you enjoy doing.

Research Demand: Before diving in, check if there's a market for your chosen side hustle in your area or online.

Start Small: You don't need to invest a lot of money upfront. Begin with what you have and scale up as you gain experience and clients.

Market Yourself: Let people know about your services! Use social media, local community groups, word-of-mouth, or create a simple website.

Set Boundaries: It's a "side" hustle for a reason. Make sure it doesn't overwhelm your main commitments.

Track Your Finances: Keep separate records for your side hustle income and expenses for tax purposes.

Continuously Learn: The side hustle landscape is always evolving. Stay updated on new trends and skills.

With dedication and creativity, any of these side hustles can help women achieve their financial goals and build a more fulfilling life.

The Accidental Baker

For fifty-year-old Sarah Davies, life had been a meticulously planned spreadsheet. As a senior project manager in a bustling tech firm, her days were a blur of deadlines, meetings, and the relentless pursuit of efficiency. Her home life mirrored this precision: a perfectly organised pantry, a spotless kitchen, and meals prepared with the same methodical approach she applied to her work. Spontaneity was an unquantifiable variable, best avoided.

Then came the redundancy. Not a gradual phasing out, but a sudden, sharp axe fall. One moment, she was presenting quarterly projections; the next, she was being handed a polite, yet utterly devastating, severance package. The spreadsheet of her life had been abruptly deleted.

The initial weeks were a strange mix of shock and a peculiar, unsettling freedom. Sarah tried to fill the void with job applications, networking events, and the occasional frantic tidying spree. But the corporate world, once her oyster, now felt alien and unwelcoming. She felt adrift, a highly efficient cog suddenly stripped of its machine.

One afternoon, while aimlessly scrolling through social media, she stumbled upon a video: a young woman meticulously decorating an elaborate cake, turning simple batter into a work of art. Sarah, who considered baking anything more complex than toast a risky endeavour, found herself mesmerised. It was so utterly different from her world of data and algorithms.

A tiny, uncharacteristically impulsive thought sparked: Could I do that?

The first attempt was, predictably, a disaster. Her Victoria sponge resembled a deflated cushion, and her buttercream curdled. Her usually stoic husband, Mark, took one bite and politely suggested they stick to shop-bought. But something clicked. The mess, the challenge, the sheer unpredictability of it all was strangely liberating. There were no deadlines, no KPIs, just the tactile joy of flour, sugar, and butter.

She started devouring baking shows, haunting local bakeries, and spending hours experimenting in her once-pristine kitchen. The methodical approach of her old life now applied to new parameters: precise measurements, temperature control, the science of yeast. But there was also an artistic flair she never knew she possessed. She discovered a hidden talent for piping intricate designs, for blending colours in glazes, for transforming simple ingredients into edible beauty.

Her kitchen, once a sterile workspace, became a vibrant, flour-dusted haven. The aroma of freshly baked bread, sweet pastries, and rich chocolate cakes now filled her home. Mark, initially sceptical, became her chief taste-tester, his polite suggestions replaced by genuine enthusiasm. Her adult children, visiting for weekends, were thrilled by the endless supply of cookies and cupcakes.

Sarah started sharing her creations with neighbours, then with friends. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. "You should sell these, Sarah!" became a common refrain. Sarah, the project manager, scoffed. This was a hobby, a distraction.

But the idea, like a perfectly proofed dough, began to rise. A local charity asked her to bake for a fundraiser. Her lemon drizzle cake was a sensation. Soon, small orders started trickling in: birthday cakes, anniversary cupcakes, bespoke celebration bakes. She found herself meticulously planning her baking schedule, sourcing the best ingredients, and even designing a simple logo for "Sarah's Sweet Escapes."

The day she received her first large wedding cake commission, Sarah felt a thrill she hadn't experienced since landing her first big promotion. It was a multi-tiered masterpiece, adorned with delicate sugar flowers, and it demanded every ounce of her newfound skill and precision. As she delivered it, seeing the bride's beaming face, Sarah realised something profound. She wasn't just baking cakes; she was baking joy, marking milestones, and creating edible memories.

Her life, once a rigid spreadsheet, was now a delicious, ever-evolving recipe. The redundancy, once a bitter pill, had been the catalyst for an unexpected, sweet reinvention. Sarah Davies, the former project manager, had become Sarah Davies, the accidental baker, proving that sometimes, the most fulfilling second chances are found in the unexpected ingredients of life.

Ultimately, Sarah's journey was a testament to the unexpected sweetness that can emerge from life's bitter moments. She learned that purpose isn't always found on a career ladder, but often in the simple, joyful act of creation, and that the most delightful chapters are often the ones we never planned to write.

The Late Bloomer's Garden

At fifty-five, Clara Jenkins found herself staring at an empty nest and a surprisingly empty calendar. Her twins, Leo and Lucy, had finally flown the coop, off to university with a flurry of excited texts and a trail of forgotten laundry. For decades, Clara's identity had been meticulously woven into the fabric of motherhood: school plays, packed lunches, homework battles, and the endless logistics of family life. Now, the silence in her once bustling home was deafening.

Her husband, Arthur, a creature of habit, seemed perfectly content with the new quiet. He’d retreat to his study, lost in the world of financial reports, emerging only for dinner and the evening news. Clara, however, felt a strange, unsettling hollowness. She tried filling it with old hobbies – knitting, reading – but they felt like faint echoes of a past self, not a vibrant present.

One particularly grey Tuesday, while tidying the overgrown back garden, Clara unearthed an old, rusted trowel. It sparked a memory, faint but persistent, of her grandmother, a woman whose hands were always stained with earth, whose garden was a riot of colour and life. As a child, Clara had loved helping her, the smell of damp soil, the miracle of a seed pushing through the ground. But adult life, with its demands and distractions, had pushed gardening to the periphery, a chore rather than a passion.

A tiny, rebellious thought took root: What if?

She started small, with a few packets of seeds and a renewed determination. The initial results were, to put it mildly, disastrous. Her tomatoes withered, her petunias drooped, and her carefully planted herbs became a feast for slugs. Arthur, peering over his spectacles, offered well-meaning but unhelpful advice about "optimising soil pH," which only made her feel more inadequate.

But Clara was stubborn. She devoured books on horticulture, watched endless online tutorials, and joined a local gardening club, where she was, by far, the least experienced member. She learned about companion planting, soil composition, and the delicate art of pruning. Her hands, once soft from years of domesticity, grew strong and calloused. She spent hours in the garden, lost in the rhythm of digging, planting, and weeding. The silence that had once felt oppressive now became a comforting companion, filled with the buzzing of bees and the rustle of leaves.

Her garden slowly began to transform. What was once a neglected patch became a vibrant tapestry of colour and scent. Roses climbed trellises, their petals unfurling in glorious hues. Vegetables thrived in neat rows, their bounty overflowing. Neighbours, initially curious, started stopping by, admiring her work, asking for tips, and sometimes, exchanging cuttings.

One afternoon, a woman from the gardening club, impressed by Clara's burgeoning skills, suggested she enter the local horticultural show. Clara scoffed. "Me? My grandmother was the gardener, not me. I'm just… dabbling."

But the idea, once planted, began to grow. She chose her prize specimen: a magnificent, deep purple delphinium, its spires reaching for the sky. She nurtured it with meticulous care, talking to it, willing it to perfection.

The day of the show arrived, and Clara, heart pounding, wheeled her delphinium into the village hall. The competition was fierce, with seasoned gardeners displaying flawless blooms. She felt a familiar pang of self-doubt. What was she doing here? This wasn't her world.

Then she saw her delphinium, standing tall and proud amongst the others. It wasn't just a flower; it was a symbol of her journey, of the courage it had taken to pick up that rusty trowel and start again.

To her astonishment, Clara's delphinium won second prize. A small silver ribbon, but to her, it felt like a gold medal. It wasn't just about the flower; it was about the woman who had grown it.

Word of Clara's "green thumb" spread. Soon, friends and neighbours were asking her for advice, then for help with their own gardens. A local nursery, hearing about her talent, offered her a part-time position. Clara, who once thought her working life was over, found herself donning gardening gloves and dispensing expert advice to customers.

Her home, though still quiet without the twins, no longer felt empty. It was filled with the scent of fresh earth, the rustle of seed packets, and the quiet satisfaction of a life rediscovered. Arthur, seeing the vibrant glow in his wife's eyes, even started joining her in the garden on weekends, learning the names of plants, and occasionally, even offering genuinely helpful advice.

Clara Jenkins, the woman who had once been defined by her roles, had found a new identity rooted deeply in the soil. Her garden was not just a collection of plants; it was a living testament to her resilience, a vibrant canvas of her own making. It proved that sometimes, the most beautiful blooms appear when you least expect them, and that a second chance can blossom into the most fulfilling purpose of all.

BETH'S STORY

Hi, I am Beth. The owner of Made with Glam. Welcome to my little shop. I am a mum of two girls, a wife and a dedicated Learning Disability Nurse (when I am not busy creating). I started crafting a few years ago when I became chronically ill, it was a way to keep my hands busy and my brain occupied whilst I was essentially bed ridden. I found it very tough going from being very active to being in constant pain. As time went on it really took a toll on my mental health, I started making hair clips and other bits whilst I was off on long term sick from work. This was therapy to me and really helped cope day to day. Crafting to me was a life line. It gave me purpose and motivation to keep going. Once I was in a better place I realised I had accumulated quite a few bits that were taking over my home so, I created my website madewithglam.com and started to sell.

Some of my pieces became quite popular and I expanded my range. I love finding new things to create and they have to be cute! I would describe myself as a magpie, attracted to anything sparkly, shiny or pretty. I love finding things that are already beautiful and then turn them into something even more spectacular.

I have a wide range of novelty earrings, keyrings, bracelets, hair accessories, necklaces, earrings, textiles and more. All made by me, I am proud of my pieces. I am always coming up with new ideas and products and I am very excited to be sharing my work with you all! Thank you for reading and happy shopping!

To See Beth's Full Range Click Here