Retirees turn hobbies into money-making ventures

Maricopa retires are turning their hobbies — from weaving to fusing glass — into income.

The city’s Economic Development Director Micah Miranda said retirees have a significant economic impact in Maricopa.

“They bring revenue into the city that otherwise would not have been captured,” he said. 

Miranda also said people are more often than not successful doing things they love. If an individual has a hobby and people want to buy their items, they should consider opening a business. 

“I think it’s a great way to diversify income streams,” he said.

Cynthia Portrey and her husband, Steve, turned their passions into a business, WoodandWeaving.com, in 2003, she said. 

She weaves scarves, shawls, table runners, sweaters and, occasionally, blankets. Her husband is a bowl turner who uses wood from all over the world. 

“We’re both strong believers in that everybody should have a hobby, so we started out with our hobbies,” Cynthia said.

Cynthia worked for Veterans Affairs, on the medical side, until 2008, but continued to work as a speech pathologist, she said. She moved on to home health and nursing homes, but after 30 years in the profession decided she will release her certification in 2013 and focus entirely on weaving. 

Steve retired from Alcoa Inc. in 2002 to pursue his woodwork.

Cynthia said she returned to speech pathology work when the economy turned south to bring in additional income.

“Now we’re biting the bullet and cutting all that secure money and pursuing our crafts,” she said. “It’s a new phase in our lives.”

Miranda said the reason retirees choose to start their own businesses is to compensate for the increase in the cost of living.

“I also think they like to be engaged,” he said. “They are thought leaders in the community, and it’s in their blood to operate a business.”

Diane Hebert, a retired elementary school teacher, also turned her hobby into a business called Psalms 37:4 Custom Wearable Art.

“I make custom wearable art in the form of jewelry,” she said. “I hand weave or string beads using artist beads or a focal piece that I get from specific artists that I know or rocks that I might find.”

Hebert said her jewelry can be found online at Psalms-37-4.com and directs customers to AuntiesCreations.etsy.com to purchase her items.

Hebert said she has been making jewelry for more than 15 years, but grew serious about selling her jewelry when she moved to Maricopa in 2008.

“I used to just give it away for gifts and, one day, somebody told me I should sell it,” she said.

She wants to make money from her hobby so she can buy more materials to continue doing it.

Karen Stephenson, an avid glass fuser, is another Maricopa retiree who started selling her creations so she could continue to do it.

“When you do a hobby you really love, and it’s very addictive, you can’t keep doing it unless you get money back,” she said. “It’s my way to keep doing something I enjoy doing.”

Stephenson has been fusing glass for 12 years. She makes bowls, nightlights, dishes, clocks, vases, jewelry and more, selling her products online at KarensFusedGlass.etsy.com. 

She said she would like to teach others how to fuse glass. 

“It would be nice to find a market here in Maricopa where people would be interested to learn to work with glass,” she said. “I could teach one or two at a time at my home.”