Deputy Headmistress at the Common Room has written a great post called Homemaking on Purpose. It’s for everyone who feels pressure to be just like this or that friend, or relative, or stereotype. Read it, and give yourself permission to make your home a reflection of you, nevermind everyone else.
In our current rough economic times, it’s especially nice to know that our purchasing power is going to support a family business. I know many of you have Etsy shops or other online businesses, and I thought it would be fun for everyone to have a chance to share. Leave a comment with your url and a little description of your business, and I’ll keep editing this post, adding links to everyone’s pages and trying to keep things categorized for ease of use. (Of course, it goes without saying that I reserve the right NOT to link to anything profane or otherwise contrary to the general tenor of this blog. Also, my beloved husband, ever the legal genius, wants me to say: This post does not constitute an endorsement of any of these shops, so use your own judgment, and always be careful when shopping online.)
Especially for Baby
West Side Baby
I learned how to knit about 5 years ago, but I dropped it shortly after and just really picked it up again about 2 years ago and haven’t been able to stop since (as witnessed by my huge stash of yarn) 
It’s very therapeutic and relaxing for me!
A friend of mine does the creative work on hats (decorations and such) and she also sews and will be putting burp cloths and bibs up. We also do custom orders, so just let me know!
–Kindra
My younger sister doubleddog has an Etsy shop. (I do too actually although I have nothing for sale lately). I’ll give you her link though. She makes baby, nursing and pregnancy clothing. She specializes in recycling fabrics and textiles for each piece. Her little handmade baby shoes are my favorite thing she makes.
–Botanyhead
Fun Things for Ladies
Specializing in bird themed items and girlie goodies (editor’s note: lots of lovely wallets and purses especially)
–Sarah
I just opened my Etsy shop last week. I’ll be sewing nursing/maternity dresses, long skirts with unique appliques, and baby wraps (for baby-wearing mommas and poppas). And some other odds and ends. Hopefully next year I’ll be selling homemade goat milk soap.
–Kaleesha
Health Products
I refer others to the product Body Balance (a raw whole-food nutritional supplement: aloe vera/sea vegetable juice). It’s concentrated nutrition and my whole family drinks it. I tell people about the product and the company pays me a commission if they become a customer. There is also a commission (much greater) for signing up other members (a member is someone who tells others about the product) The link basically is a presentation about the product and the business opportunity. What I like about it is that the presentation just presents the facts (with a couple testimonies) and gives a release that “this may or may not be for you.”
Handmade Assortment
I sew, crochet, and other needlework.
–Nicole
Help!
We have a little couch in our bedroom, just right for snuggling on early in the morning for devotions together (on the days we manage to get up early 
), and for several months it has been covered by a big piece of semi-atrocious green fabric. My beloved husband would like me to make a slipcover for it, AND this weekend the fabric store has home decorator fabrics on sale 50% off, so I’ve decided that now’s the time. But, while I have done a lot of sewing for humans, I have never sewn for a couch before, and I’m rather nervous, especially since I don’t have a pattern, and home decorator fabric is expensive (even at 50% off), and I’d rather not butcher my first attempt. Do any of you have some advice for me?