IN THE DOUGH
Young author and entrepreneur makes extra money by baking baker's clay ornaments, including her recipe for success.
November/December 1987
By Rina Hinderstein
MOTHER'S CHILDREN
By Rina Hinderstein
I live outside Noxon, Montana, in the county with the worst employment rate in the state. It's hard for adults to get jobs around here—and even harder for young people. Still, I wanted to earn a little money.
First, the neighbors hired me to pick rocks from fields they were going to plow. I also helped build some fences. Then, during the summer, I animal-sat for rural residents who were gone on vacation. I'd ride Whiskey, my horse, miles through the woods to do the chores on their homesteads. It was hard work with low pay, but any extra income helped.
By the end of fall, odd jobs were hard to come by. Then one day I was watching Mom make some bread dough (often called baker's clay) ornaments for our Christmas tree. I came up with some designs of my own and took them to school to show my friends. Everyone, including the teachers, wanted to order some! I started making more. I sold the littlest hangings for 50¢ each and the fanciest ones for $4.50. By the time Christmas was over, I had made $50. That was over and above the money I saved by sending dough ornaments to all my relatives for presents. (Everyone liked them so much they hinted that they'd like to receive ornaments every year.)
I also found that dough ornaments were good for other occasions. For Valentine's Day I made "Love Nuggets," little red hearts with fancy ribbons and the words "I Love You" on them. At Easter, bunnies, chickens and painted eggs became popular. All told, I made about $100 during the year. I could have made more ornaments and money, but I'm often interrupted by having to help get dinner, do the dishes or tend Mom's new baby. While making money motivated me at first, I've had many other rewards. I've always been a little bookish and shy. I never was particularly good at any kind of artwork or crafts. So it was wonderful to hear my peers say, "Gee, I didn't know you were so talented," or "I had no idea you had this side to you." I never knew, either—until I tried. Actually, giving and sharing have been the best part of making baker's clay ornaments. I've been able to take plain flour, water and salt and turn them into something cute, funny and personal—something that could not be bought anywhere else because it came from my own imagination.