While many South students work at ice cream stores, supermarkets or convenience stores, others have made their mark by owning their own business. Two such South students sell their artwork at craft shows, and take on the responsibility of running their budgets, and making their own crafts to sell.

Senior Rachel Lodi is her own designer, salesperson, businesswoman, and accountant. Her first experience as a one-woman business was when she got a booth at Village Day in Newton Highlands as a sophomore selling handbags that she designed and created by herself.

Lodi began sewing and designing in middle school where she attended sewing classes. Before her first show as a sophomore, she would make hand-made presents for friends and family. When they suggested that she sell her art, she took their advice. Since then, her repertoire of items has expanded to purses, tote bags and wallets. Her signature item is a purse made from the back pocket of jeans. She uses the zippers of the jeans to close the purse, lines the inside with fabric, and uses strips of fabric from the pant leg to make the straps for the bag.

Lodi’s merchandise goes from $20-25 for tote bags and denim purses and $10 for purses and wallets. Her publicity usually involves e-mails her mom sends to alert her friends, and fliers she hands out at fairs. Lodi’s customers are mostly women who she describes as “crazy bag ladies,” who make a living selling art at craft fairs. One of Lodi’s strengths is her independence as a person and a businesswoman.

“She’s one of the most independent people I’ve ever met. She’s very self sufficient and practical as a person, and that definitely displays itself in the work that she does” said senior Emily Weinrebe, one of Lodi’s friends.

Lodi also enjoys the business aspect of selling her own handbags, and said she thinks that this business will give her experience in the future. “It’s made me realize that I could be a good entrepreneur …. it just made me realize one of my skills.”

Along with the perks of running her own businesses, there are also inconveniences. Since Lodi doesn’t employ anyone else, she ends up having to do large amounts of ironing and sewing herself.

“I’ll spend an entire Saturday making the same tote bags and ironing,” she said. Lodi said she has learned from the experience of selling at craft fairs.

“I really like being able to design things myself … I have to motivate myself to do it, because I’m an army of one.”

Lodi wants to continue making designs and projects, even if she isn’t selling them.

Sophomore Lily Fein has also taken up her own business, selling semi-precious jewelry which she creates herself. She sells her jewelery at crafts fairs, including ones at South, and even in a store in upstate New York.

Fein’s first jewelry creations, made at age nine, were strung together plastic beads. Since then she has become skilled at creating intricate necklaces and other jewelry. Her friend, sophomore Martha Schnee, said that Fein has always been surrounded by art, and has always been creative.

“She knows what looks good together and has really good fine motor skills,” Schnee said.

When it comes to inspiration, Fein said that she always notices and looks at the jewelry people around her are wearing.

“I experiment a lot,” Fein said. “I’m always trying new things.”

Though she often draws inspiration from them, Fein does not design with people her age in mind. Fein’s jewelry appeals more to older women than to young people.

Fein usually brings around 50 pieces to a show, and their price range is between $25-125.

Schnee, who has gone to shows with Fein how much she enjoys what she does. “I know that she likes being able to have her own business,” Schnee said.

Fein believes she has learned from the experience of having her own business and doing the accounting aspect of her sales. She has learned how to make profits off her sales by buying materials in a cost effective way.