Sometimes I Take on too much Agile work.

I've been fortunate to have a lot of mentors through the years that taught me things.
I have a home jewelry studio and even though I really hate repairs, I do a fair amount of them. Bespoke pieces can earn me quite a bit through out the year. I have taught classes for the local Park and Rec. during the summer.
 I have cast larger metal pieces for tool repair and even hood ornaments for others. Replicating vintage knobs for cars and even a vintage waffle iron have come my way.
I never miss an opportunity to learn at least the basics about anything if given a chance. I'm also fortunate to have accumulated an incredible shop and studio full of tools that give me options when opportunity arises.

I enjoyed reading your story, thanks.

That's a really interesting angle. It seems to me there will always be work for someone with your unique skills and experience.

How do you manage to connect with clients? And are they willing to pay enough to make it worthwhile?

My side jobs come about through word of mouth.  Pricing for one offs can be tricky. Material, time, equipment are a given but then degree of difficulty comes in  there somewhere. Just because you can doesn't mean you should on some jobs. I always start by saying it could cost as much as ......   If I come I under the bid they are happy. That also gives me an opportunity to bid high if it is a job I don't really want.  Allotting time for jobs can be tricky too, you still have a real life of work and family.

It sounds like you have a good setup and enjoy what you do, which makes everything a million times better.

About taking on too much, I am in the same position currently; maybe 2 or 3 years ago I had progressed out of the "always crazy because I took on too much work" to stability (by getting rid of cheaper clients and projects I didn't enjoy, and focusing on good ones with better yield) and not feeling like I needed to grab everything in case suddenly things went from feast to famine.
Then 2020 came and everything went sideways. I`m doing great but my spouse's business keeps veering closer to the brink (slow business, now scarcity of parts), and this week that panic mentality got me taking on more work than I can handle (which is why I'm here working on Saturday and tomorrow too). I'm not starving, but it can be hard to shake the fear, especially when both partners run their own thing and there is no solid paycheck to rely on.

Tereza Okava wrote:... and this week that panic mentality got me taking on more work than I can handle (which is why I'm here working on Saturday and tomorrow too). I'm not starving, but it can be hard to shake the fear ...

Yup. I know the feeling.