It started to snow here on Friday at 1 pm and finished last night at 11 pm and we have 21 of snow. Digging the van out and to the street was not as much fun as it used to be when I was younger. During those snow hours I had the most wonderful time. I sat in front of of a roaring fire and watched documentaries and spent time in my studio. I am one lucky person. I finished five pieces for an upcoming show, cleaned up my stained glass studio, talked to old friends online, talked to my sisters over the phone and took time to just relax. 

It sounds like the area will be closed down for two more days so that gives me more time in the studio. I love that because I can not get enough time with no distractions. I have four pieces I want to make before next Sunday.

If you live in the snow belt, what did you do on your snow days? Are snow days to like they were when you were a kid? I love snow day still.

Flourish & Thrive Academy, run by two fabulous women, Tracy Matthews & Robin Kramer, offer a wonderful program Laying the Foundation to help jewelry artists learn and grow into business women also. I am applying for a scholarship this year and here is my submission: 

As 2016 starts my business is in need of a huge boost. I have been producing work and teaching since 2003 but my business is not growing. I have been a stained glass artist since 1982 and added jewelry to my art in 1999,  PMC (Precious Metal Clay) and stained glass jewelry were added in 2005. I do love working with these mediums and would like to continue with refinement and a marriage of them. The business side flounders and I do not know where to start to help it move forward. I have tried on my own but I need help. 

I, myself, am holding back my business. Without the proper business tools I have not been able to move forward. I have sat in on hundreds of "free" webinars and taken courses offered by creative business coaches but nothing has fit my business. 
In a nut shell I am need to stop listening to "all those voices" and find one true voice of experience in business and coaching to listen to. I to have let what I think my ex-husband feels about my career affect how I treat my business. He did not see it as a real job and I believe down inside I started to believe what he was projecting on me. I need to shed that belief and realize I am the one in charge of my destiny not anyone else. I am worthy and I need to learn to act like I am. 

My vision for my business is worlds away from where it is now. My business will support me rather than me supporting my business.  I see my work in local galleries and boutiques as well as ones around the country and other countries. I will be teaching nationally and maybe even an invitation to teach abroad, if I am going to dream I should dream big! I will be paying myself a salary and taking my first vacation in 9 years and have a savings account! 

Since I love teaching and sharing my art with others, my biggest dream is to have a waiting list of students, to be in such demand would be wonderful!  I want to be a sought after artist and to have collectors waiting for new new pieces to be come available.  My birthday gift to myself will be a trip to Scotland to go back to my roots and gain design ideas to use in my new collection Caledonia. With my new business savvy I will be able to take care of myself and pay it forward with other artists like myself, trying to get their businesses up and running after their children are grown and they find themselves reinventing themselves. 

Thank you for all the learning opportunities you give Flourish & Thrive followers through your website, courses, podcasts, free training programs and blog.