Day 40: Make A Difference In Somebody's Life

365 Days of My Life As A Studio Artist: Day 40

Day 39 Donations:

Donation Running Total:

Today's Growth Idea: Make a difference in somebodies life! I was driving to the Cottage Show yesterday morning after 2 days of practically no visitors to the show, feeling a little depressed about how it was turning out after so much effort. I was thinking to myself, if I could just make a difference in somebodies life that day, it would be a good day and I wouldn't need to worry about how the show was going. As soon as I walked in, I talked to an older vendor at the show who paid me a very nice compliment... I made a difference in his life. I also talked to the grandfather of a little girl who is trying to raise money to send three terminally ill children to camp. She has been doing this for three years. She is only 13 now. I told him I would donate some stained glass to her cause for her fundraising purposes.

My History: During this time, I also made sure whenever I did custom work, I would get 50% down prior to starting the job. I got caught earlier on in my business working with customers I thought I could trust. So, I ordered glass and started the project prior to getting a down payment. Unfortunately, there was a lack of communication on their part and I found out through their contractor that they changed their mind about the project... after I already paid for the glass. Experience changes how you do business.

Today's Business: I am going back to the Cottage and Lakefront Show. Yesterday proved to be a much better day than the day before. The weather cooperated, I96 was not closed twice due to accidents like the day before, a lot of people stopped and talked to us and were very complimentary about our products. Today is the last day of the show if you were planning on coming out!

Today's Photo: A section of my booth including 1 wall of stained glass and my log furniture display.

Pat Deere

LINKS: The Cottage and Lakefront Living Show

Day 39: The Power Of Attitude

Today's Growth Idea: Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.

Today's Business: I am at the Cottage and Lakefront Show. Due to the weather, we probably saw 500-1000 people over the course of 2 days of a 4 day show that is supposed to bring 40,000 visitors. So, I have to keep a positive attitude...

Day 37: Be Early!

365 Days of my Life As A Studio Artist: Day 37

Day 36 Donation: (Time to collect.)
Donation Running Total: $29,59957

Today's Growth Idea: Be Early! This is not something I am really good at. I am pretty much set up for my show although I have some polishing to do on my glass. Today I will try to be early so I can be totally ready and not feel rushed!

My History: Guess I was pretty tired the last time I added to this section... I never finished my sentence. Sometimes the dynamics of a job can be kind of funny. The lamps for the seasons were a wonderful project for me but I can remember anywhere from 2-5 people coming to my studio to give me direction. Finally, I had to ask "Who is paying the bill?". The answer to that questions helped me know whose ideas I needed to listen to most. Sometimes if there are too many people involved I have found it important to know who the decision maker is or there can be problems in the end.

Today's Business: We are putting the final touches on our Newsletter, Show Flyer, price sheets for the show, etc. I am trying to finish a couple of more lamps, come up with a better project for me to demonstrate with (my lion was too big for the space), and possibly a couple of garden trellis's if I get that far. Then, off to Rock Financial Showplace for their opening at 2pm. Hope to see you there! I was told they featured my crushed glass piece on their promotional interview on the news yesterday! I couldn't see it because we only get Toledo stations here.

Today's Photo: This is my 4' aspen coffee table with a beveled glass insert incorporating agate and stones.

NOTE: Somehow my letters are looking really big. Is it looking that way to you?

Pat Deere

LINKS: Cottage & Lakefront Show Floor Plan, I am booths 1320 & 1322

Day 36: Go To Bed!

365 Days Of My Life As A Studio Artist: Day 36

Day 35 Donation:

Donation Running Total: $29.59957

Today's Growth Idea: Go To Bed! I have been in my studio since 6am Monday. Now, it's 17 minutes past midnight Tuesday morning... and I am still soldering, grouting, and getting tired.

History: Is going to have to wait for another day.

Today's Business: The same as yesterday... more glass work and more setting up for my show in Novi on Thursday. It's a good thing I love this!

Today's Photo: Grouting in the process. This is a mirror for one of my displays at the Cottage and Lakefront Living Show.

Pat Deere

Day 35: Detach

365 Days Of My Life As A Studio Artist: Day 35

Day 34 Donations: $

Donations Running Total: $29.59957

Today's Growth Idea: Detach. This could be kind of lengthy. I was working out today and reading more of, "tuesdays with Morrie", by Mitch Albom. It always surprised me that I liked his books because I wasn't really a follower of his. In today's reading, Mitch was talking to Morrie about detachment. The way I understand their discussion, Morrie feels detaching comes after you have thrown yourself fully in to an emotional situation, becoming totally aware of the feelings, and then when you have that feeling again you are not afraid of where it might take you. He says you need to "pull it on like a comfortable shirt". I could totally relate to this and it helped me to understand why I am where I am today. You will see over the course of this 365 day blog, I have been through a lot both personally and in my business. Through deaths of my family members, my studio fire, and personal struggles, I have learned to get past situations and move on. But, I didn't get past them easily and many of them caused me to dig deep into searching for meaning in my life. It caused me to dig deeper into my faith. And, it made me more determined to make my business succeed. This year, I feel like I have done the groundwork already. Now, I am able to put all of these experiences to work for me. Experiences I have learned from that only make me stronger.

My History: During my time at this studio, I was fortunate enough to get the job of making slumped glass panel lamps for a very unusual restaurant in Adrian, MI called The Seasons. What I remember most about this project was the number of people involved in this lamp making process. It finally got

Today's Business: Spent all day loading a trailer and taking it to the Rock Financial Showplace, unloading it, setting up a booth, and getting home at 9:30pm.

Today's Photo: My aspen table lamp that matches my 4' log table. The table and lamp are made with stained glass, stones, and agate. They will be on my Pictures In Glass and The Log Furniture Division website soon!

Pat Deere

365 Days Of My Life As A Studio Artist: Day 34

Day 33 Donations:

Donations Running Total: $29.59957

Today's Growth Idea: When you take control of your time, you take control of your life. Start your day with a plan of action (make your list the night before).

My History: Without having a sign it was important for me to advertise and try to get people into my studio. I got involved with the Chamber of Commerce. I participated in the local Home Builders Association home show. I set up a booth at the local county fair. Advertising was a tricky and expensive thing for me that was difficult to track the results of.

Today's Business: I already did this list. I woke up at 1am this morning thinking about all that I had to do before setting up for the show tomorrow. Experience has told me I am better off getting up and getting it off my mind instead of laying awake thinking about it. So, I got on the computer, did my daily reading/reflection, emailed myself a list of things I need to do today, and went back to sleep. So, when I woke up and found this idea when looking for tips for busy people, it hit home with me.

Today's Photo: It doesn't look like much but this is my floorplan for my show. I will be unloading log furniture (which is heavy), glass that I don't want broken, walls, etc. so knowing where they will go when unloading them off of the truck is important.

Pat Deere

LINKS: When I googled, "Lists for busy people", this was the link I got.

Day 33: When I stand before God at the end of my life,

365 Days Of My Life As A Studio Artist: Day 33

Day 32 Donations

Donations Running Total: $

Today's Growth Idea: A quote my niece heard but can't remember where it came from seems appropriate for today: When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have one single bit of talent left, and I would say, "I used everything you gave me".

My History: I continuously pushed for a sign but was there for a year and never got it. Some good things were happening though. My boys were getting older and 2 of them were now in school. Casey would come to the studio with me a lot and also went to pre-school some. He really enjoyed pre-school and that made my job much easier knowing he was happy and cared for as I continued with my business. For any parent, you understand how important this is.

Today's Business: I was able to come home from our hockey week-end and spend some time in my studio getting ready for tomorrow. I am setting up a kitchen display, a bathroom display, and a living room display for my upcoming show along with my usual glass display. So, I have cut glass for my mosaic back splash, made arrangements to pick up a kitchen cabinet door and counter top tomorrow, and have mapped out how my display will be set up. My Spring Newsletter is also almost ready for publication.

Today's Picture: Sacred Heart Church Hudson, window installation by Chris Paschke of CAP Construction, LLC.

Patty Deere

LINKS: Churches: New and Restored
CAP Construction LLC