First Day at New Job.......

I had the opportunity to attend two week long classes at the John C. Campbell Folk Art School in Brasstown, NC. It was a wonderful experience and well worth the investment. I fell in love with everything about this campus and the people who love it.

I waited patiently for a position to open up that I had the skills for.  Finally a position was posted in November that I was qualified for. After a long interview process I was hired for the job! Tomorrow will be my first day. My title will be Development Coordinator.

Mrs. Olive Dame Campbell donated her homestead and created the beautiful campus. The school was founded to nurture and preserve the folk arts of the Appalachian Mountains, it is a nonprofit adult educational organization based on non-competitive learning. Founded in 1925, the Folk School's motto is “I sing behind the plow”. The Folk School has week-long and weekend classes year-round in traditional and contemporary arts, including but not limited to jewelry, fiber, blacksmithing, music, dance, cooking, gardening, nature studies, photography, storytelling and writing. 

The landscape is inspiring...

The studios are well appointed...

Classes are fun and varied...

The classes are beginner to advanced levels...

The class that got me on the path to my new job was precious metal clay jewelry. The instructor was Pam East – she is a precious metal clay artist who shares her knowledge and expertise. She is funny and interesting and a great teacher.   Here is a sample of my work:

I'll keep you posted on my adventure!

Cheers!

Lori in Blue Ridge

"...There are signs everywhere to help you find your way..."

http://www.etsy.com/listing/116155451/i-dream-big-canvas-tote-bag-100-10oz?

For the last three weeks I've been walking past a large sign in the lobby that reads: 

DREAM BIG! 

It seems like that same message has been following me no matter what path I take. It was on the side panel of a bus stop, in the newsletter from our church, it’s the underlying theme of the novel I'm reading, and it was written in chalk on the sidewalk behind our house..."Dream Big"... 

Are these signs God’s way of moving me toward my dreams and goals; by showing me the message over and over again? This constant reinforcement of the message makes me think of a movie that I saw many years ago titled: Fools Rush In. The movie wasn’t a blockbuster, but one line in the movie struck a chord with me “There are signs everywhere to help you find your way.” The movie was about knowing when to take a risk and following a dream, all you need to do is recognize the signs.

This made me ask myself a question about why I haven’t been in tune with my dreams: “Is fear holding me back from realizing my dreams?” Something my Sweetie said recently made me think about my fears. I realized that I was not living my dream because I was desperately afraid- of financial ruin, of failure, of letting people down, and the possibility of regret. This question is helping me separate the fear from the dream, and in doing so, I realize that I really do want to move forward, in spite of the fear. My husband’s question helped me identify the fears and determine whether they deserved as much power as I was giving them. I'm learning to address the fears separately and not spoil the dream. Do I still worry about those fears? Absolutely. Will I let them rule my choices anymore? No Way! I'm on the threshold of a life change.

 

Now a final thought on Dreaming Big....This wonderful commercial is the story of a little guy’s triumph against the odds. A little donkey who wanted to be a Clydesdale, manages to fulfill his dream. The advertisement is a testament to "Dreaming Big" and fulfilling our dreams....Enjoy!

 



Are you happy at work?



LUNCH WITH 'FRIENDS'



Many of you know that my ‘day job’ is with a very large organization here in Atlanta. I’ve been with this company for many years as a devoted employee and I’ve had the opportunity to travel the US and Canada meeting hundreds of dedicated employees.

This week it was wonderful running into someone that remembered me from a training event that I worked on 20+ years ago.  I had made enough of an impression that they not only remembered the event, they even remembered my name after so many years. Was it my great training skills? Was it my outgoing personality? Or maybe it was my quirky fashion sense? Nope, none of the above…it was the chili. No, that wasn’t a typo; it was the Chili I made.  Hmmm….that got me thinking…. 

At that time we were a much smaller company, more of a family than a giant corporate building of unidentified faces. We did things like chili cook-offs, holiday parties, and after work get-togethers. Back in the day we invited co-workers for home cooked Holiday meals and softball games with dogs on the grill. I miss that Family feeling!!!  How do we get that fun family back?

I may be over simplifying the solution, but what do families do to strengthen their bonds? They get together and eat. Eating together provides a way for everyone in the family to share, connect, and bond.  What did all my favorite events listed above have in common – FOOD.

I did a little research on the subject and found that employees in the healthiest companies often eat together, talk about food, and even cook for each other. Certainly, getting employees to eat together more often is not the sole antidote for my organizations “estranged family” issues. But, experts agree that the practice of eating together can have many positive benefits. And if you're not convinced, remember, this all started with a bowl of chili; food was our link over 20 years later.

Anyone out there having lunch with friends today, Save me a seat!  Cheers!

I’d love to quit my day job….

…But it’s not time yet.  My day job allows me to purchase quality supplies and fund my internet connectivity which is essential for my success. I could have taken out a small business loan, but with no loan payments to be made, I’m able to perfect my designs, my packaging and my business identity at my own pace.  Today the income from my day job (Project Manager for a Fortune 100 company) allows me to take money earned and put it back into the business by buying supplies in bulk, upgrading packaging and participating in shows. Sales on Etsy have helped us through the lean times when my husband was out of work and allowed us to go camping when a break was needed. In this troubled economy, I am thankful daily for the chance Etsy has given me to grow my small business. And yes, someday, maybe I will be able to quit my day job. But for now, keeping my day job while Lori’s Glassworks grows is the right choice for me.