Life Changes

There comes a time in your life that you "need" more. I'm not talking about material possessions but more of a purpose. I've spent 26 years being a mom and working various jobs. I even had a few of my own small business ventures. In 2006 I started lampworking and a few months later, I started a business knowing NOTHING about the glass business. I started importing glass from Germany and within the states. I started from nothing and I am proud to say, turned this into a very well known company. I'm in awe on how many people know who I am. It just blows me away.
But sometimes we come to a point in our life where we want more. Don't get me wrong. I love what I do and every single customer is pretty much a friend of mine. We can talk about tons of things. All of them have gotten me through some rough times and have made me laugh in the midst of a storm. For them, I am grateful for their support.

This economy has hurt many of them which makes me sad. Even the big glass companies are hurting so much that they are offering sales that I just cannot compete with. It's frustrating. I love my glass distributor and all the girls in the office but I still don't have to agree with some of their business practices. I understand cutbacks, sales, layoffs and such but to undercut your own vendors is just wrong to me. We spend tens of thousands of dollars with them through the year and it just doesn't make sense. It has sucked the joy out of lampworking, jewelry making and anything else that has to do with the art. That shouldn't happen.

As it gets worse, I've had time to think about life. I need more out of it. I want to give back to my community and to make a difference in someone's life. That to me is what life is about. That's what brings a person joy:-) Something I don't have right now. In fact, I feel like someone is just sucking my creativity out of me and I don't enjoy doing what I loved just a year ago. That will have to be something I work on this year. It also doesn't help when your stuff that your proud of, worked hard making isn't selling either. Again, the economy has taken a toll.

So for now, I've taken a part time job, I have started the process of volunteering at my hospital and have also applied for employment at my hospital. It's time to give back! I hope it's the beginning of a new chapter in my life and something that will make me smile again.

Flame Kissed Glass will still be open. I'm not ready to give it up but need to supplement it with something positive if that makes sense. It might just be what the dr. ordered.

I hope you'll follow me on this journey of finding myself again. Like alot of mom's out there, It's finding yourself after your kids don't need you anymore.

I thank all my customers for their business and the fact that they keep coming back. I promise you that I will do my best in maintaining the customer service that you are accustomed to. Please be patient with me for a little while, as I figure out how all this fits in.
I love you all!!!!