As I have heard it said...one door closes, and another door opens.
In May, I had posted about our local Farmers Market. The building where it was located burned to the ground at the end of April. Over 60 of us lost everything we had created to sell because we kept our booths and all of our crafts inside the building week to week. Over 200 pieces of my jewelry were destroyed in the fire, as well as thousands of beautifully hand crafted items made by the other members of the Market.
This tragedy did not stop the Farmers Market members from continuing. The very next weekend, the Market was open for business under the grandstand at the Fairgrounds. And it has continued to be open every Saturday since. The building has not yet been rebuilt...but it will be. The fire destroyed a building....not the spirit, courage and hard work of the members.
I have decided to give up my membership at the Farmers Market. It was a difficult decision to make. I prayed about it, cried about it, and thought about it for months before I decided. It is like moving away from the family you love. Many of us remain friends, and I am thankful for that. We spent years together, encouraging one another, sharing our stories, being a Market family.
It was the first place that I started selling my jewelry. So many, many people showed me so much kindness....so much support in my venture.... and they still do.
One door closes, and another door opens....
In April, by pure coincidence, I was accepted at the Riverside Artists Gallery for my Jewelry. I only had a handful of pieces to bring in. Since then, I have been having fun meeting more people, and creating more jewelry. And seeing many of my friends from the Farmers Market visit me at the Gallery...which always brings me tears of joy and warms my heart.
On Sunday, September 22nd, The Gallery held their annual Artist Studio Tour. Many of the artists at the Gallery opened their studios to the public. Several of us demonstrated our creative process on site at the Gallery. I packed up my tools and some unfinished pieces, set up a small table in the Gallery art class room, worked on a couple of bracelets and met some nice people.
Our event made the local newspapers! And I got mentioned as well! My husband brings home a copy of the newspaper, and there is my picture on the front page. Now that's a first! He and our cat think I am "all that and a bag of chips" today! My son and daughter in law told me how proud they are of me.
I am doing laundry at home today, and counting my blessings.
And I am grateful and honored to be noticed. Here I am...double chin and all!
