"Never Have I Ever"

Daffodil Designs Art Gallery, August 2025

It happened so fast!

In April, I knew God was leading me east from Nashville to ? possibly North Carolina or East Tennessee. In May, I moved in with a friend in Sevierville who generously provided a place to stay and space to listen and wait for God to guide me to the next step. I knew I needed a pottery studio. I was trying to imagine exactly what I needed to do and where I needed to be to be able to create pottery and to sell my creations at art festivals and markets. It was a rough couple of months waiting for the next step. A couple months of blindness; not knowing where, what, how, and why. A couple months of confusion.

Not ready! Not ready! In June, another friend was suggesting retail spaces to rent. She would ask, "Did you call about this one?" I would respond, "I'm not ready!" But, I began making calls. Finally, after a couple months of misery, wading in the unknown, I inquired seriously about a retail space in the Smoky Mountains Arts and Crafts Community in Gatlinburg. I began to consider what I could do in a retail space. I was terrified by the responsibility of starting my own business. I was a kindergarten teacher! (I had taught Elementary Education on and off for 30 years.) "What is the problem? Isn't this what you have been talking about doing?" She couldn't understand my hesitance. "I just didn't want to pay for it!" was my response. This daring adventure would drain my retirement account. There would not be money left for a "Plan B."

In July, I rented a large (1200 square foot) retail space and the renovation began. I worked diligently; tearing down walls and pulling up flooring while calling every building, plumbing, and electrical contractor and reference that I could find. I started buying equipment for my pottery studio with a plan to teach classes. I joined the Smoky Mountain Arts and Crafts Community in Gatlinburg and the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce. I started to "network," whatever that means! I worked on developing a website. And I kept calling and being rejected by contractors. Finally, I found Jacob! He commented, "there's a lot going on," as he walked around the retail space. There were odd walls and drop downs and quirky patches throughout the building. But, he accepted the job! He did an excellent job!

In August, God provided another artist/mentor/friend who suggested several locations for me to look for art and artists to represent. I started acquiring a variety of artists whose work I could display and sell alongside my pottery. I softly opened my gallery with a few artists. I offered free classes to all of the shop owners in the Smoky Mountain Arts and Crafts Village (where my shop is located). I learned how to use my new kiln. But, I was drinking from a fire hose. It seemed like there was a new problem or a new urgent need every day! But God continued to provide people to help me as I learned to run a business with an art gallery and pottery studio.

In September, I found myself telling people who were taking my classes about the process of creating with clay. I would wait for their pieces to dry. Next, I would bisque fire them. Then, I would glaze and glaze fire their art. Finally, I would ship their mugs, bowls, or plates to them. But, in my mind I would be thinking, "what am I going to do? I don't know how to ship? I don't know where to begin to find out about how to ship! What am I going to do???" As I was driving to work one day, I was talking to God about this problem. That very day, a couple walked into the gallery and asked if I shipped. Hahaha! That hit a sensitive spot and I poured out my plans for and ignorance about shipping. The husband explained that they ran a business and that he shipped products every day. He told me the exact products to buy and the third party websites to use. I now ship confidently! (Although I need more confidence to package pottery safely.)

It's December. I am so thankful for my artists who have become friends and for my clients and guests who are a constant source of encouragement. And I thank God for His Presence on this crazy journey on earth which at times can be terrifying and exhilerating!