Ink&Lace Designs: Sheree Blum

My Etsy Shop gives me the opportunity to discover exiting artists, and while creating a treasury I found the beautiful work of Sheree Blum

Sheree raised four children ( three girls and one boy), they are the joy of her life. Now a retired science and special ed. teacher, her job took her to high poverty areas in Florida. She is the oldest of six children.

Creating art was an everyday activity while growing up.

How did you started Sheree?

Luck, just what are you supposed to do with it?

For many years I was planning to retire from teaching, as soon as my youngest child was a junior in college. It wasn't because I didn't love teaching, but I really wanted to try my hand at one more career before my

time ran out. My future plan was foggy for many years. Maybe I would teach at a university, work with photography, open a coffee shop, I know I would figure it out sooner or later. While visiting in Mount Dora, Florida I ran smack into my new adventure at a glass shop.

When summer vacation arrived, I packed my bags and headed to Winter Harbor, Maine as a glass apprentice.

August approached, Joey had finished his Freshmen year and I had one year left teaching. I completed the

retirement paperwork, purchased materials and equipment to create a glass shop in the garage. By October 31, I had completed the first load if glass. I sold a few pieces here and there. By February I was ready to try my hand hand at selling at the local Green Market in Wellington Florida. On St. Patrick's Day, I dressed in a pretty green dress and sold over $100 of glass to a tall stranger. The women with him whispered in my ear "this is your lucky day". She was correct, he was a buyer for Anthropologie. By the end of the school year, I had a contract with them to sell my plates across the US and in the UK. My plan was coming together!