bead empress

i started teaching beading/precious metal clay classes out of pure selfishness about six years ago. i couldn't find a beading community so i decided to create one myself, sort of like in "field of dreams", i.e, if you build it they will come. and come they did. after teaching about 5 years and on a complete whim, within the space of one week i flew across country to attend a 2-day consultation for people interested in running a bead shop, then flew back home and immediately signed a lease on a little shop. little did i know the challenges & pitfalls that temper the joys (ahem?) of owning your own business. after 2 years, however, the beads began to fall in place and we seem to be in the flow...