We were lucky to catch up with Alayna Climer recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alayna, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
So deciding to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally has really been a personal journey, as I’m sure is the case for the majority of businesses owners/makers/creators. My first market selling stained glass was just a few months after initially learning the art at the beginning of 2019, and I was hooked. That market was such a pivotal experience for me from a personal and professional standpoint, but I loved everything about the process from start to finish. Stained glass is a very time consuming process, and if you try to cut corners it shows in your work. I was working full-time at the time, so was getting up around 4:30 every morning to do a few hours of glass before work, then sometimes I’d have finishing work to do after my job, and weekends were usually occupied either thinking of projects, traveling to purchase glass or supplies, or trying to finish pieces. There were opportunities out there, and I’d gotten a taste of that and wanted more.
After doing a few other markets here and there, trying to balance work, fighting constant burnout, and somehow trying to maintain a personal life, I decided it would be a great time to scale up and apply to a large market in Springfield, IL. Much to my surprise I was accepted, however unfortunately the market never happened because the world shut down due to Covid. Over the months I remember watching the events unfold, seeing markets being cancelled and small businesses shutting down, not to mention the absolute devastation on a global level. I put my glass, supplies, and my dream away and switched employers to work from home and didn’t touch glass for about 18 months. I honestly wasn’t sure if I was ever going to have the opportunity to return to it at the level that I’d always envisioned, so I decided it was safer to focus on my career in the mortgage lending industry. Life is so funny sometimes.
Over time I observed interest rates creep up, our pipelines dwindle down, and saw layoffs in the industry coming in waves. Eventually my employer was purchased by a bigger company who closed the doors and I was laid off. The first thing I did (after crying hysterically to my husband) was get my glass back out of the closet and set up shop again in my house. Shortly after that I was approached by a friend and local businesswoman giving me the opportunity to have some pieces at Repete Candle + Coffee Bar here in Warsaw that was opening soon. From there, things really just organically started happening. While I did end up returning to a full-time job working from home, things were just different in my soul. I was approached with an opportunity to be in a store called The Peachy Nest in Jacksonville, IL, which I jumped at, and started testing the waters for other markets and got involved with the Makers Market in Quincy. It really got to a point though late in 2023 where I was feeling absolutely defeated knowing I was saying no to markets that I truly wanted to attend and other meaningful opportunities because I just didn’t have the time. It was getting harder and harder for me to wake up at 4:30 and not immediately feeling overwhelmed knowing there just wasn’t enough time in the day for me to do it all. I wasn’t posting on social media because people would contact me asking to purchase what I was making for a market, and knew I didn’t have time to fulfill anything beyond that. I’d been burning my candle at both ends for too long wasn’t having fun anymore. After a lot of discussions with my husband, doors started to open and I sprinted through them. I’ll never forget when I called him one Monday morning and told him “today’s the day”, and it was. I put in my 2 weeks notice and quit my job to pursue my dream and passion. My last day working for someone else was July 8, 2024, less than 1 month from when I’m conducting this interview. This year’s market calendar is the busiest it’s ever been, I’m working hard on finishing up my website which has been on the back burner for years, and I’m really excited to see what the future holds.
Alayna, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
So as previously mentioned, I got into stained glass in early 2019, but my journey to glass and the inspiration behind my business and pieces is deeply personal.
While growing up in the small river town of Warsaw, IL, nature had always been an important part of my life. During the summers growing up, I spent a lot of time with my grandparents in rural northeast Missouri gardening, fishing, learning about birds and wildflowers, or hunting for mushrooms or geodes. That’s really where my inspiration from nature-themed pieces comes from, and the name of my business, Bluebird Glassworks. In 2000 when I was 14, my dad died by suicide and my entire life changed in the blink of an eye. I managed to get through the remainder of high school and immediately moved away as soon as I could after graduating, swearing to myself that I’d never move back home. After a few years of moving around and not really feeling like I had had much purpose, my mom was devastatingly diagnosed with bone cancer and eventually died from the disease in 2009 when I was 23. Eventually I moved back to Warsaw, only when I returned I was a much different version of myself than when I’d left. I embraced being home, was grateful to be around my supportive group of family and friends, and happy to experience the peace and beauty that the Mississippi River and our community offers as a pillar in my life again.
As time went on I got married and now live on a small hobby farm, once again surrounded by nature. I got into stained glass simply because I saw a honeycomb on social media back in 2019 I thought was cute and I’d like to try to make one for myself. My aunt & uncle have a personal studio, about 20 years of experience, and were able to teach me some fundamentals in that afternoon, but never in my wildest dreams did I think that experience would lead me here. From the very moment that I scored and broke my first piece of glass something in my brain clicked and I was hooked.
My personal story is now reflected in my logo, which was recently updated and I absolutely love. Sprinkled in are elements of my parents symbolized in nature, and it’s such a meaningful moment for me to keep their presence with me in a tangible way.
Sometimes I feel like it’s easy for me to get overwhelmed in the never- ending to-do list of running a business and the hustle that goes along with every market, that before I know it I’ve lost sight of my “why”. Then I attend a market where someone will share a snippet of their grief journey with me, and I’m reminded of my purpose. So many people that purchase a piece from me are doing it in memory of someone they’ve lost, or for someone that’s miles away, or a dear friend that’s going through a difficult time, and I’m so touched to get to hear their stories and feel honored every time they share them with me. It’s just a gentle reminder that everyone is truly going through something, we’re all connected, and we should try to lead with kindness and compassion.
While I’m extremely proud of what I’ve accomplished and can’t wait to see where this journey leads professionally, I’m most proud that I didn’t give up. I’ve never taken an art class let alone have a degree in art. I’m thankful to have my aunt & uncle as mentors, but I haven’t even taken structured stained glass classes, so I hope whatever obstacles current or future dreamers face won’t discourage them from pursuing their passion, whatever that might be. If it doesn’t work out that’s ok too, but you never know if you don’t try. Life can be brutally difficult and heartbreaking at times, but there is always light within the darkness. It might be difficult, or at times feel like it’s impossible to see, but it’s there and you’re not alone. If you’ve got the dream, the desire to learn, and the work ethic to make that dream a reality, then you truly can make things happen. It doesn’t matter your age or how many times you have to pivot, start, or stop. You get to start again.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
This might sound cliche or obvious, but from a societal standpoint – shop small when possible. I was a little ignorant in HOW big of an impact this makes to a small business owner when you keep your money local or spend at a small business. You’re truly fueling someone’s dream, someone’s livelihood, and transforming their lives when you’re choosing to spend your money at their place of business. Most small business owners donate their time, money, or other resources to various causes or local organizations, so they’re paying it forward and further contributing to supporting other local businesses or organizations, creating a ripple effect for the community as a whole.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect for me personally is the connection I get to make when meeting new people and hearing their stories. I’m also getting to learn so much when I go to new markets, whether it’s from seeing a different town, hearing a new band, or meeting different market organizers and vendors. I’m inspired each time I have that new experience, and it really helps perpetuate my personal growth, cultivate new relationships and set new goals.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wwww.bluebirdglassworks.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bluebird.glassworks/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092210633334
Image Credits
Brittany Howe Photography