“Trust that still, small voice that says, ‘This might work and I’ll try it.’” – Diane Mariechild
Support small businesses, they say. But how often do we actually do it? How often do Amazon packages arrive at the front door? Do you opt for a chain restaurant over a mom-and-pop diner, or buy coffee from a national chain to get those reward stars? Is your company using AI instead of hiring real humans?
Artificial intelligence continues to upend creative professions, forcing freelance writers like me to scramble for a Plan B or C. The world seems to be spinning out of control in more ways than one. But the human connection we have lost due to technology seems to be the saddest. We’re the most connected we’ve ever been, yet we’re isolated behind phones and computer screens.
We spend hours scrolling on social media or cancel in-person meetups. We envy people who have a stable career, or more money, or more freedom.
When I walked into Perks of Frankfort on a Wednesday evening in late September, I wasn’t sure what was in store. I had picked up a card with various events at area businesses. All this one said: Artist Series: An Evening with Amalia Celeste Fernand.
I showed up anyway. I was the only one. And it turned out to be one of my favorite artist dates so far (more on that at the end).
Support small businesses
Many local women have followed in Gwen Frostic’s footsteps and own businesses in Benzie County. Frostic moved to the area in the 1950s and became a well-known nature artist and millionaire, despite being told she may never talk or write as a child. Her studio remains open off River Road between Benzonia and Frankfort. Stay tuned for my blog on this pioneering woman who lived simply in the woods in northern Michigan and worked into her 90s.
The small businesses in northern Michigan (well, all along the coasts and the Upper Peninsula) rely on tourists to sustain them during the summer, but they need support throughout the year. No matter where you live, small businesses are the heartbeat of a community. They employ your friends and neighbors, and they exemplify the American dream.
Small business owners take risks most of us are too afraid to take. They forego a steady paycheck to invest in their dream. They live with uncertainty and overcome obstacles, including government regulations, taxes, and overhead costs. In Michigan, an impending minimum wage increase could force some out of business or force them to raise prices.
As we approach Small Business Saturday and the holiday shopping season, this is your reminder to shop small and support local. Small businesses need you. And you just might find you need them.
Read my first blog, Benzie County Artist Dates Reminder to Support Local, to discover other ways to support local no matter where you live. This is a continuation of that blog, highlighting the spirit of entrepreneurship alive and well in northern Michigan.
Christmas wonderland
Victoria Mekas is a Benzie County native who owns several businesses with her husband, Chris, in Benzonia and Frankfort. These include Perks of Frankfort, Lynn & Perin Mercantile Co., Hill Top Coffee & Ice Cream, and Victoria’s Floral Design. She also has battled breast cancer but continues to keep on grinding.
As you can read about in my previous blog, I did two of my artist dates at her other stores. Her coffee shop, Perks of Frankfort, also hosted an Artist Series during the summer. This is how I met the above mentioned artist, Amalia Celeste Fernand.
Victoria’s flower shop doubles as a Christmas wonderland, filled with unique ornaments and other holiday décor. The store has several holiday-themed events planned, including Holiday Night Lights on Nov. 23, Hill Top Holiday Market on Dec. 8, and visits with Santa on Nov. 30, Dec. 8, 14, and 21. Check out all that is in store on Victoria’s Floral Facebook page.
Trailblazer talk
The Muskegon Innovation Hub hosted a Trailblazer Talk in Ludington on September 10, so I took off early to attend on my way “up north.” I almost bailed but decided to go since I signed up in advance. Plus, it was a sunny September day and the event was free – at a golf course with a view of Lake Michigan nonetheless.
Kalin Sheick, owner of Sweetwater Floral in Walloon Lake, had some good insights to share. One day she told her husband, “I think I’m going to design flowers.” She got invited to do a TEDx Talk in Detroit, which led to a deal with Carhartt. It blew up from there.
A former TV morning-show reporter in northern Michigan, Sheick’s random floral idea blossomed from a roadside stand into a full-service flower shop. She talked about how much she hustles with a young family. It wore me out. But Sheick followed her heart, tapping into focal, filler, and flair to grow her business. Her social media fans rally around her too.
I went as part artist date, part pep talk, part looking for entrepreneurial inspiration. I forgot to take a notebook, so I wrote down a bunch of random notes on the back of the handouts.
A few takeaways:
Be authentically who you are.
Presume positive intentions.
Take slow, calculated, and responsible risks.
Know what a gift it is to show up each day.
Custom leather bracelet
Little did I know, I saved the best for last when I attended the artist talk by Fernand at Perks of Frankfort.
Fernand’s dad was a leather shoemaker in Benzonia. She works with leather and started out making bracelets from her dad’s leather scraps to fund traveling around the world. Fernand gave a presentation about her background and her world travels, which made me a little envious. She is an environmental educator who has traveled to every continent except Antarctica.
With two little kids, Fernand’s home base is now in Benzonia. She even runs Natural Explorers day camps for kids during the summer. She continues to make and sell her bracelets at the Frankfort Farmers Market.
This random encounter actually turned out to be one of my favorite artist dates because I got to make a leather bracelet with my name on it. I felt bad no one else showed up, and I told her I didn’t have to stay. But she brought all of her supplies and said “Let’s do it.”
I walked out with a natural high, thinking “Wow, who knew you could travel around the world hustling homemade leather bracelets.” I had no idea what kind of art she did or what the talk was about going into it. Besides leaving with a bracelet I now cherish and wear regularly, it put me on the path of another creative female entrepreneur who has found a way to make a living on her terms.
Takeaway: Find your niche. Pursue your passion. Tap into the power of the Universe to help you manifest your deepest desires. It is possible!
Bonus takeaway: Show up even when you feel unsure and talk to strangers. Who knows who you might meet?
Keep on grinding
After months of delays, Keep on Grinding Coffee House in Benzonia finally opened for business in October. This coffee shop is a few doors down from the popular Roadhouse Mexican Bar and Grill on U.S. 31. Owner Ed Popour and his partner also own businesses in Beulah.
This stop didn’t really count as an artist date, but locals and visitors waited and waited for this place to open. Popour put a lot of time, and probably money, into the interior plus a deck off the back of the building.
Keep On Grinding is a quaint and cozy place to sip on some coffee, admire the antique furnishings, and work remotely or gather around the fire for some games. The business features Higher Grounds coffee, a fair trade and organic roaster in Traverse City, plus baked goods and even its own mugs.
I love the name. It captures the grit of everyone who keeps on grinding toward their goals and dreams.
Takeaway: Don’t let delays or government red tape deter you. Keep on grinding.
Living The Artist’s Way
In many ways, these Benzie County artist dates are a living testament to The Artist’s Way principles. It’s unfortunate more people didn’t show up for these programs, but I am glad I did because I got to see creativity and manifestation in action. I met people who are bold and brave – earning a living as artists, entrepreneurs, and hustlers. My goal is to join them someday.
There are several lessons from these artist dates:
- Support your local small businesses.
- Step out of your comfort zone and show up solo somewhere.
- Don’t be afraid to chase your creative dreams.
- The Universe rewards creativity and good energy.
- Trust in synchronicities, divine timing, and intuitive hunches.
- You can wallow in the unfairness of life, or you can seize the day and create your own opportunities.
- It’s okay to step away from the computer, to take a break from the grind (or job hunting or whatever mundane task is sucking your soul).
- Take time to do what brings you joy.
- Don’t forget to live and treat yourself once in a while.
- Take a break if you need to, but never give up.
You can make your artist date whatever you want it to be. Most of these events were free, so don’t let cost deter you. And as we head into the holidays, remember to support local makers and shop local.
“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein
Marla R. Miller is an award-winning journalist, travel writer, and content marketing writer who lives in West Michigan. Please “like” or follow me on Facebook, X, Instagram, or LinkedIn. Let me help grow your business. Check out my Writing Services or Read My Work.
