From Apprentice to Artist: Ana's Stained Glass Journey

Ever wondered what it takes to transform a childhood fascination into a lifelong artistic career? In our newest episode, we meet Ana Booth, a master stained glass artisan with 34 years of experience who's bringing her unique craft to our local community.

Ana shares her remarkable journey that began at age 16 when she finally convinced her father to let her apprentice with a family friend who worked with glass. What started as youthful curiosity evolved into decades of expertise crafting everything from traditional church windows to intricate jewelry boxes, three-dimensional flowers, and custom photo recreations in glass.

But it's Ana's story of resilience that truly captivates. During the height of the COVID pandemic, she made the bold decision to leave Virginia with just $20 in her pocket, her children, and their dog. Landing in Florida, Anna worked roofing at a hotel while transforming her room into an impromptu studio during off-hours. She would create art before and after shifts, selling her work outside her door – a testament to unwavering determination that eventually led to rebuilding her business from scratch.

Today, Anna runs a thriving studio from her home, offering personalized classes and custom creations. She adapts her business seasonally – teaching at children's camps in summer, working with seniors during off-season, and creating for tourists year-round. Her philosophy that "art is soul food" underscores her holistic approach to creativity as a form of stress management and spiritual nourishment.

Ready to explore the world of stained glass or commission a unique piece? Visit anasartz.com or call Anna directly at 772-475-2556. Whether you're looking to learn a new skill or add a beautiful handcrafted element to your home, Ana's expertise and passion are just a call away. Subscribe to our podcast for more inspiring stories of local artisans transforming our community through creativity and determination.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, GarfieldBowen.

Speaker 2 (00:15):
Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast.
Are you looking for a stainedglass artist or instructor?
Well, one may be closer thanyou think.
Today I have the pleasure ofintroducing to you Anna Booth,
with Anna Arts.
Anna, how are you doing today?

Speaker 3 (00:32):
I'm doing great.
How are you?

Speaker 2 (00:34):
I am well, I'm well.
Listen, we're excited to learnall about you and your business.
Tell us about your company.

Speaker 3 (00:41):
I'm a stained glass artisan of 34 years now and I've
been teaching for approximately14.
I'm from the AppalachianMountains of Virginia henceforth
the accent and I came down toCOVID during the COVID period
for a better opportunity inFlorida and here it was

(01:01):
interesting getting started.
But I'm up and running.

Speaker 2 (01:05):
Well, welcome to Florida.

Speaker 3 (01:08):
Thank you.

Speaker 2 (01:09):
So how did you get into this business here?

Speaker 3 (01:13):
I was probably nine years old when my father had a
friend that did glass work and Ikept begging and begging and
begging to go work with her andthey never would let me until I
turned 16.
Then, when I turned 16, shetook me on as an apprentice.
I did an apprenticeship forthree years and I took it on my

(01:34):
own and then I started kind ofgetting bored.
So then I introduced teachingand which kind of keeps it alive
for me.

Speaker 2 (01:43):
Okay, so what are some of the myths and
misconceptions about stainedglass artistry?

Speaker 3 (01:51):
That it's easy that they don't realize how much work
actually goes into one singlepiece of work.
It's a lot.

Speaker 2 (02:03):
When I think of stained glasses, I think of,
like the windows in a church orsomething like that.
Is that what it is?

Speaker 3 (02:10):
I make those.
I make sun catchers, I makejewelry boxes, I make
three-dimensional flowers.
You pretty much name it.
If it can be done in glass, Imake it.
I even recreate photos.

Speaker 2 (02:22):
Okay, we know marketing is the heart of any
business.
Who are your target customersand how do you attract them?

Speaker 3 (02:31):
Actually, it would probably have to be a lot of
seasonal.
During the summer my target isto the kids camps.
So I go and I teach at kidscamps.
I also do events.
I go to birthday parties and Isit up and I teach at kids camps
.
I also do events.
I go to birthday parties and Iset up and I teach at birthday
parties.
I travel to to wherever youcall me to.
Through the off season it'ssenior centers, retirement

(02:55):
communities and places like that, and through the regular season
it's the tourists.

Speaker 2 (03:04):
So you have a little store stuff where they buy it
online.
How do they get your products?

Speaker 3 (03:10):
It's actually it's online and most of the time it's
customs, and I receive phonecalls through my website and I
have put in a classroom into myhome.
I have a studio at my homewhich almost takes up probably
three quarters of my home, soeverything's at home.

Speaker 2 (03:33):
Have you ever thought about doing your own podcast?

Speaker 3 (03:37):
Yes, I would love to, because, from what I understand
, there's not a lot of goodinstructional videos and stuff
out there and I'd love to havean opportunity to teach people
who just call in and if I have apodcast, they could call in
with questions and I couldanswer the questions.

Speaker 2 (03:58):
OK, let's turn to a little lighter note.
When you're not so busy runningyour business, what do you like
to do for fun?

Speaker 3 (04:06):
art so you visit museums or you know well, no, I
mean seriously, if I'm notcreating glass, I'm creating
beadwork, I'm creating drawings,I'm creating dream catchers and
tie dyes.
The only other thing that I dothat is probably not this is my

(04:28):
downtime is fishing.
I love to go fishing.

Speaker 2 (04:34):
OK, let's talk about a hardship, a life challenge,
something that you went through,and you can look back to it and
you say better and strongerbecause of it.
What comes to mind?

Speaker 3 (04:44):
It was actually coming here from virginia and
restarting from ground zero.
Okay, so during the covidperiod um, at that time I still
did construction on the side, soI did a mixture of construction
and artwork.
And during the covid period invirginia september there's no

(05:04):
construction, it's too cold, allright, because of COVID,
there's no sales.
So the only thing I could thinkof was pretty much pack what I
could in a rental SUV, pack mykids, the dog and come to
Florida.
And I ended up in West Palmwith a rental car, two kids, a
dog and twenty dollars in mypocket.

(05:27):
So from there I actually startedworking at on roofing at the
Super 8 Hotel in Lantana,because they gave me a room, so
I would work.
And when I got out from work Iconverted my room into my studio
.
I got out from work, Iconverted my room into my studio

(05:48):
, so I would work after work,and then I would get up in the
morning before work and I wouldsit in front of my door and try
to sell and then I would go towork on the roof and then I
would come back and do the samething.
That was a challenge.

Speaker 2 (06:00):
That seemed like that could be a book or a movie.
You know what I mean Brewing inFlorida is no joke.
Well, we wrap up.
I want you to, Anna, tell ourlisteners one thing they should
remember about Anna's arts.

Speaker 3 (06:22):
Well about Anna's arts is number one.
I'm kind of specified.
There's really nobody else whodoes stained glass art to the
extent that I do Now.
There is one other lady but inthis area I'm the only one.
But my main thing to pull awayfrom this is art is soul food.
If you think about it, when youlook at a beautiful picture or

(06:43):
you hear wonderful music or youdance, the feeling you get
inside is your soul.
So art is soul food.
We feed our soul with art andthat's one of the things that I
do is I really stress, likeholistic approach to stress
management through art, becauseit helps.

(07:03):
It just helps.
It makes you feel good.

Speaker 2 (07:07):
Okay, our listeners listening have one word on their
lips now, and that's how.
How do we get more informationabout Anna's Arts?

Speaker 3 (07:17):
I am listed on Google .
I have a website, a website,anna's Arts dot com, and that's
arts with a Z, and I am listedin Yelp and I basically you just
call me and right now I'mrunning pretty much individual
small group classes out of myclassroom at home, so you get a

(07:38):
lot of instructional that younormally would not with a group
setting that you normally wouldnot with a group setting.
Okay, is there a number you'dlike to share?
Absolutely 772-475-2556.

Speaker 2 (07:57):
Well, Anna, we really appreciate you coming on our
show.

Speaker 3 (07:59):
We wish you and your business the very best moving
forward.

Speaker 1 (08:02):
Thank you, have a great day.
Thank you for listening to theGood Neighbor Podcast Port St
Lucie.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go toGNPPortStLuciecom.
That's GNPPortStLuciecom, orcall 772-362-3840.