In the lower level of the Peter White Public Library in Marquette,
local artisan Norm Hefke sits behind a table of his homemade wooden bowls and vases, taking in the late afternoon crowd at the 2011 Holiday Art Sale.
A customer approaches his works with curiosity, picking up a large bowl and asking, "How did you do this?"
After Hefke explains the details of the turning process, the customer says, "That's awesome" and takes one of Hefke's business cards.
For Hefke, it's one of the joys of his venture into the world of creative-based businesses.
"I enjoy meeting and talking to people," he says.
Hefke is among a growing number of people who have attained local distinction for their creative--and successful--hobbies. Sometimes that's because their hobbies provide something of a side income, and sometimes it's just for the joy of the pastime itself. What they all have in common is their success: these folks have built second careers out of the things they're passionate about.
Upon retiring from a career as an administrative assistant at
Northern Michigan University in 1999, Hefke began collecting cherry burls from trees in anticipation of trying his hand at wood turning. He also purchased his first lathe and began attending wood turning workshops.
"I used to see burls in the woods and think 'I'd like to turn those into something.' I had never done it before; it was totally experimental," he says. "I needed something other than gardening and exercising to take up my time after retirement."
Hefke says the new hobby came naturally to him, and in 2006 he got together with three other local wood turners and started a club. Today, the club boasts 42 members who all live within 150 miles. The club is recognized by the American Association of Woodturners and meets monthly.
"We also educate those who want to learn; we teach something at every meeting," Hefke says. Some of the clubs' members found the hobby by approaching him at galleries and shows.
Hefke's turnings are housed in 12 stores and galleries, two of which are downstate.
"Everyone has talent in some way," he says. "You just have to find it. Find something you enjoy doing and experiment, and don't quit if it doesn't work out the first time."
Local
glass artist Alysa Diebolt has been pursuing her hobby since she was 14 years old. She says she was influenced by her father, Jeff Diebolt,
a stained glass artist, and a tour of a colored sheet glass factory that they both attended.
"The possibilities with fused glass were incredibly interesting to me, so I got started," she said. "My father had already been doing stained glass from our home so we already had a glass studio set up in the garage. It was simple to add a few things, such as a kiln."
Originally from Rock, about an hour south of Marquette, Diebolt received a degree in marketing from NMU but moved back home for her glass studio.
"Eventually, I plan to move to a more metropolitan area, set up my studio and start my own gallery," she says. "I love Marquette, and always will. I've always felt that there is something about where one goes to college, and that place will always be in their heart in some way."
Although Diebolt no longer lives in Marquette, her work isn't hard to find.
Everyday Wines on Baraga Avenue showcases her wine racks and
Flowerworks on Third Street carries a variety of her pieces. Her work is also displayed throughout the Lower Peninsula and sold online through
MIUpperHand.
Diebolt says she is "in too deep" now to ever consider changing careers.
"It truly is a passion of mine. I love working with the glass, putting things together, firing it in my kiln and coming back the next day and opening the kiln, and sometimes, it's how I wanted it to turn out, and sometimes not so much," she says. "I have met so many people over the years that are so incredibly interesting. I'm also able to see artwork by some incredibly talented people all over the place."
With the love and support of her family, Diebolt says she now attends 20 shows a year throughout Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois.
In order to follow through on making your dream hobby a reality, Diebolt says a solid support system is necessary.
"Give it a try, and make sure you have a strong, honest support system. Having people in your life that will support you is great, but they also shouldn't be the types of people who won't tell you if something is a bad idea. Seek advice from those who are willing to share some words of wisdom or experience. If a successful individual offers to tell you anything, remember it! It may not be useful right then, but it will be some day," she says.
Up in the Keweenaw, another hobby is gaining popularity--not for its beauty, but its taste.
Ray's Polish Fire, a specialty hot sauce hand-made by Ray Weglarz and his partner, Vicki Jo, has doubled in sales every year for the past three years.
Weglarz, a second generation Pole, says he learned his way around the kitchen at a young age because of his mom. He says she used simple ingredients and made great food without the use of cookbooks.
"She's my inspiration for cooking," he says.
The sauce is known for its non-irritating spice factor and what Weglarz describes as a "pleasant heat."
"Polish Fire is kind of a joke because Polish food is so bland; my mom's idea of salsa was grated beets and horseradish," he says. "But I love making sauces and dips of all kinds. Polish Fire contains all the herbs I've always reached for."
After friends and family started asking for more sauce, Weglarz began charging $5 a bottle to cover costs. Even though Weglarz now has a bigger customer base, the price is still the same. The sauce is now made in eight-gallon batches at the Keweenaw Co-Op and is available in other co-ops across the Midwest, including Marquette's. The
Sweet Water Cafe in Marquette also uses Polish Fire as its table sauce.
Before leaving his job to devote all his time to Ray's Polish Fire two years ago, Weglarz was a registered nurse. He says the transition has been a financial hit, but that isn't what's important to him.
"After working with hundreds of dying people in hospice, I realize money is not that important to me. I love doing it; I have an interesting life now," he says.
Becky Greiner is an Ishpeming-born Yooper and freelance journalist. She is also a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer. She can be contacted via email.