You’ve always dreamed of owning your own business, but becoming an entrepreneur is a huge undertaking! These helpful articles from the U.S. Small Business Administration can help you figure out whether and how to start your own business.

Is Entrepreneurship for You?
This SBA article discusses both the benefits and pitfalls of becoming your own boss, and it paints a realistic picture of what it’s like to be an entrepreneur. Read the list of character traits necessary to become a successful entrepreneur, like independence, risk taking and creativity, to determine whether or not you would make a good business owner.

20 Questions Before Starting
These 20 questions will help you decide if you have all of the necessary tools to get your new enterprise up and running. On topics ranging from market research and customer service to sales, pricing, and financing strategies, this list of questions can help you think about the realities of running a business.

10 Steps to Starting a Business
A great deal of planning goes into starting a successful business, and the Small Business Association offers these 10 important steps to take to get your new company off the ground. Including everything from choosing a location to writing a business plan, these informative steps will help you become more prepared.

Public Domain/Openclipart.org

If you’re interested in sewing, fashion, textiles, or quiltmaking in specific, you’re sure to love the American Folklife Center’s beautifully curated Quilts and Quiltmaking Collection. This collection features the history of quiltmaking in America from 1978 to 1996, with a more modern exploration of this intricate craft.

This collection combines material from The Blue Ridge Parkway Folklife Project and the Land’s End Collection, both parts of the American Folklife Center. The Blue Ridge Parkway Folklife Project told a narrative about historic and newly made quilts over the years in and around the border of North Carolina and Virginia, using six quiltmakers and their work to epitomize the history of the craft. The Land’s End Collection features 181 winners of state and national quilting competitions in 1992, 1994, and 1996 and represents excellent design and skill during that period. Combined, these two collections form one beautiful, historical representation of American quiltmaking and the people behind it.

This collection is incredibly vast, with historical items that tell the story of American quiltmaking in a variety of different formats. It includes 410 photos, 181 audio files, and a number of well-written articles and essays that history buffs and quilters alike will love. And you can see it all online!

Quilts and Quiltmaking in America, 1978 – 1996 [Library of Congress]

Public Domain/Public Domain

Located in a former biker bar, the Iron Bridge Wine Company has left behind its shady past and developed into one of the finest places to sample a variety of vintages in the area. A spectacular wine list is the best reason to visit—the servers are knowledgeable about what they have on offer, and it’s accessible for the casual drinker, with very well priced bottles. If your stomach is rumbling, Iron Bridge Wine Company offers a robust and exciting tapas menu, overflowing with delicious small plates that are perfect to pair with wine, in the classic Spanish tradition. Be warned: this place doesn’t skimp on flavor, and many of their dishes pack a serious punch of garlic and spice. Don’t miss the braised pork belly appetizer, an astounding package of succulent, crispy goodness. The sesame-seared tacos are also unforgettable.

Iron Bridge Wine Company
10435 Route 108
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 997-3456
www.ironbridgewines.com