Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Still Alive and Very Well

I'm calling these Raw Materials

I took the picture in the only quiet corner my new studio. They look a little lonely, but not for long.
Just to catch you up with a little that has been going on with me--at the end of September, I left my beloved LibertyTown studio to step out in a new venture with my friends Susan and Lynette. We have opened a new business which will have a dual focus, writing and art. It is still in downtown Fredericksburg. We named it Water Street Studio because it is on a street that has been named that in the past and because we sit right on the banks of the Rappahannock River.

Last Friday, we had our grand Grand Opening with lots of friends, old and new. We've already scheduled a reading with Steve Watkins, whose new book Juvie just landed in stores yesterday. It will be held October 26th at Water Street Studio. Refreshments and read-aloud from a wonderful author. What could be better?

Back to art. I have been looking for wooden folding chairs since January when I painted one of a set of three auditorium chairs for a fund raiser. I had so much fun painting Chester, that I immediately wanted another project like it. I looked through antique shops, sent my yard sale spies out to look, asked and asked, but couldn't find any more chairs that suited my purpose.

Then last month I traveled to Texas to see family. Along our way on a birdwatching trip north of Corpus Christi, we passed through the little town of Sinton, Texas.

"My chairs!" I shouted from the back seat. "Stop! There are my chairs!" Sure enough, on the side walk outside an antique store, there sat the perfect raw materials.

Exhibiting fabulous driving skill, my sister did not lay a scratch in the road, but pretty quickly we were piling out of the tiny white mazda and into Kountry Kaboodles. It turned out the folding chairs came from the old theater down the street from the antique store.

What nice folks we met! We stayed and chatted a long time, forgetting about the birds waiting for us at Choke Canyon. In the conversation, Gary offered to mail them to me, as they would be an awkward carry-on back to Virginia.

The chairs blew in just this past Monday along with tropical storm Karen, safe and just as wonderful as I had remembered.

I like the original surface and plan to keep it. (Extra bonus: I found decades old gum on the bottom of the seats, likely put there by movie-goers so they could eat their popcorn.)


16 comments:

smartcat said...

Great provenance for a very cool project!
Congratulations on the new space. Toes crossed for continued success!



Maggie Ruley said...

nice to hear from you. Glad you are well and have new things happening.

Elizabeth Seaver said...

Thanks so much, guys! I've been away too long. Thanks for hanging in there with me!

Katherine Kean said...

Congratulations on your new venture - and your new chairs!

Elizabeth Seaver said...

Hi, Katherine: Thanks. It is hoppin' over here, for sure. Very fun though. I like a change every so often.

Thanks for stopping by!

Anna M. Branner said...

I am so excited for you, in SO many ways. These chairs are perfect! I can't wait to see how they turn out. So fun that they are from Texas. :) And if I haven't said it somewhere out here before the new digs are so warm and homey. Definitely a place for creative juices to flow. :)

ang design said...

congrats on your new venture! it sounds like a really interesting combo

Elizabeth Seaver said...

What a nice comment, Anna. Thank you. You know the roller coaster of such big changes. It has been wonderful to have folks like you in our corner with encouragement and positivity.

Elizabeth Seaver said...

Hi, Angela. Yes our business has an interesting twist on the arts. It is very exciting. Thanks for your visit!

Elizabeth Seaver said...

Cathyann! So nice to hear from you. I would love to see you in Fred and to show off our new space. It has been fabulous.

I have missed everyone online. I haven't been able to manage it all. Thanks for stopping by my not quite defunct blog!

Dorothy said...

They look just as they did sitting on that street in Sinton! Glad they made it there safely! Love you!

Maria Bennett Hock said...

Wow you have a lot going on! I will have to stop by the gallery!!! what a great venture!

Elizabeth Seaver said...

Yeah, D. Where would i be without your willingness to put the birds on hold?

Elizabeth Seaver said...

Hi, Maria-you'd be welcome any time!

Cathy Engberg said...

Those are fabulous chairs! I can't wait to see what you do with them. And congratulations on your new ventures! Welcome back!

Elizabeth Seaver said...

Hi, Cathy! Thanks for dropping by. I will keep posting progress on the chairs.