When One Door Closes, Another Opens- in this case an Old Screen Door

 Once I made the traumatic decision not to renew my lease at the shop in falls Church I was at a loss.  What to do next.  Fire Sale? Shut her down and walk away? Neither of these are options as, I think I have mentioned, I actually love what I do.  So how to create a new paradigm? As I pondered- the same day I made the decision I saw a Facebook post from a shopkeeper I admired mentioning that he had an opening because one of his vendors had expanded and had left to open her own shop.

 Really? this was interesting as I really liked the shop layout and their style. I actually shelled out retail bucks with them (and THAT is saying something!). One conversation later I was offered an opportunity to join them. (click to read more)  Think, think, think. What DO I want? I already had a list-

 Discover and sell vintage goodies. Make more art. Write more. Actually write the Thriving Creatives blog/book mag/whatever it is that I have had in me for years. Spend time with ailing family members.  Hang with my son before he slips off to college. Teach more. Sleep in occasionally.

 How to do this? How to keep connected to the relationships that I have nurtured over the years? I am still working on multiple options for here in Falls Church but the space at the Old Screen Door seemed a wonderful opportunity to put SOME of my goodies in a space that speaks to me.  Lewes Delaware is a lovely town (we have a farm house 5 miles from the beach there).  Lewes was so supportive when Bob had lost his leg and was rehabbing.  This little beach had handicapped facilities including a beach wheelchair for heaven's sake.  Anyone that follows along with me knows how much I love my Bay sunset shots!

 So I took the plunge and signed a lease on a space at the Old Screen Door. Am looking forward to my "debut" in April.  The 16th is their Sip and Shop event so if you just happen to be on the shore that weekend - come see me.  More details to follow.

 This next week is crazy.  We have a fantastic week booked at Stifel & Capra - one of my dearest friend and neighbors, Howard Cincotta is doing a book signing on our last FIRSTfriday at S&C, old friends are coming in from out of town for the event and I 

 still have a COMPLETE debris field in my basement from the hot water heater pipe bursting. My studio and the anteroom look like something exploded.  While getting ready for my de-stash sale. AND writing the newsletter by tomorrow.

 And planning the logistics of moving everything out of the shop while negotiating details of a local lease so I am not simply banished to my basement while pondering which shows and events to sign up for.

 Life may be nervewracking and complicated. But it is NEVER dull.  Stay tuned.

Taking a leap.

If you had told me a year ago I would systematically be breaking down the physical organization I've so carefully built out of over 8 years I would have laughed. But time marches forward.

Leap year is an odd occurrence. A calender course correction to keep the world on its proverbial axis. Funny then that I am making momentous decisions in a leap year.

The last couple of years have been rough at the shop. Vendors have come and gone. Large scale neighborhood  construction projects have wreaked havoc not on just the physical landscape (read losing a week's revenue when the ceiling caved in from them piledriving the footers of the 5 story building across the street) but the PERCEPTION that there were traffic delays caused by construction (there were not). That tiny fall-off in revenue - a $50 invoice rather than a fifty five dollar ticket is the difference in me taking a salary or not.

Add to this a landlord who did not respond to rent abatement entreaties and a city that neglected to factor the impact multiple large scale construction projects have on its small businesses and neglected to ask for impact fees and a lease that expired and I am out. Done.

My husband and I refuse to be one of those yahoos you see on those TV shows like "Restaurant Impossible" who are working 70 hours a week and are 100 thousand dollars in debt. That is not going to happen here.

So sadly I am vacating a space that has become, for many, a Third Place- not home, not work, but a place where someone knows your name and you feel safe, amused, maybe even delighted and inspired.

I feel confident that my ability to create this Third Place is not building dependent. A community can be built and flourish in many different forms.

I love eye contact myself though. Don't leave me.

Losing the building will mean gaining other things. Freedom from the daily routine and new found time to write and create perhaps.

I am feeling the crushing feeling of letting people down, of not taking care of the tribe. But I look around at my neglected house, my almost grown child and feel compelled to re-engage. Phone calls with news of less than wonderful health reports from beloveds remind me that there is more than just minding the store.

The volume of the tasks ahead are daunting. But the options are many, almost too many.

It's time to leap.

Momentous shop news

Hello Friend- 

The only thing constant is change, so they say.  That adage was brought to mind quite forcibly recently.

There is not subtle way to say this: I have lost my lease here in Falls Church.  I have chosen not to renew the lease at the increased rate my Landlord is asking for the building. 

The hardest part about this decision is telling my tenants and vendors. And now telling you.

I would like to emphasize we are NOT going out of business.  Just out of this building.  

All of our fantastic events planned for February and March are still scheduled and will go off as planned.  If you have been procrastinating about taking a class might I suggest that NOW is the time to sign up?!

Please mark your calendar and join us as we celebrate what we have here on Broad Street and stay tuned for what comes next.

To Adventure!

Theresa

Happy New Year!

From our house to yours - Happy New Year!
Praying 2016 brings you health that causes you to thrive, 
contentment that brings you joy, 
friends that make you laugh until you cry, 
gratitude that stops your heart and 
prosperity that enables you to share it all. 
Cheers!!!

Back in my corporate days I always had off work between Christmas and New Year's.  I used that time to travel, host a HUGE open house and think, think, think.  Recharge my batteries and set up my goals for the New Year.  Not so much resolutions but goals.

The past few years of being a self employed retailer my goals have been mostly reduced to "survive and thrive" and "do more everyday" but I found myself governed by, to quote Steven Covey, "the tyranny of the urgent".  My thoughts for this year involve being more purposeful with the goal of if the activity doesn't serve my greater goal of being an Awesome Parent, Better Than Average Spouse, Gleeful Artist, Engaged Family Member, Supportive Friend or Evolving Human Being to just let it go.

Pretty broad net don't you think?

To that end, I actually

wrote these words just now
marked my kids' school breaks on the calender
confirmed a lunch date
and
ate lunch without looking at a screen.

Progress!

A Creative Mind is Rarely Tidy

I don't know about you, but when I'm making something I tend to leave all the various options that have been part of the jury process just shoved aside. It's a very colorful and sparkly debris field to be sure but by the end there's very little room to actually walk or move!

I just finished up a batch of about half a dozen commissions so it's particularly bad at the moment. There's no distinction between wet and dry parts of the studio in process or done pieces its just all a big jumble.

So I'm taking the time this morning to actually stop and put things away. The good news? I got 3 more commissions over the weekend!

( this Thursday will be the cutoff for a local commissions.)

One of the hardest things about being a retailer who is an artist is trying to find time to actually make things myself.
Having people so thrilled with the gift that I make so they can give them to their loved ones is a good reminder that whatever we make, no matter how small, matters.

Laughter and paint.

Had fun yesterday running a team bonding exercise for a group of polished, positive HR executives for one of our biggest consulting firms.

I must confess it felt like a million years since I have worked in that kind of environment. Not good or bad, just different!

They were a delight to work with. I did a UN structured art lesson because they seemed like such a creative group.

It was fun to see how different everyone's paintings were by the end.

This was a group of ten but if you want to get together with friends, co-workers or family for a fun night out, remember it only takes four to make a class!

All available workshops are on our website. www.StifelandCapra.com

OK, I know it is still summer but...

 Took my daughter up to her second year of art school on Sunday. I was struck by that air of expectation that floated over campus.  New beginnings- back to school.  My son doesn't start until after Labor Day so I am floating in this weird sort of limbo.  Feeling motivated and energized to start the new season but not waiting to wish away the time I have left of summer.

I must confess that my biggest summer indulgence is sleeping in.  With the shop not opening until 10 I can get up at 8 and still have a leisurely morning.  Of course the price I pay for that is all of the things that DON'T get done in my well rested state. During the school year I am up by 6 and have 31/2 hours to exercise, meditate, make art, do chores, or do paperwork before the shop opens and my phone starts ringing.

 My perennial problem? As Steven Covey so elegantly puts it - putting First Things First.  I can't do EVERYthing I want to before I head to work. So how does it get done when I run out of steam at night after being perky all day? How do I juggle the interminable list  of to-do's of the business owner and actually hang out with my son while he still lives here? How do I stay in touch with and support my family and friends that need my help and love?

 My biggest failing is I am an "all or nothing" kind of gal so today I DID get my spiritual reading done, my house is clean but no art happened and the only exercise I got was running up and down the stairs with the laundry!

The good news? All those hours in the car doing the college run gave me some thoughts about regrouping and restarting.  Let me know if you have any hints.  This donut around my middle has GOT to go.  Maybe I need to re-read that Covey book.

The Altered Page: Living With Art: 12 - featuring ME!

The Altered Page: Living With Art: 12



So excited to be featured on Seth Apter's The Altered Page Blog.

Check it out!

From trunk to treasure to thirteen messages.

I have a colleague that has "seller's remorse" when something she brings in sells right away. I think she worries that it some long lost Picasso treasure rather than just being happy it found the right new owner in a twinkling of an eye.

A happy example - I had a client who told me that they were looking for an "unconventional shower caddy" for a recent remodel that they had done. After listening to her creative yet vague description I suggested we go to the back of my truck where some (awfully dirty) treasures were waiting to be cleaned up, tagged and put out on the sales floor.

To my delight she jumped on an awesome vintage plant stand, spider webs and all.  The out of the box results are below!

Dear Theresa,

As promised, please see how perfect your newly-hauled plant stand/converted unique shower caddy turned out for us!  A few strategic holes, new Rustoleum paint job and we're good to go forever.  I was trying to replace the little rubber feet, but once scrubbed they were discovered to be in fine shape and ready to go.  Thanks so much for so quickly filling the bill of my "out of the box" look for our shower.

Love it!  And you know I'll be back--to shop your store--or the back of your car for recent discoveries.

Take care.

 Rob

Speaking of cleaning up, I have spent the better part of the last 60 days cleaning out, filing or responding to my in box. My voice mail box is cleaned out too!  I will admit my to do list is still there but it is focused and singular.  I feel like I have lost weight!  Quite exciting.  (although you know losing weight is on my to do list as well).

Brooklyn Bound- Revisited

Inspiration can strike anywhere.  An old acquaintance's Facebook post caught my eye.  She was elegantly dressed to catch a train to party in New York. While lamenting the fact that my middle age life did not include such excitement I asked her if I could "appropriate" the photo as inspiration for a collage.  She graciously gave permission. (While it is not illegal to 'borrow' photos in the public domain,  I feel it, it is only proper to ask to use someone's image or take their photo.)

A lovely family came in and bought not one, but TWO of my pieces.  I was thrilled and jestingly asked if they would send me a photo of my art in their new home as I like to see where they land. Not long after - I received this from John.

Hi Theresa,

We like your work very much. When did you make it? This year?

When I first saw your collage I liked it a lot because I saw a rare young woman I thought I recognized -- one with a defined sense of personal style that was somewhat daring confident and casual. I went back to see how you'd made it and liked it even more because what I'd first taken to be carefully drawn and painted, actually seemed to be brilliantly dyed draped and stitched! I admired the intensity you captured in your friend. And I think your medium of collage is so apt simple and surprisingly evocative of flesh blood and spirit. It pops with life and I love looking at it.

 

...

 

Sure you can use the photo.  You're pretty good to make me see your friend the way you see her.  She sounds like a special person. John

You are too, John. You are too.

PS- Blogger & artist Seth Apter is running a "Living with Art" series one his blog right now.  A corner of my living room is lucky  enough to be featured in an upcoming edition. Stay tuned!

Ok so maybe you DO have to hit me in the head!

You know that thing where you get a new car and suddenly every firth car on the road is the same make and model as your?  Of course all of those cars were there the day before but you are just SEEING them for the first time.

In the past 24 hours I received the same message from my Growing Your Soul Group,  Seth Godin, Jennifer Boykin, Regina and Facebook & Pinterest posts. I felt like I am being hit in the head with a baseball bat with the message to just GO.

In the past few days I also had a pipe burst at the shop, our wet-vac caught on fire, the color is off so I can't print a commission work that is due uh, NOW, I ran over a pin with a sewing machine and it killed it, oh AND I woke up this morning and my 2 week out of warranty laptop (read still darn new as far as I am concerned) just didn't. turn on.

So advice all of my real and virtual pals has me resolved. Even if it is not perfect or pretty. So here you are.

I am starting,
yet again.

Embracing Change

I had the audacity to run away this weekend. With the family, to one of my oldest and dearest friend's house. Ok that probably doesn't seem audacious to you but we haven't gone on a trip for the sheer pleasure of it for a long time. 

 I had to beg for shop coverage and pay my lovely staff for bleary winter days in January when most folks are more excited about the Super Bowl that they are about gift shopping.  So it was a big deal.  More about our lovely time later but I just sat down and steeled myself to really LOOK at my email and one of the first things in my inbox was the article below.

It's like it was reading my mind.  Question begs- what is next?  Still thinking. Stay tuned.

Embrace Change in Order To Make A Difference

by Clint Watson

When I first started BoldBrush (the company behind FASO), things were pretty simple. I was the leader, the boss, and all the employees. [...] 

Read the rest of this article at:
http://faso.com/fineartviews/87569/embrace-change-in-order-to-make-a-difference

----------------------------------------------
This excerpt appears courtesy of FineArtViews Art Marketing Newsletter by FASO,
a free email newsletter about art, marketing, inspiration and fine living for artists,
collectors and galleries (and anyone else who loves art).


For a complimentary subscription, visit: http://www.faso.com/art-marketing-newsletter

----------------------------------------------- 

Miss you already!

Mending in Camel & Black

After spending DAYS over New Year's clearing up and out by office and studio spaces my mission for 2015 is to simply start.  Take one piece, project, inspiration piece what have you and work on it until it is done.  In the past I have worked in assembly line fashion, paint 20 backgrounds, cut out 20 pillows, embroider 20 things and what it has left me with is LOTS of half finished things and no inventory to sell or art to present when an exhibition opportunity arises.  I was crushed and flummoxed when I was invited to do a show at the end of last year and I literally had nothing new to present,  Ugh.

 Am determined to leap between art, craft, writing and business development and simply do.  In this case replace a velvet waist band that had dryrotted on a lovely wool felt circle skirt from the 50's.

 A simple matter of cutting off the old waistband, measuring a slice of black velvet (donated to me by buddy Nire Nah when she made the command decision to quit pretending SHE was going to do something with this lovely black velvet (!) drape!).

 Pinning the waist band on- while wondering WHY I picked a project that when finished will fit on a person with a 25 inch waist.  Who IS this woman and do I even want to know her?

 After recognizing I really didn't have a beef against folks with slim waists although I have never had one even when I weighed 50 pounds less I pinned

 and seamed and clipped threads...

 and hand hemmed the edge under to make a pretty facing.

 Ta Da! The Finished project- ready for sale. $90 at Stifel & Capra

 Loving all of the details with the appliques and the cording.  Quite the fancy home sewn project by some svelte lady way back when! Imagine how tiny that 25 inch waist would look with crinolines?

 Next up? Cute wool sweater with moth holes...

 snazzed up with some crocheted appliques!

Pardon the boots- my computer is fighting me & I didn't want to torture myself trying to find the edited version of this shot!!!! Super cute I think, What say you?

Nothing says "Happy New Year" like fresh paint.

January first. New Year's day. Stereotypically a time of new beginnings.  We woke up after a fairly sedate New Year's eve of Family Movie Night with the teenagers (Guardians of the Galaxy) and faced the fact that one of my favorite people and long time vendor and tenant has given notice so she can concentrate more on shows and less on day to day retail. So faced with an empty room ( and ghosts of fabulous sewing and lovely jewelry) I picked

 not surprisingly the color of spring seas to cover the walls. Theory being we are turning the space into a self contained Gourmet Market to showcase our food & wine artisans and the bulk of their packaging is black white and red. What better color to make those shine than S&C Aqua?

 Started at 9:45. By 2pm with the help of Charming Husband and Reluctant Except I am Paying Him Son the "new" Gourmet Shop was taking place. I am actually VERY impressed with how much we got done.

 Also impressed with myself I didn't make the family do the Do It Now Death March to do ALL of the moves I am visualizing for the shop right NOW instead of rolling it out over the next couple of months...

Reworking the coffee station (pot is too crazy big) so one can buy a cup of coffee in Falls Church that is roasted by a local guy and not by a big chain. More soon.

Think about your life - Pippin

THINK ABOUT YOUR LIFE, PIPPIN
THINK ABOUT THE DREAMS YOU PLANNED
THINK ABOUT THE MOMENT
THAT'S SO CLOSE AT HAND
WHEN THE POWER AND THE GLORY
ARE THERE AT YOUR COMMAND
PIPPIN
THINK ABOUT YOUR LIFE...

Ok so, that is the END of the play, not the beginning but with one in high school and one in college it was the chorus that stuck in my head when I dragged um, chose my family to accompany me to the revival of "Pippin" as my (rather) big Christmas gift this year. They really are in their glory days, after all.  When they are not ebing tortured by teenaged angst of course!

Amusingly a whole lot of folks on Facebook reminded me that our High school drama department did "Pippin" while I was there.  Frighteningly I did not actually remember this (although I remember all my friends in "The Sound of Music" ) so I guess that is why I know ALL the words to ALL the songs over thirty years later!

waiting for the curtain to go up at the National

Seeing the amazingly cast and staged show did provoke a lot of dialogue after the play about heros and anti-heros and how in real life sometimes the heroic thing is just showing up everyday. And how in real life death is not reversible, although miracles happenand people live and death is never the end. And how eating right and regular work-outs might get you on The Right Track (another Pippin song) to having arms like 63 year old Lucie Arnaz!

Lucie Arnaz as Berthe aka Granny in "Pippin"

My muse for the 2015. Lucie sang, dance, swung from a circus ring and looked fabulous the entire time!

Best. Christmas. Present. Ever.

my snappy home mantel for 2014

My favorite Stifel cousin Terry M was blindsided by a terrible headache and was looking for relief from her symptoms.  She decided to query her Facebook friends where upon reviewing her symptoms her friends informed her that her pain didn't sound like a migraine and suggested she go to the hospital.  Long story short, Terry was successfully operated on for a brain aneurysm and after 7 days, miracle of miracles, was released Christmas Eve. The normal CCU stay is 10 to 14 days after a surgery like this.

Scenic Connecticut snow traveling to Stifel family reunion

She is weak in body but strong in spirit and buoyant in gratitude for still being on the earth.
Best Christmas present ever.  Peace, health and happiness are my wish for you- today and always.

Book and Art Supply Give Away! - Lesley Riley's TAP

 Toot my own horn time!One of my favorite TAP (Transfer Artist Paper) projects got featured in Lesley Riley's new book.  Creative Image Transfer features a wide range of projects sure to spark your imagination on how to use this versatile product.

For those that aren't familiar with TAP it is a polmer sheet that can be printed,  drawn or painted on and then transferred to almost any surface.  From metal to fabric to chalk & clay paint, it makes a lovely transparent layer to add to your art work.

"Fiona" here ( and instructions on how to make her ) was featured in the book and (I say proudly!) on the intro page too! I blew up an old 60's newspaper fashion ad and used TAP to make a pixelated transfer of the outline of Fiona. On "Copper Fantasy"  I transferred and vintage image of a bird onto copper.  I love how you can see the glow of the metal coming through!

 

To celebrate the book launch Lesley is giving away copies of the book AND packages of TAP.  The Giveaway dates are  August 6-10. To find out more check out Lesley's blog.YOu can sneak over there right NOW   http://www.LesleyRiley.com/weblog And let me know if you win!