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Archive for the ‘Small Town Life’ Category

Honoring Pat Windrow

Posted in Serendipity, Small Town Life, tagged Front Royal, memorial, Pat Windrow on September 15, 2015| 5 Comments »

“Not So National Zoo” Mural by Pat Windrow

Top of Windrow Memorial

Side View of Memorial 1

Side of Memorial 2

Side of Memorial 3

Side of Memorial 4

Side of Memorial 5

The family and friends of Pat Windrow honored her this past weekend by unveiling a memorial at the Town Commons in Front Royal. Pat was an artistic force of nature in Front Royal. She painted amazing murals on several buildings around town – both inside and out. Since her passing we are all hoping that these will be maintained by the owners of the buildings. They are irreplaceable.

The memorial that was dedicated features wonderful images of some of Pat’s beautiful floral paintings. It’s a fitting way to honor this creative woman.

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Scenes of Summer

Posted in Serendipity, Small Town Life, tagged Art show, scenes of summer on July 1, 2015| 3 Comments »

Thanks to everyone who came out last night to Happy Creek Coffee and Tea’s Barn for my Scenes of Summer opening. The show will run through July. I hope you can stop in to see it.

The old barn walls make an interesting backdrop for art.

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Taste of the Town and Art

Posted in Small Town Life, tagged Painting Demonstration, pet portrait, Taste of the Town on May 16, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Working on a Pet Portrait at Taste of the Town

Completed Portrait

Helping kids paint a Mask!

Final look! Cute…

Often when an artist works she paints alone. If you are a full-time artist you look for opportunities to paint in public where people can see your work and you working and hopefully connect to it and remember you when they want to purchase original art. Last night was just such an opportunity at Taste of the Town.

I had a wonderful time painting and visiting with people as they stopped by to say hello.

I was right by the Gazebo so I got to enjoy wonderful music while I worked. The night was terrific and loads of fun. If you missed it you will have to plan to come to the one in the Fall.

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Happy Birthday Big Mama!

Posted in Recipes, Serendipity, Small Town Life, tagged Big Mama, Crochet, Recipes on February 10, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Big Mama, Sister, Brother and me

Big Mama and Papa Honeymoon photo

One of my favorite photos of Big Mama with Morgan

Mama, me, Brother & Big Mama – 1961

Big Mama, me, Mama, and Sister -early 90’s

Big Mama

Anyone who has taken a crochet class (or almost any other type of class I teach) at The Studio has heard me talk about Big Mama and all that she taught me.

She was my maternal grandmother and a wonderful person who lived a good long life….almost 100 when she passed. Today would have been her 107th birthday! Everyone loved her. Once I took some friends home to meet her and when they got back home to Kentucky they sent her a thank you note for the lovely lunch she made for us. They didn’t know her name…only Big Mama. So they mailed the envelope to “Big Mama, Offerman, Georgia” and it was delivered without delay. LOL

She taught me so many things….things I still use to this day and that I try to share as I teach.

I have written about Big Mama before to share some of her recipes…most recently when I made the Carrot Cake at Thanksgiving. I also shared her recipe for Syrup Candy and talked about her in a Plum Jelly post. I love her recipes and making anything that she used to make for us always brings back floods of memories.

Crocheting was the thing she taught me the most about. She loved it and was almost always making something. The amazing thing about her crochet was that she just kept patterns in her head. When I would asked her to teach me to make a certain stitch or design she would just pick up a hook and start crocheting. She would tell me what she was doing and I would write it down. She didn’t use patterns very often. I think that is where I get my “making up” patterns from. I think she would like that!

So today I am so grateful that I got to know all four of my grandparents and am especially blessed that Big Mama played such a big role in my life. I wouldn’t be enjoying this creative life I am living with having known her. Happy Birthday Big Mama!

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Top New Year’s Resolutions

Posted in Serendipity, Small Town Life, tagged Learning, New Year's Resolutions, The Studio, The Studio-A Place for Learning on January 9, 2015| Leave a Comment »

I just read an article about the top New Year’s Resolutions and how most are broken. 😦

The first is to lose weight or get fit. The second is to quit smoking. But the third is to learn something new. It’s an exciting resolution…there are so many things to learn.

Well, we can help you with this one so that it is not broken! Come to The Studio-A Place for Learning and pick up a new skill or hobby. Learn to paint, sew, crochet, decorate cookies, become better with social media, quilt, make jewelry, and much, much more. You can see the current schedule by going to The Studio’s website here.

Consider learning something new this year. It’s not too late to make that resolution….and KEEP IT!

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Gift Wrapping for the Humane Society

Posted in Serendipity, Small Town Life, tagged gift wrapping, Humane Society of Warren County on December 16, 2014| Leave a Comment »

The Humane Society of Warren County does a wonderful job finding homes for so many homeless pets. The Studio is offering a gift wrapping service today from 9-1 and next Tuesday from 9-3 to benefit them. Bring your Christmas presents to The Studio at 105 E Main Street, Front Royal and we will wrap them for you for a donation to the Humane Society.

Please help us help them. Thanks-

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Girl Scout Blanket Project

Posted in Serendipity, Small Town Life, tagged Fleece Blanket, Girl Scouts, The Studio, The Studio-A Place for Learning on November 12, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Girl Scouts with completed blankets

Yesterday I worked with a Girl Scout troop on a project for our local animal shelter. I provided the fleece for the girls to make little blankets for the pups and kitties. They “made” the blankets yesterday and will deliver them to the Humane Society of Warren County along with some supplies they are collecting that are needed by the shelter. The shelter always could use help with supplies and they do such wonderful work that I am happy to help whenever I can. This project was a win-win….working with the Girl Scouts and helping the Animal Shelter. 🙂

The great thing about these blankets is that you can make them in any size – large enough for a person or smaller for a pet. Here are the Blanket Instructions:

Step 1 – Cut fleece to size

1. Decide the size you would like for your blanket and purchase two pieces of fleece to accommodate the size. Place the two pieces of fleece wrong sides together and cut them to size.

Step 2 – Cut out corner squares

2. Cut a square out of each corner. The size you cut will determine the size of the “fringe”. For a large blanket cut about a 6-7″ square. For a smaller blanket cut the square about 4 inches.

Step 3 – Cut fringe.

3. Make cuts all the way around the blanket. The cuts should be about 1 to 1-1/2 inches. You want to keep the two pieces of fabric together because these two pieces of fringe are what you tie together. You can pin the two pieces of fabric together to keep it secure especially if you are working with a large blanket. The great thing about this blanket is that you do not have to cut them exactly the same. It will turn out great even if the cuts are not perfect.

Step 4 – Tie knots all the way around

4. Tie knots in the fringe all the way around. Be sure to double knot each fringe so that it doesn’t come untied.

5. Enjoy your new blanket!

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Exciting News – WE WON!!!!!

Posted in Serendipity, Small Town Life, tagged Entrepreneur Cafe, The Studio, The Studio-A Place for Learning on October 22, 2014| 3 Comments »

The Studio’s Table at the Entrepreneur Cafe

WE WON!!! Yesterday I invited you to an event called “Entrepreneur Cafe” that our Chamber of Commerce hosts that gives 5 selected businesses an opportunity to vie for a prize package that included $500 cash and $1000 newspaper advertising budget. I am so excited that our project – to add audio-visual equipment to The Studio- was the one selected. Now I can’t wait to get it set up so we can watch instructional DVDs while creating. Yeah!!!

And even better than all of that, I got to tell a room full of people just what it is we do at The Studio. Everyone knows that we have art classes (because that is what I do) but most people have no idea that we offer so much more like embroidery, collage, photography, bookbinding, quilting, sewing, knitting, crochet, fabric arts, social media, kids crafts, Pinterest picks, air dry pottery, cookie decorating, cupcake decorations, gingerbread houses, and more, more, more!!!!! Did you know that?

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The Studio Selected to Compete at Entrepreneur Cafe Tonight

Posted in Serendipity, Small Town Life, tagged Entrepreneur Cafe, The Studio-A Place for Learning on October 21, 2014| Leave a Comment »

We were thrilled that The Studio – A Place for Learning was chosen as one of the five small local businesses to compete tonight at the Entrepreneur Cafe from 5:30pm – 7pm at the Holiday Inn & Suites at Blue Ridge Shadows for a cash award of $500 and a marketing package valued at over $1000.

The café will provide a forum where these entrepreneurs can gain exposure while addressing funding needs. Members of the community are invited to participate. The five selected entrepreneurs present their project – giving a 5 minute presentation & 5 minutes for questions/answers from the audience regarding their goals, experience and business plan – and when all the presentations are complete, the attendees get to vote for the winner.

We are happy to be one of the five in this group of entrepreneurs:
Kendra’s Cookies – Kendra Allanson
Chris Wines – Extra Arms
The Studio: A Place for Learning – Kelly Walker
Donna Allanson Catering – Donna Allanson
1000 Cranes 4 Peace – Arlene Butler

Refreshments will be provided. And Dr. Miles Davis, Dean of Harry F. Byrd School of Business at Shenandoah University will be our keynote speaker. Come join us!

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It’s Official – The Studio is OPEN!!!

Posted in Serendipity, Small Town Life, tagged Grand Opening, Ribbon Cutting, The Studio, The Studio-A Place for Learning on August 2, 2014| Leave a Comment »

What a great day we had yesterday! The Ribbon Cutting was well attended. Thanks to everyone who came out to help celebrate the opening of The Studio. We were so excited for the response.

And all day we had people coming in for the “Make & Take” projects for our Grand Opening….lots of kids and adults! It was terrific.

The schedule for August is FULL, FULL, FULL. Take a look and find something fun you would like to try and come join us. Tri-fold Brochure with Calendar August or go to The Studio’s website and click on calendar.

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