Sandy
Hi, I’m Sandy, and I can hardly believe its been 12 years since my partners and I started on this venture. As with everything, 12 years has brought a lot of change.
I’ve lost my three Jack Russells Max, Mandy and Molly. I’ve become a bonafide snowbird, and my granddaughter, Isabella, has grown into a beautiful young woman!!
And yet, so much remains the same!
I still love rusty, rustic shabby chic. I still love medieval castles, thatched roofed cottages with deep windowsills, meadows filled with wildflowers, chunky frames, the old ‘Masters’, and God, country, and furry creatures with wagging tails that give me sloppy kisses!
How I Got From There to Here
I’ve always had a vivid imagination and a need to express myself artistically. My own humble artistic journey started around age five. I created my first little book of drawings; a stapled hodgepodge of assorted subjects including ladies in gowns, out-of-proportion houses, and tall lamps with enormous shades, to name a few. A treasure lovingly preserved and presented to me decades later by my sister Pauline.
From as early as I can remember, I was always drawing something. Once in third grade I was sent to the dreaded Principal’s office. My crime was wasting paper by drawing in my ‘arithmetic’ notebook. Obviously a huge offense back then!
Growing up I loved making my own paper dolls and designing glamorous outfits for them. When I learned to sew around age twelve, I thought I would love to be a famous fashion designer. When I graduated from high school I had won several art awards including a summer scholarship to an art school in New York. But, coming from a large family of 7 kids and ‘old-world’ parents, college and an art career was not an option. So as my sisters before me had done, I joined the secretarial world. Any aspirations of being an artist were put to rest.
My first job was at a local college, where I was soon ‘discovered’ and became the unofficial artist for the library. I designed covers for their small monthly publication and created my first ‘sculpture’ for one of many displays. A giant 8 foot filigreed gold key. While there I audited some art classes, but was told by my instructor that there was nothing more he could teach me. A few years later I married and moved to Rochester. End of my pseudo art career!
I became a stay-at-home mom raising my two beautiful kids – all grown up now and whom I am wildly proud of. During this part of my life I discovered I loved decorating – and so I busied myself sewing draperies, painting furniture and turning their rooms into little fantasies. I made floor cloths crisscrossed with roads and cityscapes for my son Sammy to race his matchbox cars across and doll cloths for Barbie and Chrissy for my daughter Debi, and every Hall-o-ween I loved stretching my imagination by creating some wildly bizarre costumes.
Time passed, the kids were growing up and I was having more time on my hands. At Mass one Sunday, it was announced that a brand new parish was being formed and my husband Sam and I jumped in with both feet. The priest wanted a banner made for the barn where we would be having our first Mass (we had no building or land as of yet), and I was asked to make it. Shortly thereafter I became the church’s secretary. God surely does work in mysterious ways. As we grew and obtained land, our campus started to grow and my ‘hats’ became many. I added to my responsibilities, Office and Property Manager, Social Director and Liturgical Artist. I didn’t become a fashion designer or have a noted art career like I dreamed of as a child. But, I was allowed the privilege of being in the thick of all the building committees and designing aspects of our beautiful church. Some of the things I designed were our new logo and the first altars and pulpit. I crafted all of the tapestries and banners that hung in the church and the one I love most of all is a wood sculpture, 7 feet tall, of the risen Christ I designed that hangs behind our altar. God certainly did not forget my young aspirations and I hope I honored Him with all He allowed me to accomplish during my time there.
A New Chapter
My granddaughter, Isabella, made her appearance into the world and I retired from my job to babysit, while my daughter returned to work. I once again immersed myself into redecorating, hall-o-ween costumes and a medieval castle for her to play in.
Time passed, Isabella started school and I was again an ‘empty nester’ with too much time on my hands, too much energy, and still a need to be creative.
Shortly thereafter my daughter-in-law, Jackie, with whom I share a kindred spirit, called and said, “I have a proposition for you!”
I Had Come Full Circle!
Starting a new phase, again, in a BARN! And, here, some 12 years later, still in the barn with my partners Jackie and Kim doing something we all love. Growing from our humble and trepidatious beginnings. Ever reimagining and incorporating new ideas, new craftspeople, new treasures for our faithful and new customers alike.
Hi, I’m Sandy, and I can hardly believe its been 12 years since my partners and I started on this venture. As with everything, 12 years has brought a lot of change.
I’ve lost my three Jack Russells Max, Mandy and Molly. I’ve become a bonafide snowbird, and my granddaughter, Isabella, has grown into a beautiful young woman!!
And yet, so much remains the same!
I still love rusty, rustic shabby chic. I still love medieval castles, thatched roofed cottages with deep windowsills, meadows filled with wildflowers, chunky frames, the old ‘Masters’, and God, country, and furry creatures with wagging tails that give me sloppy kisses!
How I Got From There to Here
I’ve always had a vivid imagination and a need to express myself artistically. My own humble artistic journey started around age five. I created my first little book of drawings; a stapled hodgepodge of assorted subjects including ladies in gowns, out-of-proportion houses, and tall lamps with enormous shades, to name a few. A treasure lovingly preserved and presented to me decades later by my sister Pauline.
From as early as I can remember, I was always drawing something. Once in third grade I was sent to the dreaded Principal’s office. My crime was wasting paper by drawing in my ‘arithmetic’ notebook. Obviously a huge offense back then!
Growing up I loved making my own paper dolls and designing glamorous outfits for them. When I learned to sew around age twelve, I thought I would love to be a famous fashion designer. When I graduated from high school I had won several art awards including a summer scholarship to an art school in New York. But, coming from a large family of 7 kids and ‘old-world’ parents, college and an art career was not an option. So as my sisters before me had done, I joined the secretarial world. Any aspirations of being an artist were put to rest.
My first job was at a local college, where I was soon ‘discovered’ and became the unofficial artist for the library. I designed covers for their small monthly publication and created my first ‘sculpture’ for one of many displays. A giant 8 foot filigreed gold key. While there I audited some art classes, but was told by my instructor that there was nothing more he could teach me. A few years later I married and moved to Rochester. End of my pseudo art career!
I became a stay-at-home mom raising my two beautiful kids – all grown up now and whom I am wildly proud of. During this part of my life I discovered I loved decorating – and so I busied myself sewing draperies, painting furniture and turning their rooms into little fantasies. I made floor cloths crisscrossed with roads and cityscapes for my son Sammy to race his matchbox cars across and doll cloths for Barbie and Chrissy for my daughter Debi, and every Hall-o-ween I loved stretching my imagination by creating some wildly bizarre costumes.
Time passed, the kids were growing up and I was having more time on my hands. At Mass one Sunday, it was announced that a brand new parish was being formed and my husband Sam and I jumped in with both feet. The priest wanted a banner made for the barn where we would be having our first Mass (we had no building or land as of yet), and I was asked to make it. Shortly thereafter I became the church’s secretary. God surely does work in mysterious ways. As we grew and obtained land, our campus started to grow and my ‘hats’ became many. I added to my responsibilities, Office and Property Manager, Social Director and Liturgical Artist. I didn’t become a fashion designer or have a noted art career like I dreamed of as a child. But, I was allowed the privilege of being in the thick of all the building committees and designing aspects of our beautiful church. Some of the things I designed were our new logo and the first altars and pulpit. I crafted all of the tapestries and banners that hung in the church and the one I love most of all is a wood sculpture, 7 feet tall, of the risen Christ I designed that hangs behind our altar. God certainly did not forget my young aspirations and I hope I honored Him with all He allowed me to accomplish during my time there.
A New Chapter
My granddaughter, Isabella, made her appearance into the world and I retired from my job to babysit, while my daughter returned to work. I once again immersed myself into redecorating, hall-o-ween costumes and a medieval castle for her to play in.
Time passed, Isabella started school and I was again an ‘empty nester’ with too much time on my hands, too much energy, and still a need to be creative.
Shortly thereafter my daughter-in-law, Jackie, with whom I share a kindred spirit, called and said, “I have a proposition for you!”
I Had Come Full Circle!
Starting a new phase, again, in a BARN! And, here, some 12 years later, still in the barn with my partners Jackie and Kim doing something we all love. Growing from our humble and trepidatious beginnings. Ever reimagining and incorporating new ideas, new craftspeople, new treasures for our faithful and new customers alike.