Photos from Grand Opening

Thank you to everyone who joined in celebrating my grand opening. The entire weekend was a big success with over 60 people attending on Saturday evening for a private party. Despite the boiling temperatures, a great crowd came out to see the new space.

Open

My new studio / gallery in Newton, NJ officially opened on Saturday! My husband and I scrambled last week to get everything prepared for Saturday. I didn't think it would happen, but it did. He almost single-handedly prepared the entire space from laying a floor, painting the walls, repairing molding, and moving everything in (while I was on a weekend trip with my girlfriends). You may be thinking, what the hell was this emerging artist doing while her husband slaved away at her business?

Well, right after I signed the lease for the space I found out I'm pregnant. So, I couldn't do much more than hand tools to my husband. I'm thrilled at the news and the prospect of raising a baby in my studio / gallery. And, I'm eternally grateful to my husband Lee for his tenacity, perfectionism, and support of my business. He doesn't know how lucky I am.

I hope to see you at the gallery sometime. Here are the hours:

Monday - Friday, 10am - 6pm
Thursday, 10am - 8pm
Saturday, 10am - 5pm


jennie@traillworks.com
www.traillworks.com

Inspections and More Inspections

Part of opening a retail location is inspections and every municipality has them. Before I can officially open to the public, I have to get a certificate of compliance which means I have to fill out three forms, no big deal, write checks for about $50 a piece, a bigger deal, and then have a fire, building and sign inspection.

Ok, so I'll comply; why would I make this more difficult? Hopefully all will go well. Initially I had to get a site plan waiver in order to even hold my business in a storefront on Spring Street due to the zoning laws. They accommodated me with approval in two days. Not too shabby!

I'm still waiting to find out when I will get into my space which is dependent on the current tenant getting a certificate of compliance in his new space. I've been told next Wednesday. We'll see.

In the meantime, I've chosen paint colors from Behr due to the price point of the paint and I'm looking at furniture from Ikea for storage.

Gorm System by Ikea
Inexpensive, versatile and solid wood -
a great storage unit for an artist and a great price for an emerging artist.

Rejuvenate, Winter Garden, Celery Ice, Parmesan by Behr Paint

jennie@traillworks.com
http://www.traillworks.com

Growing Pleasure

TraillWorks is moving . . .


To 135 Spring Street, Newton; currently the home of Eaton's Estate Sales.

I've found a space in record time and will be relocating to my own studio space with a gallery and lesson area some time in March. It was a goal of mine to find a space in 2008, especially after having been spoiled at Peters Valley. I had no idea it would happen so fast.

We considered various options such as buying / renovating a building, renting a storefront, renting some other kind of structure. My urge to move was egged on by reading a book called The Art World Dream: Alternative Strategies for Working Artists by Eric Rudd. His book really got my blood pumping. He talks a lot about the importance of having a legitimate studio space and about how space is limiting; even for a small works artist. It is his belief that artists buy old barns and vacant mills, renovate them into live/work spaces, and rent out extra space to make back income.

While this may be a dream of mine to have a studio in an old mill or lofty barn, buying something wasn't in our current realm of possibilities. So instead I went the less risky route for the time-being of renting a larger space where I will have a "main street" presence and a place people can go without feeling awkward about invading my personal space in my home.

I will keep you "posted", pun intended, on developments of moving in. There's a lot more involved in opening a commercial space than I had realized. I finally hired an attorney.

More this week . . .

jennie@traillworks.com
http://www.traillworks.com