Loose Leaf Notes

-The following are photos and captions from events that I recently covered for our local paper. 

The new owners of New Mountain Mercantile, Judy MacPhail (formerly of A Company of Crafters at The Station) and Nancy Bell (right), enjoyed a steady flow of traffic during the store’s recent soft opening.

Store owners will carry on the shop’s tradition (since 1991) of featuring regional arts and crafts. They currently feature about 60% local and regional artist consignments and will maintain a focus on American made, said MacPhail.  A grand opening is scheduled for the first Friday of April, April 1^st.

Customers have been eager to have a peek inside at the redesign and renovations, and many have commented on the spacious new feel, Bell said.  She and MacPhail are pictured above chatting with consigning artist, Kari Lemay of A Crooked Little House.

Hey Helen woman’s clothing boutique hosted a Lattes & Lettering class on the same weekend as the Mercantile’s opening. The class filled the photography studio of Ladonna Cherell, who shares a space within Hey Helen, which is located at 203 Main Street.

Abby McGrath, a Hey Helen employee and Radford University senior, taught the class.   Hey Helen shop owner Allie (Burgin) Mannon said she became aware of McGrath’s hand lettering talent after seeing notes that McGrath left while working at the shop.

Lattes & Lettering was presented in partnership with Black Water Loft and Red Rooster  Coffee Roasters.  Attendees were served freshly brewed mocha lattes, prepared by the Loft’s Jessica Spangler, as they explored their creative handiwork and socialized together.   Watch for a story on Hey Helen in the upcoming spring issue of About Her.

Blacksburg artist Darcy Meeker’s work is on exhibit at the Hotel Floyd’s art gallery.  The hotel’s gallery exhibits are offered in partnership with The Jacksonville Center for Arts and have been in rotation for 2 months at a time since early 2015.

Meeker tools copper, creates sculpture in stone, clay silk and aluminum and paints and creates collage.

The work of local artists, Adam Lake (ceramic work pictured), Ernest Bryant and Gibby Waitzkin, can be viewed in the hotel lobby.

Pictured above is the hand-carved reception desk by Bryant (slab top by Phoenix Hardwoods) and new work (wall hanging) by fiber artist Gibby Waitzkin.    – Colleen Redman / Our World Tuesday