C4 ward BLOGATHON March, Day 2

An Interview, 5 years from now.....March 2, 2019
  
I decided to go with the suggestion of doing an interview.Here is my interview and dream future. I have always wanted to own a whole warehouse with the freight elevator to get to it in and large industrial fans in the ends to keep the place ventilated...I have designed it in my mind with space for living and working and it is only a dream but would have been fun 20 or more years ago. Now at age 75 I think it is going to remain a dream though it is something my daughters and I still about off and on. Maybe in my next life! So here is my interview with this prestigious art magazine.


Last week I had the pleasure of visiting a newly formed business in the community of recently renovated downtown Jacksonville, Florida...The business is owned and operated by a family of artist. One a mixed media artist Darlene Sperber, from the Nature Coast here in Florida, her daughter, couture seamstress Deborah Gray out of Orange Park, Florida and her youngest daughter Cassandra Marks, recently from the Pacific Northwest who is a haute cuisine and pastry chef. All of this trio of artist are self taught and masters at their craft.

Darlene has been "playing" at mixed media art for the past 20 years, having waited for her family to grow up and fledge on their own leaving her free to pursue her dreams. Now  her dream has become a reality. She and her two daughters, Debbie and Cassie have bought a large empty warehouse in the old part of Jacksonville, renovated it and gone into business together with a sewing studio alongside an artist coop and a gourmet sandwich, dessert and coffee shoppe. 

For years the three, mother and daughters, have talked, planned and looked for the right space in the right location to open this mixed media studio to all artist and sewers, no matter the extent or range of their skills. They have made this business a success by combining their skills and arts. 

Darlene gives classes in artistic sewing techniques so that the students can make articles that are uniquely theirs.  Along with those classes her daughter, who is a professional seamstress and designer teaches beginner sewers the basics of sewing and to the advanced sewers the finer, couture  points of sewing. Both Darlene and Debbie offer one on one classes. All of this is kept very affordable so the art of sewing can be passed on and enjoyed by others. The youngest daughter Cassie has helped to build a booming business with her  "sweet shoppe" where all the food is prepared on site by her and her able sous chefs.

To enhance their sewing business they have added a fine selection of garment fabrics and patterns to choose from and have contracted with a well known sewing machine company so they can offer the very best sewing machine to their customers. At least twice a year they will have trunk shows and seminars taught by renowned seamstresses and pattern makers. These are always well attended. 

Because maintenance is the most important part of a business that sells machines  they have contracted Debbie's son in law, who is a trained  master repairman on all machines and electronics, to be their repairman of all makes of sewing machines whether they sell them or not. This way they know the service offered is the very best in the area.  And that is just the sewing side of the business. 

Combined with the sewing shop is their artist commune. Knowing most aspiring artist and some advanced artist  have a problem finding a suitable place to work and to vend their work they have set up a vast space that is well lit and pleasant to work in. There are spaces to rent for a nominal fee which will make it exclusively yours. If you don't want to go that route you can share a huge common room with other artist and have a locker to store your supplies and materials in. 

The common room is equipped with hot and cold water, deep sinks, a stove for heating and dyeing of fabrics and other fibers, large tables to work on and good natural lighting from the glass walls that cover two of the four walls installed during renovation. It is a well stocked and easy to clean area to work in. An artist's dream.

Artist from other areas are brought in to teach classes in the different arts as well as many art technique classes taught by Darlene. Business innovators are on hand to offer help in marketing. The Farmers Market is just across the street and is set up every weekend with a permanent spot for the  students and artist to sell their wares if they so choose..

While Darlene and her eldest daughter are busy with the sewing and art end of the business the youngest daughter Cassie, who is a chef extraordinaire takes care of satisfying their hunger and the sweet tooth we all seem to possess in varying degrees. Fancy and beautiful pastries are baked daily and served  in the "Sweet Shoppe" along with gourmet coffee and tea.  A limited selection of sandwiches, salads and soups are available and have gained a reputation around town so there is usually a line waiting for seating. Everything made and served in the shoppe is made from all natural ingredients and organic and locally grown whenever possible. 

Curators of museums and owners of fine art galleries are encouraged to look over the art on display throughout the sewing, eating  and art section of the establishment and often pick items to be displayed or sold in their respective establishment. 

Their business has grown by leaps and bounds and they have now found a need to hire employees. Most of the employees are young aspiring artist and sewers who work for credits on the classes they want to take or they are hired through the schools. At the close of the day all leftover food is given to the homeless shelters and they make sure to always have plenty left over. They have all learned it is better to be on the giving end of charity then the receiving end. 

Next week we will be interviewing a very fine artist in North Carolina and a week later we will travel to Atlanta to attend and report on the gathering of artist from all over the country at the closing of the C4 ward BLOGATHON.