AIWD Studio Opening Celebration During A Nor’easter!

All ready….

Last night, as I sat with my family around the fire pit in the backyard, I thought, “This is the night I wanted for my studio opening!” A clear, crisp fall evening. The perfect night for storytelling around a fire. But last Saturday, a nor’easter hit New England. And it just happened to be the night I had scheduled and planned for the opening celebration of the Allison In Wonderland Designs Studio.

So, what did I do?

I paid close attention to the weather reports, saw that Arlington wasn’t predicted to get the brunt of the winds or flooding, and decided that the show must go on. Sadly, that meant the opening wouldn’t have the large attendance I had originally imagined. But happily, since it was not an indoor/outdoor event, it turned out to be a perfect-sized group for a wet and blustery evening. We even did a ribbon cutting to officially kick off the festivities. I loved watching people get to know one another, something that was especially possible in this smaller format. We gave away seven door prizes, valued at a total of $500, which definitely upped the joy quotient for the evening.

And then we capped off the night with a Moth-style storytelling hour on the theme of ART! I kept the theme broad because I was hoping to hear stories about all kinds of art - and that’s exactly what happened. We heard about witnessing creativity as a way of living life, creative parents and the art they left behind, and an opera singer remembering the audience’s reaction as she sang the soprano role in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. I also shared my own story.

There was something really special about the experience of sharing stories and listening to the stories of others. The Moth-style storytelling shifted the event from something that was all about my business to something that was all about our community. And it was really special. I think Allison In Wonderland Designs Studio may continue to host Moth-style storytelling events quarterly. Because storytelling makes life juicy and rich. It connects us, surprises us, and reminds us that everyone has a story worth hearing. And maybe, just maybe, sometime down the road, we’ll hold a Moth-style storytelling evening around the fire pit in the backyard.

Regardless, the studio space has officially been launched!  Classes are happening, and I looooove painting in my new space. I’m so excited to see what unfolds here, not just on the canvas (or stone or acorn), but in the community that gathers around it.

So please spread the word about my small business to anyone and everyone you think might enjoy my work, take a class, visit the studio, or come tell—or listen to—a story.

And finally, a huge shout-out to my husband for the many, many hours he put into helping set up this space. I couldn’t have done it without you!