Thursday, January 10, 2019 at 5:17PM Carolyn Tamler My next Blog will be published in the third week in January. In the meantime, you can enjoy reviewing all of these Blogs I have been posting for more than 5 years.
Thursday, January 10, 2019 at 4:48PM Carolyn Tamler 
By Carolyn Tamler
Whidbey Art Escape is a contemporary art studio at 1664 E. Main Street in Freeland that allows all ages to explore their creative selves painting pottery or doing glass fusing. Business has been growing, mostly through word-of-mouth.
New owner, Carol Evans, was pleased to discover this special business when Tina Beard was looking for someone to continue Whidbey Art Escape after she decided to retire.
Carol found her way to Whidbey, as so many do, by discovering the island on a visit. She came for the Langley Murder Mystery weekend 15 years ago, and realized that this place matched her desire to live in a small community surrounded by water. She had worked in Seattle for 26 years doing management and sales for a large corporation, when she decided to make the move to Whidbey in July of last year. While she was commuting to work in Seattle, she kept driving past the Whidbey Art Escape and she noticed the “For Sale” sign in the window. On a whim, she emailed the owner at the end of November to see if it was still for sale. Tina had just completed all of the paperwork to return the space to the owner. The two women visited on that day and agreed on a purchase price and rental agreement, and Carol took over the ownership of the business on December 15.
One of the lures of Whidbey Art Escape is that it provides a time and place for socializing. Carol notes, “I love that people can be creative, make new friends, and that the Whidbey Art Escape appeals to all ages.”
People feel instantly at home when they walk into the cozy, brightly painted studio. “Customers can take their time here. There are no studio fees. I want my customers to be happy with what they’re creating,” says Carol. The price on an unpainted object includes painting, glazing, and firing in the kiln.
There is also glass fusing, which provides a colorful way to express creativity and is perfect for the person who likes to do puzzles.
Whidbey Art Escape offers a creative haven for a variety of people. Carol welcomes people of all ages, and encourages people to use the space for meetings and events. She especially enjoys having the studio used for parties commemorating life milestones—baby footprints, birthdays, holidays, family reunions, or anniversaries. Once an art piece is painted, it is left for firing, on a three-day turnaround.
Some of the new elements that Carol is incorporating into her business include:
Carol is open to new ideas for art pieces or types of artwork people would like to do.
She also notes, “We are the only place south of Oak Harbor that provides a studio for this kind of artwork.”
Drop-in customers are welcome during regular business hours, Monday’s, Wednesday through Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Sundays 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The studio is closed on Tuesdays. Wednesdays are still Ladies Night, and there are groups of regulars and their friends who show up to paint and socialize until 9 p.m. Groups of eight or more and after hours parties can be arranged by appointment.
A current schedule of classes and more information about Whidbey Art Escape can be found on the web site: www.whidbeyartescape.com , or by calling the store at 360-331-3166. Carol Evans invites people to “Come create your own artistic memories.”
Thursday, January 3, 2019 at 2:26PM Carolyn Tamler I believe it helps for a business, as well as your personal life, to have a vision of where you want things to be a year from now (or you can do six months or some other time period, if you like).
A simple process I have used for many years asks three questions:
It’s also a good idea to revisit these ideas during the year, and see if you want to add something else.
Take time also to congratulate yourself whenever you have accomplished something you set out to do.
Wednesday, December 26, 2018 at 7:16PM Carolyn Tamler Have you ever noticed how much positive energy is generated by just thinking about a new year that is about to begin?
Next week is really just another seven days in our lives, and yet, because it is a new year, we have a feeling of hope, a feeling that better things (whatever those things are - personally, locally or nationally) will happen.
I honestly don't know if there is any magic to a new year beginning, but I guess if we want to feel there is some magic in that new date, maybe that will make it be so.
Anyway, happy new year to everyone who reads this, and I hope that your positive visions for the new year do come true. It never hurts to have a positive vision for the future.
Thursday, December 20, 2018 at 12:06AM Carolyn Tamler I don’t remember how long ago I heard someone say, “I’m going to America tomorrow.” I soon learned that many on the island use the term to mean taking the ferry across and dealing with the traffic and stress of going there to run some errands and/or do shopping.
Of course, there is a recognition that the “big box” stores over there have more selection and, often, lower prices.
But for many of us, it is also important to support our local businesses. There definitely is an ethic here, that I am sure is true of other small, connected communities, that doing our part to make the local businesses successful is often more important than going for the selection and the prices at the big boxes.
We are fortunate on Whidbey to also have many businesses that make their own products (coffee, wines, foods, crafts….to mention a few), and the quality is usually excellent. .
And, it’s a perfect way to celebrate the holiday season.