HATCH Opening Show (new!)

photo by Mo Miller

I know you've been waiting to hear how it went last night! Well.... it was FABULOUS!!!!!!

It all came together right before 5pm... I was working for the last two days straight with hardly any sleep or stopping for much of a meal. My family was incredibly accomodating.  I took some photos and I'm hoping to get more from family and friends who were able to take more! So here's the story...

Once upon a time...

in a little town called Lititz, there was a small studio & gallery which was formed by lots of love of it's owner Bethany and many, many talented people around the world!  Our story starts with beautiful pink roses (my favorite) which were delivered from her Dad and Stepmom who couldn't be there but wanted to let her know how proud they were of her!

 

The little studio was called "HATCH" because she knew that new artists would be "hatched" there and new ideas... the creativity that makes this world a better place to live in! Her mom came from Ohio and her inlaws and brother-in-laws and their families came from 1 and 2 hours away. She felt lucky to have so much support from her family!

 

Her mother-in-law and father-in-law gave her the perfect flower planter to place in front on the morning of the Opening! It was a rainy morning but the sun came out just in time to make it bright and cheerful!

The window was especially cute, with Rubyellen's little birds flying in the clouds... and Bethany's little bird hoops which she fell in love with when she finished making them! There was even real live grass and clover growing in those little pots...

Appearing on the doorstep was also this beautiful flower arrangement sent all the way from Minnesota... from her cousin Susan, who deserves a huge hug... they welcomed everyone to the studio!Bethany knew she needed a photography lesson when she took this photo... TOO dark. Good thing HATCH is holding a class (with several more spots open) this Thursday!!

Look who is waiting for all the guests to arrive! It's little Hatch!  He has been spoken for, but I think they'll be a bunch of new little Hatch characters soon enough!

And speaking of HATCH the owl, look who appeared on Rubyellen's cakies crowns!!! Yes, that's right! She made some just for the studio!! All of her crowns are perfect... perfect for the little princes and princesses who will stop here to look!

One of the best things about this shop is the great things it will do for others... like Terri's cards which is helping to fund her family's adoption of a little girl from Taiwan!

Stacey's Original Sock Dogs came from Kansas to help raise money for the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City...

Of course little Ballerina Elephant and Mr. Mouse are quite happy in their new space. But the little Ballerina danced off to live with a cute little girl last evening! Everyone LOVES Kathy's dolls...The shelves were filled with goodies!( I always wanted to work at the North Pole. I guess this is the closest I'll get! Just wait until Christmas when it becomes a winter wonderland like in the movie Elf!)Willow's beautiful knitting came to visit. The bunnies were loved by the guests and waited to be adopted. She loaned me the beautiful sweater that earned her a place in the Knitter's Guild and people ooohed and aaaahhhed over it and the scarf! Her gorgeous yarns were also there!

Jenny's dolls and quilts were so popular too! They sat together smiling at all the new faces, though they were tired because they were still on Australian time and it was actually tomorrow where they are from!

Jenny's bed monsters were also a favorite! And here's the beautiful garden warrior. All loving their trip to Pennsylvania!

Chelsea Ann sweetened the space by sending all of her goodies! If only they were edible too!

Becky's little totes lined up perfectly, waiting to help out anyone who needed a hand carrying their craft work, their lunch, or anything special!...

Christina's dolls held hands as they watched all the people! They loved the little baby quilt by Diane with Little Red Riding Hood and a HATCH owl hidden under a tree!!!

Wonderful books lined a shelf... all waiting to inspire....

There were fun little things too, like these lavender filled "owlos" from Argentina...

T-shirts were waiting for wearers... how awesome to have an original HATCH owl that you colored yourself?...

The jewelry was the most popular I think. I know I loved it all! Here's a few pieces...

Catherine's bears were toddling around, on the shelves and on the wall in her prints!...

The studio was waiting. The tables would be filled with food and drinks... and another with long sheets of paper to be filled with guests' doodles and drawings! There were also cool little HATCH owl tattoos that the children (and some grown-ups) would have fun wearing!

Kellie's prints were gorgeous! Her career as a fine art photographer was "hatched" in this place!...Bethany's drawing "Waiting to Play" was a little lonely as there were supposed to be two more... they will come later... (oooh, do you see the Kokeshi? Yes! You remember that show!! Maybe that was the inspiration for HATCH?)

Mandy's prints and cards and other beautiful things made the gallery quite inviting!...

Mo Miller showed some spectacular photography... she'll be sharing how to do that in the class this week!!Lots of beautiful prints hung on the bulletin board which was covered in fine linen and trimmed in beautiful silk hemming tape...

Elsita's extraordinary prints told their own stories...

More of Kellie's beautiful photography...

And there was a reading spot for the little ones on green grass and toadstools...

Some of Bethany's favorite pieces from her own art collection were brought to the studio and hung... a print that Craig bought her for Valentine's Day by Rob Ryan, the bird applique picture by Anna Maria Horner, and her print "Soul Girl" by Elsita.

The biggest surprise of the evening was that her sister Jane flew in from Orlando to surprise her!!!! That made her cry... tears of joy!!

Her sister Anne was also there which just made it perfect!!!!

Lots and lots and lots and lots of friends came, some new people and everyone in the family...

Terri came to see her cards and everyone else's work! She knows all these special blogging friends too!

Craig wore his HATCH colors and had just as much fun talking with all the friends who popped in to see what was happening. He filmed a video which will hopefully be uploaded soon! Everyone was full of love and good wishes, happy to have this new space to come and visit!!

There were even more things to tell, but this story must end for now... just know that you helped to make the whole event SO successful and everyone wants to come back to be creative together and to see (and buy) the wonderful one-of-a-kind pieces that everyone has made!!!

Hugs and kisses and love from Lititz!!!

~ Bethany

xo

p.s. To see more photos, my friend Rachel-Marie posted some on her blog today: click here!

p.p.s. Thank you to all of you who have things en route to me!! I can't wait to see them and for everyone else to see them too!!! xoxoxo