I'm mesmerized by this building. It captivated me the first time I saw it in downtown South Lyon. My mother bought some items when it was open - wooden beads and eyes for making felt reindeer recently found unused in her sewing box. The shop was an art/craft supply. Great name. Beautiful sign. Charming building. Magical presence. The shop has been abandoned and neglected for years. The city cites the owner, and the owner continues to pay the taxes and ignore the rest. There is a toilet in the middle of a room; the ceiling is falling in at the top of the stairs. The brick just under the roofline needs tucking. I used to stare through the tattered curtains and imagine the shop loved back to life, the bell over the door tinkling as guests arrive and depart. The window I could see through, and daydream around, is now boarded. The Celtic knot plaster work on either side of the recessed doorway is crumbling. My novel, Chantepleure, is about life changing events. And rebirth. The Artcraft Shop is a featured player in the story: I brought it back to life fictionally. It would be wonderful if The Artcraft Shop could truly be reborn. If you'd like to read Chantepleure, write me here and I'll send you a coupon for a free digital book via Smashwords. You might just love The Artcraft Shop back to life for real.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
The Artcraft Shop
I'm mesmerized by this building. It captivated me the first time I saw it in downtown South Lyon. My mother bought some items when it was open - wooden beads and eyes for making felt reindeer recently found unused in her sewing box. The shop was an art/craft supply. Great name. Beautiful sign. Charming building. Magical presence. The shop has been abandoned and neglected for years. The city cites the owner, and the owner continues to pay the taxes and ignore the rest. There is a toilet in the middle of a room; the ceiling is falling in at the top of the stairs. The brick just under the roofline needs tucking. I used to stare through the tattered curtains and imagine the shop loved back to life, the bell over the door tinkling as guests arrive and depart. The window I could see through, and daydream around, is now boarded. The Celtic knot plaster work on either side of the recessed doorway is crumbling. My novel, Chantepleure, is about life changing events. And rebirth. The Artcraft Shop is a featured player in the story: I brought it back to life fictionally. It would be wonderful if The Artcraft Shop could truly be reborn. If you'd like to read Chantepleure, write me here and I'll send you a coupon for a free digital book via Smashwords. You might just love The Artcraft Shop back to life for real.
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This store captivates me also...I would love to turn it into a studio! And, I would love to read your novel! Susan Roth, tempi1@aol.com
ReplyDeleteI moved to south lyon about 4 years ago. I catch myself stopped in front of the building trying to peak behind its tarped over windows and asses the decay within. I catch myself daydreaming/ longing for an opportunity to know and love it from the inside as I have done from the outside. as a 30 something the idea to invest myself into a small business owner has never been more appealing. I have thought of finding the owner and discussing what it would take to bring the place up to code however I love painting a picture of a family working side by side to preserve a little piece of history in my mind I think it would be so sad to be turned down.
ReplyDeleteI'm interested in this shop. The South Lyon Fine Arts Society would love to take this over and give it some love. There has got to be a way, and we are looking into it!!
ReplyDeleteLeon and Marilyn Bonner, Northville.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with trying to buy/rent that.
Instead, I would suggest trying to convince North Korea to let go of its nuclear program ... much more feasible.
This is so interesting. I had those same dreams for this place. I can envision selling all my little art crafts with stations that are filled with loose parts to make things of your own. One of a kind things that artists look for.
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