HAPPY NEW YEAR
                            1/18/10

Chuck and I wish all of you an abundance of life’s truest
gifts…PEACE – LOVE – JOY  and good health in 2010.
Thank you for your support this past year.  For my self,
it was extra special.  I had the opportunity to meet a lot
of wonderful people from past years and patronage at the
previous galleries.  And I witnessed many new bonds made
from the brand new friends that walked into
“Natural Creations”.  I listened to special requests and
surprises.  I watched Chuck create magic out of rocks.

December 6th was the Candlelight House Tour in
Phoenixville.   This event had been anticipated since our
grand opening in the spring.  Chuck sculpted a wonderful
fountain.   

It was an oriental grotto in a large lotus bowl.  It had the
works, with underwater lighting and fogging effects. 
A little fisherman sat and fished lazily in the grotto under
a silk bonsai tree.  The fountain was on display for several
months at the Phoenixville Art Center in town….along with
the art works of 2 other artists.  Raffle tickets were sold on
each piece of art work with the proceeds to be donated for
the needy in the community.  A good and worthwhile cause.

We hoped and prepared for a festive evening of shoppers
and buyers and hundreds of people streaming in and out
of the gallery til way past closing.

What we had was the first snow of the season with snow
flakes the size of quarters and GUSTS of blustery winds. 
We had one man wander in looking for Molly McGuires.

We closed the gallery early….

The next fun bit of excitement was in preparing for …
”the burning of the bird” on Dec 12th at the 6th annual
Firebird Festival. (Weather permitting   *sigh*) Being the
wild and crazy pair that we are…we took a gamble and
rented a table space for displaying not only some fountains,
but for some limited edition cave candles that were created
JUST FOR THIS OCCASION!! So, just what is this
“burning of the bird”?? The Phoenix represents life, death
and then the rebirth of the mythological bird that burns
and then is reborn from the ashes.  One can apply that
to this town - that was once the booming and full of life
industrial steel mill town - that declined in the 80’s -
but is once again rising up from the ashes as a vibrant
and revitalized community through its many fine
restaurants, café’s and galleries. Each year, a wooden
structure (29 feet tall this year!) is constructed and set
ablaze. The festivities are scheduled from 4pm till midnight.

There are thousands…
(Yes…thousands)
(Okay, cold and drunken thousands)
of participants and on-lookers and shoppers just waiting
to get an early jump on their Christmas lists. Local artists
and eateries did not let these thousands down. Chuck
debuted his limited edition, “Phoenix Cave Candle” 

                                                       Painted

                                Carved

There was music and dancing. There was hula hoping and fire
baton twirling and tossing. There was hot cider.  Hot
chocolate.  And the best French fries I ever tasted.

One of Chuck’s best friends, Steve Scheckler, manned the
table for us.  He worked for Chuck 8 years ago for about
6 years at the gallery in Skippack.  He did an outstanding
job in the freezing cold.  

The night was a big success for us thanks to Steve.  We continued to sell the Phoenix caves even after the event. 
I think I see us doing it again next year!!

Christmas came and went in a flash. 
For our first year here…
all was well.  We had cold weekend nights…
that kept the
people inside. 
We had high winds…
that kept the people inside. 
We had snow and ice...
that kept the people inside.
But we did good.  
Thank goodness for the internet and on – line shopping!!

We decided to move the gallery.

Though we absolutely LOVE this gallery…the hardwood
floors, the fans, the windows…we don’t get the walk in
traffic. So, considering all of our options…and there
weren’t a lot of other choices…we decided to move into
the center of town. I will keep you posted on the progress
of this major event.  

                                                       Before

                                                         After

It is 239 Bridge St.  It is a few doors up from the movie
theater.  It was “Creeps” records prior. And for a few
months, it housed the Democratic party.

For the last 2 weeks, Chuck and I have been painting inside. 
It is going to be pretty different from our present gallery. 
Chuck is trying his artistic hand at painting a mural to depict
a cave.  The pictures that we are taking are not doing it any
justice. We are looking to having a grand opening sometime
after February, depending on how quickly we can organize
a move.  I promise to give all of you enough warning!

Lets see….upcoming events…. Any one getting married? 
Chuck was invited to attend a wedding expo in February.
SO MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND PASS THE WORD!
It will be on 2/18/10 & 2/19/10 and held at the old Best
Western Hotel in New Hope Pa.  Chuck will be displaying
many of his private pieces for themes and ideas for
wedding centerpieces and gifts.

I guess that about wraps up “what’s new in the gallery”. 
Keep checking in on the website for new fountains and
cave candles.  Chuck is starting to work with crystals and
gemstones in his fountains.  So if you happen to love
gemstones and specialty rocks or shells….give him a call.

Stay well!!

Wendi  

NATURAL CREATIONS

11/13/09

I’M WENDI…#1 FAN, BIGGEST CHEERLEADER AND MAIN SUPPORTER OF CHUCK AND NATURAL CREATIONS.   I  DECIDED TO CREATE THIS NEWSLETTER (WITH CHUCK’S PERMISSION. OF COURSE) FOR ALL OF YOU – HIS FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS AND CLIENTS. AND ALSO BECAUSE I FIND WHAT HE DOES TO BE SO FASCINATING THAT I WANT TO SHARE IT WITH YOU.

THE INTENT OF THIS FIRST LETTER IS MAINLY TO UPDATE    YOU SINCE THE CLOSING OF HIS GALLERY IN NEW HOPE IN JAN OF 2006.

BUT FIRST….A BRIEF HISTORY...

IT ALL BEGAN IN 1991.  FROM  DOING  OUTSIDE ROCK WORK IN LANDSCAPING AND BEING A MASTER STONE MASON…HE STARTED A NEW LIFE WORKING WITH ROCKS. I CALL IT “BABY SWISS”.  HIS VERY FIRST, NON-SPLASHING FOUNTAIN WAS SCULPTED FROM LAVA ROCK.  WE ACTUALLY DISPLAY IT AT OUR GALLERY.   

HIS FIRST GALLERY WAS IN EAGLEVILLE FROM ’94 TO ’95.  FROM THERE, CHUCK MOVED TO HAVE MANY SUCCESSFUL YEARS IN SKIPPACK, PA FROM ’95 TO ’02.   IN ’02, CHUCK MOVED NATURAL CREATIONS TO NEW HOPE…UNTIL THE FLOODS CAME AND HE CLOSED THE DOORS AND WENT UNDER A ROCK HIMSELF IN JAN OF ’06.  CHUCK CONTINUED TO DO A LITTLE INTERNET WORK ALONG WITH TAKING SOME TIME TO REFOCUS , REGROUP AND REBUILD.

WE MET JULY 19, 2008.    

“AMOR” WAS CREATED IN NOVEMBER  AND ENTERED IN AN ART COMPETITION IN DOYLESTOWN, PA.  THIS BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF ART WORK WAS A BIG BREAK THROUGH FOR HIM.  THOUGH HE DIDN’T PLACE IN THE COMPETITION, HE WON MY COMPLETE ATTENTION WITH IT.  HIS PASSION, HIS IMAGINATION AND HIS INTENT FOR HIS WORK  SOARED FROM THAT POINT ON.  

(AMOR WAS GIVEN TO ME ON CHRISTMAS)  :)

THIS WAS THE START OF A GNAWING FEELING OF “WHAT’S NEXT”.

ON A VERY, VERY COLD WEEKEND IN FEBRUARY…WE FOUND “WHAT’S NEXT” IN PHOENIXVILLE.

WE FOUND THE PERFECT BACKDROP FOR CHUCK’S FOUNTAINS AND CAVE CANDLES AND SCULPTURES. 

ONTO THE PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW  IN MARCH.   AHHH….A WEEK OF SPRING! 

CHUCK CHOSE TO CREATE A MINIATURE INTERIOR DIORAMA OF AN ANCIENT ROMAN SPA..  HE BUILT AND SCULPTED TO SCALE AND HAD RUNNING WATER THROUGH OUT THE DISPLAY.   

THE WEEK WAS LOTS OF FUN WITH LOTS OF EXPOSURE.  HE RECEIVED A 3^RD PLACE RIBBON FOR HIS ENTRY!

APRIL WE SIGNED THE LEASE AND WE OPENED ON MAY 1^ST A “FIRST FRIDAY” IN PHOENIXVILLE.  THANK YOU TO ALL THAT SHOWED UP TO OUR OPEN HOUSE!   IT WAS A BIG SUCCESS.

THE SPRING WAS RATHER RAINY.

THE SUMMER WAS RATHER RAINY TOO.

PUTTING THE WEATHER ASIDE, THE LAST 7 MONTHS OF HAVING THE GALLERY HERE HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE.  CHUCK AND I HAVE MET WONDERFUL PEOPLE THAT ARE NOW HIS NEW CLIENTS.   AND THE BEST PART IS THAT HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO RECONNECT WITH A FEW OF THE THOUSANDS OF PAST CLIENTS FROM OVER THE PAST 17 YEARS. 

IN OCTOBER WE EXHIBITED IN THE MIND-BODY-SPIRIT EXPO  AT THE VALLEY FORGE CONVENTION CENTER.  THIS WAS WHAT PUT NATURAL CREATIONS BACK ON THE MAP.  AND JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!   

WALL CAVES WERE DEBUTED AND WERE A HUGE HIT. THEY PROVED TO BE PERFECT FOR CANDLE LOVERS AS WELL AS FOR PEOPLE WITH MORE WALL SPACE THAN TABLE SPACE.  

OUR BOOTH WAS ACROSS FROM THE POTS AND PANS MAN WHO  REDEEMED HIMSELF FOR HIS BEING LOUD, BY DONATING HIS EXTRA FOOD THAT WAS COOKED DURING HIS DEMONSTRATIONS!

WE ALSO CONNECTED WITH A PSYCHIC AND GEM STONE READER FROM NEW YORK.  HER NAME IS ALISON…”THE ROCK GIRL”.  AFTER SEEING, LOVING AND BUYING SEVERAL OF HIS CAVE CANDLES AND WALL CAVES…SHE DUBBED HIM THE “CAVE MAN” .  SHE INTERVIEWED HIM ON HER RADIO STATION  LAST WEEK.  WE WILL DEFINITELY BE SEEING HER AT SOME UPCOMING SHOWS!  CHECK HER OUT ON  WWW.THEROCKGIRL.COM 

ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES OVER THE PAST 2 MONTHS HAS BEEN THE SHOPPING CART FOR HIS ON-LINE GALLERY.  PERHAPS A FEW OF YOU READING THIS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM WE WERE HAVING. MANY HOURS AND MANY HEADACHES HAVE RESULTED IN A BRAND NEW…. WORKING… UPDATED…. SHOPPING CART THIS LAST WEEK!!!!  (LEAVING TIME FOR CHUCK TO CATCH UP ON HIS MUCH NEEDED SCULPTING)

NEEDLESS TO SAY...CHRISTMAS IS COMING!  STAY TUNED FOR AN UPDATED NEWSLETTER THAT I WILL BE GETTING OUT IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

SOME OF THESE UPDATES WILL INCLUDE INFORMATION ON :

• NEW EXTENDED HOLIDAY HOURS BEGINNING 11/27/09

• THE BURNING OF THE PHOENIX ON DEC 12TH (AND OUR PART IN IT)

• THE HOLIDAY HOUSE TOUR IN PHOENIXVILLE ON DEC 5TH (AND OUR PART IN IT)

IF YOU HAVE ANY FEEDBACK, COMMENTS, OR QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR NEWSLETTER...YOU MAY CONTACT ME BY EMAIL AT
SALES@NATURALCREATIONS.COM OR LEAVE ME A MESSAGE AT 610-933-6919.  I WOULD LOVE HEARING FROM YOU!

BLESSINGS,
WENDI