What is the White Church Gallery?

Mike and Carrie Zaitz are renovating an old Methodist Church in Grindstone City, Michigan. Mike claims he just wanted a place to work on his art. He sold Carrie on it, since she's usually up for adventures. From that happy December of 2011 till now, the investment in time and money has seen the church rebuilt from its glorious bones into a work of art, in progress. Carrie is documenting the process because, well, it's easier to hold a camera than to hold an edging sander. She's done both, because she is having an adventure, but it is Mike who drives this project with his intelligence, talent and energy. Together they are working toward creating an art gallery. A gallery which holds objects of beauty and inspiration, but which always points back to the source, our heavenly Father.
Showing posts with label Grindstone.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Grindstone.. Show all posts

Friday, January 2, 2015

2014! and Love News

This is a bit of a love letter to 2014. It was a busy year! But a lovely one. And only good things to come in 2015.

Love is Patient, Love is Kind...
Love is a doggie named Thomas!
The Church will be open by June. How do we know?
How could we possibly be open in 5! Five! 5! months?
With a punch list a country mile long?
Because we have a wedding to get ready for!
Coming in June: a June Wedding. The daughter of a close friend wants to be wed in the old country Church, and it will be our excitement and pleasure to prepare the aisles.
Hey everyone, grab a tool and let's get bizzy!

This'll do!
With the exception of the water tanks going in the floor, most of the very large objectives have been met.
Let's review: 2014 started out with good cheer and lots of ambition.
Happy New Year!
It was also one of the most brutal winters I can ever remember. 
Frosted window panes.
Sub zero temps, snow snow snow. Six snow days from school, three of them at the end of Christmas break. We hunkered down.
Some members of the household are permanently hunkered down!

Luckily the geothermal heating system made the Church snug for comfortable working.
So we did trim work. That meant caulk, and lots of it.
Caulk Love!

"I'm in a tight spot"
There was lots for everyone to do.


We hit it hard almost every weekend.


Painting the ceiling
Sanding the floors…
This one about did us in. We didn't plan it this way, but after the big sanding effort, we took a bit of hiatus. We still worked, but the giant exhausting efforts were put on hold for the rest of the summer…

We did have visitors and fun. Speaking of the upcoming nuptials, here are the parents of the bride checking out the status of the church. 
We'll have her in ship shape, no worries, mateys! (Ignore the mess!) (arrr…)
We also worked on other projects back in our home and our cottage. Projects to make the rest of our life away from the Church a little nicer.
When we bought our house in Royal Oak, the entire place was paneled and featured dropped ceilings. We gutted, drywalled and painted the entire place with one exception: there was one room that didn't get the treatment. That was 12 years ago. 
We kind of dug the panelling, at least enough to keep it for 12 years. Plus it was a spare room, and we used it as a walk in closet. 
Groovy, yah?
Not really, so … grab the primer and paint, time to get busy!

Lavendar Love!



"Little" projects like this don't seem to phase us much after working on the Church. We are a pretty well oiled machine. 
We also did major reno work on our backyard in Royal Oak. 

Blech
And the front yard too! 

Watch yer step!
What a mess things were for a while. But we have learned that things always look the worst right before they look better! Ha! 

And the back!
Meanwhile, back in Grindstone City, new road was being laid down. What a difference it makes. 


Asphalt Love!  
Trees were planted as well. Some day they will be mighty. Right now they are mini!

Maple Love

Meanwhile, on the human front, there were patent awards given out.
Number 4  and counting…
Graduations accomplished 
My cousin, the Vet!
And weddings held
Sweetest couple ever: Uncle Joe and Lori

Whew! What a year. 

Of course there was more, but I'm behind in my posts, so onward, 2015! And we'll see more such celebrations and renovations, to be sure.

White Church Gallery Love!



Saturday, April 5, 2014

Stu Stu Studio!

So what do you want to do this weekend?

Foreshadowing shot.
Hows about we make a studio so we can make some art?  First step: let's get some of the Artist's work all up in here. 

Art. Check.

Next step: Let's make it convenient to work. The Artist needs an area to store his tools. 

Hmm, I smell a Sears Solution! Check!
Indeed. What better than a Craftsman tool box. On wheels! 

Mobile unit. Check. 
Ok, before I move on, let's really focus on the joy a simple solution like a giant Craftsman tool unit brings. All the stuff can go in it. All of it! Brushes, pencils, acrylics, oils, papers, tools, tapes, glues and more. There's even a drawer for incense! 

The Craftsman and the Artist!
Even the little lady was happy about this solution! 
I prefer Artists, but Craftsmen have their uses... 
Last step:  it's up to the Artist. He's made his studio. now he must be left alone to create. So let's take a walk. It's early April, and it's been a brutally cold and lengthy winter. So what does Lake Huron look like? 
Frozen
Brr! 
Cold, but beautiful. 
What else is going on this spring around Grindstone Corners? 

No buds on the trees yet...
But there is new life! Look, a baby cow!

Seriously, city girl? It's a calf. MY calf. Back off!  
This Momma cow did a deep menacing moo at me to express her feelings about my interest in her baby c... I mean calf. 

This cow expressed himself in other ways!

Back End!
Mike and I agree- this cow pasture is one of the world's more magical places. There's just something about it. The cows always have attitude, the landscape is always beautiful, and there's always something there that makes you just want to stop and step into the world of the pasture. It's just part of what makes Grindstone so very special! 

I also happen to be privy to what is on the Artist's easel right now, and it is cow-shaped! They are so inspirational!

See you next weekend!