While at the Alameda flea market (antiquesbythebay.net), we had a lovely chat with Wendy. She invited us to come to her studio after it was over. (!!!) Now, just so you know, you too can go to her studio, which is about an hour outside of San Francisco (don't quote me on the time)...she is happy to open up for you if you call her...Wendy Addison 510.787.2164 ...and let me tell you it is soooo worth the trip! So Jenny, Amy and I headed over to see the magic first hand. 
Here Jenny and Wendy are outside her gorgeous doors. The town she lives in, Port Costa, has a population of 200. It was a ghost town not too long ago, and is now a wonderfully small, sleepy, tattered dream. Wendy didn't go to a salvage yard and find the doors, they are the real deal, just like Wendy herself.
Talk about eye candy...
Aren't you just dying to go there? So, after we went a little crazy with the visual feast before us, we settled in to hear Wendy share her journey with us. Her journey of finding her own Theater of Dreams. She showed us the art piece with which it started...
and then the art piece that lead to...
and then the final piece in that series...
Wendy is very into mechanical devices and using them in her art. It was a thrill to see her work them while explaining each piece and it's symbolism.
As if all that wasn't special enough, she then welcomed us into her art studio where she crafts her products.
The glitter! I credit Wendy as being the first one to really bring the German Glass Glitter to all our attention. I remember seeing her on Martha years and years ago making her signature stars. This box was huge, makes a glitter lover giddy. And she showed us how she runs her printing press.
and then her home...and her art journals...
which were every bit as amazing as these pages here. Her daughter Monica is grown up now, but here she is captured years ago. Wendy's talent had no bounds, her illustrations blew me away. Her lettering amazing, her endless amounts of creations and ideas for future creations wonderful.
And then, to top it all off, we went to dinner with her across the street. She indulged us while we picked her brain and heard her insights on everything from women in the arts, dreams, licensing, inspiration, anything we could think of to ask. We brainstormed about possible collaborations with Sommerset, and Jenny left with original artwork and journals to publish. Wendy is very passionate about helping others find/create their own Theater of Dreams, and it sounds like that is where her creative energies are going to be going next. Bring it on is what I say!!
After dinner we went back and shopped (you knew that was coming) and just because I love you, I'll post this hideous photo of me because it sums up the experience so well. While Amy looked through all the treasures, Wendy put me to work, and of course, I couldn't resist hamming it up that I was working for Wendy, and she had a great sense of humor about our silliness. Here's a photo of my purchases.
All in all it was truly a dream. I'd thank Wendy here for sharing her magical world with us, but she is not into computers at all. I have a feeling she understood how much we appreciated the experience while we were there anyway, ha ha. And again, Wendy welcomes visitors by appointment only, no shipping requests please. Theater of Dreams, 510-787-2164.
As we drove home the car was alternately abuzz with conversation and quiet with the soaking in of the experience. I knew all of us were still thinking through all the ideas and topics discussed as we slept. This became very clear when, after being asleep for a few hours I got up to close the curtain a bit more, as I did this Jenny sat up (yes, we all shared a room...had to save our money for shopping, after all) and yelled at me, "What are you doing!?! What's going on?" Which started Amy and I giggling and saying things like, "Give me all your glass glitter lady and no one will get hurt." Gotta love having friends who understand your passions! So, what is your theater of dreams?
