Alchemy Initiative

So my husband and I bought the buildings shown in the top two pictures here in 2006. Shown first is the rectory to the church shown second. The rectory is 7000 sq ft, built 1905, it has a huge yard and is morphing into 6 separate living spaces.
We live on the top floor in the biggest unit, about 1400 sq ft with three bedrooms. On April 1 a third unit will be occupied so we are nearly half way there!

The church is truly exquisite. a nearly 6000 sq ft footprint. Full of amazing stained glass and details of 1895 craftsmanship not normally seen in today's construction. There are two floors now. The lower level where 400 patrons were seated at the weekly Bingo events for the church. We have been using this space since we made the purchase, most recently for workshops.

The upper level is still full of pews and the remnants of an altar etc. We envision a third level dividing the upper level space to make it possible to heat and accommodate our plan.

The third, photo is of the convent, built in the early 1900s for the Notre Dame property. It is unoccupied, has fallen into disrepair and is on the market for CHEAP. Chris put an extra low bid in for it yesterday. If we get it, it will not be torn down to give us a clear shot view of our 24 hr Stop and Rob across the way. It will become an integral part of the plan we are conjuring.



Alchemy Initiative is the name we are using and for our intention, there is a multi faceted business plan is coming together now. It includes, an urban farm garden, workshop space, a public reading room, commercial kitchen, music venue, coffee/tea house, and hotel/hostel all done with green renovations and systems. Rainwater catchment, alternative energy, native species plants, filter plants, organic food plants, and a seed bank are in the plans. My dream is to power the whole thing with a wind turbine on the steeple!

An intensive internship program is in development stages.

There is a blog devoted to the process depicting the journey of the project's development. There is not a lot to see right now but you can get more information about our plans at www.alchemyinitiative.blogspot.com. Check back in a week or two when there will be more to it. Events are coming together for April and June already!

Pittsfield, West Stockbridge, Hudson NY

Today was spent traveling near and wide to collect things needed for finishing touches of our nearly complete second floor unit in the rectory. First stop was The Floor Store in West Stockbridge where we ordered Marmoleum for both bathroom floors, subway tile for the bath and amazing ceramic tile to be used for the kitchen counters.
Then on to Reggie's magical wonderland of all things funky old and totally useful right in the heart of Hudson NY. Now that little city sparkles with it's fairly tale architecture and diversity.
By the time we got there the rascals were having high jinx! We had a late lunch enroute of pretzels, orange juice, clementines and strawberry Brown Cow yogurt! Both girls were in a great mood all day and really dug Reggie and his place. It was fun to have the weather to be warm enough to do some harmless puddle splashing which is Lucy's first choice activity! Here they are in all their glory: Lucy on the left and Violet. Violet will be two on the 10th. We are having a hot chocolate sliding party tomorrow in her honor!

Settling In

My life has been a magical whirlwind of crazy activities for the last three and a half years. I got married after being a single mom for 11 years. My husband is a kind and wonderful friend, mentor, dancer, joker, lover, and plumber. We have had two girls and bought a church and rectory since our wedding day in October of 2004. Our household also includes my son, Ben, age 15, and our dog Okemo, a lab/pitbull cross. We live on the third floor of the rectory we are renovating into 6 separate living spaces that we intend to sell as condos but would rent in the meantime, or even do a rent to own deal to the right people.
I am an avid recycler and have run a business manufacturing soft home goods from recycled wool sweaters for more than 20 years.
We moved into our new home on May 15 after more than two years of floating from one squatting quarters to another. Unpacking boxes, moving in furniture, landscaping our grounds, and generally organizing our family and life is where I have focused my energy since the beginning of a summer long hiatus taken from my job.
Here I plan to share in depth stories of my everyday, my family, friends, business thoughts, lifestyle goals and challenges.
Check back often to learn of the community we are working to build, full of our amazing supportive friends, neighbors, and yet to be known mysteries waiting to unfold. Let me know what you are doing and thinking about and how your days are filled.

Renovations

We are in the the finishing stages of our new home on the third floor of the rectory next door to the church. My husband and I bought the church and rectory of the former Notre Dame church about two years ago. Since then we have added two additional people to our house hold. Lucy is now nearly 30 months and Violet is pushing 15 months. We have moved, soon to be twice. We have moved my business and all it fixin's into the church. The idea of settling into a home space is super exciting! This week is full of work there and could mean less information arriving here. I am taking pictures and will post them as I have time.

Prospect of Free Time

While the tables are turning in the business I founded 20 years ago, there are exciting options presenting themselves as the chapter unfolds.
For the first time since I was 13 years old I will have the summer to focus on things other than the design and production of 100% post consumer recycled wares.

My husband and I bought a church and rectory in the heart of Pittsfield two years ago. We are nearing completion of the rectory renovation. It now is configured as 6 separate living spaces for rent or sale. We are moving into the third floor unit at the end of the month with our three kids. The prospect of unpacking boxes for the first time nearly 2 years is exciting! I will get some pictures to show the space and finishing touches as they come about.

My first desire is to get a garden in at the rectory next door to the studio. I am making a lasagne garden. The process is new to me but so far I love how easy it is! This picture was taken last summer of Lucy who is now 2. She loves to garden as much as her mother.