Twists of wire and antique beads lie among faded scraps of paper, broken china, and tiny shells. Cast-off odds and ends? Perhaps.
But one California artisan fashions this miscellany into charming designs that call to mind days gone by. Within her studio in the tiny community of Port Costa, artist Wendy Addison has created a world of her own. Here, crepe paper and German glass glitter, and yellowed sheet music and tinsel garland become works reminiscent of Victorian-era art.
Wendy’s studio is chock-full of Victorian-era ephemera that she uses to make her enchanting—and often whimsical—creations. Paper garlands and honeycomb bells share space with wooden marionettes and jars of glitter.
The Dry Goods Store was a natural extension of Wendy’s letterpress business. Here, customers can peruse her garnered finds, such as old handwritten French letters, Victorian stationery, and vintage pens and pencils.
Text Karen Callaway
Photography Marcy Black Simpson
To learn more about Wendy Addison, see “A Sense of Magic” on page 55 in the October 2016 issue of Victoria.
