POSTER GIVEAWAY!!

One of my readers will have a chance to win a free poster from OnlinePosterPrinting.com (they're giving me one, too!)

Just think of all the things you could do with a nice, high-quality poster! Showcase your favorite photo, band, or your own artwork - Make one for a special event or school activity - the possibilities are endless! Check them out HERE.

Here's the scoop:

Enter to win by leaving me a comment telling me what you will do with your poster. For additional entries follow my blog (one entry)and become a FB fan of the Weller Store (one entry). Send separate comments letting me know you follow me and/or are a fan of the Weller Store.

The winner will receive:

8x24 Poster Print for One (1) Winner

Paper Stock: High Gloss or Semi Gloss

Specifications: 1 Business Day Turnaround

Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping

Eligibility: Limited to US Residents only

Deadline to enter the giveaway is Sunday, February 28th. Be sure to give me your email address if it is not attached to your profile so I can notify you if you win!

Digital Photo Enlargement

Digital Photos on Posters

A Cure For The Winter Doldrums - Take A Workshop Or Two

You may remember that I've mentioned the artist KC Willis and the workshops she teaches. I attended one last October and I'd love to go back to Colorado for another. When I heard she was putting a marketing workshop together on-line, I jumped at the chance to join in and I'm so glad I did! This is one of those workshops that is open-ended and you can sign up for it at any time. In fact, if you're interested, she has agreed to extend her special introductory price until February 1st. In addition to the workshop videos there are a lot of interesting discussions taking place on the site. If you're an artist who wants to market your art, you won't regret it.




If you're not at the point of marketing your art and you want to learn some new techniques, you may want to take a look at the other workshops she has to offer. Here's what KC has to say about them:




This has been an amazing year at KC Willis Studio. Wow. 170 students from 8 countries currently enrolled at the on-line workshop where I teach the basics of my techniques and inspire you to new creative heights. You have never seen anything like Collage Camp.

After Collage Camp there's Mixed Media Mania where you take what you learned at Collage Camp and in these workshops I teach Altars and Shrines, Altered Books and Works on Paper. Fun stuff.


And for those of you already making art and wanting to know how you take it to the next level and get yourself a regional or national audience, next week starts the super exciting Marketing Mindset. Check out the Main Page and take advantage of the Intro Price which will only last until January 8th.



And if video workshops aren't your thing...how about KC Willis Live! (assuming I've had my coffee.) Come take a multi-day class with me in my very sweet Victorian studio house in Longmont, Colorado. Check it out at www.studioretreats.ning.com.

Winter Wonderland

No matter how much we complain about the long and cold Wisconsin winters we have to admit that it's beautiful here any time of the year.

Looking out my front door

Looking out my back door

Still, it's hard not to wish for warmer temperatures, sunny days, boating on the Chain, picnics in the park...

"Downtown" Rural - summer of 2008

On a snowy day like today I just can't help thinking about how wonderful it is here in the summer.

I keep telling myself that the days are already getting longer.

Can't you just imagine sitting on the front porch with a tall glass of lemonade?

Visit our website! www.wellerstore.com

The Weller Store

The Rural Store - currently The Weller Store - is the oldest retail building in the village of Rural.

The Rural Store was originally a carpentry shop, built in 1898 over the Crystal River mill race by Mr. Herbert Radley across the road (old Hwy 22) from it's current location. It is said that the building straddled the river so that the current could provide power for the lights and equipment used in the shop. The original color of the structure was red with white trim.

Above is the first known photograph of the carpentry shop and its builder , taken in the spring of 1901. You can see the building raised on stilts over the water.


In 1906, Radley moved the carpentry shop from the river to dry land across the road from its original location. The building was altered slightly and repainted. It then became the general store.

Radley and his infant son, Howard, (in the buggy) are shown at left circa 1906.

Charles Weller stands in front of The Weller Store in this undated photo.

Robert Weller, Sr., Charles' son, is pictured at the storefront after a truck ran off the highway and crashed into the cement in front of the store.














After State Highway 22 was rerouted the gasoline business dropped off drastically. Eventually the pumps were removed. The change in traffic affected the business in a negative way but allowed the village to retain its unique character and beauty.









In the mid-1960s the building was moved slightly to the east and an adjoining cement block structure was built by Robert Weller, Jr. The Wellers continued to operate the grocery store in the new building while renting out the original building to other retail businesses. The Weller Store is well known throughout the area for 25 cent ice cream cones and locally bottled Ting soda.

The original building as it appears today.

Re-opened in the spring of 2008 by Robert Weller, Jr and Eileen Schwanke, The Weller Store now features antiques, collectibles, original art, ephemera, baskets, tools, - all things vintage from every era. Visit our website (still under construction) for a peek at some of the merchandise!

www.wellerstore.com