HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM UP TO BRING COASTAL ARTS TO THE CAROLINA COAST
When Heidi Blake first discovered her love for art in her early 20’s she was then living in Hampton, Virginia. Blake followed her passion and opened a store, selling coastal products and teaching art to the public. Since then, she has gotten married to her husband Ted, moved to New England and now finds herself drawn back to the Outer Banks area, once again answering a need to provide one-of-a-kind home décor, sea glass art and jewelry in Currituck, North Carolina.
Ted Blake is not a stranger to the craftsmen’s world either. Born and raised in Cumberland County, he began building furniture when he was just 10 years old. “My first piece of furniture,” Blake recalls, “was a cabinet that I made for my mother out of oak.” Blake prefers to work with oak since it’s a hard wood and doesn’t split. “These days I’ve been working with reclaimed wood from old boat decking.” Blake said. “I like the way the reclaimed wood adds a unique character to the project and sets off a patina-like finish.”
The husband and wife team recently moved back to Coastal Carolina with the plan to share their art with the community and visitors. The Blakes have opened a small studio and store named Coastal Creations, located at 2768 Caratoke Hwy, in Curratuck, and will be allowing the public to preview and buy their creations during a soft opening on Saturday, October 24th from 10 am to 5 pm. They will be sensitive to the capacity in their small shop and ask visitors to be patient with them during the pandemic. Heidi plans to open her studio to the public on Thursdays through Sunday, from 10 am to 5 pm, and will also be available by appointment by calling 757.696.0340. Ted’s workshop, which sits next door to his wife’s store, is not open to the public but his creations of headboards, tables, frames and other wood sculptures will be available for sale through Heidi’s shop.For now Heidi has had to put her classes on hold, due to COVID-19, but you can look for future classes to be taught on pebble art, candle making and other beach themed