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Dear Friends,
As a teacher and artist combination and parents of three young boys, we have always wanted to merge our talents and passion to invest in the children of our great city. Without even fully realizing it, Easel Town was born in January of 2012 as an after school art class. Over the past 5 years, our business has grown substantially. Currently, we play a critical role in the artistic development of over 140 children ranging in ages three through eighteen. Our goal is to cultivate a community in Memphis where the experiences and skills gained through the art process are viewed as important tools for future successes.
Thanks to our amazing students and their families we have now outgrown the studio attached to our home and are excited to announce that we are opening our first brick and mortar this September in what we believe to be the perfect location. Our store will be centrally located next door to Knowledge Tree, our neighborhood teacher supply store. With the addition of our own location, we will be able to bring in more teachers with different skillsets and offer new classes while expanding our customer base. It will also allow us to pursue a longtime dream of offering a homework café where children will have a safe and quiet place to work on their homework under the supervision of teachers. Furthermore, we plan to support our local artist community by carrying goods made by Memphis artists that will appeal to children and their parents.
"If you don't build your dreams, someone will hire you to build theirs."
As most of you know, I was hospitalized in August of 2017 for what we later discovered was Lyme disease. It was is in those moments of uncertainty that we began to understand and value the dreams we held so dearly. As unanswered questions about my health loomed overhead, our determination shined brighter than ever. We have always envisioned ourselves owning our own studio for kids and spending our days working together. Easel Town has now been Paul's full-time job for the last 4 years, but it wasn't until this past spring that we took the final step to go "all in". I resigned from my part-time teaching position at the end of the school year to fully dedicate myself to Easel Town as well. Every step we have taken over the last 13 years has moved us closer to where we are today. We have crawled before we walked and now we are ready to walk before we run.
"Sometimes it takes more courage to ask for help than to act alone."
With the opening of our new store quickly approaching, there are several expenses we are facing to make our new location the best possible experience for our students. We are looking to our family, friends and those who believe in our dream for help. The money we raise will go toward: replacing the floor, painting our new studio, signage, tables, startup fees, a large dry erase board, a projector and an iPad for store transactions.
With your help, we know it can be done! No amount is too small, and we greatly appreciate your support!! Please share this with anyone who has a love of the arts, education, Memphis or helping people live their dreams!
"It will always seem impossible until it's done."
With love,
Lisa & Paul Miller
Easel Town
As a teacher and artist combination and parents of three young boys, we have always wanted to merge our talents and passion to invest in the children of our great city. Without even fully realizing it, Easel Town was born in January of 2012 as an after school art class. Over the past 5 years, our business has grown substantially. Currently, we play a critical role in the artistic development of over 140 children ranging in ages three through eighteen. Our goal is to cultivate a community in Memphis where the experiences and skills gained through the art process are viewed as important tools for future successes.
Thanks to our amazing students and their families we have now outgrown the studio attached to our home and are excited to announce that we are opening our first brick and mortar this September in what we believe to be the perfect location. Our store will be centrally located next door to Knowledge Tree, our neighborhood teacher supply store. With the addition of our own location, we will be able to bring in more teachers with different skillsets and offer new classes while expanding our customer base. It will also allow us to pursue a longtime dream of offering a homework café where children will have a safe and quiet place to work on their homework under the supervision of teachers. Furthermore, we plan to support our local artist community by carrying goods made by Memphis artists that will appeal to children and their parents.
"If you don't build your dreams, someone will hire you to build theirs."
As most of you know, I was hospitalized in August of 2017 for what we later discovered was Lyme disease. It was is in those moments of uncertainty that we began to understand and value the dreams we held so dearly. As unanswered questions about my health loomed overhead, our determination shined brighter than ever. We have always envisioned ourselves owning our own studio for kids and spending our days working together. Easel Town has now been Paul's full-time job for the last 4 years, but it wasn't until this past spring that we took the final step to go "all in". I resigned from my part-time teaching position at the end of the school year to fully dedicate myself to Easel Town as well. Every step we have taken over the last 13 years has moved us closer to where we are today. We have crawled before we walked and now we are ready to walk before we run.
"Sometimes it takes more courage to ask for help than to act alone."
With the opening of our new store quickly approaching, there are several expenses we are facing to make our new location the best possible experience for our students. We are looking to our family, friends and those who believe in our dream for help. The money we raise will go toward: replacing the floor, painting our new studio, signage, tables, startup fees, a large dry erase board, a projector and an iPad for store transactions.
With your help, we know it can be done! No amount is too small, and we greatly appreciate your support!! Please share this with anyone who has a love of the arts, education, Memphis or helping people live their dreams!
With love,
Lisa & Paul Miller
Easel Town