Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 3 · column 1 of 6 · from the scan, no model involved
By JAN LAVALLEY
Rappahannock News Staff Writer
Imagine you’re out shopping — trying to find that perfect gift for the hard-to-shop-for person, you know, the one who has everything.
Where can you go? Try Eve Willis’ newest venture — Gay St. Mercantile, Arts and Antiques. It’s located on Gay St. in Washington, Va. in the old merchantile building.
Eve said she has always loved the old building, used as a mercantile in the 1700s, and has always felt there is a need for more antiques and local art here.
She and her husband, Stu, opened Rare Finds, Gifts and Antiques in the fall of 1991. The business went very well but they had trouble getting enough antiques and local art in and the business leaned more toward gifts. It is now operated by their daughter, Michelle Adams.
About a year ago they opened the Washington Antiques and Fine Arts Center. World reknowned artist Tanya Richey exhibits there, and the antiques are formal.lt also has a green house and Carol Miller has seasonal plants and cut flowers every week with related antique accessories. But, Eve wanted to do something a little different that would appeal to a wider range of people.
Gay St. Mercantile carries primitive to high country antiques. “It’s all furniture that would go in a country home,” Eve said.
The store also features the work of local landscape artist Geneva Welch, who has sold her work to such notable celebrities as Randy Travis and Robert Duvall. She works in watercolor and etchings, and also sells work through Faith Mountain catalogs.
“Geneva was one of the first artists whose work my husband and I purchased when we moved back here,” Eve said. “She does primarily local landscapes and people love her work because it is so typical of the area and features animals and countryside.”
Geneva said she’s probably best known for her cows and sheep.
95.9%