NOTE: I wrote this newsletter in a different time and space, as you can tell. Our world has turned upside down, and we just need to keep riding along. I myself have pneumonia and have self quarantined upstairs in my bedroom. That is all that any of us can do now. Stay safe and healthy, until we see each other again. St John will wait for your return. Thank you for caring!
Elaine
2020 Update
We have made it into 2020, and turned the pages of my 20th year calendar to March! So many people said (on social media) they hated leaving February, as they loved the image of the eagle rays. Guess what? It can be ordered in a print, canvas, or tile, any size you want. You can also cut it out of your calendar, and just hang it up! I do believe that 2020 is my best work yet. But, just starting on my 2021 calendar now.
Visitors
We had a surprise visit from a minor celebrity. Grandma Joy, and her grandson, Brad. Grandma Joy had never left her state of Ohio, and her grandson decided to do something about that. So, they went on Grandma Joy’s Road Trip! They have now visited every US National Park in the continental US, and St. John. When they were here, they made a stop at Coconut Coast Studios. She was truly delightful to speak with, her eyes twinkling with appreciation of our beautiful views. She had never seen the ocean until her 98 birthday … or flew on an airplane, or seen a mountain!
Dove Love
As of March 7, Dove is one year old! She is everything you want in a puppy. We continue to work on training, and it really shows. She has friends coming by daily just to play with her, and dog friends with beach romps in between. Good thing, as she is a most active dog!
Website Updated!
Our website has been totally updated. If you click on shopping now, you may purchase all of the items we have in the store. This is very exciting for me. I have never had all of the gift items online. Try it, and let me know what you think!
We are also in the process of a new video of the gallery. There is a lovely one online now, but it showcases my previous pets, and was shot pre-storm. I wanted to update all of Dove, and how the gallery has been remodeled. The video will have a lovely entry from the water, with an eagle ray gliding in….Just shear luck, but we do see eagle rays jumping in front of us in the water, all of the time.
TJ Schutt, my grandson, will be working with me this summer. He has been attending Savannah School of Art and Design ( SCAD) as a freshman. He has both an academic scholarship, and an art scholarship, and is keeping them both up very nicely. He is working hard, and I know, will do well. There are many alumni from SCAD here on St John, all in illustrious careers. I have shown and sold many of TJ’s paintings in the gallery. I think his art already surpasses mine, and I’m excited to watch his growth. I hope you will agree with me! He will hopefully be the next phase of Coconut Coast Studios.
So, if you have not made it to St. John in the past couple of years, it’s time to return. Most business have reopened, including Beach Bar, the wine bar, Joe’s Rum Hut. It’s a happy place with lots of green trees, flowers, turquoise waters, and clear blue skies! Oh… I forgot the beautiful white sand beaches! Time to make a visit!
When you do get back, don’t forget to come by the gallery and say hello. We all want to see you here!
Best wishes,
Elaine Estern
And crew of Coconut Coast Studios