Locks and Keys

Old houses provide an endless amount of projects...and lessons! As we (all of the characters involved in this little story) get to know The Empty House Studio, she continues to surprise us.

The old doors and old locks needed to be replaced. The homeowner's parents, D and B, live close by. They are so kind to come do some of the labors of love, including change the locks. Well, true to form, the little old house's locks and doors were not a simple remove and replace job. D spent hours with these funny old doors and, being quite the handy man, performed a marvelous hinge and lock replacement trick, including rebuilding the interior of the door.

We found an old cardboard shim underneath one of the hinges. It still had its old price sticker on it for some-odd cents. With new locks in place, I walked down to the local hardware store, a charming little useful place, and excitedly copied keys... for when I suddenly become the nutty professor and lock myself out of the house. The hardware store made me wonder who last touched that cardboard shim? Did they buy it at the little hardware store where I just got new keys made for the house?

Drawn by H.B.

Think of the questions, stories, and possibilities around doors and keys. Entering a new year, possibilities and questions abound. What doors will open and what doors will close? Who holds the key? What is inside? These can be exciting or daunting things to contemplate as a new season begins. We here at The Empty House Studio are both excited and daunted by our new venture. We want to promote artistry and craftsmanship in Northern Virginia and yet, the accepted pace of life around here can squelch it. But we know that we are more than our 9 to 5, more than our commute... and so, we persist.

We sincerely hope that you will walk through our door someday, literally or online, and step into creativity and inspiration. The key to a good year? Take time to think about purpose and beauty. Happy New Year!