1. Design & Decor
Welcome to the
Y
ou don’t have to be Dorothy to
go to the Emerald City. To get
there you irst must pass through
the bright pink door that beckons visi-
tors to come inside.
he door signals that fun, life and
laughter are there — waiting to be
opened. Beth Shafer is the artist-in-
residence and the mastermind behind
the beautiful gardens, the art gallery-
like home and outdoor cottage she calls
“Emerald City.”
Gardens show of peonies, Fox-
glove, Blue Indigo and other lowers. A
chicken feeder is home to colorful petu-
nias. Her husband, Ben, is a renaissance
man, and he doesn’t mind the bright
pink door or the pink mailbox.
Inside, whimsy and color prevail. Col-
lections of art revolve out each month
according to seasons and holidays. Dur-
ing the Kentucky Derby, a collection of
Breyer horses is on the mantle.
“Ben and I are collectors; we love es-
tate sales, and we go ‘junkin’ a lot,” said
Beth.
he oldest piece in the house is a
weathered wooden trunk with aqua,
yellow and red patterns.
he best is yet to come as Beth heads
toward a screened-in sun porch where
signs of all shapes and sizes touting a
myriad of products and slogans cover
walls and ceiling. “We’re on Porch
Time,” is a sign that portrays the family
philosophy.
Outside is where much of Beth’s ar-
tistic energy centers — her little cot-
tage, “Emerald City,” also the name
of her business. he “girliied” cottage
with aqua painted door has diferent
color walls inside to make it easier to
track projects. Wind chimes, a pink
bird house and projects-in-progress line
shelves. Blacksmith tools and chaps
from her great-grandfather’s time as a
blacksmith line a wall.
“I have the best commute in the
Emerald City
Beth Shaffer’s workspace named “Emerald City.” At bottom, metal flowers,
made by Shaffer, top the picket fence next to her backyard cottage.
written by Lynne brandon l photos by nancy sideLinger
38 1808: Greensboro’s Magazine
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