Loose Leaf Notes

The first item purchased for the Hotel Floyd Writer’s Suite came from Daniel Bower’s antique shop. An antique wooden desk with a pull down table and various drawers and letter slots became a symbol linking the past with the present. At the start of the hotel construction, a small group of us from The Floyd Writer’s Circle accepted an invitation from the hotel owners, Jack Wall and Kamala Bauers, to decorate one of the fourteen themed rooms being planned. We knew we wanted our room to reflect the historic tradition of writing and to connect old world writers with modern ones. With the help of interior decorator Jeanie O’Neill, we chose classic furnishings in earth tones to create a timeless, uncluttered atmosphere of self-reflection and study.

The last two items purchased also came from a local antique shop. A large crocheted doily and a translucent blue inkwell were found at Chic’s Antique Shop on the day in late September when furniture was moved in and art was being hung in preparation for the hotel’s October 1st opening. Writer’s Circle member and Blue Heron potter, Jayn Avery, took the doily home to hand wash it before pinning it to the back of the living room loveseat for the room’s finishing touch.

The old typewriter placed high on the lighted ledge in the main room has an interesting local history. It was donated by Mary Peters who used it during her years of work at the Bank of Floyd before electric typewriters were installed there in the early 60’s. Mary offered the typewriter after reading an article in The Floyd Press about the Writer’s Suite in which those who had ideas or historic resources to share were encouraged to come forth. Next to the typewriter is a tea set made by Jayn in one of her signature lace designs. A vase also made by Jayn in her Blue Heron studio sits above the kitchen cupboard and holds a locally picked arrangement of dried flowers.

Prominently featured throughout the suite is the collage art of Jennifer Spoon. Jennifer, a retired Radford University professor of graphic design, is a paper maker who incorporates letters and numbers into her compositions. Stamps, pieces of crossword puzzles, found images, and travel momentums give her collages a romantic old-world flavor.

Lora Geissler’s pastel of a larger than life pink blossom hangs above the wingback chair in the main room. Titled, Shell Ginger, it adds spice to the light infused olive oil color of the walls. A photograph of a tree in January standing in the forefront of a red-roofed barn makes a dramatic display in one of the two bedrooms. It was taken by photographer, Fred First, who is also a Writer’s Circle member and one of the local authors whose book, A Slow Road Home, is among those on the Writer’s Suite bookcase.

In the same bedroom where Fred’s photograph hangs there’s a reading chair next to a one-of-a-kind Susan Icove lamp. The lamp, decorated with old books and dictionary pages, compliments Highland Hardwood’s Sam Hancock’s bed headboard and wardrobe. We chose Sam’s handcrafted and classically designed furniture to add a Hemingwayesque feel to the suite.

Not surprisingly, books are a theme in the Writer’s Suite. Old and new ones by Virginia authors were tracked down by Writer’s Circle member, Kathleen Ingoldsby. Kathleen is an active member of the Floyd Historical Society who also worked with local artist Catherine Pauley designing the Old Church Gallery Suite, two doors down from the Writer’s Suite.

What would a writer’s room be without a Scrabble board? Or a dictionary? An old Oxford English dictionary placed next to the 1950’s typewriter belonged to the late Elliot Dabinsky, a poet and one of the founding members of the Floyd Writer’s Circle. Elliot’s photo is included with others in a collage collection of writers performing at Spoken Word events.

After a game of Scrabble, guests might want to flip through the pages of a scrapbook that chronicles the activities of local writers in the community. Or, they might be inspired to pen their own thoughts. At a Hotel Floyd Open House private party on Sunday, Writer’s Circle member, Katherine Chantal made the first entry in the leather bound journal that sits on Writer’s Suite antique desk. After welcoming guests to the suite, which features green technology design and the best of local artists, she invited them to compose a journal entry about their stay. It will be interesting to read over time what visitors think about the Hotel Floyd and all that our town has to offer.

Post Notes: Coming soon – a photo journal accounting of the Hotel Floyd open house private party on Sunday. The photos above are of the Hotel Floyd on moving day, September 24th; Jayn and the writer’s suite taken on moving day; one of Jennifer Spoon's collages, and Jayn, Colleen, and Katherine in the suite at the open house party. The Hotel Floyd's website is HERE.