VIP Magazine

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  • Craftsman Accents – From Trunks to Trays

    Craftsman Accents – From Trunks to Trays

        From Trunks To Trays LLC is a family owned business that sells handmade, hand chiseled wooden bowls and trays. Cindy Lawrimore, part owner along with her husband Carroll, completes the finishing work on the products. Carroll is the designer and carver. The two have been married for 39 years and share a love for family and family history. Original dough or bread bowls were a crucial part of family food preparation and it was a common practice for a future husband to carve a wooden dough bowl for his bride as a wedding gift. Today Cindy and Carroll have been able to carry on history by creating beautiful, individually-unique bowls and trays for a variety of modern day purposes.

         The idea for the business sparked after they received a family dough bowl that was passed down from three generations. The old bowl had a hole in it and Carroll wanted to find someone to help him fix it. After Carroll began researching the history of the bowls, he set out to find a teacher and mentor when he discovered Mr. Buddy Davis of Stuckey, SC. “Mr. Buddy” has been creating bowls for over 25 years and is still active in the trade. Mr. Buddy explained that Carroll wouldn’t be able to fix that bowl, but he could teach him how to build a new one. Carroll spent much time with Mr. Buddy learning the basics and absorbing as much information as possible. Mr. Buddy helped Carroll carve his first bowl/tray in August of 2015.   

        While the bowls and trays are still used for dough making, the variety of shapes and sizes that From Trunks To Trays creates makes them a popular option for serving BBQ, ribs, low country boils, salads, and hors d’oeurves. Additionally, many people simply enjoy the pieces as home décor. They also make wood serving charcuterie trays for meats, cheeses, and fruits.

        The pieces are made from a variety of wood such as tupelo, ash, elm, black walnut, cherry, chinaberry, maple, pecan, poplar, and sycamore. Because they are hand-carved and not turned on a lathe, no two pieces look alike. “We love the natural flaws and imperfections,” says Carroll. “It really is the wood that makes the piece. It’s all about the wood.” The majority of the wood is from trees that are damaged from natural disaster, with most being from the Hemingway area. For certain pieces they either saw entire trees or they just use remnants of tree trunks. The trees are usually sawed right on their property using a portable saw mill. Once the wood cures, they use a variety of saws to remove bark and unwanted excess. Carroll then lets the pieces help him decide what shape they will take on. A pattern is hand-drawn on the wood, the wood is scored and hand-chiseled for removal of the center part of the piece, then Carroll passes the pieces off to Cindy for several rounds of additional sanding.  The final sanding and oiling are done by hand with multiple applications of food-safe mineral oil to cure the wood. A top coat of Bees Oil (a mixture of bees wax and mineral oil) is added to give the pieces a more durable, water-resistant finish. “We choose mineral oil maintenance as it is easy and inexpensive for our customers to use as they maintain their pieces,” explains Cindy. “We also use this finish to maintain the natural beauty of the wood. All of our products are food safe.”

        Learning a new skill takes time, patience and a lot of practice. Carroll says he has yet to “master” the skill and continues to learn something new each day. He shares, “Some pieces turn out exactly like you envision them and others make it to the scrap pile. It’s hard to predict what the final product will look like as the individual characteristics of the wood can’t be anticipated. This is what we love about the process.” Areas in the wood that may seem like a flaw or blemish actually give a piece the most beautiful character. Learning the finishing skill came from hours of reading, research, and a lot of trial and error. “If you want to learn this wonderful craft, find a good teacher and mentor,” suggests Carroll. “Be patient, as finding the right wood can be time-consuming. Also, waiting for your perfect piece of wood to cure takes months-often a couple of years.”

  • Kristen Wilson – Finding Hope Through Yoga

    Kristen Wilson – Finding Hope Through Yoga

       Kristen Wilson’s medical struggles opened the door to her newfound love for yoga. After being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, she is currently recovered and enjoying her new adventures of life with a whole new outlook. Today she shares her passion of yoga with others as an instructor at Flow Town Yoga in Florence.

       Kristen grew up in Washington, Indiana, for about 13 years before moving to Florence for her stepfather’s job with OTIS Elevator. She attended West Florence High School and graduated in the top of her class with the honor of the board of trustees. In August of 2016, at the beginning of her senior year, Kristen developed a severe cough which could not be suppressed with any medications. After going to the doctor multiple times, they finally advised her to get an x-ray to see if she had pneumonia. “I would cough all day long, disrupting class. I was so embarrassed,” says Kristen. “Around November I began to notice my ribs and how much weight I had lost. I looked so unhealthy.”

       On Thanksgiving Day, at a table full of great food and company, Kristen recalls that the room started to spin, leaving her nauseous. After an x-ray, her lungs looked abnormal. A CAT scan showed a tumor that was bigger than a softball in her upper middle chest, which was pressing her esophagus to the far right and pushing her lungs to the far walls of her ribs, pushing onto her heart. “It was no wonder I could not breathe properly,” explains Kristen. A surgical biopsy was performed at MUSC. Kristen shares, “They couldn’t seem to get the strands they needed for a diagnosis. We were in a panic because the pressure from the tumor caused a plural and cardial effusion, fluid in the lining of the lungs and heart. This was life-threatening due to the fact that the pressure from the fluid could suppress my heart from beating.” Another surgical biopsy was completed, and after much time living in the hospital, they finally found an answer.

       Eight days after Kristen’s 18th birthday, on December 12, 2016, she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called 2B Bulky Hodgkin’s lymphoma. She started treatment immediately with 5 rounds of chemotherapy, 21 days per round, followed by 14 rounds of radiation. After much pain and trauma, Kristen finished treatment in June of 2017.

       Kristen decided to take a year off to focus on recovering before attending college. She was exhausted, weak, and bald. Veronica, the owner of Flow Town Yoga, heard about Kristen and her story and reached out to Kristen’s mother via Facebook. Veronica wanted to see if Kristen would be interested in free one-on-one private yoga sessions to help her rehabilitate. “I had never done yoga before, but I desperately wanted to feel normal again, so I hopped on the opportunity to go,” says Kristen. Little did Kristen know, Veronica and yoga would end up changing her life.

       After about six private sessions, Veronica believed Kristen was ready to take on public classes. “She saw hope in me. She saw the warrior within me and the light I have,” shares Kristen. “She helped me in more ways than physical. Veronica welcomed me with open arms and an open heart, to her family and her life. She is like a mother to me. She is a huge reason that I am still here today, fighting.” Eventually, a yoga training was offered at Flow Town but Kristen did not even consider it until Veronica and her family encouraged her to attend. Veronica sponsored Kristen so she could complete a 200 hour Expand Your Power Baptiste Yoga training. After many hard and long weekends, Kristen graduated with ten other trainees. Kristen shares, “Aside from beating cancer once, this is to date one of my proudest accomplishments. Cancer has opened my mind and has given me a new perspective on life. It has taught me so much and how much I can do.”

       Kristen is about a year out of her treatment and is waiting to see if she will relapse. If so, she will have to undergo more treatment. However, her life is heading in a positive direction. She is currently a yoga instructor at Flow Town Yoga and is also enrolled in Francis Marion University’s Pre-Vet program. “I am strong, brave and new,” says Kristen. “I believe everything happens for a reason, and cancer has made me a better human.” Kristen has truly fallen in love with yoga and enjoys the relationships she has made as an instructor. “It has shaped me mentally, physically and emotionally. I love that I can have an impact on others through my words and sharing my heart. So many things in life are out of my control, but just from the time I step on my mat, I can let everything go and just be. I can breathe and flow and feel the energy within myself. I see my inner beauty. Yoga is a lifestyle.”

    A Note from Kristen: “I would like to give a special thank you to my mother, Mindy Lengacher, and step-father, Jay Lengacher, for never leaving my side and taking care of me, even when it was unbearable. Without you two, I wouldn’t be here today. Thank to my amazing boyfriend, Conner Smith, and his family. My love for you is infinite. Thanks to Sarah Locklair and all the Locklair’s, you always made me smile. Thank you to Caitlyn and the Riester’s, my second family, and my mother’s amazing friends for traveling miles from Indiana many times to see me. Thank you to my friends and family that made the effort to see me. Thank you to Veronica Robertson, Flow Town Yoga, and all the yogis for helping me find my way in my new life. I thank God for blessing my life and seeing me through my storms. I love you all.”

      Ivana Reay-Jones Photography

  • Supreme Court Justices

        “The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.” This quote is from the first sentence of Article III Section 1 of the United States Constitution, establishing the Judicial branch of our government.

        Article II of the Constitution establishes and delineates the Executive power of the President of the United States of America. Article II Section 2 contains the Appointments Clause: [the President] “shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint…, Judges of the supreme Court.”

        There have been 113 Justices of the United States Supreme Court since the Constitution was adopted in 1789, three of those from South Carolina. Congress initially set the number of Justices at 6. The number of Justices varied from 6 to 7 to 9 to 10, until Congress passed the Judiciary Act of 1869 stipulating that the Supreme Court would consist of the Chief Justice and 8 Associate Justices. The number of seats of the Court has remained constant since 1869. The only serious challenge to maintaining 9 Justices was Franklin Roosevelt’s attempt to “pack the Court” in 1937. Roosevelt was frustrated that the Supreme Court had declared several of his New Deal programs as unconstitutional. Despite intense lobbying by President Roosevelt, his proposed bill was seen as political maneuvering and was soundly defeated in the United States Senate.

        The United States Constitution is silent on qualifications for Supreme Court Justices. There are no age requirements, or limits, nor is there a requirement that the candidates have law degrees. Many of the early Justices, as was common at the time, received their legal training working for a practicing lawyer and “reading the law.” After a period of apprenticeship, aspiring lawyers would sit for the bar exam. The last Justice of the United States Supreme Court who did not receive a law school degree was South Carolinian James F. Byrnes. Byrnes was an adept politician. He served in the United States House of Representatives and as a United States Senator from 1911 until 1941. He was close allies with Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt. Roosevelt appointed Byrnes to the Court in 1941. Within months of Byrnes’s appointment, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and the United States entered World War II. Roosevelt convinced Byrnes to leave his lifetime appointment on the Court to join the Executive branches’ efforts to mobilize the country for the war effort. Byrnes is credited with the second shortest tenure of any justice on the Court.

        There have only been 17 Chief Justices of the Supreme Court. John Rutledge, a Charlestonian, served as an Associate Justice from 1790 to 1791. President Washington later appointed Rutledge as the second Chief Justice which he served for 5 months in 1795. Rutledge was appointed under a temporary commission as the Senate was not in session.  When the Senate reconvened, Rutledge’s nomination was rejected. Rutledge has the distinction of having served the shortest tenure as an Associate Justice as well as serving the shortest term as the Chief Justice.

        The other South Carolinian who served on the Court had one of the longest tenures. William Johnson, another Charlestonian, was only 32 years old when he was confirmed in 1804. He was one of three Justices appointed by President Thomas Jefferson. Johnson had been an avid political supporter of Jefferson while serving as Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1798 to 1800. He was the first non-Federalist to serve on the Court. He died while still in office in 1834 having served over 30 years as an Associate Justice.

    Willcox, Buyck & Williams, P.A.

    Serving Businesses and Individuals from Florence to Myrtle Beach: the Business Law, Litigation, Real Estate, and Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys of Willcox, Buyck & Williams, P.A.

    248 West Evans Street | Florence, SC | 843.662.3258

    2050 Corporate Centre’ Drive, Suite 230 |  Myrtle Beach, SC | 843.650.6777

  • Greenville Health System – Swamp Rabbit Trail

    Greenville Health System – Swamp Rabbit Trail

        With a combination of nature and urban living, the Greenville, SC area offers a little something for everyone. As a place for vacation or stay, Greenville pulls in a mix of adventurists, outdoorsmen, and even foodies. Unique to the area is the Greenville Health System Swamp Rabbit Trail, a nearly 20-mile historic rail bed paved trail that is open to the public for biking, walking, or running. The trail links downtown Greenville to Traveler’s Rest, which is a quaint, booming town with a population less than 5,000. The trail originated in 2009 with the help of the Greenville Health System, which generously provided $1 million to help develop and publicize the trail. Multiple bike rental shops are located within the area and there are numerous locations to jump on the trail along the way. In addition, there are many places to stop along the nearly 20-mile trail, including the beautiful Furman University campus, making for a full day of enjoyment. With 500,000 users each year, the trail is busy with locals and visitors making the most of balancing a healthy lifestyle with a fun adventure. While the distance may seem intimidating for someone who isn’t an avid cyclist, the good news is you can go at your own pace for as long as you want. The Swamp Rabbit Trail attracts everyone from those taking a morning stroll, to a biking bachelorette party group looking for a memorable time!

    Visit www.greenvillesc.gov for more information and for an interactive map.

    Points of Interest Along The Way

    The stops along the Swamp Rabbit Trail will offer some of the most unique, scrumptious treats that you can find! From start to finish, there is everything from locally owned restaurants, breweries, coffee shops, and more. If you are looking for a day of biking, plus a food and drink crawl all at once, this is the best way to do it! You’ll be burning calories along the way, so you can definitely indulge in some goodies and feel guilt-free!

  • The Backbone of Long-Term Health

    The Backbone of Long-Term Health

         Life gets busy. More than ever, today’s professionals struggle to maintain a sense of balance as we juggle careers, family commitments, relationships, hobbies, and more—all while somehow remembering to pick up the dry cleaning on the way home. With so much to do, and limited time to do it, the easiest ball to drop is usually our own health and wellbeing. Unfortunately, those are the very things that allow us to be master multi-taskers in the first place, and when we don’t feel well, all other aspects of our lives tend to suffer.

         Dr. Renee Saverance, a chiropractor based in Hartsville, S.C., believes in taking a proactive approach to health and wellness. She’s on a mission to help people throughout the Pee Dee region discover how our bodies can function at their best.

         Although most people immediately think of back pain when it comes to chiropractors, the reality is so much more. Spinal health is a main focus of chiropractic, and its effects go far beyond fixing pain.

         “The spine has two major functions,” explains Dr. Saverance. “It works to protect the central nervous system, and it serves to keep the body balanced and upright.” That connection to the central nervous system is a key part of our daily lives, as it allows our body and brain to communicate with one another. When vertebrae, the bones that make up the spinal column, become misaligned, our bodies have to work harder to compensate and our central nervous systems become less efficient.

         “You may not even realize your spine is out of alignment,” says Dr. Saverance, “but you will more than likely notice some of the resulting side effects…headaches, insomnia, anxiety, depression, joint pain, digestive issues, and chronic fatigue are just some of the many ways in which your body may be telling you that you have a vertebra out of alignment.”

         For many people affected by these conditions, chiropractic offers effective, affordable relief. In fact, chiropractic care is covered by most health insurance providers and can often provide an alternative to prescription medication.

         “I believe in approaching conditions or pain issues in a non-invasive, non-surgical, non-pharmaceutical way first,” says Dr. Saverance. “I look at the whole body and learn about the many stressors that could cause a misalignment of the spine, whether that’s sitting in a chair all day at work, lifting children with improper technique, or any number of situations that can impact spinal health.

        Everyone, and every body, is different. Dr. Saverance’s first conversations with people interested in chiropractic tend to be a collaborative discussion, as she works with them to create a sustainable wellness plan that fits into their lifestyle and helps them reach their goals. She sees a wide variety of patients at Hartsville’s Advanced Wellness Center, ranging in age from newborns to senior citizens.

         “A personal wellness plan helps your body work efficiently, which keeps you healthy and active in the long term,” explains Dr. Saverance, “and chiropractic is safe for all ages. There are specific adjustments that you make to accommodate different stages of life—from babies learning to walk to teens playing a sport, moms becoming pregnant to aging adults who want to stay active.”

         Time is a valuable resource, especially for busy professionals and people with families to take care of. Dr. Saverance sees chiropractic as an opportunity to give her patients some of that time back, to help them reach their goals without being limited by physical issues, and to ensure they are able to maintain their desired lifestyle well into the future.

         “The first step to a healthier life is learning,” she says. “I believe in educating people about how chiropractic fits into their daily lives. It’s important to know about the variety of ways in which you can keep yourself and your family healthy and happy!”

  • Heller House Inn – A Bed & Breakfast

    Heller House Inn – A Bed & Breakfast

        Heller House Inn is a home built in 1845 and is currently a Bed and Breakfast owned and operated by Darren and Pam Tisdale. Darren and Pam both grew up in Kingstree, where they have raised a family and worked all their lives. Darren is currently the owner and operator of Williamsburg Lawn Care Services and also serves as the Mayor of Kingstree. After retiring from the family trucking business after 25 years, Pam opened up the bed and breakfast in 2017 as not only a place for lodging, but a place for guests to feel at home where they can rest and find peace. The beautifully decorated inn includes a reading room, sitting room, front porch, multiple guest rooms, plus more, and is within walking distance to Main Street.

        Darren and Pam first overlooked the house as an option. “We had been looking for a larger house for a while when our realtor suggested the Heller House, but when we first looked at it, it was too much property and too much house for us, so we marked it off our list,” shares Pam. As time went on, their realtor suggested the property a second time. Pam and Darren then met with the current owners. “We sat down with them and listened to them tell us about how special this house was to them,” explains Pam. “Mr. and Mrs. Arnett told us that it really wasn’t the money that was important, but that someone take this place, love it back to life and esteem it as it should be.” The house seemed to be the right fit at the time, and with much prayer, the Tisdales purchased the home in October of 2010. “It was like buying a piece of history,” says Pam.

        The house is on the National Registry of Historic places. The Heller House is named after the owners, Mr. and Mrs. MF Heller, who bought the property in 1890. After their purchase of the house, they started an extensive renovation which included adding an upstairs, pressed tin ceilings, and gas overhead lighting, which was the first of its kind in Kingstree. In 1910 the Baptist Church located across the street was replacing its original wooden structured sanctuary. It is said that Mr. Heller instructed the builders to bring the sanctuary across the street and he had it attached as a dining room. It still serves as a beautiful formal dining room today. The house was the first in the town to have overhead lighting, and it still obtains four of its original fixtures. At present, the main house is 4,800 sq. ft. and is the oldest home in town on its original foundation.

        After many years of opening their doors to entertain and host friends and family, Pam and Darren decided to share their beautiful historic home with friends they had not met yet. “We have always entertained and had friends and family stay with us, but in 2016 the Lord started laying it in my heart that it was time to retire and open this home to the community and allow its history and its special story’s to be told,” shares Pam. In June of 2017 Pam left her job of 25 years and began the journey to open the Heller House as a Bed and Breakfast. The doors officially opened in November of 2017. The Tisdales have been overwhelmed at the great response from the community and how business has been thus far. “We have met so many wonderful people who were coming to Kingstree and needed a place to stay either for family or business purposes. It has truly been a delight to meet so many wonderful people and to be able to share the beautiful history of this old Lady and the history of our town,” explains Pam. “The town of Kingstree is such a special place with so much rich history that so many know little about. But as many as will listen, I will tell about the beauty of our little sleepy town and the piece of history they are sure to enjoy in the Heller House Inn.”

     

  • Traveler’s Pointe – Promoting Conservation Through Design

    Traveler’s Pointe – Promoting Conservation Through Design

        Landon White was born and raised in Hartsville, SC. He grew up connecting with the outdoors, participating in any activity from hunting and fishing to camping, hiking, and surfing. Landon attended The Citadel where he graduated with a degree in Business Administration. His passion for the outdoors and experiences at The Citadel motivated him to create a unique brand, Traveler’s Pointe, which is dedicated to creating designs that promote conservation and artistically portray the life and mind of a traveler.

        While attending the Citadel, a study abroad trip to Ecuador presented Landon with a new outlook on life and inspired him to make a difference. He shares, “I rode horses on mountains, swam in the Amazon River, and found a beach with wild monkeys playing in the trees. That is when I fell in love with traveling because it allowed me to explore new places, experience other cultures, and meet new people. I decided that it was not only important to travel the world, but to leave these places better than I found them.” At that point, Landon was inspired to create a clothing brand that promoted conservation and influenced others to experience the outdoors and explore their own passions. Landon created Traveler’s Pointe, a brand with products such as hats, t-shirts, flannels, stickers, and other merchandise with unique designs that reflect the beauty of nature and the importance of conservation.

        The brand motto is “Find Your Wild Side,” which simply encourages people to find what they love about the outdoors and to find ways to protect the wilderness around them for others who enjoy the same passion. For instance, for those who love to hike, it is encouraged they keep trails clean using the “leave no trace” policy and pick up trash and debris that can affect other’s experiences in the wild. The designs are meant to serve as a reminder on travels to not only embrace and experience adventure, but to also give back during a journey. “My father and grandfather were big influences on the importance of conservation, respecting wildlife, and preserving it for future generations. My mother and grandmother taught me the importance of community and helping others in need,” explains Landon. “Together we can all make the outdoors greater for everyone through simple changes in our daily lives, and we hope to express our passions and the wilderness in a positive way through our clothing designs.” As a grass-root company, they plan on creating educational community events where people can meet new friends with similar passions and participate in wilderness cleanups and other activities.

        Traveler’s Pointe believes that community support should come first. Currently, products are sold in locally owned stores and online. Naturally Outdoors in Florence, a local wilderness outfitter, carries the products and has similar beliefs in conservation and community. Seersucker Gypsy in Hartsville, an artistically crafted boutique owned by Roxie Gardner, carries the brand. You can also find Traveler’s Pointe products at Young Plantations Pecan Outlet in Florence. The brand is seeking other local vendors who may be interested in carrying their products in their stores.

        Traveler’s Pointe will continue to educate others about the wilderness through artwork, social media, volunteer work, donating to conservation efforts, and community service. As the company grows they plan to expand in all those areas, but they also plan on making larger conservation efforts across the state and country. “Conservation and traveling is the root of our cause, so through community support we can create more designs that promote conservation and also help our wilderness areas grow as well,” explains Landon.

    For more information, visit www.travelerspointe.com or find Traveler’s Pointe on Facebook and Instagram, @travelerspointe.

  • Grayson Jeffords – Rising Trinity-Byrnes Collegiate School Senior

    Grayson Jeffords – Rising Trinity-Byrnes Collegiate School Senior

        Grayson Jeffords will soon take the role of student body president as she enters into her senior year at Trinity-Byrnes Collegiate School (TBCS). Her responsibilities of being a positive influence on those around her, not only in school but also off campus, appears naturally as she discusses her future plans to improve the community through acts of service. 

    Tell us about your extracurricular activities at TBCS.

    “I run varsity cross-country and play varsity girls soccer. I am student body president this year which I am really excited about! I also started a community service club this past year. I got a group of students to come out in the community with me to help others. This past year, our main focus was on Help4Kids where we packed food bags for local students. I think community service is important. I am very fortunate to attend Trinity-Byrnes and blessed to have this opportunity, so it is important that I give back as much as I can to others.”

    What do you do outside of school to help make a difference?

    “I just got back from South Africa where I was on a mission trip there with my church, Highland Park United Methodist. There’s a local church there and we did vacation bible school in the morning with kids and service work in the afternoon. Interacting with locals helped me to see how truly fortunate I am to not only live in the U.S., but to have all the opportunities that I have.”

    What plans do you have as the Student Body President for the upcoming year?

    “I really want to make sure the school is even more inclusive. It already is because we are like a little family, but I really think I want to try and include every little group. I want everyone to feel comfortable in coming to me with ideas. I wrote hand-written welcome cards to the 80 new students this year welcoming them to Trinity-Byrnes. Looking back, when I entered the school I remember being terrified. I hope this way 7th graders can feel more connected to the school and comfortable in their new surroundings.

        I also want to try and get the school more involved in community service as a whole. I thought it would be neat if the whole school could do a service day. Currently our middle schoolers do that. I think it would be a good opportunity for everyone to get involved in giving back to our community.”

    What makes the Trinity-Byrnes experience different than most other schools?

    “I’ve attended TBCS since the 7th grade. I can come and talk to my teachers about anything and not just about school. It is really cool to have that relationship. I have grown up with most of the students. It is hard to explain, but we feel really close to one another. Something else that is great is the food! We have food catered in everyday from different restaurants and recently added a Micro-Market which works on a honors system.”

    What are your future plans after high school?

    “I have been visiting in-state and out-of-state colleges and have seen some really good options. I am looking to stay with a smaller school because I want to carry on what I have at TBCS. I want to continue to feel a sense of community wherever I am and have a personal relationship with teachers who can help me one-on-one. We’ll see what happens!”

  • Alexis Kelley McDonald – Connecting with Students Through Dance

    Alexis Kelley McDonald – Connecting with Students Through Dance

        Alexis Kelley McDonald is a teacher and choreographer at Kelley’s Fine Arts (KFA) Dance and Gymnastics. Alexis began taking dance with KFA at the age of two and was part of the KFA Company for 14 years. Additionally, she was a member of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts, was under contract with Opryland Productions for four years as a child, and was SAG eligible by the age of 8. She was also a featured singer and Dance Captain in Myrtle Beach’s High Steppin’ Country for three years. She has participated in many Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) events winning both Technical and Entertainment Awards and even directed Kershaw County’s DWTS show. Alexis has choreographed all over the southeast for various schools, theaters and dance teams. She has performed places such as Disney World, Universal Studios, and on Carnival Cruiselines.

        Alexis holds a degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of South Carolina with a Music Minor and is a certified member of Dance Masters of America. She served as the director of the National Dance Competition, Dance Troupe, Inc., for three years where she traveled the country teaching master classes and putting on events. In addition, Alexis was named the 2018 Best Mannered Teacher by the Junior Cotillion of Camden and she won the 2018 Lake City Chamber of Commerce’s Patricia McElveen Customer Service Award.

        While she loves to perform, her greatest joy is found when she has the opportunity to watch a student grow. She also believes in giving back. Alexis was a member of the Camden Junior Welfare League and the University of South Carolina Phi Mu House Corporation. She and her KFA dance family put on a concert every year to benefit various charities and perform all over the state. She is married to Chaz McDonald who is a nurse at McLeod. They live in Camden with their sweet mutt Mina and are members of First Baptist Camden.

     

    When did you begin your role as a dance teacher/choreographer?

    Alexis: “My choreography and teaching career began as soon as my sisters could listen to me. I would choreograph routines that they would have to perform complete with costumes and cassette tapes! I started assisting my mother (Burnadene Kelley-Newman) at her dance studio, KFA, in the sixth grade and doing choreography in the ninth grade. After I graduated high school, I began teaching on my own in Camden, South Carolina while attending school in Columbia. In 2016, I began teaching in Florence as well, and last year I added Lake City to my schedule.”

    Tell us about your family interaction at work.

    Alexis: “My mom and sisters and I love to bounce ideas off of each other. We all have different strengths, so some of the best routines come from us all in the same room throwing out ideas and choreography together.”

    What is it like to have many young faces looking up to you and waiting for instruction? 

    Alexis: “It is the best feeling in the world! No one loves you like children and no one is as honest with you as children. I am very attached to my students and after they’ve taken one of my classes, I think of them as mine. It is a deep responsibility to make sure that no matter what is going on at home or school, when they come into my studio, I want them to leave feeling loved and worthy.”

    Describe your most rewarding moment as a dance instructor?

    Alexis: “There are so many, it’s hard to pick just one. A student making her college dance team, a shy toddler getting through her first recital, a hardworking high school senior finally winning 1st Place Overall, a parent telling you their child is most happy in the studio, and watching a student work so long for a skill and eventually accomplish it. Those are amazing moments. I also feel an overwhelming sense of pride when I see my dancers cheering each other on and helping others. That’s what we need more of in this world; Dancers rooting for one another even when that person might be their competition. When they understand that winning isn’t always the most important and are grateful for the opportunities, I feel like I’m doing something right.”

    Tell us about the Acro classes to be offered at KFA.

    Alexis: “I am so excited about this new opportunity. Acro is a style that combines classical dance technique with acrobatic elements and tumbling. We are getting our certification this summer with Acrobatic Arts in Orlando and will be offering it to our competitive dancers in all of our locations.”

    Describe your favorite routine, dance style, and music.

    Alexis: “My favorite dance routine would be impossible to choose, but this past year, I taught a routine that melted my heart every time it was performed. It was a lyrical dance to the song ‘This Little Light of Mine’ by Addison Road. These dancers absolutely reflected the love of Jesus in their faces and movement and I couldn’t help but get emotional. I love to dance to songs that tell a story or communicate an emotion, whether it be joy or sorrow. The best songs and routines are the ones that move the audience to feel something. My favorite type of dance to perform myself is absolutely tap. I love complex rhythms and finding new ways to emphasize the music. Tap is creating music with your feet.”

    What does the future hold for KFA?

    Alexis: “God has been so good to us. Honestly, I love exactly where KFA is. Sure, I would love to see some of our smaller studios grow to the size of our bigger locations, but as far as our programs go, I think the focus is continuing what we have going. We have such a strong family atmosphere where we help our students grow as dancers, but even more so as kind and caring members of society. The future is bright!”

    KFA has a total of seven locations with studios in Florence, Lake City, Turbeville, Bishopville, Camden, Hartsville, and Cheraw. For more information, visit www.kelleysfinearts.weebly.com.

     

  • Ashley Aesthetic – Hand Crocheted Creations

    Ashley Aesthetic – Hand Crocheted Creations

        With her creative talent, Ashley LeSage crochets a variety of original handmade pieces. What started as a hobby turned into more with the start of Ashley Aesthetic, LLC. Originally from Storrs, Connecticut, Ashley came to Hartsville to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Dance at Coker College. Ashley loves the small, close knit environment of Coker College and the city of Hartsville. In fact, she even stayed in Hartsville after graduating in 2015, as she had both a full-time and part-time position lined up in dance education. Along with running Ashley Aesthetic LLC, she is a dance teacher at Thornwell School for the Arts and a dance instructor at MOVE Dance Academy in Hartsville.

        Ashley taught herself how to crochet the summer going into her junior year of college. “I wanted to find something I could do between classes or in the little free time I had that made money,” shares Ashley. “Both my junior and senior year I sold hats, headbands, and scarves to make a little extra money and to relieve any school related stress.” After leaving it alone for about two years, Ashley suddenly shifted her focus and picked it back up again, this time in full force with the creation of new items. Ashley created crocheted tops, blankets, and even monster slippers, which were a major product that pushed her to start her business. “Last November I had a friend who asked me to make monster slippers for her daughter, so I found a pattern, adjusted it to make it my own, and crocheted them.” After that, Ashley continued to take special requests which have become very popular. With the development of an Etsy shop online, she was sending her creations to places as far as California, Arizona, and Hawaii. “The Christmas season was insane! My hands and wrists would be sore from crocheting, yet I was never sick of it,” says Ashley “Creating something from just yarn and a hook is still fascinating to me.” In January of 2018 she finally turned her hobby into a real business and registered Ashley Aesthetic as a single member LLC. Since then she has attended numerous festivals, farmers markets, and has continued with online sales.

        In addition to taking special requests, Ashley Aesthetic continues to offer a wide variety of items in stock. Ashley explains, “My favorite thing to do is make new items. Currently some of the more recent items I have added to my collections are baby bibs, baby booties, purses/bags, anklets, rugs, and pillows. I am always adding new items and changing things up.” Ashley’s dream is to own her own store full of all of her work. She hopes to turn her side business into a full-time career in the future.

    To check out Ashley’s work, visit her Etsy shop at etsy.com/shop/theashleyaesthetic or to contact Ashley regarding custom made items, email her at ashleyaestheticllc@gmail.com.