Cottages are more than just buildings to eat and sleep in at the lake. They are homes to memories, repositories of stories. The cottage was part of the time dad fished the keys out of the lake with a giant magnet, the huge party all the neighbours attended, your child’s first time up on water-skis. . . and all the other great times spent at your summer home.
Artist/Creative Elise Goodhoofd captures those amazing memories, and turns them into chalkboard art.
“I was inspired by my own family history cottaging on Kahshe Lake and created one for our family,” she says. “It came out so well, I wanted to share this experience with everyone.”
The Cottage Board is a chalkboard painted with custom-designed details about your cottage. Elise works with her clients, by means of a questionnaire, to get a sense of the personality of the property, and their unique history at the cottage.
She will ask about rainy day activities, favourite foods and beverages, the people who share the cottage, and more. Then she sets to work crafting a one-of-a-kind design that includes those details, along with a graphic map of the lake itself.
It’s all about finding the right pieces and making them fit in a brilliant and compelling design that completes the graphic puzzle and produces an exclusive work of art that doubles as a unique conversation piece.
“Knowing those unforgettable moments and all the details is what brings out the best in each Cottage Board,” she says. “I want the clients to look at the finished piece and feel a deep connection that inspires fond memories and emotions.”
While some clients hang their boards at the cottage, others prefer to have them featured at their year-round home to remind them that next summer’s cottage days are just around the corner.
“The Cottage Board was a gift to thank my parents for the years they generously provided us kids with unforgettable summers on Kahshe,” says Elise. “Also, every family member contributed ideas – it was fun to put together.”
It’s not only cottages that can benefit from The Cottage Board and Elise’s art. She has designed murals, live event chalkboards and campaign creative for corporate clients and businesses in Toronto and across Canada. Her full portfolio includes work for Google and other Fortune 500 companies.
“I love creating art that tells a story. And what better story to tell than your cottage’s?”
