Artist Richard Riley Creates Surreal, Spooky, and Sublime Replicas

Photos by Ashlee Glen & Courtesy of Richard Riley

He has created pop culture and movie prop and character replicas for major amusement parks, Disneyland, orthodontist offices, museums, and myriad private clients. Madison Heights–based Riley Replicas has shipped creations around the globe, finding his work featured in France, Germany, Hungary, Japan, and Australia. What turned into a full-time passion enterprise for Richard Riley began as a side job when the artist needed a second income. 

In 1999, Riley was working for a fire extinguisher company. The Lynchburg-area native needed a second job to supplement his regular paycheck, and an idea came from his brother. 

Riley’s brother subscribed to a magazine called Toy Fair, which catered to action figure collectors, he said. The magazine was hiring artists to make dioramas they could stage their featured action figures in. 

“He was like, ‘Why don’t you try that?’ I said, ‘Sure, why not?’” Riley said. So, he made some dioramas, took photographs of them, and sent them in to the magazine in response to their job advertisement. He was hired on the spot.

Riley worked for the magazine making dioramas for a year, until operations shifted and the work started drying up. Riley’s brother, once again, gave him another idea.

“My brother, again, showed me where people were making replicas of figures from Star Wars and he said, ‘They’re selling them on eBay.’ And again, I was like, ‘I can do that!’ So I just jumped into it and started making these small figures,” Riley said. 

After launching that endeavor, Riley got what he considers his big break in the replica-making world. 

In 2003, a New York City client who owned a comic book shop commissioned Riley to make some Star Wars replicas for his private collection. This contract had Riley making a replica every two weeks. One of his first projects was a Jabba the Hutt replica, re-creating the infamous sloppy space slug. 

One day, the client asked Riley if he would start making some Star Wars mask replicas. His vision was to put them on full-size mannequins, dressing them to look like various Star Wars characters to set up around his comic bookstore. 

“I had no idea how to even begin to make one, but I could either lose a customer or figure it out, so I told him ‘I’ve never done a mask. I know the principles behind it. Let me try something but of Styrofoam.’”

The Styrofoam mask was a success. 

Styrofoam has been Riley’s go-to material ever since. 

Sometimes he works with fiberglass or uses plastic resin molds when making multiple pieces of the same item, but Styrofoam is by far the most common and primary material used to create his replicas. 

“It’s more economical for the client, and also it’s so forgiving,” Riley said. “If you cut something or if you carve something and it’s not exactly right, just cut that part out, put a new piece in, and then carve it again. No big deal.” 

In 2015, Riley went full-time with his business. 

He is mostly a one-man show, except on occasion where he needs something like a metal frame or a metal decoration for a particular replica. In these cases, Riley said he hires a local specialist for whatever service he needs. 

All of Riley’s clients find him online, he explained. 

“The internet has completely changed how people like me do work,” Riley said. 

In a competitive market, Riley chooses not to limit himself to a hyper-specific niche and makes sure he always delivers by his promised deadline.

“I’ve really diversified when it comes to what I make,” he said. “I don’t try to pigeonhole myself.” 

The most fulfilling part of his work, Riley said, is troubleshooting—figuring out how to go from nothing to the final product. Each creation is different and requires a different process as a result.

“I know what the piece is going to look like before I finish it. In my mind’s eye, I know exactly what it’s going to look like. It’s just the figuring out how to get to that point because certain pieces will require it to be hollow. Other pieces may require it have an internal structure. It might have to have a metal frame in it, or a wood frame in it,” Riley said.

The least favorite part of his job is shipping the items, particularly large ones, Riley admitted. Trying to pack and pay for everything can be a headache. When possible, he said he drives a project to its destination himself. 

One hundred percent of his work goes out of state, Riley said. Although he is based in Virginia, no client has contacted him directly from the Commonwealth. 

Riley’s annual commissions vary year by year, but this year he is booked solid through 2024. Clients are on a waitlist for next year, he said. Sometimes, he might only do five jobs a year, but they are usually major ones. 

In May, Riley had a replica of the head of the shark from the classic movie Jaws. The nearly four-foot piece will be mounted on the wall of a 1970s/1980s movie-themed Texas restaurant, he said. As a major fan of this movie, the job was an extra special one for the artist. 

The dream job would be to make a replica of the full-sized shark from Jaws, Riley said. That, along with a life-size T-Rex and some spaceships from the Star Wars universe. 

If people visit Kings Dominion during Halloween, they might see one of Riley’s creations on display: a cemetery arch. This commission was made through a New York-based firm working with the amusement park. Other Halloween pieces can be found at Six Flags amusement park, and Disneyland in California. 

Out of his extensive portfolio, three projects stand out to Riley among the most memorable. 

Around 2013, Riley made a replica of a Star Wars creature for a car manufacturer. His work was featured in that year’s Super Bowl advertisement for the manufacturer. 

A few years ago, Riley received a commission to make an ancient-looking statue of the legendary Greek hero Hercules fighting Cerberus, the three-headed dog who, in mythology, stands guard in the realm of Hades. After delivering the piece, Riley found out it was displayed at an event the president attended. 

Riley said his personal favorite project was making Max, the dog from Dr. Seuss’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas. This piece went to an orthodontist office in South Carolina, where the holiday theme was “the Grinch.”

Chris Jerrigan, the orthodontist at this office, has been a regular client of Riley’s for five years now. He practices what he calls “experiential marketing,” setting up elaborate quarterly themes in his office. Countries of the world; Disney themes with castles, cottages, and soon an eight-foot dragon; and a 12-foot Rockefeller Center replica; seasonal themes for Halloween and Christmas—there is always something set up in the small-town practice. 

“I always wonder if he’s not going to get snapped up by Lucasfilm or Universal to start making their stuff. It’s just crazy, his level of talent,” Jerrigan said. 

Riley’s biggest piece of advice to fellow artists, which he wishes he had done, is to take business courses.

“Whatever job or dream someone has, there’s absolutely no reason why they can’t follow it. None whatsoever,” Riley said.   

If aliens had landed and embedded a tribe of intergalactic species into one room… .”  No, that’s not the start of a zany joke; rather, it’s how one story in the January 2004 issue of Lynchburg Living began. In the article, Cutting Edge, Curious, Contemporary, writer Craig Shaffer reviewed a sculpture installation exhibiting at the time at Riverviews Artspace. We’d like to adopt that title—Cutting Edge, Curious, Contemporary—as the autobiographical title to this trip down memory lane. Twenty years of magazines. Twenty years of curiosity, of exploring the cutting edge, the contemporary, and the celebratory. Twenty years of putting ink to paper to catalog all that our beautiful region has to offer. If you’ve been with us since day one, this is just as much your celebration as it is ours. If you’re new to these pages, welcome. We hope you’ll stick with us for the next 20.

Vintage Stores Offering Style and Sustainability

Many people would still prefer to read a paperback rather than an e-reader or capture a touching moment on film rather than on their phone’s camera. Certain things never lose their charm or the experience they give.

Even buying clothes can provide a fun and nostalgic experience for savvy shoppers. While thrift stores are nothing new, the appreciation for vintage clothing is on the rise. For many, thrifting is much more than finding a great deal on clothes. It can be a way to engage in more sustainable consumerism, or to create a signature look that is unlikely to be replicated with the clothes of today.

Tastes in fashion vary from person to person, but there are plenty of options in some of Lynchburg’s newer vintage and thrift stores. Each has its own way of keeping unique styles alive, while also making culturally conscious business choices. 

Mission Thrift

A collaborative project of Freedom 4/24 and Sports Outreach Institute, Mission Thrift is a store dedicated to offering the community an affordable place to shop for many essentials, while also supporting other nonprofits.

“Our goal is to be very collaborative and very community-focused,” Mission Thrift Manager Faith Towles said.

Located on Bedford Ave. in a former Food Lion building, Mission Thrift officially opened January 14, and has seen a consistent crowd ever since.

“We really are seeing the community, as a whole, come in the door,” Towles said.

The building is spacious enough to have several distinct sections for various household items, clothes, and even an entirely different wing of the building dedicated to furniture and large appliances such as refrigerators or ovens.

“We are an avenue for people to not throw away things. It’s amazing what items we get in,” Towles said.

Mission Thrift offers no-charge pickups for anyone wishing to give away furniture or appliances.

Although Mission Thrift offers a variety of products, Towles says that clothing is undoubtedly the biggest seller. Despite the sheer amount of clothing they take in, Mission Thrift still adheres to standards of quality to ensure customers also receive a great product.

According to Towles, if a clothing item is deemed unusable for any reason, it is packed away to be passed along to Mission Thrift’s clothing and textile recycler. The clothes stay out of the landfill and the materials can be given to communities with urgent needs around the world. To date, Mission Thrift has recycled 36,000 pounds of clothing.

Empire Fleet Vintage

With a greater focus on clothing, Empire Fleet Vintage boasts a unique array of styles and time periods on its racks. Owner Lisa Jonas opened the store May 2021, to accommodate her desire to start a business and her love for thrifting.

Part of Jonas’ goal in highlighting vintage clothing is to help combat the waste that “fast fashion” can cause.

“We don’t want to ever look down on people trying to rock their own fashion, but we like to encourage this idea of looking for pieces that are recycled, making it a little more sustainable,” she said.

Aside from the benefits of sustainability, what makes something vintage, as opposed to just secondhand, is the quality that it is made with—quality that is rarely found in modern clothing, according to Jonas.

“Having those time capsules from different periods is also really fun.”

She often gathers pieces for the store that she feels have some unique quality, but still keeps the store stocked with items with broad appeal.

“We do try to keep it curated to a degree that you don’t have to look too hard to find something that suits you,” Jonas explained.

The variety of styles at Empire Fleet is due, in part, to Jonas’ collaboration with other vintage consignors. She finds other people in the community who shop for vintage and offers them an avenue for their respective businesses.

“When they find their treasures, they can resell them here,” she said.

A+ Attire

While there is likely some cliché about couples who thrift together, Felix and Megan Guevara of A+ Attire prove there must be something to the success that their teamwork has provided.

Although you’ll sooner find A+ Attire at a community market pop-up rather than a traditional storefront, Megan also works at Empire Fleet Vintage, so some of her finds can be found there. The A+ team does business wherever they can and have made thrifting a part of their lives.

“Most of everything we’ve owned—furniture-wise, housing-wise, clothing-wise—has been thrifted,” Megan said.

Megan and Felix started A+ Attire just under two years ago. The company is named after their daughter Ainsley, whose blood type also happens to be A positive. However, the A+ also refers to the quality they seek in their repurposed clothes.

“We love to reuse and not let a lot of things go to waste,” Felix said.

Fortunately, after such a short time in business, Felix says that A+ found a degree of success early on.

“There’s a good market for it here in town. It’s an emerging market,” Felix said.

A+ likely has the most specialized vintage wear of the previously mentioned vintage stores—they specialize in vintage t-shirts and hats.

Imagining some of your old t-shirts or hats, you may not see the appeal of A+’s inventory at first, however, much like Empire Fleet, they look for items that stand the test of time and have unique qualities.

“We’re repurposing everything. That’s a big part of it, is repurposing,” Megan said.

Much of A+’s business comes from direct communications with the vintage community and their customers, who, at times, have very specific requests. Felix says that if a customer has a request, they “don’t have to put in the legwork.” Felix hunts down the requested item and notifies the customer when they’ve found it.

Megan recalls one of their more unique finds was a red satin jacket used in the 1960s-1970s television series Dark Shadows. “That was probably one of my favorite finds, to this day.”

Both Megan and Felix agree that they love finding something unique that a customer gets excited about. Continued research and discoveries into unique clothes have been a mainstay of A+’s business.

“We know infinitely more than we did a year ago. Our tastes have refined,” Felix said.  

Julian Raven, Opens Gallery and Studio on Wards Road

When artist Julian Raven shares his story, he paints a picture as vivid and lively as the stunning works he displays in his new gallery on Wards Road.

Raven’s journey from a young English boy living in Spain with a penchant and talent for art to an internationally celebrated artist with a vast and versatile catalog of work has been full of peaks, valleys, and serendipitous moments. He seems to recall every step of his journey with gratitude for bringing him to where he is today.

Raven’s earliest memory of loving art occurred when he was about eight years old and living in Spain.

“I can remember sitting with my father on a veranda in a villa in southern Spain, where I grew up,” he recalled. “It was a sunny day, and I did a colored pencil drawing of some beautiful bougainvillea that was wrapped around a white-washed wall. It was a clear picture of my inclination towards the visual arts.”

When his family moved to Portugal when he was a bit older, Raven attended tiny international English-speaking schools and continued pursuing his passion for art. He won several art contests, but because the arts were not prioritized in these schools, Raven was not fully supported in his pursuit—that is, until the day his math teacher found him sketching in the school’s library.

“My math teacher saw me doodling in the library at the English International College and set a crushed can of Coke in front of me to sketch,” said Raven. “After I was done sketching, he basically took me by the hand and walked me over to meet David Bodlak, an artist and teacher in the art department.”

Bodlak mentored and championed Raven when the latter was in his mid-teens and continues to be a source of great inspiration to him to this day.

“He was a wonderful mentor,” Raven stated. “His enthusiasm and encouraging spirit were incredible. In an art class where you have all different skill levels, he would go from student to student and always find something redeemable about each person’s work. He has had a tremendous impact on me.”

Raven graduated high school at the age of 16 and took a year off to focus on his art. He then went on to study at the prestigious Chelsea College of Arts in London.

During his time at the College, Raven experienced a series of highs and lows. Although he “was in heaven because the facilities were huge,” he was struggling greatly with his father’s death, which happened when Raven was only 10, and with the political climate that surrounded him. He notes that he lost his faith in God and often felt hopeless and lost during this time.

Raven ended up leaving the College and going back to Spain, where he began to work in the bar business. Then, in early 1992, Raven’s life changed dramatically as he sat alone on a mountain.

“I came to faith in God in Spain, alone and sitting on a mountain, contemplating nature,” he recalled.
“That experience changed my life and led me down a spiritual journey where I began to pursue missionary work.”

This missionary work brought him to America. He originally planned to do missionary work in California for six months and then move to Mexico as a missionary, but he ended up moving to Elmira, New York, in 1996 instead. There, he met his wife, Gloria, and they started their own business: Raven’s Custom Creations. As Raven used his artistic skills to create custom-painted and decorative furniture, his passion for art was invigorated.

In addition to thriving artistically, Raven was spiritually and personally fulfilled. He and Gloria had three children, and he opened his own gallery in Elmira in 2007. Then the 2008 financial crisis occurred.

Forced to close the gallery, Raven and his family moved back to Spain for a year and a half. Ultimately, they moved back to Elmira and Raven opened a new gallery.

After entertaining the idea of RVing out west, Raven and Gloria decided to move to Lynchburg, where all three of their children still study at Liberty University. Raven knew that he wanted to open a gallery here; the challenge was finding the right spot for it. Julian Raven Artist, LLC, found a home at 2121 Wards Road and officially opened on March 25.

“I could have gotten a warehouse and been off the beaten path,” he said. “I looked at those options but decided that if I wanted to get up and running, I needed to be in an area with more movement. It’s sort of an unlikely setting for an art studio because I’m stuck between a Wendy’s and a McDonald’s, but it’s also sort of fitting because I’m a contrarian by nature. It just had what I saw as the bones to be something great.”

Raven and his son spent six weeks completely renovating the building, which houses not only Raven’s work, but also what he calls his “Renaissance Creative Palette” of services: painting parties, art classes, portrait painting and photography, and more. There is a screen-printing room downstairs and a brand-new photo studio, for which a ribbon cutting ceremony was held on June 15.

Raven says that his painting parties are a “real way to connect with people,” and adds that “seeing people who have never painted before create works of art is remarkable.” According to Raven, one gentleman came in a couple of times to paint, and after Raven shared the man’s second painting on Instagram, it sold for $100.

When it comes to Raven’s own work, he is a multimedia artist and photographer.

“I have a lot of very broad experience because my artistic hunger has made me curious to discover and try new things,” he noted. “I like to be constantly challenged. I always seem to find difficult things to do!”

That said, Raven specializes in abstract expressionism, which he says allows him “to share his inner-world experience and joy.” He recalls that an attendee of one of his shows referred to him as a “happy Pollock,” a moniker that he happily embraced.

There is no telling where Raven’s journey will take him next, but one thing is certain: he will continue to see the beauty in all things and to share his interpretations of that beauty with others.

“Beauty, for me, is so arresting,” he stated. “When I see true beauty—nature, people—I want
to capture it and share it with others. We live in some pretty serious times right now. I want people to feel lighter after leaving my gallery.”  

To learn more about Julian Raven, his gallery and studio, and his art, check out his website (julianraven.com) and Facebook page.

Not sure where to go for your oral health or dental treatments? Look no further than the experts referenced in our Area Dental Guide. From braces for your kids to the dental professionals you want in your corner when there’s an issue, we have you covered.

For decades, there has been an ongoing debate surrounding fluoride, a naturally occurring mineral in food and water. It is often added to public water supplies, toothpaste, and other dental products because of its potential advantages for dental health. However, controversies have arisen due to concerns about its safety and potential adverse effects. Whether you choose to use fluoride in your home or not, it’s important to know as much as possible about this polarizing mineral. 

The Good News Dental Health Benefits

One of the most significant advantages of fluoride is its ability to prevent tooth decay. When fluoride is present in the mouth, it can strengthen tooth enamel, making it more resistant to acid attacks from bacteria. This mineral can also help reverse early stages of tooth decay, reducing the need for costly dental treatments in the long run. Fluoridated water has been particularly effective in decreasing tooth decay rates, benefiting communities with limited access to dental care. If you don’t feel like you’re getting enough of the mineral through your water, a dentist can also apply fluoride to your teeth in the form of:

Foam: dispensed into a custom tray, then placed over your teeth.

Varnish: painted directly on to your teeth.

Gel: painted on your teeth or dispensed in a custom tray.

Widely Accessible 

Fluoride is readily available and inexpensive. It can be found in many dental care products such as toothpaste and mouthwash. Additionally, the process of adding fluoride to public water supplies is relatively simple and cost-effective, making it an accessible preventive measure for oral health. This widespread availability ensures that individuals from all socio-economic backgrounds can benefit from fluoride’s dental protective effects.

Benefits to the Community

Adding fluoride to public water supplies benefits the entire community, including individuals who may not have access to regular dental care. This population-wide approach has proven effective in reducing tooth decay rates, especially among children. Research has indicated that adding fluoride to water can cause notable reductions in tooth decay, leading to better overall oral health for the entire community.

Evidence Based Research

Extensive scientific research conducted for many years has shown that fluoride is beneficial for preventing tooth decay. Numerous studies that reviewed large amounts of data consistently found that fluoride, when used in the right amounts, effectively prevents cavities. This research forms the basis for dental health policies worldwide, which recommend the use of fluoride to promote oral health.

The Bad News Dental Fluorosis

Excessive fluoride exposure during tooth development can lead to dental fluorosis, a cosmetic condition that affects the appearance of teeth. Mild fluorosis may result in barely noticeable white streaks or spots on the enamel, while severe fluorosis can cause brown discoloration and pitting. Although dental fluorosis does not typically affect dental function or cause pain, it can be a source of aesthetic concern for some individuals.

Potential Health Risks

While the majority of scientific research supports the safety of fluoride when used appropriately, there are concerns about potential health risks associated with excessive fluoride intake. Some studies have suggested a possible link between high fluoride levels and skeletal fluorosis, a condition characterized by joint pain and stiffness. However, it’s important to note that these cases are usually associated with long-term exposure to extremely high levels of fluoride, primarily from drinking water sources in specific geographic areas. For example, the Rift Valley region in East Africa, which includes countries like Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda, has too much fluoride in its water. This happens because the rocks and ash in the area contain a lot of fluoride, which gets into the groundwater when rainwater passes through them. The natural fluoride levels in the water are higher than what is considered safe by the World Health Organization.

Lack of Control 

One of the primary concerns raised by fluoride critics is the lack of control over dosage. When fluoride is added to public water supplies, individuals have limited control over their fluoride intake, as it depends on the amount of water consumed and other sources of fluoride in their diet. This lack of control has led some individuals to advocate for alternative methods of fluoride application, such as topical treatments or fluoride supplements.

Individual Sensitivities

Some individuals may experience allergic reactions or other sensitivities to fluoride. Symptoms such as skin rashes or gastrointestinal issues can occur in rare cases. Additionally, individuals with kidney problems may be more susceptible to the potential adverse effects of fluoride due to impaired fluoride excretion.

Fluoride has proven to be an effective tool in preventing tooth decay and improving oral health. However, it is important to carefully consider its potential side effects and monitor fluoride levels in water to ensure a balance between its benefits and risks.  

The Willing Suspension of Disbelief

Royal Shirée brings activism and change to the stage

Photo by Ashlee Glen

Royal Shirée began her playwright and solo performing career while she was in college, but her flair for dramatic storytelling goes back to when she was a toddler. Shirée used to volunteer for story hour in school and spin fairytales, but as she grew older, she began to tell stories rooted in today’s societal issues. In her plays, all the “-isms” became the dragons that needed to be slain.

“Theater is the willing suspension of disbelief,” Shirée said. “You have to place yourself in that moment, in that time, and forget that you are looking at a stage or looking at a person saying lines. Theater is an active part of activism. It is also a very real part of connecting to people and their spirits.”

For Shirée, theater is more than entertainment; it’s education. Shirée grew up in a family of educators and so was raised with an educator mentality. Her award-winning play Sisters, a collaboration with Connecticut-based playwright Joanne Hudson, was incorporated into the Ridgefield, CT, middle school curriculum.

Markedly, Shirée wrote her solo piece Clippings while she studied at Hollins University to earn her MFA in playwriting. Shirée values this play for its important themes. Clippings explores global female abuse through domestic violence, rape, the system sworn to protect, and notably, the horror of female genital mutilation, which is practiced in areas of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

“Everyone has a backstory and there are a lot of social ills that people fall victim to,” Shirée said. “I want to address those issues to help change and positively affect the lives of the ignored.”

Shirée harbors a deep love for writing. She describes it as her escapism, with the need of “the intellectual stimulation of writing.”

“Writing is an expedition,” Shirée said. “You have to really discover [the story], then you have to exhume a lot of facts, then you analyze [them] … I always want to know why—why this and why that …. Instead of writing ‘this is the person,’ I want to write about how this person came to be.”

Storytellers like Jamaica Kincaid, August Wilson, Spike Lee, and Maya Angelou inspired Shirée to be bold in her art. Their work also helped Shirée learn how to develop characters and give them authenticity. 

That being said, writing and performing activate two different parts of her brain. Shirée describes performing as being all about the timing, rhythm, accents, and crescendo. Her role as a performer is to bring to life all of the voices she wrote into the script.

“I think it’s really important that the voices are heard. … These voices may be male, may be female, may be drunk, may be dying, whatever the case may be,” she explained.

Shirée currently works as the resident playwright at the Hamner Theater. Though she is battling health issues, Shirée refuses to abandon her passion. She makes an effort to think creatively, if not write, every day.  

To support her work, visit her website at www.royalshiree.com.

Provides Infused Cookies and Ice Cream to the Community

Photos by Ashlee Glen

Lynchburg residents looking for a unique way to satisfy their sweet tooth should consider visiting FUSE, an infused-cookie food truck located next door to Cookout on Wards Road. 

The food truck, owned and operated by Alan Sexten, combines ice cream, freshly baked cookies, and cookie fillers, allowing customers to tailor the dessert to their personal preferences. With eight standard cookies and nine ice cream flavors—plus rotating flavors of the month for each—patrons have a wide variety of options. In addition, one filler can be injected straight into the middle of each cookie for no additional charge if the patron so chooses. Filler options currently include Nutella, marshmallow cream, Oreo buttercream, Hershey’s fudge, Hershey’s caramel, and Reese’s peanut butter. 

Customers can opt to have cookies and ice cream served separately or order a specialty item that combines both cookies and ice cream. Many customers choose the ice cream sandwich, which combines two cookies, two fillers, and one large scoop of ice cream. 

Sexten stated that his reasoning behind the food truck, which re-opened for the 2023 season in April, was to provide Lynchburg residents with something different from the other dessert shops in the area. 

The business’s current hours are 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Sundays. Although currently holding unorthodox hours due to Sexten’s full-time job in Richmond, VA, it still provides customers with the chance to grab a late-night bite long after most other businesses close. 

Sexten prototyped FUSE in 2021 and said that doing so allowed him to perfect his craft. Starting with his mother’s homemade chocolate chip cookie recipe, he carefully altered the ingredients for each cookie type sold today. 

Sexten, who studied criminal justice at Liberty University, stated that he has continued to grow as a businessman through running the food truck.

“Through this, I have been able to learn so much more than I could through books or learn through YouTube, or even through classes,” he said. “When you get hands-on, it’s so much different.”

Sexten is currently constructing a second 8.5 x 24-foot trailer that not only will be insulated but also double the size of the current trailer (7 x 12 feet).  

 Potential customers can visit fusecookies.com for a full menu or check it out for themselves at 2623 Wards Road. 

Inside Joshua & Deidre Stone’s 19th Century Home

Peeking out behind a boxwood hedge in College Hill is a whitewashed stone cottage crested by a green metal roof and accentuated by black window shutters. A black and white cat sunbathes on the stoop, acting as the unofficial guardian of the home. On a still, quiet morning, the faint sound of a record can be heard emanating from behind the arched glass transom and, if you stand up on your tip toes and hold your nose just right, you may catch the subtle whiff of sandalwood. 

It’s an idyllic scene to stumble upon—the exterior of the home giving the impression of a place frozen in time. But if you step through the front door, you’ll be greeted by its current owners, Deidre and Joshua Stone, and realize that the space isn’t frozen in time at all. Rather, it’s a work in progress—a constant evolution of creativity, eclecticism, and whimsy.

Deidre, dressed in a thrifted kimono with a large bronze ankh necklace draping from her neck, lights incense in the front living room while Joshua, shirt buttoned behind a bolero tie, switches the record on the record player. The two move about the home in sync with one another, with the ease of a couple who has been together for 17 years. Their energy is effortless, with a spark of expressiveness and curiosity that is infectious but unrepeatable. Within the walls of their 200-year-old home, everything is a canvas, everything is an opportunity, and everything is art.

“We purchased the house in 2018,” said Deidre, “after living in an apartment that had flooded multiple times. We knew we needed to move.”

“We weren’t looking for a house,” Joshua continued, “instead we were looking around at other apartments. The flooding happened on a Sunday, and this house was listed on that Wednesday. We looked at it, loved it, put an offer on it that Thursday and it was accepted the next day.”

“We closed and moved a month later,” Deidre concluded.

The house was move-in ready, though it had been vacant for ten years. But while it was move-in ready in the practical sense—replacement windows, central air conditioning—the Stones knew they were embarking on a journey to marry their aesthetic with the circa 1815 home.

The front part of the cottage—the living room, front bedroom, and second floor—are all original to the home, which is one of the oldest remaining homes in Lynchburg. The kitchen and bathroom were added sometime in the early 20th century. When the Stones purchased the home, they immediately ripped up the carpet and painted over the pale blue walls.

“I was hoping that there was goodness underneath all they had covered up,” Deidre remembered. “There were drop ceilings everywhere and layers and layers of wall and wallpaper.”

And goodness was in fact discovered as the Stones started stripping away two centuries worth of renovations. The original fireplace was unmasked after hiding behind plaster walls for decades. Sweeping ceilings and stunning wood beams were unearthed beneath drop ceilings. Original heart pine floors were waiting, perfectly preserved under beige carpet. In each room, the Stones meticulously rediscovered the original beauty of the home.

“I still think there’s a lot that we haven’t uncovered,” Deidre acknowledged.

Then, the Stones got to work making the home their own.

“Admittedly, all of this work and this vision is hers,” Joshua said, nodding toward Deidre.

“I love darker, moodier vibes. I like to think the house is an extension of my personal style. I fit in well with the decor,” Deidre laughed.

The Stones wanted to create a space that felt cozy, moody, and dark, but remained welcoming.

“It’s a marriage of style and aesthetic, but also comfort and livability,” explained Deidre.

Throughout the home, inky walls offset velveteen and metallic textures. In the living room, a plush brocade sofa from Gold Tusk Vintage sits amongst scented mystical candles. Geodes, tarot cards, and plants line metallic shelves. Celestial brass wall hangings dot the walls while dried flowers hang like fragile banners across windows.

Every element is a nod to Joshua and Deidre’s life and tastes. Deidre, the owner of Storm + Stress—a shop devoted to mystical jewelry, candles, art, and home decor—peppers her pieces throughout the home.

Her original artwork trails up the tiger print lined stairs. A brass tarot card from her shop hangs against an ebony wall. Joshua, who owns Stone Spice Company and sells his rubs and seasonings at the Forest Farmer’s Market, brings home a bouquet of flowers to dry each week—each one unique and delicate. When a corner of the home isn’t styled with elements from the Stones own hands, thrifted pieces take their place.

“It’s rare that I purchase anything new, unless it’s handmade,” said Deidre. “I think of myself as an intuitive thrifter. I let pieces come to me. I have an idea in my mind of what I need and I don’t try to rush it. I just wait until it presents itself. You don’t always get instant gratification that way, but when you do find the right piece it’s amazing.”

Much like their mentality with decorating and embellishing their home, the Stones are intuitively letting their home show them what’s next. It’s a constant evolution of projects—from the smallest of paint upgrades to plans to build out a commercial kitchen so Joshua can run Stone Spice Company entirely from their home.

“There’s no need to rush things,” Deidre concluded.  

Follow along as Deidre and Joshua continue to transform their home. Find them on Instagram at @blackmoonstonecottage.