‘This is the studio that love built.’ | Bulverde art studio opens new location with help from local community

SAN ANTONIO — What a difference a year can make.

A year ago, ‘The Makery’ was forced out by a fire. Now, it’s settled in a brand new spot.

On Mar. 18, 2023 a fire ripped through the Bulverde art studio along with the restaurant Verde Bistro. Both were heavily damaged.

The Makery is a working and teaching metalsmithing studio. It is owned by Francesca and her husband Nick Watson.

“It was a traumatic, terrible, awful thing,” she said. “We had a history in that building and that building had a history in the community.”

She said not once, but twice on that same day, the old art studio caught fire. It is located down the street, from its new location.

“The roof was collapsing. It was now an order of magnitude way more than the original damage,” she said.

The Watson’s thought it was going to be the end.

“Was this God’s way of saying it is time for you to retire?” she asked.

However, it was far from the ending. The owner’s credit their online community they acquired during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is comprised of 5,800 members in more than 70 countries around the world. The Watson’s say the community wanted to help.

“They raised $150,000 in something like four weeks,” Francesca said. “So, that we could make this happen.”

She said insurance didn’t cover everything. Along with that big help, and the assistance of a local company and others in the community, they started again.

“So between the group and the local community who rallied around to make this happen we are just hugely gratified,” she said.

An old barn was transformed into their new space.

“This is the studio that love built,” the owner said.

Watson said the fire investigation took two months, revealed it most likely was electrical.

Their studio cat, Sterling, died in the fire. They now have artwork of the cat around the new place.

For workshops and classes, visit The Makery website here.