Jeffery Long Designs STORY BY LONNA UPTON
Jeffery Long has been making great things in the Lake Martin area for 26 years. Long started creating and designing in his family’s flower shop, The English Cottage, in Ashland, Alabama, at a young age. After attending Samford University, he moved to Alexander City to work in a second family-owned flower shop. When that shop closed, he began designing for weddings and events in the Lake Martin area, Birmingham, Dothan and Fairhope through his freelance company, Jeffery Long Designs. He also creates the scent and pours his popular line of candles, along with painting beautiful, faith-inspired art. Long said he finds great inspiration in the Lake Martin area. His faith and his Church family at St. James’ Episcopal Church are very important to him. His connections to family and friends are also inspirational. But he credits his grandmother with encouraging his artistic nature, which he believes he has had since birth. “My grandmother was a true artistic cheerleader and hero to me. She was so artistic, into gardening and crafts. She influenced both me and my brother, who is also a designer. I think it’s just in our genes to love the beauty and scents of flowers,” Long said. Long’s grandparents helped start a country church years ago, and Long feels blessed to have found hymnals from the old church in his grandmother’s barn. Now, he combines his faith, her treasures and his art. “I call what I create with those hymnal pages Simple Blessings. The pages have become background for angels and churches, and I’m sure my grandmother is smiling down on me. It’s almost like I am working with her,” he said.
Long sells his Simple Blessings at venues on Lake Martin, such as Art on the Lake, Arti Gras and the Russell Crossroads Holiday Bazaar. “We are so lucky to have so many artists in our area. The shows on the lake draw extremely talented makers and painters and pottery, and so many people want to come and see. Plus, doing the shows helps me stay connected with friends. I get to see so many people. I love what I do, and connecting with people through my art or the scent of a candle is special and really keeps me motivated,” Long said. Besides Simple Blessings, Long’s seasonal items include candles. His candles, especially the Lake Martin Collection named for landmarks on the lake, are extremely popular, and his paintings are in demand by locals and visitors to the lake, as well. “I love creating scents and pouring candles, but COVID put a temporary end to that. I had been working with a small, familyowned business in South Carolina for those supplies, but unfortunately, the pandemic forced them to close. I was able to keep the recipes for my candles though, and I hope I am pouring again by the spring,” he said. Long began working at his family’s shop in Ashland to help out during the pandemic, but he remains free to do weddings and events with his freelance business. “I was so blessed to participate in a lot of sweet, sweet weddings, even in the middle of COVID. To be part of such beautiful things, to see the bride smile or the mother cry because they love what I designed for them is very special.” “Lake Martin is an inspirational place. It is such a gorgeous backdrop, a canvas if you will, for art and design. I am proud to call it home,” Long said.
Lake Martin is an inspirational place. It is such a gorgeous backdrop, a canvas if you will, for art and design.”
Jeffery Long
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WE MAKE IT GREAT HERE! | FEBRUARY 2022
