Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving has never been one of my favorite holidays, mostly because it features some of my least favorite foods. I could live without turkey and pie for that matter. I am usually entertained by the need to make several versions of cranberry sauce and the appearance of creamed onions (they only come out once a year). I like Thanksgiving as a holiday because it is a day to hang out with family and friends.

For the last 18 years of my life, Thanksgiving is a day of rest before the busy retail season. This year is the first Christmas season with my own store/gallery. I'm not quite sure what to expect but I have stocked up on great finds. Gorgeous bags, toasty hats and scarves, a range of jewelry, pottery, cutting boards, ornaments, and of course fine art. I hope that people know or will discover that unique gifts, made by hand are the best kind of gifts to give and receive.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I will be rested and ready to help you on Friday and throughout the Holiday season Tuesday-Friday 10-6 and Saturday 12-6. I will likely begin staying open late on Thursdays and certainly if you are unable to get in by 6pm due to your work schedule let me know and I will gladly make arrangements for you.

Local Artist Show

For the past week artists have been dropping off their pieces for the upcoming show- Creative Maine- The Works of Local Artists. I have met many of the artists before (about half live in the Gardiner area) but there are also quite a few that I had been corresponding with through email. So the drop off was sometimes my first in person meeting with the artist. I had many reasons for doing a local artist show and one reason of course, is it is an opportunity to develop a relationship with the art community. The show features 30 artists from Gardiner and around the state. As pieces are arriving, I am getting more and more excited about the range of work from small photographs to large paintings. There is really something for everyone in this show.

Never Fails

I almost always have my boxer, Bo, in the store with me. He is a well behaved dog, especially for a 2 1/2 year old. But some days he demands attention by "talking" to me. This can be quite annoying when I'm trying to get some work done...or have a customer I am talking to. If no one is in the store when he is in a mood, I will take him for a little stroll outside. I try to keep an eye on my door so I can see if anyone walks in while we are outside. Sometimes I miss seeing someone walk in the door and for some reason it is usually Mary Kay Spencer, a potter whose work I carry. This happened just yesterday. I don't know why this seems to always happen with Mary Kay. Yesterday I walked in one direction and even peeked in the window walking past in the other direction in case I had missed someone walking in. I didn't see anyone in there so I stopped and talked to a neighbor on the street. I was standing in front of the building when she walked out the door. Sorry Mary Kay. And if anyone walks in to an empty store just know I have likely run Bo outside for a minute and will be right back!

Too Early For Christmas

I have spent most of my adult life involved in retail. I am quite used to beginning to work on the Holiday Season in August but I was still surprised to receive the boxed Christmas cards today. Of course I ordered them and therefore should have expected them. It was still a bit of a shocker. A friend told me today there is a radio station in Indiana already doing 24 hour Christmas music. Christmas music before Halloween is just wrong.

Receiving those cards reminds me of all that needs to be done over the next few weeks to be prepared for the customers I expect (hope) will come. I have ordered bags and boxes and yes I was getting away with not having any boxes up to this point...it has only been 6 months. Still working on adding more merchandise. I'm sure I will get it all together and have a fabulous season...now back to work!

A Weekend Away

Tomorrow morning we are leaving town to go to my 25th high school reunion in Rumson, NJ. I have little reason to get back to my hometown. No one in my immediate family lives there but I am excited to get back and see friends I rarely see. I am imagining I will have many people asking me what I have been up. So I have been reflecting on the past 6 months to a year quite a bit. Monkitree has now been open for six months...which is a bit hard to believe. It seems like yesterday. Am I where I want to be after six months...no. Am I where I expected to be after six months...yes.

Starting a business is a process and we are building as we go. Right now I am in the midst of selecting works for a "Local Artist Show" to open November 19th. It is amazing to me the amount of talent here in Maine. I am excited to offer people the opportunity to show their work and grateful that the artists want to show in my gallery. This show is a unique opportunity for me to meet the many talented artists living nearby and for me to share their work during the busy Holiday Season.

I have no doubt people will be asking about my life this weekend. Am I rich? No. Am I successful? I'm still working on it. Am I happy? Absolutely. Peter and I made a great decision taking this journey together.

Happy American Craft Week!

I am sitting here in Monkitree surrounded by beautiful art, turned wood and assorted craft. Most of it made right here in Maine by what seems to be an endless supply of talented artists and craftspeople. Please remember to support your local artist, craftspeople and you local retailers and galleries this coming holiday season. Keep your money in your community, your state and your country. We have talented people here making gorgeous things.

Today I am pretty excited about Gardiner, Maine. It is a rainy day and hardly anyone is coming through the doors but I am still thrilled by Swine and Stein this past weekend. Many people came through the doors that hadn't yet been in and plenty of people returned to visit and make purchases. I had women trying on jewelry and pointing out to their husbands all the things they would be happy to receive as gifts. I had one young woman who currently lives in Portland but grew up here tell me that she was happy that something like Monkitree could exist in Gardiner. Peter tells me he took pictures of the gallery full of people. I must say it felt good to have a full space.

There were a couple of inquiries about buildings available for sale downtown and it is sounding like there just may be some new businesses coming to downtown Gardiner. It makes me happy when people see the potential and want to be a part of making the downtown a vibrant and active downtown.

Super Excited

This is a big weekend coming up in Gardiner, Maine. I am having my second opening reception in as many weeks and Gardiner Main Street is putting on Swine and Stein Octoberfest. The opening is on Friday evening for a Maine Woodturning Show to celebrate American Craft Week. I am getting very excited about this show which will offer a huge range of turned wood from five turners- Dennis Curtis, Kim Dailey, Michael Kagan, Lou Landry, and Al Mather. Lou dropped off his pieces today and they are gorgeous...of course I have been saying that everyday someone drops off work. I love turned wood whether it is a natural organic shape or a dyed blue segmented piece. I admire the skill and the artistic vision that brings them to form.

Saturday we will be open for Swine and Stein. The music will be in the park across the street, which at the very least, means people will come inside to use their cell phones (since they won't be able to hear outside). I found this to be true for the Hogs, Pies and Fireworks event....people came in so they could hear their phones and once inside they saw what we are doing here. I am hoping people will take the opportunity to wander town a bit (downtown is only two blocks long) and see what Gardiner has to offer. And more specifically what Monkitree has to offer- where else in town can you buy a beer ring and a handcrafted beer mug with the Swine and Stein logo? You guessed it. Just Monkitree!