LIFE BEATS DOWN AND CRUSHES THE SOUL AND ART REMINDS YOU THAT YOU HAVE ONE. STELLA ADLER

Monday, June 22, 2009

Celebrating Isle La Motte and a Picnic

By now we hope that everyone is well aware of the 400 celebration of Lake Champlain. If not, here is the summary: Samuel de Champlain, a french explorer, was the first white man to set foot in Vermont in July of 1609, 400 years ago. It has been recorded that he came down from Quebec with the help of Natives in canoes and he landed just up the street from Nook & Cranny, on the West Shore of Isle LaMotte, where he was known to have said, it an island full of the most beautiful pines he had ever seen. As they did back 100 years ago, for the 300th anniversary, the whole Lake Champlain region of Vermont is celebrating this anniversary with a variety of cultural and educational events. It has become quite the celebration thus far and we haven't even reached the peak, which occurs the first and second weeks of July. If you would like to learn more about this celebration, click here. As part of this celebration, being just down the shore from where it all started 400 years ago, Mom and I thought it only neccessary to honor the celebration with our own event. Introducing: Isle LaMotte and a Picnic Come celebrate the rich history of Isle La Motte with a picnic. Stop by Isle La Motte's local gift shop, Nook & Cranny for an educational map and picnic. Begin your self-guided tour on the land where Samuel de Champlain landed in 1609 and the site of the first French settlement. Also visit the Fisk Quarry, a 450 million-year-old fossil reef, and much more. Bring the kids, your dog and your bicycle or feel free to take the tour by car. This is a great educational event for the whole family. Saturdays, June 27, July 4 and July 11 11 am-3pm Admission: Donation. Picnic for purchase. Please join us for this wonderful event. Mom and I had a great time touring the Island and mapping out the historical places. I had an even better time writing out all the details of the historical places and events. I would now consider myself a local historian of the islands. We hope that you can come learn about the rich history that surrounds the store. It's quite fascinating. Most people probably don't realize, how a small, almost unknown island in Lake Champlain was once a hub for international export, a place where Teddy Roosevelt visited, and land with events going back as far as the early 1600's.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

NOOK & CRANNY GIFT SHOP GRAND RE-OPENING

Nook & Cranny Gift Shop is now open for its 3rd season!! We've been promising to expand our offerings and finally we have done it.
We have partnered up with local artists to bring more variety to the shop, giving our customers more gifts and handmade crafts to choose from.
First we welcome Jenny Lynn. She is a jewelry designer from Burlington. Her style is bold, elegant. and simple. The colors really bring a brightness to the shop!!
For more information about her jewelry please visit her etsy shop. Or view her profile on Facebook.
We also want to welcome local artisan, Cathy, who lives right here in Isle La Motte. Cathy is also a jewelry designer. She uses materials from nature in her designs, such as stones, wood, shells, and arrowheads from her own backyard.
Cathy's style is earthy and spiritual. She is also experienced working with leather and wood.
You can reach Cathy by telephone @ 802-928-3111.
Lorraine Reynolds of Williston, is our third artist and vendor selling crafts at Nook & Cranny. She is a mixed media, collage artist; transforming the mundane into mystical and the everyday into extraordinary.
If you love mixed media/altered art, be sure to pick up the July/Aug edition of Somerset Studio featuring a section on "sisters" - where you will find two submissions by Lorraine. Congrats to her!!!
You can find more crafts and inspirations in her Etsy Store or her Blog.
Finally, we are pleased to announce that we are carrying Lake Champlain Islands, a picture-graphic book about the history of the region, by our friend, local crafter, and author, Tara Liloia who also lives here in Isle La Motte. She will be visiting the shop the first weekend in August for a book signing, so be sure to make your calendars.
Nook & Cranny is busting at the seams with new gifts, crafts, and unique items. You will find beautifully crafted journals, home and garden decor, along with our quarky and fun crafts like scrabble word magnets, holiday ornaments, and gifts if your four-legged friends.
Whether your looking for a gift for a family member or friend or just a little something for yourself, make sure to stop by Nook & Cranny. A store that full of character and charm, bringing you unique gifts and ideas to make you smile.
If you can't make it out to the store, as we have limited hours. Only Saturdays and Sundays through Labor day, 11am - 4pm, and during the week by chance, you can always find us online in our ETSY Store.
If you're crafters like us. Remember we opened our closet doors to share our craft ideas and extra supplies. Visit our supply shop, A Closet of Treasures, for your scrapbooking, journaling, and collage art needs.

Friday, June 5, 2009

NOOK & CRANNY GIFTS OPENS IN ONE WEEK

Nook & Cranny Gift Shop opens in just one week. On beautiful West Shore of Isle La Motte, over looking Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks, next to a log cabin you will find our little shop. Our third season in business! This year will prove to be exciting for just up the road is where Samuel D Champlain landed in 1609 just 400 years ago, next month. Isle La Motte celebrates Champlain 400, and so does Nook and Cranny Gift Shop. Our hours of business will be Saturdays 11:00-4:00 p.m. and Sundays 10:00-4:00 p.m. We are located at 467 West Shore Road in Isle La Motte. The shop is bursting at the seams with wonderful items; crafted country items, jewelry, scrapbooking items, vintage, nautical, whimsical, repurposed bears, photography, greeting cards, items for your furry friends and lots more. We would love to have you stop by; say hello, have some conversation, have a look. Here you will find something in every Nook and Cranny!!