Shop at the Shiretown’s new holiday market place

By Karen Donato
Staff Writer
    Business is booming on North Street. A group of local craftsmen and artisans have joined together to display their talents under one roof. Located at 382 North Street, the Holiday Market Place will be open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Karen Donato
TALENTED CRAFTERS AND ARTISANS — Houlton has a new “Holiday Market Place”, located at 382 North Street across from North Country Auto. Several local crafters have joined together for the holiday shopping season to make your shopping easier. Joining in the ribbon cutting ceremony are from left in front, Houlton Town Councilor Sue Tortello, Chamber board member, Debbie Henderson with granddaughter Kaitlynn Bragg, Elaine Logie, artisan, Chamber Executive Director, Lori Weston and Ann Callnan, Chamber board member; in back, artisans Carol Hand and Ed Croy with Wade Hanson, community development director.
    You may have seen many of these crafters at local fairs in the past, but now through December you will find them offering holiday gift ideas in their own shop. Crafts on display are made by: Ed Croy, Carol Hand, Florence Hardy, Leota and Sandra Hare, Pat Hogan, Elaine Logie, Janet and Haruhiko Murakami, Cherrie Quint, Russell Stairs, and Joan Sullivan.
    Elaine Logie paints everything. She paints decorative bottles that are used for soaps, lotions, oils, spices and condiments. She even has some that are used for accent lighting.
    Logie says that she didn’t start painting until she was 65 years old. She and her husband wintered in Florida and she started taking lessons. She fell in love with it and also does framed art for your walls. Logie sometimes uses a picture on a greeting card or a photo to recreate a picture on canvas or on wooden items. Logie gives lessons in painting, as well.
    “Crafters need to be one step ahead all of the time,” Logie said. “What is popular one year is not necessarily going to be the next.”
AMERICAN GIRL — Carol Hand fashions American Girl outfits for sale at the Market Place.
    Logie loves meeting the people at the fairs and being with other crafters, who she has come to know. She doesn’t travel as much as she used to, so she is glad to be included in the group that has opened the Market Place.
    Carol Hand specializes in terry cloth bath wraps for children with matching wash mitts. She also makes American Dolls clothes, a much sought after gift for little girls. She has been in the business for more than 25 years. She says she works all winter to build her inventory. Hand says that she has to be in the mood to work on a project or it isn’t any fun. Some days she doesn’t even think about it, while other times she works from morning until night.
    Comments from both Logie and Hand reinforced the impact that the fuel prices have put on their business. It is costly for them to travel long distances to fairs and they can see that the customers are being more selective in their choices.
    Sandra Hare’s display has beautiful knit garments. Sweaters, hats, socks, mittens and scarves made from-100 percent wool for both men and women. She also sells the popular rice bags containing a mixture of lavender and chamomile and bags of moth repellents made with a blend of Aroostook cedar and herbs.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Karen Donato
COZY KNITS — Sandra Hare creates both, knit items and skin products. Shop at the new “Holiday Market Place” to purchase sweaters, socks, mittens, hats, lotions and creams.
    Ed Croy collects antlers from deer and moose and fashions jewelry, handles for bottle and letter openers, pizza cutters and vegetable peelers. For the hunter he uses a piece of moose antler as a holder for a compass.  He also makes lamps with larger pieces of the antlers, or for handles on his hand-made baskets.
    Janet and Haruhiko Murakami specialize in pressed flowers. Their business is called, Framed Gardens. They make unique gifts using flowers from your own garden, a bridal bouquet or flowers from any significant occasion. They use special drying pads from Japan that allow the flowers to retain their natural colors. If you would like to learn this art, the Maurakamis give lessons.
    Russell Stairs makes items from metal. He has boot dryers made from digger lags. He builds popular mailboxes with a John Deere or International brand tractor on top. They might even be snowplow proof.  He makes unique holders for your firewood and candleholders for the mantel. Give him an idea and he can probably create it. Visit his web site to see more items. www.rustyrods.com.
    Joan Sullivan of Hodgdon, makes a variety of fresh jellies and jams. She uses local berries and produces the jams and jellies in her state certified kitchen. Her business is called, Sonshine Fruit Works.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Karen Donato
GLASS ART AND ANTLER CRAFT — It’s never too late. Elaine Logie didn’t start painting until she was 65. Her decorative art is pictured at right, while at lower left, Ed Croy collects deer and moose antlers to make handles for baskets, bottle and letter openers, and vegetable peelers.
    Pat Hogan, also from Hodgdon has several paintings of Houlton locations on display. Her paintings might be just the right gift for someone that lives away.
    Cherrie Quint makes beaded jewelry, rings for napkin holders and wine glasses. Florence Hardy makes a variety of ceramic items.
    These crafters are hoping to see you soon. There are new crafters joining daily, so stop by frequently from now until Christmas.