Daisy Boutique: An eclectic mix of whimsy, charm

Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Elna Seabrooks
UNIQUE BOUTIQUE — Wallis Drew, owner of Daisy Boutique, set up shop at the end of May in the Patten business district. She sells new and gently used clothing for the family, accessories and seasonal fresh garden produce in a renovated building that once served as a blacksmith’s shop.
By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    PATTEN — The Daisy Boutique opened about three months ago in downtown Patten with new and used clothing, handmade jewelry, accessories, seasonal vegetables and fruits and a whimsical décor inside and out.
    “They are going to come into a warm and friendly environment. It smells good. It feels good to be here. We have lovely, relaxing music, beautiful colors everywhere and it’s just a delightful place to be. There are a lot of clothes for the whole family here. And, imported clothing from the Gypsy Rose company that’s very hip and very colorful and very exciting,” said Wallis M. Drew, owner of Daisy Boutique.
    Bonnie King, sales associate, said she “would describe it as an everything for everybody store. We have  just about everything that you would possibly need.” And, King described the owner, Wallis Drew as “a wonderful lady.”
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/
Elna Seabrooks
CUSTOMER REVIEW — Deborah Brown discovered Daisy Boutique during her visit to Patten from Massachusetts and said she liked what she saw.
    Deborah Brown, visiting from Auburn, Mass. stopped into the store during her visit with a friend who has a camp in Patten. She said she enjoyed “browsing to see where everything is.” Brown’s assessment: “Nice little store you have here.”
    Drew moved from Cape Cod to Patten about 30 years ago. Now that her husband is retired, she said she decided to do something for herself and she parlayed her experience in retailing, fashion and modeling into a business.
    “I’ve always made crafts and sold things. I made leather clothing and handbags and had my own little shop within shops.” Drew explained that she was looking for a job and one day she was listening to a radio show when she got the idea. “I decided I could start this up.”
From blacksmith shop to boutique
    “l always loved retail and clothes and being with people. And here I am. I found this little building that used to be a blacksmith’s shop. And, now, it’s been transformed into the Daisy Boutique.”
    The owner of the building, Rhonda Brophy, also owns the Red Moose Gift Shop and the Red Moose Motel, all in the Patten business district. Brophy transformed the former blacksmith shop with insulation, electricity and a new exterior. Brophy made it into a boutique with her ingenuity, personal style and a flair for color and decorating. “It’s an ongoing project on the outside and the inside,” said Drew.
Fancy dresses to fresh flowers
    Although the space is small, a surprise of color, texture, and style is everywhere you turn and even before you enter. Driving by one might see a bright purple blouse and a fresh green top hanging from a coat rack on one side of the doorway with fresh flowers and vegetables tucked into a wagon alongside oversized artificial flowers on the opposite side. That along with gaily hung garments in the oversized windows are intriguing teasers of what’s on the inside.
PATTEN’S DAISY Boutique has an eclectic, carefree charm with locally made and imported merchandise. The shop also sells gently used clothing for the family in addition to assorted merchandise from books to  items for home décor.
    Once inside, the shop has an eclectic, carefree charm with locally made and imported merchandise. Drew makes some of the leather goods sold at the boutique and her daughter makes some of the jewelry. Her husband and son-in-law supply fresh vegetables and fruits from their respective gardens. Recently, the boutique had Swiss chard, beans, garlic curls, strawberries, radishes, and beet greens for sale.
    Drew  also sells gently used clothing for the family in addition to assorted merchandise from books to  items for home décor. Drew said when she gets a good deal, especially on new clothing, she passes her savings along to her customers.
    “I wanted to do a service to the community. It’s hard in these times to go somewhere and buy clothes and take your children to McDonald’s or wherever. And, there’s not that much money around. This way people in this area can come pick up their medicines at the drug store or go shopping at the grocery store and come right here and pick up a pair of socks or something for the children,” said Drew. “So, I enjoy that the people are so happy that I’m here and that people find things that they are really excited about. It makes me happy as well.”