Loading ...Good Things in Life – Nov ’11
Must-Have Articles, Accessories & Products
CAPE COD KEEPSAKES
Two Cape Codders have collaborated to transform their love of the Cape’s natural world into Dune Jewelry and Beachsand Snowflakes—handcrafted gifts that are making a splash online and in several regional shops. Sterling silver necklaces from the Dune Jewelry line (www.dunejewelry.com) feature a simple yet sophisticated pendant ($130) inlaid with sand gathered from your favorite Cape beach (sand has been collected from 300 beaches worldwide). Beachsand Snowflakes ($24, www.beachsandsnowflakes.com) are the perfect gift for beach lovers from Bourne to Provincetown. These items are available in more than 20 Cape stores, including Trees Place in Orleans, Fein Things in Centerville, and Village Trading Co. in Mashpee.
- Posted in Seasonal, Seasonal: Winter, Shopping
Cape & Islands Cuteness: The 2012 Vineyard Seadogs Calendar
We just love the 2012 Vineyard Seadogs Calendar, available here. Says calendar creator and wildlife photographer Lisa Vanderhoop:
“The cover dog this year is Ensign, an adorable little Border Terrier. He is owned by Ben and Maria Batsch who captain and run Maurice Templesman’s yacht the Relemar during the summer months here on the Vineyard. Maurice just adores Ensign and can be seen walking the little guy everyday during the summer in Menemsha.”
Buy calendars ($16) and other artwork at vineyardseadogs.com. Part of the proceeds from the calendars will go the Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard!
- Posted in Art, Arts & Culture, Nature, Shopping
Shimmer & Shine
This holiday season, surprise that special someone in your life with a glimmering gift of jewelry capturing the memorable glow of this very special seaside world.
Warm Winter Reads
The Chatham School Affair
by Thomas H. Cook
Bantam, 1997
Travel back to the 1920s as the narrator recounts a life-changing year of love and murder in a mystery that takes place in Chatham when an all-boys school hires Elizabeth Channing, the school’s first, and last, art teacher. “It was first published in 1997, but remains one of my best-selling ‘local flavor’ books,” says Mark Leach of Now Voyager Bookstore and Gallery in Provincetown. Read more…
- Posted in Arts & Culture, Books, Literature
Good Things in Life – August ’11
Picnic Pleasure
Picnic At Ascot designed this fully equipped canvas picnic carrier and cooler. The navy exterior with crisp white trim coupled with the classic plaid interior accents is handsome for all seasons. A leak proof and thermal-shielded inner compartment features an insulated cooler with separate sections for wine and food. Also included are dishes, cutlery, drink-ware, napkins, and even a corkscrew. This perfect picnic tote ($78)—a great gift for a wedding, a birthday, or for a perfect beach day—is available at Chatham’s Picnic Fashion, 726 Main Street, 508.348.0588, www.picnicfashion.com.
Underwater Adventure
This is an inspirational tale of the brave Sammy Scallop and his underwater adventures. Sammy is popular among his friends at Reef Shellementary School until an accident makes the young scallop different from his classmates and he must find a way to overcome these differences. With colorful illustrations, Carol Hamblet Adams’ book is the perfect story to help your little ones learn about accepting themselves and others in a fun and engaging way. For information, visit www.harvesthousepublishers.com. —Ciara Megan
Snappy Sea Fever Fun
Sea Fever Gear, a cottage company in Chatham, celebrates its 15th anniversary this summer with a range of creative items ranging from kids hats, like this fun shark-themed chapeau to nautical shower curtains—all made from recycled sails. Every product is made from a different piece of sail, custom and designed to highlight the uniqueness of each sail with batten pockets, stitching, reef points, numbers, and hardware. The products are all handcrafted in the United States. Sea Fever, West Chatham, in the Shop Ahoy Plaza. For information, go to www.seafevergear.com.
- Posted in Shopping
Cape & Islands ACCENTS – August ’11
Mood elevation in Mashpee Commons
Studies show that upon receiving flowers, one’s mood is elevated for up to three days. We believe sending flowers has the same effect. Let us help you elevate that certain someone’s mood. Make our day by letting us make yours. Be sure to ask about our Floral Rewards Program.
Verde Floral Design
19 Fountain Street
Mashpee Commons
508.681.8169
Verdeflorals.com
- Posted in Shopping
Tool Talk
Garden Art
Add a romantic touch to your garden with these efficient sprinklers ($16.99). Just attach a hose and you’ve got a sprinkler and petite statue in one! Roughly four by six inches,in several desgins at Osterville House and Garden, 508-428-6911.
Helping Hand
This Razor-back “Little Hog” mini-shovel ($14.49) serves many gardening functions all season long. Just under 30 inches long, the “Hog” gets in tough to reach spots. Pick it up at Botello Home Center in Mashpee.
www.botellolumber.com
Garden Gear
Arm yourself for gardening with a pair of Foxglove Gauntlets ($35) that allow for freedom of movement as you tackle tough jobs. Light-weight, synthetic leather-padded palms and reinforced fingertips defend against thorns. Four sizes.
www.foxglovesinc.com
Boss Tool
The Stihl “Yard Boss” ($369) is a lightweight, multi-tasking tool with a universal power train that easily transforms from a high-performance cultivator to other useful tools. Essential for aerating the right way. At Botello Home Center in Mashpee.
www.botellolumber.com
Cutting Edge
This handy GardenSharp Tool Sharpener ($11.99) is designed to hone single edged, hard to sharpen items. Find it at Snows Home and Garden in Orleans, www.snowshome andgarden.com.
- Posted in Arts & Culture, Gardens, Shopping
Green Things in Life
Must-Have Articles, Accessories & Products
SPRING GLORY
Designer Steve Wardle of Chatham’s Forest Beach Designer-Goldsmiths translated delicate pansy petals into gold, creating an elegant bracelet honoring spring. Each bloom is graced with a diamond. For information, call
508-945-7334, or go to www.capecodcharms.com.
KITCHEN AID
The Kitchen Gardener’s Handbook provides advice for gardeners looking to include both ornamental and edible plants in their gardens. With colorful photos, this guide ($22.95) teaches readers how to grow, and harvest vegetables, fruits, greens, and herbs for each season. www.timberpress.com
CUTE CRITTERS
These handcrafted hedgehogs ($7.95-$12.95) are just a few of the cute critters available at Harvest of Barnstable— perfect for a whimsical touch at a summer party. Harvest of Barnstable, 89 Willow Street, Yarmouthport.
www.harvestofbarnstable.com
SUPER SHED
Great for the weekend gardener, this 12 x 16 foot saltbox shed has a handy loft for pool supplies, lawn furniture, and other items. Hand-made custom options available. Basic kit price: $6,220. For information, call 860-228-2276, or go to www.countrycarpenters.com.
PUDDLE FUN
You’ll be swinging in the rain with these waterproof Arden Slogger boots ($36.99) featuring a premium insole for comfort, a cotton liner, and a wide top pants opening to keep you dry. At Snows Home and Garden of Orleans, 508-255-0158, www.snowshomeandgarden.com.
TWEET SUCCESS
For three different Birdscape feeders ($19 to $26) that will feed the birds with up to three pounds of seed, stop in to Botellos Home Center, Route 28 on the Mashpee/Barnstable line.
www.botellolumber.com
FLORAL LUSH
Plant a floral oasis inside or out with modular Wooly Pocket planters ($34.99 to $89.99), made from 100% recycled bottles. Soft-sided and infectiously fun in several colors at Scenic Roots (formerly Agway), 349 Route 6A, East Sandwich.
www.scenicrootsgardencenter.com
SEASHORE DÉCOR
For an exquisite wreath ($60) capturing Cape Cod’s natural glories, stop into Harvest of Barnstable, just off Route 6 in Yarmouthport. Available at different prices in several designs, the locally handcrafted wreaths bring that quintessential coastal touch to any home.
www.harvestofbarnstable.com
- Posted in Arts & Culture, Gardens, Shopping
Good Things in Life – July ’11
Strand of Serenity
Joyce Sullivan of Marstons Mills captures a classic Cape scene—a single sea horse swimming in a blue-green ocean landscape—in her Green Sea Horse Necklace ($55). The colorful, 20-inch necklace is handcrafted from hand-blown glass beads, crocheted sea beads, and dyed fresh water pearls. The necklace is available at Jewelry Inspirations in West Dennis, along with an extensive collection of woodcarvings, pottery, glass vases, and much more. Visit www.jewelryinspirationsworkshop.com or call (508) 619-4855 for more information.
—Jill Jansson
Let the Games Begin
When the rain turns a beach day into an indoor affair, pass the time with the Ocean Wave Cribbage Board ($28), available from Yankee Ingenuity. This fine board, handmade in the USA from American black walnut, coco bolo, and holly woods, has a back panel that slides open to store the pegs and also includes a gift box and instructions to get acquainted with this classic card game. Visit www.yankee-ingenuity.com or call (888) 945-9123 for more information, or stop by Yankee Ingenuity at 525 Main Street in Chatham.
Sustainable Solution
Created by two New England dairy farms, CowPots biodegradable planting pots are the perfect solution for your garden planting and fertilizing needs. These odor-free, nontoxic seed starting pots are made from 100% renewable composted cow manure—an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic and peat pots—and provide seedlings with strong foundations. CowPots are available at Snow’s Home and Garden. Call their locations in Harwich, (508) 432-9014, or Orleans, (508) 255-0158, for more information, or log on to www.cowpots.com.
—Ciara Megan
- Posted in Shopping
Good Things in Life – May ’11
Signs of the Tides
Hand-made by a local craftsman who scours our beaches for coastal treasures and shapes them into unique Cape Cod collectibles, these signs (all under $40) add a whimsical seaside touch to your home or office. Available in the heart of Osterville at Osterville House and Garden, located at 856 Main Street, 508-428-6911.
Barnstable Beauty
At Harvest of Barnstable, owner Wendi Smith creates bountiful sea-inspired wreaths of any size with exquisite handcrafted flowers in a rainbow of summery colors. Several styles are displayed at Harvest’s shop right off Route 6, or you can custom-order. Visit Harvest of Barnstable at 89 Willow Street in Yarmouthport or log on to www.harvestofbarnstable.com.
Vineyard Mystery
Cynthia Riggs charms readers with her novel, Touch-Me-Not: A Martha’s Vineyard Mystery ($24.99). An eerie telephone stalker preys on the members of a knitters group as they work on a quilt for a competition. The group turns to feisty 92-year-old poet/sleuth Victoria Trumbull for help, and she must solve the case while dealing with family issues after her daughter and granddaughter arrive on the scene. Riggs, a 13th-generation islander from West Tisbury, blends suspense with the beauty of the Vineyard in this release from Minotaur Books. For more information, visit www.cynthiariggs.com.
—Lindsay Oliver
- Posted in Shopping
