The little shop around the corner....

The things you find on the way to the library....


I need to get out more in my own town.


On my way to the library this morning I finally stopped at this little shop on our mainstreet. Which actually makes it sound much grander than it really is - two blocks long and main only because two of the three bars in town are on it, along with the library, fire station and this little shop. Rest of the buildings are abandoned.


The little shop is called "Wisecrafters". I never paid much attention, except I knew they had sold live plants on the sidewalk last summer and always seemed to have lots of people coming and going.


So I figure what the hell, it's been here all along and it is open so I might as well see what's in there. Talk about a surprising discovery.


Two nice ladies are in there. I know both of them. One works at the bank in the next town, the other at the library right across the street. They run this little arts co-op shop in their off-time.


One is weaving airy, featherlight shawls on the coolest loom I have ever seen and the other is pouring ceramics. Incense wafts through the air and spanish guitar is on the stereo. The whole building is crammed with arts, crafts, esoteric doodads and more stuff than I was able to see in one visit. The building was the original country store here and is over 100 years old. The old soda fountain backbar is taking up the entire back wall. Awesome.


The floor is a trip - almost literally. It is the old cobblestone base floor and tilts and rambles at crazy angles. It is inset with custom concrete pavers here and there and you need to keep your eye on where you step.


The ladies give ceramic lessons, weaving lessons, have people come in for workshops and sell local artisans works. My kinda place. The kind of place I would take my friends and say "Your gonna love this." They will, too.


I was immediately hooked and spent much more time than I really had to spare chatting and poking around and by the time I left I had a place to sell my arts and soaps and honey in exchange for manning the shop a few days a week.


All this time I just cruised by and never bothered to check it out. Just goes to show you should pay attention to your own backyard sometimes.