19 minute read
Starting on • Bramble Grove Boutique • Citrus Leigh • Keville Chocolates • Saratoga Natural Body Care • Snyder’s Handmade Brooms of Saratoga • Tide & Purl • Vintage by Crystal
EDITORS'
Choice
Saratoga is brimming with local talent and Mom & Pops, that deserve our love – all year - not just at the holidays. Shop Local, Shop Small, Shop Saratoga, whatever you call it - it is what we do. We are local - and we support our local community. I love introducing you to new craftspeople we discover, (Thank You Intern Madisyn Fish for helping with this!) and I’m always in awe when someone can take their dream and turn it into a viable business. If I can help promote that, I will. With this year’s Editor’s Choice, I bring you a wide variety of local “makers” with great back stories (Thank You Megin Potter for crafting these great short stories!) I think it’s time to start shopping… if you haven’t already finished your list : )
Chris
editors' choice Bramble Grove Boutique
WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER | PHOTOS PROVIDED
For centuries, artists have been trying to capture a flower’s fleeting beauty, to suspend its fragile existence in time, as if it were simply asleep, yet soon to awaken and delight us again with its ethereal presence. Local artisan Jolinda Valentine has succeeded on that quest. She artfully designs pressed petals, stems, and blossoms into a stunning array of one-of-a-kind necklaces, earrings, hair accessories and more.
A CHARMING COMBINATION
Valentine’s line of Bramble Grove Boutique botanical jewelry and décor pieces are made by preserving a flower’s natural beauty and then suspending it in resin. It’s a material she was first introduced to by her father, an interior designer and custom craftsman who used resin for some of his projects. Spending hours scouring through the work of other floral artists in magazines and books, Valentine has developed an exquisite eye for creating intriguing designs and color combinations. Once chosen, the specimens are often combined with metal bezels and gems. The result is statement-making pieces that people adore. “I’ve had a lot of great feedback and really overwhelming responses because a lot of people really haven’t seen this type of jewelry before,” she said.
THE STUFF OF FAIRY TALES
Valentine gathers many of the flowers used in her jewelry from her mother-in-law’s Saratoga garden, local florists, and flower farmers. She also orders specialty flowers from Utah, Australia, and Switzerland to use in her work. She especially loves the bunches of tiny flowers on hydrangea bushes and jovial sunflowers. “The yellow just makes you happy.” Valentine’s daughter, Daisy, is just nine months old, so finding time to work on the Bramble Grove Boutique collection usually happens while Daisy sleeps, often during the late-night hours. For Jolinda, it’s worth the sacrifice. “In New York, it feels like winter is half the year, it’s so long you end up missing the summer days and being outside. These are a cheerful reminder that summer will come again.”
ENCHANTING GIFTS
The pieces that Bramble Grove Boutique displayed at Art in the Park, the Brookside Museum, and Just in Time Consignments this year had a spring-y and summer-y feel. For Christmas, Valentine is creating suncatcher ornaments and jewelry using deep, forest-y greens, plum reds, and pops of rich jewel tones. For truly enchanting gift-giving, you can pick up some of these stylish and unique items at Caroline & Main in Saratoga, and at Amazing Finds Boutique in Ballston Spa. Find a full selection of Jolinda Valentine’s work by visiting the Bramble Grove Boutique Etsy shop. See her newest pieces, learn about upcoming shows, and brighten up your social media feeds by following Bramble Grove Boutique on Facebook and Instagram.
Jolinda Valentine
editors' choice Citrus Leigh
WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER
CLOTHING WITH ATTITUDE.
There is an invigorating tang when the subtly sweet meets the sharpness of sour. This is a combination that invigorates the senses. It is also the aesthetic fueling the Citrus Leigh line of printed apparel, totes, koozies, scarves and more that launched last year. “I describe it like a Janis Joplin met Joan Jett and had brunch with Stevie Nicks, Amy Winehouse, and Sacagawea kind of vibe,” said company founder Kacie Cotter-Sacala.
OLD WORLD MAGIC & WHIMSY
Citrus Leigh came to fruition when Kacie Cotter-Sacala, a designer for Saratoga TODAY since 2016, teamed up with her cousin Meg Edwards, a project manager at Contemporary Designs. The name of their company evolved to include the ladies’ shared middle name “Leigh” and embodies the bittersweet beauty that comes with having an outlet where they can freely unleash their creative juices. “You can draw what you want and see how people react to it,” said Kacie. Her designs are inspired by nature, her experiences outdoors enjoying the Adirondacks, mountain life, and the varied interests of someone with a “gypsy soul.” Mandalas, moons, Celtic symbols, pollinator bees, and centipedes are among the variety of concepts explored through Kacie’s depictions. The images are printed with eco-friendly inks and vinyls onto tri-blend fabrics and come in recyclable packaging.
DARING SHAPES & LIBERATING CUTOUTS
The zing of Citrus Leigh designs is accelerated by their clothing shapes and styles. “Our ‘Leigh’sure Wear line was inspired by the 90’s fashion trends that are back! Being a 90's baby myself, I've always loved the slightly over-sized and DIY aesthetic from that era,” said Kacie. “This is also echoed in our ‘Citrus Cuts,’” she continued. “From the classic cropped front-tie tees, to our grunge cuts and fringes, I make all of the Citrus Cuts in-house, from design, to print, to cut. I love the extra bit of flare and attitude they give a piece!” Citrus Leigh apparel is available in women’s, men's, children’s, and unisex styles. "We like giving people options. Our shoppers are able to connect their personality with a design and garment, rather than social stigmas or gender. I think this gives way for an inclusive environment and overall good shopping experience for everyone. I think it also opens the door for people to create their own ‘fashion-do's’ - clothing is a great form of selfexpression and we support that above all," she said.
GETTING IN THE GROOVE
The beauty of the Citrus Leigh collection is also found in its versatility. A series of four pieces featuring the “Celtic Goddess” design is among their best sellers. “They have a simple elegance but are still groovy and old world,” said Kacie. Citrus Leigh products can be found at The Magic Moon in Saratoga and online at citrusleigh.com. Visit their website during Black Friday to Cyber Monday weekend for special discounts. For updates, find them on Facebook and follow Citrus Leigh on Instagram @citrusleighdesigns.
Photo by Eileen Harrigan, BUG Eye Photography
editors' choice Keville Handcrafted Chocolates
WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM CHRISTINA DEANGELIS | PHOTOS PROVIDED
Rose, the owner of Keville Insurance Agency, like others, found solace in the kitchen during the pandemic. “I can’t sit still, and making chocolate has been my way of staying sane during COVID,” she said. In the beginning of 2020, she opened Keville Handcrafted Chocolates, which offers her confections to the discerning consumer.
AGILE HANDS MAKE IDEAL CONFECTIONS
There are candy eaters and then there are candy connoisseurs. Rose Keville’s father belonged in the former category. He had precise standards and a demanded exacting attention-to-detail that he paid to creating a soft caramel unlike any other. Rosemary was up for the challenge. A woman who only knows how to operate at warp speed, she didn’t stop once she’d conquered creating scrumptious caramels. She added utterly addictive buttercrunch and a fascinating collection of bonbons to her repertoire, as well.
MADE WITH ONLY THE FINEST INGREDIENTS
Keville bonbons are made with rich, robust Guittard chocolate. Rosemary prefers this couverture chocolate (which is ground to a finer consistency than regular chocolate during production and contains a greater percentage of cocoa butter relative to the other ingredients) for superior flavor and texture. “The chocolate doesn’t fight with the other flavors and it stands up to them,” she said. Those other flavors include the finest liquors and fruits (including strawberry cheesecake, honey ginger, mango habanero, pink peppercorn & more!) which are often chosen specifically for her clientele,
OUT OF THIS WORLD FLAVORS
Among Keville’s special creations is the black current hibiscus bonbons made originally with the Kim sour lager from Single Cut Brewery; those infused with bourbon from Black Button Distilling; Next Door Kitchen’s Charred Pineapple Margarita flavor; and the Dark Chocolate Cocktail (made with sugar kelp and Scottish Gin from Sage Wine & Spirits). Keville said she doesn’t drink and has been a vegetarian for 35 years but has an innate feel for what goes together well. She uses many local products, including sweet potatoes from Pitney Meadow community farm for their popular Sweet Potato Buttercrunch. She’s also willing to go out of her way to create unique ingredients inhouse, and to drive down to the Bronx or out to Scranton, NJ for supplies.
ADDICTIVE HOLIDAY GOODNESS
For the holidays, Keville will be adding chestnut bonbons; apple and sweet potato, a festive coffee, and a peppermint buttercrunch, to their already impressive line-up. “People say my buttercrunch is like crack. It’s very tasty and one of the most versatile confections. You eat one small piece and you’re hooked.” Keville Handcrafted Chocolates, 100 Saratoga Village Blvd. Suite 24, Malta, is open 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information, find them on Facebook, Instagram, or call 518-400-8000.
Rose Keville
editors' choice Saratoga Natural Body Care
WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER | PHOTOS PROVIDED
WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR SKIN – SIMPLE IS BETTER.
Despite the proliferation of new formulas for soaps, lotions, and other body care products flooding the US market every year, Karolina Quinn and her friend Monika Kaczmarski both began making their own after moving here from Poland. “We were buying regular, every day products - shampoos and soaps – but started developing skin issues and were very surprised,” said Karolina. They realized they were likely having a reaction to something in the long list of ingredients that the US allows in their products that Europe does not. They started experimenting on their own with simple recipes and sharing them with one another. Now, everyone can find their line of Saratoga Natural Body Care products locally at Roosevelt Bath & Spas, Four Seasons Natural Foods, and Olde Saratoga Mercantile. They are also being distributed through a list of 200 wholesalers, are available on Etsy, and for sale on their website.
INDULGE IN THE LUXURIOUS LATHER
Saratoga Natural Body Care products are made with luscious scents and Saratoga’s magical mineral waters, mixed with shea butter and olive oil. Some soaps are crafted using cocoa, wine, and beer. “It’s fun, interesting, and something different. Wine and beer make soaps fluffy when lathering because of the sugar. It’s luxurious, creamy, and there’s just an extra-great feel to the soap. Plus, it’s a nice, fun gift for the wine or beer lover to have a soap with that scent,” said Karolina.
ONLY THE BEST
In addition to a large variety of soaps, there are body balms and lotions, shampoo bars, hair detanglers and oils, face serums, toners, and lip balms in the Saratoga Natural Body Care collection. There are men’s products also, including shaving bars, and more masculine scents; like sandalwood vanilla, and oat milk turmeric, so that no one on your shopping list feels forgotten. Each product in their line however, is there because it’s been a hit. “We’ve honestly, truly, narrowed it down to all top-sellers,” said Karolina.
SCENTS OF THE SEASON
For the holidays, Saratoga Natural Body Care seasonal offerings will include a beautiful white and red sweet winterberry soap with extra moisturizing shea butter for dry skin. Their white and green Winter Pine bars also have the nourishing benefits of wheatgrass powder added in. The Winter Noses Soap is made with eucalyptus essential oil and includes a toy rubber ducky, making bath time both beneficial and fun for little ones. The Saratoga Natural Winter Balm is a 100-percent oil-based product ideal for protecting an avid skier against exposure to the elements. Lotion and soap gift sets are also available. Orders must be placed by December 19th. For more information, find them on Facebook or go to
saratoganaturalbodycare.com
Karolina Quinn and Monika Kaczmarski
WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER | PHOTOS PROVIDED
Snyder’s Handmade Brooms of Saratoga are so thoughtfully made, they are elevating a functional item into the realm of art. “There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of people throughout the country that are making these Shaker-style brooms but they’re all kind-of the same. What we make is different. You will not find other brooms like these in the world,” said broom maker Matthew Snyder.
OUT OF THE BROOM CLOSET
Matthew’s grandparents George and Ann Snyder made brooms for more than 40 years. Some of them were so unique that Matthew started collecting them in 2018. These brooms don’t belong in the closet. They are conversation pieces. One has travelled to Alaska and back, one is made from a golf club, one is in a now discontinued shade of pastel blue. His collection eventually got so large that he was running out of places to keep them and he decided to sell a few. Demand grew, so Matthew started making brooms and selling them at the Spa City Farmers’ Market last year. Now, he’s made 500-600 brooms, using some of the same antique broom-making equipment his grandparents did. People love his colorful brooms but The Snyder Flyer is also a favorite. It’s Matthew’s take on Harry Potter’s Nimbus 2000, made with a twisted vine and bottom that resembles a point.
NO TIME FOR THE DUST TO SETTLE
Working full-time in sales during the day, Matthew makes brooms in a factory set up in his garage at night and during the weekend, using antique equipment from the late 1800s, as well as modern machines. “It’s great that my grandparents started making these amazing brooms, but at the same time it’s fun to add in my own style and to make brooms cool again,” said Matthew. He’s invested in a new broom machine and a lathe that allows him to make handles 25 percent larger. He also uses more broomcorn to make them thicker, coppercoated steel wire, and experiments with a variety of different woods and finishes. “I’m really trying to keep with tradition, but also make it new,” he said.
COMING CLEAN
Matthew Snyder’s brooms are instantly recognizable but because they are handmade, it’s nearly impossible to make the same broom twice. There’s a reason no one else makes brooms this way. “The reason people don’t do it – is - you have to be crazy to do it!” he said. The time it takes to turn each handle into a twisted, molded design is just the beginning. Then there’s the laborious job of dying the broom corn. “Dying the broom corn is terrible. It’s a messy, messy job.” Next, the colored broomcorn must be rinsed and dried for an entire day. Matthew even tried growing his own this year but the harvest from his 20 plants was only enough to make one or two brooms.
MAKING A CLEAN SWEEP
In addition to being beautiful, Matthew likes to share the history of brooms and why, when we have automated vacuums, he’d still choose to use a broom. “Even after you vacuum a carpet, if you take a broom and sweep it, you will still get a pile of dirt that comes out. A broom like this gets into the grain, it’s amazing!” Custom-orders require a two-week lead time. For more information, call Matthew at 518-788-8019. Find Snyder’s Handmade Brooms of Saratoga on Facebook, Instagram, and at snydersbroomsofsaratoga.com
Matthew and George Snyder
editors' choice Tide & Purl
WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER | PHOTOS PROVIDED Pulled from the sea, pearls are a symbol of serenity; the calm that comes from the depths. In knitting, the purl stitch makes the pattern. These two things are now combined - the transitory nature of ocean life and the soothing, mediative, and fulfilling craft - at a new shop, Tide & Purl, at 123 Broad St. in Schuylerville “It’s been pretty smooth sailing so far,” said owner Amanda McCarty about the whirlwind pace of opening the shop.
MAINE MEETS MAIN STREET
Amanda is a Maine native. Her father is a lobsterman, a small business owner who raised her with the understanding that you just never know what the tide will bring in. When a prime location at a main intersection in Schuylerville (close to a lot, street parking, new crosswalks, and sidewalks) became available underneath the popular Amigos Cantina restaurant, Amanda’s ship had come in. Not about to miss it, she signed the lease and opened the store just seven weeks later, on October 1st. “We had to ramp it up fast to get in here but location-wise it’s absolutely perfect for a budding business. I live nearby, so can walk here. Overall, it’s been an overwhelming success!”
A LOVELY FUSION
Amanda McCarty is one busy lady. A server at The Dovegate Inn, this mother of three, ages 11, 7, and 4, is also an avid “Knaptime Knitter,” married to a military man (who is away from home, for up to a year at a time while on duty). Selling her work primarily through Etsy beginning in 2012, Amanda branched out to offer lovely knitted hats and other handmade items to specific local markets and then wholesale. Her brand, Crooked By Design, developed a large clientele who admired her aesthetic and who are interested in learning her techniques. “Tide & Purl is a fusion of both. These are things you want to get for yourself and a curated collection of great gifts,” she said.
KNITS AND WHAT(K)NOT
Tide & Purl is a cozy shop with a welcoming sitting area for knitting groups and kids classes in the back. There’s a picture of her grandmother (who dreamed of having her own shop). It’s a daily reminder of a family wish that Amanda has made a reality. In addition to Amanda’s knitted goods, the casual shopper will be delighted by the assortment of local and ethically-sourced imported items at Tide & Purl. Fairtrade bracelets, baskets, bags, and clothing in classic colors make for easy additions to almost anyone’s wardrobe. Project kits from “We are Knitters” and others make picking up the hobby possible. The McCarty children helped to choose the kids’ corner selection; toys great for imaginative play that also look nice around the house. Amanda is perhaps most excited about carrying the work of local artisans, including soy Kobo Candles, made just down the street. “There’s nothing chintzy here. Everything’s meaningful, really. The one thing I absolutely love about them is they are all things I personally like.” See what Tide & Purl has available today. Find them on Instagram, and at
tideandpurl.com
Amanda McCarty
editors' choice Vintage by Crystal
WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER | PHOTOS PROVIDED
Small businesses are rarely a solitary pursuit – although they can feel that way sometimes. Crystal Sloane is accustomed to working alone in her studio at the peak of the Sloane family’s three-story Victorian Gothic home in Schuylerville. Surrounded by a dizzying array of antique finds and tiny natural wonders, she creates Vintage by Crystal spun cotton figures and ornaments. Her husband, Ben, then photographs, packages, and gets them shipped out. Sold through her Etsy shop since 2007 (Vintage by Crystal was their featured seller in 2015), these uniquely charming pieces are also sold individually, in retail shops, and wholesale around the world.
AN INFUSION OF FRESH ENERGY
During her 15+ years in business, Vintage by Crystal has steadily grown, accumulating collectors and evolving from a solitary expression of one creator, to that of many. Vintage by Crystal is now collaborating with Johanna Parker Design, Coral and Tusk, and Skippy Cotton. The merging of the materials and styles of these like-minded creatives provides an infusion of fresh energy that revitalizes their work. “It’s mutually beneficial. There’s a larger customer base and more exposure,” she said. Opening themselves up to the knowledge and experience of collaborators, each participant is rewarded with seeing their mediums harmonize into the creation of something new. It’s a juxtaposition of the styles where each’s contribution is still discernible in the new work. “Part of it is that it’s just fun,” Crystal continued. “It’s exciting for fans to see the blend of the two and it’s fun for us, too. It’s extra motivating.”
AN UNSHAKABLE WORK ETHIC
Growth and change are crucial components to staying in the business of creating for a substantial amount of time, but so is having a strong work ethic – especially when you work from home as Crystal does, and have two young children; Olive, 7, and Bear, 4. Crystal credits her resilience to growing up in a farm family. Along with her cousins (who own Saratoga’s popular Hanahan Family Farm Stand), her family was and still is responsible for milking 700 dairy cows in the area. “It taught us kids the value of hard work early on and that we needed to keep going even when it gets tedious and difficult,” she said.
AN EXCITING SEASON
In addition to the new collaborative pieces, this holiday season Vintage by Crystal will be debuting a variety of larger and even more intricate items. There will be unusual tree toppers, angels, that Christmas curmudgeon - the Krampus, and all sorts of Santas in a rainbow of colors – including the best-selling yellows. For first grabs at one-of-a-kind and very small special edition runs (of two or three) pieces, sign up to be notified about blog sales and get other information by visiting www.vintagebycrystal.com. Vintage by Crystal will also be in attendance at the Vischer Ferry General Store Holiday Market & Antique Show, November 28th, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., 357 Riverview Road, Rexford.
Crystal and Ben Sloane
