It was a 9 hour trip to our final destination and even though the boys are great travelers, we stopped mid way in Mackinaw City. I was really excited about that because I wanted to take the boys to the Island next year. In timely fashion, I was a year early! Another reason I was excited.... because the hotel that we stayed at a few years ago, when it was hubs & I had a temperpedic mattress & it was the best night sleep.... ever! So my husband sighed and booked the hotel room that had the temperpedic mattress!!!
The day we arrived, we headed right for the Island! We rented bikes and even though it was fun, everything seemed like a huge incline that I had to crawl up! Thank God for the complementary water bottle.... although warm!
After turning the bikes in a couple hours later, we walked around, in and out of t shirt stores and gazed at the fudge makers artfully making the fudge. Zak was totally impressed with the skill!
One little shop caught my eye as we were passing by! I requested to my family of boys that I wanted to stop in the sweet little shop that caught my eye. I heard some groans as they realized it was girly & smelled pretty.... unlike us after the bike ride! The ruffled aprons caught my eye has they hung from a pillar in the center of the store. I looked to get ideas and to see how things are made.
Rich whispered in my ear, "You need to tell her about your aprons!"
I browsed around a corner and saw sweet little onesies with appliques on them & they were tagged by a handmade gal, with her name & info. Then in the background, I heard Nicole, the owner, say to a customer, "The lady that makes these wallets is from Michigan & she names them after cities in Michigan. This one is Ludington!"
Wow, this shop seeks out Michigan made products. I was impressed & eager to speak to Nicole.
After the customer left, I went up the the checkout counter. I was nervous to speak especially with my family right there eyeing me.
Nicole gave me her business card and I said I would contact her once I got home & I would email my sites to her.
Once we got home, I started working on a package especially for her! I made her an apron that would match her store. Purple. Along with the apron, was a pillowcase, a make up bag, & others.
Her customers have been requesting Pillowcases & Make up bags so these lil' alice items will be showing up in her shop in the Spring of 2012, along with a few aprons!
PS If you look real close at the picture, the shop is on the far right hand side with the purple awnings!
Stop by her sites & visit her! It's such a charming place! I am so thankful I will be in such great company!
http://littleluxuriesofmackinac.com/blog/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Little-Luxuries-of-Mackinac-Island/116648571809