05/01/2026
This is a love letter to my partner in crime Jill . I did a hand carry to her years ago, well before I opened my shop in Sandwich. When I pulled her order from the bag I noticed a lovely coating of dog hair clinging to the box (gotta love golden retrievers). I was mortified and she shrugged it off taking the box smiling, we’ve been friends ever since. She is what I like to say “a salt of the earth” person. Honest, real, humble, innately funny, resourceful appreciative and generous. She makes the most beautiful wreaths made from the fishing debris she combs from the shore & although she can make far more money selling the wreaths herself, she generously makes them for my shop. They go to loving homes shortly after she drops them off, adopted like puppies. The wreath in this photo was my Christmas gift from her 2 years ago, I treasure it. It hangs on the chimney on the side of my store where countless people inquire about it. I tell them it was a gift & give them Jill’s card and send them her way, telling them “She is the best”, because she is just that. Yesterday she came upon someone selling a similar wreath online and it struck a cord which is not unfamiliar to us small business/creatives. As we tell ourselves, we don’t have a patent on much of what we make, but it does sting seeing something that you thought of at 3 am when your brain fills the quiet of morning being presented as their idea. It used to consume me when someone went beyond being inspired by something I did, but I have tried to not waste useless energy on such things, just remaining focused on the next thing that lights me up, and hopefully my friends & customers. So if you ever find yourself saying “I can make that” which honestly I say often to myself, not to the creator/shopkeeper, remember to give credit to the human that inspired you to say that. And if you want the best fisherman’s wreaths (that’s what I call them), visit Jill. Tell her I sent you.