The days are getting shorter, although the weather is still nice and warm. It is the perfect time of year to sit on the porch, light candles as the sun sets, and reflect on the beautiful summer you had.
We're happy we carry Vance Kitira candles just for this time of year.
Founded in 1993 by a forester, Vance Kitira, these candles reflect both aesthetics drawn from Kitira's native Thailand and his fascination with the simplicity of nature.
The Vance line comes in all shapes, sizes, and inspires whimsy with it's pear and seashell themes. Many of the candles are almost too cute to light! (We're thinking of the palm sized pears here!)
Where there is a candle, there is also a candle holder, and we have created countless ways to display the Vance Kitira pieces. Stop by the shop, check out these hand poured, cotton and wax candles.
See if you can find the Vance candles hidden throughout the shop - we challenge you to spot them all!
Islander's know the tradition well. The third week of August picturesque Campground in Oak Bluffs is lit with lanterns and lifted with the sound of island voices singing together. However, not everyone knows the history.
Around 1835, Methodists began having yearly meetings in the midst of summer. They would bring tents and camp beside the sea, in an oak grove high on the bluffs of the Northern end of Edgartown. Over the years those tents were slowly replaced by little wooden cottages, built side by side. The Tabernacle was built in the 1870s, in the center of The Campground.
Now we have the wonderful tradition of Illumination Night! In its time the celebration marked the visit of the Governor of Massachusetts. The night means many things, but one could say that Illumination Night is in part a remembrance of the first seasonal visitors to the Island. The proceeds of the Grand Illumination go towards the upkeep and restoration of the historic Tabernacle. You can find more info about the event here!
One of our favorite parts of the Illumination Night is the variety of eclectic lights, candles, and visually spectacular lanterns. Whether you are on the Island and can join in the fun, or want to put up lights and participate from afar, we have plenty of beautiful options to choose from!
Lanterns
We're incredibly proud of our lantern collection. Our Allsop Home and Garden is the awesome solar powered lantern company we carry in the store, perfect for the sustainable, aesthetically driven islander! Artecnica of CA make our ever popular handmade paper stars. We also work with Cultural Intrigue, a Vermont based company, that specializes in rice paper shades and Zen Zen, a fair trade group that focuses on beautiful cloth shades.
Candles
You can't walk into the shop without stumbling upon a candle or two. From our artisanal Skeem, to Vance Kitira, to Shore Soap Candles... we could list them all day, but you'll find they aren't hard to miss!
And More!
We stock plenty of vessels to carry candles, swanky matches, strings of light, and other essentials to brighten up your evening. The best bet? Stop by the store! We can't wait you see you at Illumination Night!
You might not notice Skeem the moment you step into our shop. Their unique candles, matches, and perfumes live in the back of our store with many of the rest of our beauty products. Skeem prides itself as a brand with a unique aesthetic grounded in a solid product. But, these guys give more than a pretty package.
Skeem was started by husband and wife team Geoff Weiser and Suji Meswani ten years ago. The two ditched the corporate world to work together and capitalize on their backgrounds in graphic design and product development. Their goal was not only to create a beautiful package, but also eliminate the waste that often comes with pre-packaged candle products.
Each of these hand poured, small batch, soy candles, leaves behind it a reusable vessel.
The Half Pint candle collection that we carry, alongside their colorful matchstick bottles and array of flower inspired perfumes, has a 50 hour burn life and a gorgeous metal snuffer lid. Once you have burned through 50 hours, the container left behind is perfect for storing hair pins, paper clips, or any other variety of kitchen, desk, or night stand essentials. (Not to mention the great lingering scent!)
So, next time you are visiting our shop, check out our Skeem line! Stock your house with matches that beg to be shown off, candles that burn long and bright, and perfumes to fill your favorite hip new clutch!
Living on the coast of New England, nestled in a little island, we often forget how lucky we are. That is, until a customer who has traveled halfway across the country to enjoy some Vineyard air remarks on all our shell products. To us a part of life, to others a novelty.
There is a "Coastal New England" aesthetic and we are chock full of it. However, rather than selling rinky-dink seashell imposters, we've got the real deal. There are starfish and shells in many a nook and cranny.
You may be leaving the island soon, or you may be arriving to your summer island home. Either way, you really can't go wrong with filling your shopping basket up with seaside mementos. Take the island with you. Get yourself something that will remind you of your perfect day at Katama Beach. Bring back a token of the Atlantic to a loved one who has never dipped their toes into the ocean.
Finally, pick the perfect frame to remember your time here. If you're a local, remember what we are reminded every day. The seashore and all it's bounty are special and we are lucky. Next time it's a midwest relative's birthday, think about giving them a little piece of your world.
