KM Shopping Guide Winter 2011

Winter 2011/2012

Shop localEat (and drink) local

Celebrate localAll this and more

inside our annual holiday gift guide!

Shop localEat (and drink) local

Celebrate localAll this and more

inside our annual holiday gift guide!

Kearsarge Magazine’s annualo d o i g u de

Kearsarge Magazine’s annualholiday shopping guide

kearsarge unwrappedkearsarge unwrapped

The Garden Spa is a beautifulday spa conveniently located inNew London, N.H. We offerrelaxing therapeutic massage,including Swedish, Aroma-therapy, Deep Tissue, and aGarden Spa specialty HotStone, perfect for the winterseason. We also offer exquisitefacials, pampering pedicures, our “seasonal scrub” and much more. Our licensed therapists and aestheticians pridethemselves on making sure your visit is a wonderful, pampering and relaxing experience.

A Boutique as Unique as it’s Name – We carry a fabulous selection of apparel to suitall ages and styles, at prices to suit everyone,along with beautiful jewelry and scarves. Wealso carry a full range of lingerie, shapewear,hosiery and sleepwear including bridal. Come in for a free bra fitting!!

Brands include, Comfy USA, Papillion, BabaraLesser, Chalet, Hanky Panky, Yummie Tummie,Montelle, Honeydew Intimates and many more.

New London Shopping Center277 Newport Road, New London, NH

(603) 526-6676

It only took five years in businessbefore art of nature won theBest of 2011 in NH Magazine.This shop is the results of onewoman’s affinity to the naturalworld. It is filled with all thingsbeautiful from fancy fresh flowers(specializing in weddings), antlerlamps and chandeliers, homegoods, gifts — and we must men-tion the irresistible bakery case.

As the name implies, if you want100% real, you’ve found your spot.

9 Newport RoadNew London, NH

603-526-2638 www.natureswildart.com

Retail, T-S at 10 a.m. Studio, S/M (informally)

art of nature

29 Little Sunapee RoadNew London, NH(603) 526-6540

www.TheGardenSpaNH.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Sho

p Loc

ally

For

The

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Kearsarge Magazine • Winter 2011/2012 • kearsargeunwrapped.com38


694 Main Street, Quechee, Vermont802-295-1718 • www.stronghousespa.com

Discover the Strong House Spa, dedicated to your total wellness. Leave your stress at the door, your hair on the floor and your skin in the hands of our professionals. Trust the 20 years that stand behind our service. Enjoy a massage, facial, far infrared sauna, detox footbath, and a hair and scalp conditioning treatment for just $250. Book your revival today!

Gift Certificates Available

Upper Valley Ride to the Airport (We'll Pick You Up At Home) provides shuttle servicesto/from Manchester Airport. We’ll pick you up at your home, dorm, office, club, etc. We also offerPrivate Car Service to every New England airport with very reasonable rates! Our newest offering isAuto-Transport to/from anywhere in the United States. Try our services – We'll pick you up at Home!

Cornucopia is a full catering serviceand specializes in real food. We build

your menu around your event, food,preferences, and any food allergies.

Call for a free consultation; we’ll takethe stress out of your next event!

26 Central Square, Bristol, NH(603) 217-0011

www.thecornucopianbakery.com

Shop L

ocally For T

he Holidays

kearsargeunwrapped.com • Winter 2011/2012 • Kearsarge Magazine 39


2011 Holiday Shopping Guide

one of the oldest professions in the world. It dates back to ancient times in Greek and Roman societies. Within the walls of local taverns, inns, restaurants and pubs exists a select breed of mixologists, better known as bartenders. Their mastery is not only in creating a fine cocktail and pouring a tap beer without a foamy head — it is the combination of practical knowledge and spiritual awareness.

Yes, spiritual awareness: that which lies within a bottle and that which is the essence of the person before them. The bar-tender must be somewhat of a reader, analyzing the tone of the patron and answering with more than just a tip of the bottle. A good mixologist has a personal blend of characteristics that goes well beyond pouring a good drink.

Where everyone knows your name “I find it fascinating that people feel

comfortable enough to allow you in their space,” says Daniel Levitt, who has been with the Canoe Club in Hanover, N.H., since they opened 7½ years ago. That privilege is earned, not given. Levitt, who travels to work from Burlington, Vt., has built a loyal following amidst the locals of this sophisticated restaurant/piano bar because he connects with customers.

New London Inn’s cozy, antique bar harbors Jon Melia, who was previously a drummer, singer and bandleader for near-ly 40 years, many of which were played at the lounge in Harrah’s in Reno, Nevada. Although not formally a bartender, he had a lot of experience behind the bar. In 2006, the inn changed hands and the new owners, with whom he was well acquaint-ed, asked that he run their bar. Melia brings a suave, mellow presence to the bar at the inn, though these days he rarely drinks the alcohol he serves, preferring instead a good Cabernet with a meal.

In Newbury, near the town dock, is Bubba’s. The owner employs many family and friends, so the atmosphere is welcoming. Behind the bar is Bubba’s (Bob Williams’) niece, Bradford resident Stephanie Williams. There was a lull one night and an opportunity for her to jump behind the bar and try her hand at mixing drinks. This is how it happens for most bartenders; Canoe Club’s Levitt started as a waiter and morphed into his front and center position.

Sometimes bartending is a bridge job, as with Williams. She is working on her master’s degree in school

Meet the Local Cocktail Crewby Laura H. Guionphotography by Jon Gilbert Fox

› › › › ›

Cheers!

Wendy Dion offers up The Pink Bomb at Salt hill Pub in Newport.

It’s

41


41


New London Inn’s Jon Melia shows off a You Don’t Know Jack drink.

kearsargeunwrapped.com • Winter 2011/2012 • Kearsarge Magazine



struck by an inspiration; I totally became the bad guy. I fixed a drink and it slipped from my hand onto the girl. This meant that the guy was put into a position of defending her. The date got better!” So Levitt takes the initiative, in whatever form, to make sure people are content.

At the New London Inn, Melia is quick to say that his regulars have become his friends — and “fiercely loyal custom-ers.” He sees them walk through the door and he times the drink to be set before them at the bar. He knows who will be in on a given night and looks forward to the evening with them. It’s almost like a cocktail party. But one night the bar was slow. In walked a gentleman who looked like he had some weight on his shoulders. The two had an exchange all night long. At the end of the evening, Melia closed up the bar and realized that this fellow had left him a very large tip on a not-so-large tab. But, for Melia, “It was a big thank you that this guy left feeling a whole bunch better. It means a lot if you can change someone’s life by helping to change their thinking.”What can I get you?

Bartenders, these days, have certain savoir faire. According to Dion of Salt hill Pub, “Bartending is a high pressure

how “super accommodating they were” to her and others around them. She said they signed menus, which hang in the Newport pub, and they allowed for photos to be taken with staff. Musician Steven Tyler has been a customer at Salt hill and the Lil’ Red Baron in Newport.

But not all customers are famous. Dion mentions that there are those times when people show up from the next door funeral parlor and she lends a sympa-thetic ear, but it is part of the job. “Local business owners are wonderful with their support of us, too,” she says.

Levitt says that it is the absolute best when he sees two people alone at the bar and he can get them to interact. He has a clever story about a blind date that, as he puts it, “wasn’t going well, they were super awkward with each other. I was

counseling. Being part of the Bubba’s family has been a great support for her; she’s been there for many seasons and part of the reward is catching up with her out-of-town regulars. “I love to see them come back,” says Williams.The corner pub

One Mile West Tavern is, literally, located one mile west from Mount Sunapee. Owner Wojtek Staszkiewicz is hands on, but has Zanda Ball to lean on as his bartender. Once upon a time Staszkiewicz and Ball were waitstaff for previous owner, Joe Mollica. Mollica thought that Ball would be great behind the bar, and she began her career as a bartender after a year of waiting tables. Mollica moved on to become the state liquor commissioner and Staszkiewicz bought the restaurant. Now Ball works for Staszkiewicz, which is a great camaraderie.

Not much ruffles Ball; she’s easy going and always has a smile. Ball enjoys her role as the bartender at One Mile West. “It’s kinda like ‘Cheers’ here,” she says. “Everyone knows one another.”

And Ball enjoys “making the pa-tron’s visit a good time,” she says. Locals rush to a sit at the bar and treat her as the host of the party; Ball realizes the im-portance of her role and strives to make sure that everyone has a good time. A community cocktail party

Then there are the celebrity custom-er stories. Wendy Dion, the bar manager at Salt hill Pub in Newport, recalled when Patriot players Jerod Mayo, Matt Light and Brian Hoyer showed up at the pub, it was a definite highlight as to

Need a warming winter cocktail? Try this recipe, developed by John Melia at the New London Inn.

2 ounces Applejack½ ounce maple syrup1 ounce sweet and sour mixSplash of orange juiceGarnish with an orange

You Don’t Know Jack

✁

Melia at work behind the bar


job. A lot of people don’t understand this.” It’s imperative to keep a clean bar. Clean glasses, napkins, enough ice and prepared garnishes must be at the ready. You can’t time when people come in and in what quantities. Keeping your cool and making it look easy, as Dion does at Salt hill, is what it’s all about.

“It seems like the bartender is a celebrity,” Ball of One Mile West says, “but it is not without hard work. When we get slammed, it’s very labor intensive because everything needs to be kept clean, you have to remember 10 things at once, and do it all with a smile!”

Sometimes patrons put the bartend-er in the position of deciding what they’ll drink. Levitt has three questions: 1. Is there anything that makes you throw up? 2. Sweet or not sweet? 3. Fruit, or not? Then he lets them know that he can change their drink if they don’t like it.

Melia, on the other hand, says, “Don’t do that to me!” But he will hone in on their tastes. He likes to keep it “upscale with fun.”

Our local bartenders also create their own drinks with seasonal ingredi-ents or to match menu items. The Salt hill Pub has a creation called The

A Unique and Unforgettable Experience

Come enjoy creativeseasonal cuisine, drinks and cocktails servedwith our own handcrafteddinnerware and stemware.

After dining, visit our retail store, o� ering an extensive selection of handcrafted glassware, dinnerware, and home accents.

Retail Store Open Daily: 10am–9pmRestaurant Serves Daily: Lunch: 11:30am–2:45pmDinner: 6–9pm Sunday Brunch: 11am–2:45pm

1760 Main StreetQuechee, Vermont802 295 2711 simonpearce.com

Dine at the Simon Pearce Restaurant

This drink, served at One Mile West, will also keep you warm.

1 ounce tequila1 ounce Tia MariaCoffee to fill the rest of the mug

Spanish Coffee

✁

This drink is by Daniel Levitt at the Canoe Club.In a highball glass filled with ice:

¾ ounce citrus vodka½ ounce St. Germain liqueur1 ounce grapefruit juiceSplash fresh limeTop with soda

Arbaon

✁

››› › ›


Pink Bomb (see recipe). Over at Bubba’s, Williams makes a Newbury Breeze — “Red shiraz, Bacardi, Cointreau and a splash of pineapple juice,” she says — and a martini called the Blushing Gander, which is like a Grey Goose cosmopolitan.

Even though this social job has a lot of positives, the one necessary hat bar-tenders wear is that of alcohol control. All these bartenders are acutely aware of people who need to be shut off, and are always on the lookout for underage drinking. The bartender could rack up $1,000 in fines, and cause the restaurant to shut down. They don’t let it get that far — and finesse it if they think it might, pouring glasses of water and making sure there are snacks available. Not allowing someone to drive is a no brainer. “You need to make sure that you know when to cut people off and remember to card people,” says Ball. “It’s a big responsi-bility. It could be a big liability for the restaurant if you don’t do your job.”

Every bartender has his own flair, and all of them sincerely care for their customers. It doesn’t appear that these bartenders are just in it for the money, or to meet dates. The bartender breed is in-tuitive, empathetic, hard working — and loves to have a good time.

As a wine consultant, Laura Guion has

written wine lists for restaurants and

hotels. She understands the restaurant

industry as a whole, both behind the

scenes and the public face.

This crazy creation is courtesy of the Salt hill Pub. First, in a shot glass:

½ Jagermeister½ peach schnapps

Second, in a pint glass:4 ounces Red Bull4 ounces cranberry juice

Third, drop shot glass into pint glass mixture and drink it back.

The Pink Bomb

✁


Dorr Mill StoreA NATIONAL CENTER

FOR RUG HOOKING, QUILTING & BRAIDING WOOLS

BLANKETS & FINE CLOTHING FOR MEN AND WOMEN

Located on Routes 11 & 103, halfway between Newport and Sunapee, NH603-863-1197 800-846-DORR Open M-Sat. 9-5 www.dorrmillstore.com

OFFERING TWO FULLY-ACCREDITED, TEN-MONTH PROGRAMS

• Teacher Certification • Principal Certification

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Over 40 Years of Experience in Competency-Based Professional Training


people, places and things


There’s something to be said about trek-king through the snow to find the perfect Christmas tree. The kids think it’s an adventure. The husband gets to use the hacksaw. The wife is able to pick the tree that will fit best in the living room, perhaps a smaller tree — one that won’t get knocked out of its stand by rambunc-tious children — with a nice round bottom and perfectly tapered top.

Now, the holiday cheer might wane a bit when you have to drag the tree back to the car, tie it securely on the roof, and the kids are

complaining that their noses are cold. But most New Hampshire Christmas tree farms have a helpful farmer, with extra rope, ready to assist. Sometimes there is hot apple cider to warm up chilled chil-dren, candy canes, sleigh rides, and even a visit from Santa. At Rossview Farm, Don Ross provides the saw and the sleds; later there’s a woodstove and hot chocolate in the Christmas shop. With 10 acres and 10,000 trees (1,000 of which are for sale) and years of experience, Ross knows how to make a visit to the tree farm enjoyable for everyone.

Cut your own by Laura Jean Whitcombphotography by Marty McAuliff

Find Your TreeHere’s a list of a few local “cut your own” places:

ConcordRossview Farm84 District #5 Road228-4872

New LondonElephant Rock Christmas TreesBurpee Hill Road526-6715

WeareWindcrest Farm274 Poor Farm Road529-2653windcrestfarmnh.com

Neal and Chris Harris carry their cut Christmas tree, while Scotty and Ann follow.


39 MAIN ST., PLYMOUTH, NH • (603) 536-2551

SUZY BOGGUSShur, Nov 17

LEAHY FAMILY XMAS Thur, Dec 1

CHRIS SMITHER Sat, Dec 10

TICKETS: FLYINGMONKEYNH.COM

PAULA POUNDSTONESat, Feb 18

CHILDREN’S NUTCRACKERSat, Dec 17

JOHNNY WINTERSat, Jan 21

DINNER and a SHOW • GRAMMY winning ARTISTS • HISTORIC theatre

EXPERIENCE the flying monkey where the AUDIENCE rules!

Book Your Winter Tree Work Now for Savings and to Aid Flood Relief Efforts!

New London 603.526.4500 • Lebanon 603.448.4800 • Concord 603.225.9600 Web chippersinc.com • Blog thisoldyard.net

Accredited NH Better Business Bureau, A+ Rating & Tree Care Industry Association

Winter is the perfect time to enhance long range views, remove large trees and prune fruit and other trees.

Schedule your winter job to be performed between January 1 & March 31, 2012, for a 10% discount and we will also donate $50 per Crew Day to the Irene flood relief efforts via the VT or NH Foodbank, based on where you live.

A Crew Day will be determined on a per project basis by your sales representative, based on crew needs to perform the desired work. This price reduction does not apply to snow removal services.

E n h a n c i n g Y o u r O u t d o o r L i v i n g S p a c e s T r e e • T u r f • G a r d e n • L a n d • F o r e s t

OLD HAMPSHIRE DESIGNSOLD HAMPSHIRE DESIGNS




Have you ever heard someone say “Oh, now that could be a business!” then the conversation turns and the idea becomes a fleeting thought. Not so with New London resident Susy Sullivan, owner of Nantucket Jewels. If she comes up with an idea, then it becomes a real-ity. This gal has worked as a stockbro-ker; moved into accounting; has owned Seams Like Yesterday, a home decorat-ing business; and worked as a manager for Swatch in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Sullivan moved to New Hampshire on her honeymoon 20 years ago, and worked for rug maker Claire Murray “until going into labor on my way to work in Vermont!” As a young mother of four children, Sullivan thought of ways to work from her home. She ca-tered for several years, and in 2005 she tried her hand at beading at Vessels & Jewels in New London. Sullivan “fell in love with the process.”

A graduate of Gettysburg College with a degree in business adminis-tration, Sullivan says, “Since I can’t seem to just have a hobby, I started to produce on a bigger level and held home shows to sell my goods. Always the business student!” She started making earrings, necklaces and bracelets. A volunteer at New London Elementary School, she donned her jewelry while working, and Nantucket Jewels was an instant success.

In 2007, Sullivan began a new line of accessories. “I was talking to a friend who was wearing a ribbon headband and I plucked it off her head and said, “I can do this!” she says.

Her friend told her what she paid

for it online and Sullivan knew that she could pro-duce them for less and with better quality stitching. This lead to belts, key fobs, pacifier holders, dog collars and leashes, and eventually button ponytail holders and bookmarks. Her de-signs are fun, upbeat with a touch of sophistication. “I love input from my clients regarding new products,” she says. “One asked me to make napkin rings from my skier ribbon for a hostess gift.”

This may seam, or seem, like a one-woman show, but Sullivan has stitched her family into the business. Her oldest daughter, Meghan, “has started college and has always been my advisor on what is ‘in’ and what is too boring. My sons — Connor, who is a senior at Kearsarge, and Michael, who is in 8th grade — have spent many hours loading and unloading my car for craft shows. My daughter, Kiley, who is in 6th grade, started clipping my threads on items and now loves to come up with designs of her own. She is also quite the saleswoman,” says Sullivan. Her hus-band, Bob, also helps her set up at the New London Farmers’ Market during the summer.

Beyond Nantucket Jewels, Sullivan finds time to escape to Cape Cod, her longtime summer getaway, where she enjoys her family, takes a break from her three beloved dogs, and gets refreshed with new ideas. “This love for the ocean

inspired the nautical touch within my company,” she says.

She also finds the time to have a “real job” at Strategic Timber in New London, where she works as office man-ager and controller. “It keeps my busi-ness skills sharp,” she says. “Maybe I will make them some curtains someday.”

WHO: Susy Sullivan

WHAT: Nantucket Jewels

WHY: How to seamlessly turn a hobby into a business

WEB: www.nantucketjewels.com

Gary Summerton Photography is

located in Sunapee Harbor. He special-

izes in family, children and high school

senior portraiture. Gary is a graduate of

the New Hampshire Institute of Art and

a member of PPA and NHPPA. Visit his

website at www.garysummerton.com

Doesn’t miss a stitchby Laura H. Guionphotography by Gary Summerton Photography

Kiley Sullivan wears one of her mom’s headbands.

49



kearsargeunwrapped.com • Winter 2011/2012 • Kearsarge Magazine

Is your great-grandfather’s watch worth thousands, or is it a mass pro-duced item? Is that old Navajo rug real, or a clever reproduction? Bring it to the annual Appraisal Day, sponsored by the Grantham Historical Society (GHS), and find out.

“It’s always nice to know if some-thing that you picked up at a yard sale or inherited from a family member is actually valuable in case you should have it insured,” says Kathi Osgood, treasurer of GHS and co-organizer of Appraisal Day. “Everyone is always hoping for that great ‘find’ that’s worth a million bucks.”

Kathi and her husband, Paul, worked in the antiques business for many years and organized this new fundraiser for GHS. It’s not a new concept — New London and Croydon have hosted similar fundraisers — but it’s always a popular one. About 40 people stopped by the Grantham Town Building with their valuables, and two

longtime antique dealers, John Holden from Contoocook and Steve Young from Newport, took a look.

“There were so many interesting items — everything from feathered fans to old rifles,” says Kathi. “Quite a crowd gathered around Steve when he was appraising a large glass bowl with etched filigree trim.”

Quite a crowd also gathered around the kitchen, where volunteers served homemade soups and desserts. It was a fun event that emphasized GHS’s mis-sion. “The historical society can be a great resource for people in Grantham.

We love to have visitors come in to learn things about the town and its inhabit-ants,” says Kathi. “History can be fun, educational and profitable!”

WHAT: Antique Appraisal Day hosted by the Grantham Historical Society

WHERE: Grantham Town Building, 300 Route 10 South, Grantham

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

HOW MUCH: $5 for one item; $12 for three

WHY: Your family heirlooms may actually be worth something

WEB: www.granthamhistoricalsociety.org

What’s it worth?by Laura Jean Whitcomb

photography by Renee Gustafson

Steve Young, an antique dealer, appraises a painting.

Appraiser John Holden evaluates a piece of furniture.




T

A philosophy for everyoneby Diane Taylor

here was a time when Michelle Lienhart lived a quiet, normal life. With a degree in art from New England College, the resident of Webster worked as a graphic designer for 20 years and picked up some part-time stints teaching art to college students. She married. She had some kids, two of her own, plus a stepson. The pattern of her life seemed relatively set.

But in 2008, Lienhart designed a couple of T-shirts and totally changed her world. As the creator/owner/de-signer/marketer of Just Be Products, Lienhart is the one-woman whirlwind behind a line of T-shirts that has liter-ally gone global in its reach.

The idea was simple enough. Lienhart came up with an unfinished phrase, Just Be... and started filling in the blank with her own thoughts. Just Be...Sweet. Just Be...Cool. Just Be...Dignified. Just Be...Funky. Those were some of her first phrases, which she illustrated with designs inspired by vin-tage posters. But the possibilities seem virtually endless, and now Lienhart designs T-shirts for just about anything anyone might want. If there is a state of mind or a way of life that appeals to you, chances are you can find a cor-responding Just Be T-shirt online or at an increasing number of retail outlets spread throughout New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts.

But if there’s one thing that sets Lienhart’s T-shirts apart from the rest of the pack, it’s not the phrase or the de-sign. It’s the ad hoc community that has sprung around the concept of Just Be.

“I don’t know what I would have done without social media and

networking,” Lienhart says. Sharing their thoughts through Facebook, Twitter and a blog site, fans of Just Be are constantly of-fering Lienhart suggestions for new T-shirt designs. The volume and speed of inter-play among participants is so significant, says Lienhart, that she can never attribute a new phrase to just any one person. The ideas pour in, and Lienhart sifts through them all to find the ones she can translate into a suitable visual image.

“That’s the tricky part about the creative process,” Lienhart says. “An idea may sound great, but the question is: How do I portray that in a graphic on a T-shirt? The hardest one I haven’t been able to come with a graphic for yet is Just Be...Creative.”

Lienhart loves the phrase, but there are so many ways to be creative, she hasn’t come up with an image — yet — that encompasses all of the possibilities.

She’ll keep working on it.“Ideas pop into my head all the

time,” Lienhart says. “I always carry my phone with me now so I can write ideas down. Otherwise, they slip away from me.”

On the official Just Be website, Lienhart doesn’t hesitate to draw atten-tion to the famous actors (Miley Cyrus) and singers (2009 American Idol winner Lee DeWyze) who have been spotted wearing Just Be T-shirts or who have commissioned Just Be T-shirts as part of

phot

ogra

phy

by A

llegr

a Bo

verm

an/T

he E

agle

-Trib

une

51kearsargeunwrapped.com • Winter 2011/2012 • Kearsarge Magazine

their marketing campaigns for a variety of entertainment projects. It is no small accomplishment, after all, for a solo entrepreneur to have her T-shirts in-cluded in the celebrity gift bags for the 2009 Academy Awards, or to have been chosen to create a T-shirt design to help promote the next big teen vampire film sensation, Soulstice: Luna’s Dream.

All the same, Lienhart says the best part of her job remains the connections she makes among the customers she meets in her store or those she meets at the various outdoor events she still participates in each year. “Talking to people and seeing what they want is what keeps me going,” Lienhart says. “It’s always fun to hear the story about who they are buying a T-shirt for or what they would like to see in a design for themselves.”

With her product line expand-ing to include just about anything that can support an image (cups, cards, mouse pads, etc.), Lienhart says it is also gratifying to hear people tell her that she makes their gift shopping easy. From the middle-aged golfer in your life to the 20-something advocate for peace, Just Be has something for nearly everyone on your list.

Lienhart concedes that it hasn’t been easy weathering the economy’s ups and downs, “but what keeps me going,” she says, “is my passion for the product and the brand.”

Diane Taylor is a freelance writer

who lives in Topsham, Vt. She has two

grown children, Dennis Deuring and

Alison Taylor, who live in the Upper

Valley.

WHAT: Just Be Products

WHERE: Just Be Boutique, 2 North Main Street, Concord

WHEN: Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

WHY: Just be…a supporter of a local business

WEB: www.justbe.net

(603) 526-4116 Milestone Real Estate

P.O. Box 67, 224 Main Street New London, NH 03257

www.cbmilestone.com [email protected]

Looking for your own place?We can help!

The Best Team In Town...Not the Biggest... Simply the Best!

Residential

Vacation Land & Farms

Waterfront

52



Kearsarge Magazine • Winter 2011/2012 • kearsargeunwrapped.com

Goshen knife maker Steve Hill’s cre-ations are first and foremost collectible art or, as he says, “a marriage of fine art and functionality.”

Hill received his first knife from his native Texan father at the age of 7 — “Much to my mother’s chagrin,” he says — and the gift began his lifelong appre-ciation of the weapon as both a collector and artisan. Hill began crafting knives in the mid-1970s.

“I pretty much taught myself,” he says, relying initially on a how-to book and developing his own style through trial and error. In 1989, knife making became his full-time career and he cur-rently works out of his studio at home in Goshen.The process

“Everything begins as a rectangle,” says Hill, beginning with the high-quali-ty Damascus steel from which the blades are cut. Hill designs and draws the pat-tern of the blade onto the steel, which is then cut out on a band saw and ground to the desired shape. The blade is then placed in a heat treated oven at 1,500 degrees to harden the steel before being tempered at 400 degrees for an hour or

Knife workSteve Hill takes a rectangle of steel and creates functional fine art.by Katie Richardsonphotography by Kevin Davis Photography

so to eliminate brittleness from the blade.

The handles are made from a variety of mate-rial. Some are crafted from beautifully patterned wood, such a tiger maple. Wood handles are some-times dyed or inlaid with metal designs or precious stones. Hill created a knife he calls “Deep Purple Haze” which has a dyed purple tiger maple handle with inlaid musical notes.

Other handles are crafted from antler, pearl or wooly mammoth ivory, which Hill sees as particu-larly fitting for a tool with such prehistoric roots. “I like to try to connect with those who have gone before me,” he says. Frames for the handles are constructed from lightweight and durable titanium.

The design of the knife often evolves as Hill is working on it, which is why he reluctant to be held to too many specifics when creating a custom knife. That being said, he loves concept pieces and working on a theme. His portfolio boasts many custom pieces, like a Three Stooges knife for a collector of Three Stooges memorabilia and an ocean themed piece for a diver. “I like to make it as fun as possible,” he says, and adds that this type of project has brought him in contact with many interesting people

and often times forged new friendships.Hill creates primarily folding or

switchblade knives, but does make straight and fixed-blade knives as well. One of his knives can take anywhere from a week to two months to complete. “It takes as long as it takes,” he says, “It’s definitely a labor of love.”The philosophy

Music is a major force in Hill’s life; he counts Colonel James Bowie, who popularized the fixed-blade Bowie knife in the 1800s, and Elvis Presley as his main influences. Hill has played guitar since he was a child and his music career took center stage after high school and through the 1980s. He began in Cape

Goshen knife maker Steve Hill


Cod, moved to Canada, then Florida be-fore ending up back in the Boston area. Even now, he manages to incorporate guitar gigs into his travels promoting the knife making business.

Thanks to connections made throughout his music career, he has amassed a number of famous clients. Musicians who purchased one or more of Hill’s knives include David Crosby, James Taylor, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Lonnie Mack, Ted Nugent, Brad Whitford, Joe Perry and Steven Tyler, who has called his custom 10-inch switchblade his favorite possession.

But honoring the history of the craft is at the core of Hill’s approach. “This country’s history was forged on the blade of a knife,” says Hill. Each year he revisits the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, to participate in reenactments and one of his Bowie knives is on per-manent display in an “Evolution of the Bowie Knife” exhibit there, something he calls “the culmination of a lifelong dream.”

Hill tends to stay away from the mainstream hunting shows. His work appeals more to collectors who are look-ing for one-of-a-kind pieces, rather than a mass-produced weapon, and his work was featured in Fine Art magazine. “I like the craft,” he says, “I’m trying to preserve the craftsmanship.”

Katie Richardson is a freelance writer.

She lives in Sunapee with her husband

and three children.

Photographer Kevin Davis lives in

Grantham with his lovely wife and

two great kids. To view more of

his work, visit his website,

www.kevindavisphotos.com

WHO: Goshen artist Steve Hill

WHAT: Handcrafted knives

WHY: Even if you don’t collect knives, you’ll want one of these

WEB: www.stevehillknives.com

210 Main Street, New London, NH 03257 • 603-526-2121

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he holiday season is about family, friends and neighbors, all of who can be found at the Wilmot Community Association (WCA) Holiday Craft Fair. You can also find lovely handmade crafts and fine art produced by the very people beaming at you from across the sales table.

“A lot of people come to chat and eat,” says Amy Gignac, co-coordinator of the craft fair. “We don’t charge to come in, and both locations are in the heart of Wilmot, a very walkable place.”

The WCA Craft Fair started out small — about 10 vendors or so — but has grown to include 30 to 40 vendors split between two locations: the Wilmot Community Center and the Wilmot Town Hall. “We have knitters, jewelry, woodwork, quilting, wreaths — and food. People always want food.” Even if holiday shopping isn’t on your agenda, stop by for a lunch of soup or chili, and chat with other people from around town.

Hello, friendsby Andi Diehn

Grab a tin and get ready for the Cookie Walk.

In addition to the lunch table, one of the most popular stations is the Fudge Shop Factory, which made its debut last year. Here shoppers can select homemade fudge by the piece or by the box. The ever-popular Cookie Walk, run by the Ladies Aid, always draws a crowd of people who fill different sized tins for different sized price tags.

“This is one of our biggest fundraisers of the year,” says Gignac. “And the great thing is the money we make goes right back into other programs that serve all different ages in the community — kids, families, the elderly.” The WCA supports local projects like updating the playground at the Timmy Patten Beach.

WHAT: WCA Holiday Craft Fair

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 3, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE: Wilmot Community Association, 64 Village Road and Wilmot Town Hall, 9 North Wilmot Road

WHY: You can find all sorts of warm things — a steaming cup of tea or a neighbor’s smiling face — at this fair

WEB: www.wilmotcommunityassoc.com

Andi Diehn loves shopping local craft

fairs for holiday gifts, not only because

she hates paying for shipping; she also

loves meeting the faces behind the art.

The Dream of Two LifeTimesThe New Crew at Vessels & Jewels

by John Waltersphotography by Tom McNeill



(Above) Printmaker Peter Ensign at work on a series of Christmas cards in his studio at his Vessels & Jewels store.

(Top left) Colorful hand-blown glass by Nathan Macomber and Jim Loewer

(Middle left) Heart warming treasure boxes by Susan Marie Brown

(Lower left) Handpainted bowls by Gina Rosencrantz



his father’s alma mater. Then he moved back home. “When I was a teenager, I was itching to get out of here,” Peter explains. “It took me going to Colorado and spending four years there to realize how much I loved it here.” He worked as a house painter for several years, pursu-ing his art in his spare time.

Rachel was born in Hanover; when she was 3, her family moved to Hawaii. When it came time to choose a college, she opted for Colby-Sawyer. How did that happen? “I spent summers in New

Hampshire with my grandmother,” she says. “She took me to the Barn Playhouse a lot, so I got to see the Colby-Sawyer campus. And I wanted to be there.”

She earned a degree in child devel-opment — and along the way, she met her future husband. “I used to teach at Windy Hill, Colby-Sawyer’s lab school,” she recalls. “Peter’s sister-in-law was a teacher there, and she introduced us.”

During the school year, you don’t see as much of Rachel at Vessels & Jewels; she spends most of her time at the Warner Cooperative Preschool, where she serves as head teacher.

Peter enjoyed painting houses, but as he entered his 30s (he’s now 32), he wanted to get more serious about print-making. One thing he needed: a better place to work than a leaky basement.

Peter had been one of Pellerin’s regular customers, and was a big fan of the shop. “Every time I was in here buying something,” he says, “I always left thinking, ‘If she ever offered this for sale, I’d do my best to see if I could make it work.’”

In 2010, Pellerin was pondering a change. She and her husband, David, had started a family, and running

name, “Vessels & Jewels.” It’s always had the same location, in the Main Street building that was the longtime home of Baynham’s Mercantile.

The Pellerin version and the Ensign version are, in many ways, similar. The colorful decor is largely unchanged; it’s a funky, appealing place packed with art and craft items in a wide variety of media: ceramics, jewelry, glass, fabric and furniture, among others. And when you ask Peter Ensign to describe the store in a few words, he borrows the phrase on the store’s outer wall, installed by Pellerin: “Vessels & Jewels: a unique destination to feel creative or to be inspired.”

The Ensigns continue to carry many of Pellerin’s most popular artisans, while adding a few new names to the roster. But there’s one big difference: the bead shop that used to occupy the store’s upper level has been replaced by Peter’s printmaking studio. Reactions?

“There are a lot of people who are really happy that we’ve added our own flair to the shop,” says Peter. “And then there are those who are so upset that there’s no more bead shop that I can’t talk to them. You just can’t please everybody.”

Still, the Ensigns obviously feel a great sense of continuity with Pellerin. Otherwise, why keep the store’s name? “We looked at the business, the his-tory, the clientele,” explains Peter. “The people who loved the shop because of the style it provided. The goal was to keep it the same sort of shop, the same sort of artists, but just adding our own spin to it.” The journey to Vessels & Jewels

So, if your father’s a banker and your mother’s into arts and crafts, do you go right brain or left brain? “Art has always been a huge part of my life, as early as grade school,” answers Peter. “My mother always supported what I wanted to do.”

He studied printmaking and ceramics at the University of Denver,

magine you’re a young couple, just getting started in life, and looking for a new business venture. How’s this for an idea: take over an arts and crafts gallery. In the middle of a recession.

Well, that’s what Peter and Rachel Ensign did. And, so far, it’s working pretty well. Since October 2010, the Ensigns (pronounced like “stop sign”) have owned Vessels & Jewels in down-town New London.

Might seem like bad timing, but for the Ensigns it was the perfect thing to do. In fact, it was the dream of a life-time. More than that: it was the dream of two lifetimes.

Dream #1: “It was what Peter was waiting for,” Rachel says. Peter is a printmaker. “His studio was in our basement, which is poorly lit and leaks in the winter.” The studio’s new home is right there in the store.

Dream #2 belonged to Peter’s mother, the late Sheri Ensign, who spent many years working at Artisan’s. “She managed Artisan’s for a long time,” Peter says. “It had been a dream of hers to purchase the store, but it didn’t work out. My father (Steve Ensign, chairman and CEO of Lake Sunapee Bank) has backed me in this business, partly be-cause he knew how much it meant to her. He was making my dream come true, but also helping create something that would have made her happy as well.”

Sheri Ensign’s life was devoted to arts and crafts. She was a member of the board of the League of N.H. Craftsmen, and organized the “Living with Crafts” display at the League’s annual fair. She was a strong influence on Peter’s deci-sion to pursue a career in art; “Ninety percent of me is my mother,” he says.

There’s one more family tie at the new Vessels & Jewels. Peter’s sister, Lisa Ensign Wood, is the store’s manager. She learned the business working for Sheri at Artisan’s. The store, before and after

Vessels & Jewels was founded about eight years ago by Brandi Pellerin. She did jewelry and beadwork and her husband, David, is a potter; hence the

i

› › › › ›

When you ask Peter Ensign to describe the store in a few words, he borrows the phrase on the store’s outer wall: “Vessels & Jewels: a unique destination to feel creative or to be inspired.”



large heavy roller is maneuvered back and forth over the block and paper. Finally, he removes the linoleum block from the paper, and voilà: he’s made a card. It’s placed in a drying rack; it’ll take a day or two for the ink to dry.

a retail store meant lots of hours away from home. She put the shop on the mar-ket and started getting offers. One day, Peter Ensign came in to do a little shop-ping, and Pellerin told him the store was for sale. He told her he might be inter-ested in buying it. And after consulting with Rachel and running the numbers, they made the deal in October 2010.

How does Pellerin think they’ve done? “They’ve retained my original vi-sion, but added their own taste. They’ve done a great job of transitioning to their own,” she says. In the printmaker’s studio

This is a far cry from a basement hideaway. Peter’s space in Vessels & Jewels is nice and open, and there’s abun-dant light from the store’s large windows. He has a work table, a professional qual-ity printmaking press, drying racks, space for lots of paper and finished works, and a host of inks and tools.

“Today I decided to restock my card supply for the store,” he says. He’s already spread a patch of red ink on a glass surface. He pulls out a linoleum block; on one surface is an intricately carved abstract design. He picks up a roller and rolls over and over the ink, until there’s a perfectly even coating on the roller. “When you bring the ink out on your roller, you’re looking for a spe-cific sound.” Next he applies the roller to the carved surface of the block, evenly and repeatedly.

Peter picks up a sheet of print paper and carefully places the inked block face down on the paper — “Just kind of

Rachel Ensign with hand-blown glass by Nathan Macomber and Jim Loewer

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eyeball droppin’ it here,” he says — and getting it precisely in the center of the sheet. “Then I take two fingers, push down two corners, then push the rest down, and hold it there for a minute.”

Then it’s over to the press, where a


Then it’s ready for your consideration.Peter’s designs are mainly abstract,

but he says they are all inspired by na-ture. Often in close up. “A lot of people look at my work and say, ‘Where did you see that?’” He points to a spiral pattern on one carved block. “It’s like, ‘Where do you see a spiral in nature?’ I go right to the pine cone or the nautilus shell.”

He combines those natural patterns into dense, intricate designs that arise from his own creative sensibility — sometimes to the puzzlement of the ca-sual observer. “One guy walked in here and looked at my stuff. And he said, ‘It’s funny — you look normal.’ ”

Yes, he does, as a matter of fact. Peter is a pleasant, mild-mannered, somewhat reserved fellow. The kind of guy who might be ill at ease with a studio in full public view. He smiles. “I used to be one of those people. It’s been a new experience having people walk right up and get into what I’m working on. But it’s fun to hear people talk about what they see in my work.”

He’s also taking advantage of his

public perch to offer classes in print-making. He takes students of almost any age or skill level. And after students complete a cycle of introductory courses, they can rent his studio and use it to cre-ate their own art. Maintaining and building

The Ensigns are in their second year as retailers, and they’re still in the pro-cess of making the shop completely their own. “We wonder,” says Peter, “how long will it be that we will still have people coming in and saying, ‘What hap-pened to the beads?’ And my joke is that it will be five years from now.” But most customers do appreciate the shop for what it is, in addition to what it was.

And, no, the middle of a recession wasn’t the best time to buy the shop. But Peter and Rachel are hanging in there. “The goal was to take over and keep it open for when the economy turned back around,” he says. “So we could be here when people can spend a little more.”

“We’ve found artists who maintain the quality of their craft, but are also more affordable,” adds Rachel. “We’ve tried to make it more practical and reasonable, while still maintaining our standards. The range is pretty broad. We want to carry things that will be inspir-ing, but we don’t want people to feel like they have to leave without something.”

Fundamentally, Peter says,


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Peter carves a linoleum block, the first step in his printmaking process. He is making a border for a Christmas card.

More InformationVessels & Jewels is at 207 Main Street in New London, and you can visit them on the web at www.vesselsandjewels.com

› › › › ›

60 Kearsarge Magazine • Winter 2011/2012 • kearsargeunwrapped.com

this isn’t about the money. “You’ve got to find a place where you’re happy living. And if the happiness is there, you’re really the richest person in the world.”

Rachel is happy, working with preschoolers, finding new artisans for the store, and even doing a bit of creative work herself; she’s taken on furniture refinishing, a craft that used to be done by Brandi Pellerin. Peter is happy, with a well-lit place to make his own art and to showcase the creative work of others he admires. And he is certain that Sheri Ensign, wherever she may be, is aware of what’s going on: “I believe where I’m at now would make her very happy.”

John Walters (www.johnswalters.com) is a freelance writer, editor and voice artist. His first book, Roads Less Traveled: Visionary New England Lives, was published in 2010.

We are honored to be a place where volunteers and resources come together to triumph

over adversity. Today the emergency is Irene; for the past three years people have struggled with

the shrinking economy and stressed budgets; and we cannot predict what tomorrow will bring.

We do know that our current community needs around Irene and the economy will not disappear

during 2011 or 2012, and that although this natural disaster has brought to light hardship

and struggle, we see hope in our work every day. We know the importance of being steadfast

in our work for the community this day and always.

Over 350 people have joined the hundreds who give time in volunteering at the Haven.

At the same time — the numbers of those who need food, clothing, shelter

and help problem solving during Irene recovery — grow every day.

P l e a s e j o i n u s a s p a r t o f t h e s o l u t i o n .

Creating a community wh ere people fi nd hope and discover poss ibility.

T h e r e i s s t r e n g t h i n n u m b e r s . Together we can reduce homelessness and food insecurity in our community one gift at a time.

w w w . u p p e r v a l l e y h a v e n . o r g ( 8 0 2 ) 2 9 5 - 6 5 0 0

Please make an ANNUAL FUND or PLANNED GIFT this holiday season!

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hop.dartmouth.edu | 603.646.2422 | Dartmouth College | Hanover, NH

winter hiGhliGhts include:all-Mendelssohn program with finckel/han/setZer piano trio

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At Salt hill Pubs, Joe and JoshTuohy have been offering theirinspired blend of honest food, perfectpints, good humor and living musicsince 2003. We offer smiles andsavory daily specials. Happy Hour 3-6. Check out our extensive cateringmenu and pies and cakes to go. We are a family

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Peter Christian’s Tavern reopened under newmanagement in Oct. 2010. We’ve kept classic

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62 Kearsarge Magazine • Winter 2011/2012 • kearsargeunwrapped.com


27 South Main Street, Hanover, N.H.(603) 643-9660

www.canoeclub.us

The Canoe Club, located in the center of Hanover, is avibrant, stylish-yet-informal gathering spot for the UpperValley. We presentinventive, freshly prepared local food, 24 draft beers, an award-winningwine list, and live entertainment seven nights aweek. Food is served from 11:30 a.m. until 11:30p.m. (drinks until 12:30 a.m.).

Nonni’s Italian Eatery conjures up memories of N.Y.C’s Little Italy. The same fresh preparations, care and pride that anItalian grandmother would take in herfood can be yours. Brooklyn-bornOwner and Chef, Matt Mitnitsky, can customize menus for any type ofoccasion, corporate meetings, family and festive gatherings, even daily,delivered meals.

247 Newport Road, New London, NH(603) 526-2265

www.nonnisitalianeatery.com

Season’s Greetings from Home Hill Inn!Join us for the holidays and enjoy Thanksgiving,Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve dinners with family and friends. Open Wednesday throughSunday from 5 until 9 pm, our seasonal menus areavailable online at www.homehillinn.com. Sunday Brunch from 10 am until 2 pm featuresbreakfast and lunch choices. Reservations areappreciated. 703 River Road, Plainfield, NH

Call 603-675-6165www.homehillinn.com

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KM Shopping Guide Winter 2011

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