I have been blown away by your support of the shop and our island this fall. It has been wonderful to see you in the shop showing up for small businesses like mine online and in person. Every sale matters, so thank you for supporting Little Luxuries and Mackinac Island tourism, especially this year.

Every fall, we welcome a group of women to the island for Women’s Wellness Weekend. Jenna Kator brings tour busses of women from all over Michigan (and more states, too!) and so many of you drive yourselves and come up for the festivities too! Past years, we have had workshops on wellness, a silent auction and plenty of time for shopping! 

During the weekend, we hosted the women in the shop for a Jenna Kator Handbag Trunk Show. Since this year’s festivities have been canceled, we have decided to take them ONLINE! 

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 16th, October 17th and October 18th, ALL Jenna Kator Handbags will be 25% OFF! Then, 15% of the sales will be donated to the Mackinac Island Cancer Fund! 

We can’t wait to celebrate the weekend (virtually) with you! Be sure to follow along on Facebook and Instagram, because there will be some fun giveaways that you don’t want to miss out on!

Each year, I am amazed at the amount of money we are able to donate to the Mackinac Island Cancer Fund. You and your friends always show up in BIG ways for this cause and I appreciate it so much!

We can’t wait to celebrate this Jenna Kator Trunk Show virtually with you - so grab your girlfriends and mark your calendars for next weekend, October 16th, October 17th and October 18th! 

A few weeks ago on social media, I did a fun Q + A! These were questions submitted by Instagram followers and I wanted to share my answers here for those who do not have Instagram! 

Where are your boys starting school? The boys go to school at St. Francis in Petoskey! 

What’s October like on Mackinac? How late does stuff (hotels, the fort, stay “open”?  Weekends in October are normally very busy. This fall, we are not sure what it will be like. Most of the hotels and Fort Mackinac are closing October 25th. Personally, I think Fall is a great time to visit!

What area of the island do you live in? And do you live there year round?  We live close to town and we do not live here year round anymore. We spend half the year in Petoskey. We lived on the island for ten years and my husband is from the island. We love Mackinac and Petoskey.

Do the island crowds seem to be normal sized this year? The crowds seem very similar to past years. Some days are slower and some are busier. We are very thankful for the business this summer and for everyone who still decided to visit Mackinac Island.

What’s your favorite product in the shop? There’s a lot that I love! But to narrow it down to one item or product line, it would be the Mackinac Bath and Body line. I love the hand cream and room / body spray. 

What led you to opening a shop on the island? Such a dream! The opportunity came back in 2009. I was looking for a “career” on the island. The storefront was for lease so I jumped on it and took the risk. It was the best decision. It’s been a fun, adventurous ride. 

Summer is coming to an end and college students are getting ready to go back to school. Which means they’re packing their bags and getting together everything that they’re going to need for the school year. It got me thinking about what I would need to head back to school - so I went around the shops and found 5 items from each shop for a total of 15 Essentials for College Students!

 

Little Luxuries

1. Inspirational Soft Cover Journal: Every student needs something to write down their notes in, so why not get an inspirational journal that’s adorable and uplifting!

 

2. Island Girl Lilac Collection Hand Sanitizer: Not only is it easy to take on the go because it comes in two different sizes, but it also smells amazing! Who doesn’t want to smell good while also being able to keep their hands clean?

 

3. Mackinac Bath and Body Room & Body Mist: Everyone loves products that have multiple uses. Room & Body Mists come in four different scents and can be used on your body as well as in your room, making them perfect for a student living in the dorm!

 

4. Island Girl Tote: Let’s be honest, college students are always on the go and sometimes run late. The Island Girl Tote is perfect for those with a busy lifestyle because it’s easy to grab things, slip them into the tote and go! It’s also a great size so you can fit all of your books and other college essentials inside.

 

5. Rifle Paper Weekly Desk Pad: In college it’s important to be organized and keep track of when homework is due and when exams are, that’s why this Weekly Desk Pad is perfect! Just place it on your desk, write down any important tasks for the week and there you go, you’re organized and prepared to take on the semester!

 

The Artists Market

1. Mulberry Pines Essential Oil: We all know that college can be stressful and there’s nothing more relaxing than diffusing some essential oils. Plus, essential is literally in the name!

 

2. Mackinac Mittens: If you go to school somewhere where winters are anything like they are on the island, you’ll definitely be needing a pair of these mittens to keep your hands warm!

 

3. Lipstick Holder: Attach it to your keys or your backpack and you’ll never lose your lip gloss again!

 

4. Red Cabin Studio Stickers: These stickers are the perfect addition to any laptop or water bottle!

 

5. Masks: Considering they’re required, masks are the most essential thing there is right now so why not make sure you have one to go with every outfit? These Karen Allen masks are two-sided, have adjustable ear straps and a strap that goes around your neck so that you’ll never lose it!

 

Canvas and Paddle

1. Rolltop Backpack PLUS: This backpack has enough storage to hold everything you need for classes!

 

2. Keweenaw Coffee: Caffeine is always a must when it comes to college. It’s perfect for those early morning or late nights spent studying!

 

3. Canoe Canvas Pouch: Throw all of your pens and pencils into this pencil pouch and you’ll be all set to take notes in class!

 

4. Canvas and Paddle Water Bottle: Do you want to be able to take your favorite drink to class and have it stay the same temperature the whole time? This water bottle is amazing because it has a copper plated inner wall that helps retain the internal temperature longer!

 

5. Jumbo Notepad Meal Planner: If you’re someone who has a busy schedule and doesn’t have time to plan what to eat every day, this meal planner is meant for you. It makes it easy to plan your meals ahead of time and you’ll never have to worry about what to eat!

 

College can be stressful, but I hope that these essentials will make things a little easier and a little more relaxing!

It’s definitely been a different start to the 2020 season on Mackinac Island, but now that it’s here, we are SO busy!

A big change at the Artists Market of Mackinac Island this summer is that we have a WEBSITE! We love seeing what goodies you are finding in our online shop. Our blog is conjoined with our sister store, Little Luxuries of Mackinac Island, but all our products can be found over on our website: www.mackinacartistsmarket.com.
Since we have a new website and SO many new products this year, we’re sharing some of our favorites new products!

Red Cabin Studio’s new product, Framed Tiles: With two sizes and numerous designs, this product has been a hot item in the shop this year!

Northern Nail Polish: Northern Nail Polish uses the most natural, vegan ingredients known to form a long lasting, chip resistant nail polish that can be easily removed by our natural and nourishing soy-based polish remover. All polishes are 10-toxin-free, cruelty-free and vegan, and pigmented with natural minerals so they won’t leave stains on your nails after removal!

Scratch Off Lunch Box Cards: Make your little monster's day with this set of 24 scratch-off lunchbox notes, and hide your OWN message in a scratch-off! Making them is easy: write your message in the white rectangle and cover it with the scratch-off sticker provided. Scratching will reveal your hidden message! These tiny notes are the perfect size to slip into a lunch bag or pocket of someone special.

Lake Life Coloring Board Kit: Have fun while designing your own home or cabin decor, This pre-printed board is the perfect way to leap out of the coloring book. Make your work a lasting piece of art on a wood board, one that you can display with pride.

Sun Sprinkles Earrings: Each and every one of Sun Sprinkles products is handmade and designed from carefully selected materials.  Our jewelry is lightweight and comfortable to wear all day long.  Each piece is  inspected for quality and made to last.

Dark & Stormy Earrings by Ethic Goods: These triangular resin hoops are anything but basic. Ethic Goods, employs women impacted by trafficking in China.

While I love ALL our products at Little Luxuries, The Artists Market and Canvas & Paddle, I wanted to share with you my top favorites that I am loving this season! 

Melamine plates: These plates are so fun and simple way to make your gathering more festive!

Archipelago Oat Lotion: This lotion makes my skin silky soft and smell so good! 

Michigan Gummies: I can eat the whole bag! They are SO yummy! 

Baskets: The perfect basket for plants, throws, towels! 

Bath Tea from Janet Marie: This is new this year and I love it! I'm a bath girl! 

Lenny and Eva Bracelets: I’m a bracelet girl too! 

Lilac Festival Poster: I love this year's poster. It has a vintage look and is very warm and welcoming.

Checker board: I love a game of checkers and this is perfect for summer months! 

Vintage Thermoses: I collect them! There is something something about a thermos that I just love!  

Swan Creek Candles: I adore the smells and the look of these cozy, Up North candles! 

Next time you’re on the website, or in the shop, check out these products that I love!