DEANSBORO — Dean White and Susan Castle spent the summer renovating an old barn and have filled it full of gift items.
The store is called Queen Bee Garden and Gifts and is located on Route 12B just a few miles north of the Madison County line and just a couple of miles south of Clinton.
White has been at the location more than 35 years and has a reputation for his pottery, which he displays in the main building. Castle came into her own as an artist more slowly, working in her field of psychology for a number of years and making silver jewelry as a hobby.
As she attended arts and crafts shows with her husband, she began to produce enough pieces that she could offer them to White’s customers at the pottery shop. It was White who proposed that they turn an old barn on the property into a showcase for Castle’s work as well as seasonal gardening items, another interest of theirs.
When designing their venue it was important to the couple to being green. The barn is the ultimate in recycling using a structure that has been just a storage facility into a display area for her work. The couple did the majority of the renovation themselves
The display area is filled with reused and recycled items that have been turned into works of art: old doors are now potting sheds, headboards have become benches and old silverware has been turned into wind chimes. They also have created a number of garden items such as outdoor benches, arbors, birdhouses and Adirondack chairs. When they opened in October they had their own items to sell as well as some from other artisans they had met at area shows. Crafters stop by to add new items regularly.
Castle notes that all the items are hand-made and American-made; most have a connection to Central New York. Doing 12 shows each year have brought them in contact with talented artisans from across the state.
One example is Nancy Mossing, whom Castle met at a show in the St. Lawrence area and she carries some of her work that includes grain painted frames around theorem paintings, which are oils on velvet.
Closer to home, they carry honey harvested and sold by Fred Blunt, who lives just a few miles from the shop. She has just received some hand-turned bowls and wooden pens by local woodworker,Howard Anders. Other items they carry include jewelry, soaps, herbs, jellies, relishes, etchings, paintings, drawings and pottery.
For the Christmas holiday they will be selling fresh Balsam fir trees
A number of designers have created ornaments for decorating.
Castle said that their outlet for their own creations has become truly an artisan’s co-op.
Castle added that her daughter, Katherine, an art history major in college, helps her with design ideas when she is home.
The shop is open Wednesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. She will keep regular hours until December 23 and then will close for the holiday.
She expects to be open for a couple of weekends during the winter months and reopen in the spring to sell herbs and perennials suited for the Central New York climate. The shop’s phone number is 381-3009.
