IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE…Well, you know - Gilboa Museum Hosts Annual Fundraising Holiday Boutique

By Carolyn Bennett

GILBOA — If you’re wondering what Santa will bring you this year, Joanne McNally isn’t telling, but she will be on hand along with a dozen other holiday vendors at the Gilboa Museum’s  Annual Fundraising Holiday Boutique, 122 Stryker Road, Gilboa on Sunday, November 16th to offer a festive array of holiday goodies. 

Add to that the latest in the Gilboa Museum’s Small Works art show where you’ll find “a ton” of pieces from about 20 local artists whose work will make unusual and highly personal holiday gifts. The exhibition will be hung the week before so artworks will be available for purchase at the Holiday Boutique. Pieces will be available for sale all day. As always, a percentage of sales will benefit the museum. The boutique runs from 11-4, and the opening reception for the artwork goes from 4:30-6:30 the same day, right after the boutique. There will be refreshments, and an opportunity to meet many of the artists. 

Joanne McNally is an internationally renowned Psychic Medium/Spiritual Intuitive, Teacher, and Lecturer. She’s a straight forward reader who uses a crystal to tune into an individual’s guides and help understand their life's path. You can request a private reading or buy a gift certificate for those on your gift list who are astrologically-inclined.

McNally will be joined by Shalimar, another psychic medium who, in addition to readings, offers Reiki and Energy Healing, Channeling, Numerology, Pendulum Divination, and Palm Readings.

If Palmistry isn’t your thing, but good bread is, Bread Too ! and will join up with other local gastronomic vendors to serve you homemade soup or tempt you with 15 flavors of fudge.

Bread Too! has been a NYS Registered Sourdough Micro-Bakery running since 2024. Enjoy fresh baked sourdough bread ~ an artisan bread with distinct crunchy crust and a soft, fluffy crumb inside! Glass artist, fiber artist and owner of The Glass Wisteria in Middleburgh, Cathy Feaster is a Renaissance woman and Bread Too ! is her newest feature.

Pair Cathy Feaster’s crunch sourdough bread with a sip or a slurp of Paulie’s crowd-pleasing soups. Gustoso ! And top it off with Adrianne McNally’s fresh pies and baked goods. As Rachel Ray used to say, Umm, Umm, Umm.

Ooh Fudge It wasn’t fudging it in 2020 they started; in fact, Renee and Jim Ackerman have been perfecting their fudge-making for over 15 years.  With over 30 standard flavors, Renee and Jim now offer a nice rotation of seasonal flavors. Great as a sweet dessert after homemade soup and bread or as a thoughtful gift for the candy-lovers in your life.

Gilboa’s own Elaine Starheim is attending the boutique as a first time vendor with her original, small to mid-sized stained glass and fused glass items. Earrings, frames, holiday ornaments, and some lamps. Many are embellished with colored wire wraps. Elaine will also display some notecards and a reader's log/journal. 

A lifelong resident of the Northern Catskills, Starheim has revisited her stained glass hobby in retirement, as well as adding fused glass projects to the mix. "A thing of beauty is a joy forever," and sparkling earrings and holiday ornaments are just a couple of the items you will find for the gift recipients on your list. Small home decor pieces round out the offerings, and perhaps you'll even find an irresistible item to gift yourself.

Kay Bashaw will be showing her small works at the boutique as well. Bashaw works in fused, using colored glass, frit, and paint. She follows this with multiple firings in the kiln. Her pressed botanicals are framed in both antique frames and contemporary frames. 

Maggie Swanson of Rebel Quartz’s glass and stone creations add another dimension to holiday gift-giving with her attractive and inventive jewelry, including. earrings, bracelets & necklaces using quartz & other stones.  

Barbara Hall’s Old Story Quilts make a perfect gift for family members and close friends who value tradition and creativity. A fiber artist, Hall creates art quilts. She combines her artwork with written stories. Her inquisitive explorations evolve into an artistic approach by personal experience and is sent forward to the art enthusiasts. Barbara states “Believing in my creative power has been transformative in how I live my life. Art is an integrated part of my daily life.” 

Author Connie Spanhake of Conesville is back with a colorfully illustrated new book, The Village That Disappeared, a story about the flooding and disappearance of the Village of Gilboa for the growing metropolis of New York City's drinking water. If you haven’t discovered this gem of a mystery writer yet, start now with one of her exciting page-turners. Whether Dark Secrets, Finding Me or The Neighbors, give a Spanhake novel as a gift to the readers in your life and you’re bound to please.

A rare treat is in store for you as you browse Rare Bird Collage Cards, unique greeting cards that combine nature and imagination. These cards celebrate the delightful intersection of nature, wonder, and the unexpected, offering a charming way to connect, celebrate, and send joy. Crafted with a touch of humor and a dash of cleverosity! you’ll want to send them to all your friends.

Don’t forget a special gift for the pooch in your life. Check out Stelherdaiz Dog Treats, all natural canine goodies made using Boars Head bacon, Honey Crisp apples, NY cheddar cheese, sweet potatoes, blueberries, strawberries. Don’t forget to try their gingerbread, cranberry treats and more.