LITTLE CURRENT—One automatically associates summer with flowers, so it’s easy to make that connection when it comes to Summer Breeze Co., a new flower and gift boutique that opened in downtown Little Current. All the gifts, clothing and artwork are Indigenous creations, the brainchild of Summer Beaudin (another reason to connect Summer with flowers).
“I’ve always loved flowers, and wanting to arrange them,” Ms. Beaudin said when asked what gave her the idea to open the shop. “Having an Indigenous-owned gift shop on the Island, I thought, would be really nice. I love seeing the different types of styles that artists do and just finding those pieces and having them all in one place.”
A tour of the shop reveals earrings and bracelets from Rae’s Crystal Creations of M’Chigeeng, Kookie Migwans, a cousin of Ms. Beaudin, has necklaces and earrings on display. She also does all the sewing, and her shirts and ribbon skirts are a beautiful, colourful addition to the shop. “We have new stock coming in every day. I have a few more artists that I’m hoping to get prints and paintings from,” Ms. Beaudin said. There are Beam paints available and Lux Beam’s pottery is on the shelves as well. “And there will be more coming soon.” HilBrand Co is represented with beautiful macrame hangings.
Artist Michael Chokomoolin has a fine display of prints lining one of the shelves in the store. Mr. Chokomoolin grew up in James Bay coastal communities and now lives on Manitoulin Island. He is a member of Attawapiskat First Nation. While The Expositor was visiting the shop, he happened to come by to pick up a shirt he had ordered, created by Kookie Migwans. He promptly changed into the shirt for a quick photo op. Though he has no particular favourite when it comes to his artwork, the fact that Steven Seagal sought out and bought a copy of one of his prints (‘Patience,’ the Turtle), makes that piece quite special.
Ms. Beaudin really does search far and wide for interesting Indigenous creations, which is how she found Jam’s Native Creations. A Dene woman from Arizona, Jam was more than keen to send beautiful beadwork and earrings to the shop, and she’s working on new pieces that should be in by the end of the month.
Flowers, of course, are Summer Beaudin’s passion. She did the flowers and all the decorating for a retirement party recently, she’s done memorial arrangements, and she wants to have the opportunity to do weddings as well. Then there are the bouquets people can order for a birthday, a special occasion, or just to say, ‘I’m thinking of you.’ There are countless reasons to come in and get a spirit-lifting floral bouquet from Summer Breeze Co.
Each day brings new inventory to the store, a reason to stop by often. The shop is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm, six days a week now, though the number of days and hours may change when the seasons change. Ms. Beaudin will take a wait and see approach in that regard. You can reach Summer Breeze Co. on Facebook and Instagram, and you’ll find them at 35 Water Street in Little Current, a bright and beautiful addition to the downtown core.
by Margery Frisch