Upcycling Nature's Creations

Proudly we say, Everything we sell, is made in USA!

What makes our ornaments unique is the wide variety of American Artists who handcraft them as well as the unique materials they use. Old New England roofing slates and many varieties of shells are some of the recycled backdrops that these artists "upcycle" into their artistic creations. In our August 2009 Newsletter, we featured Santa's created from recycled materials. In this issue, we feature vacation scenes "upcycled" into miniature works of art.

Bar Harbor, Maine's Christmas Spirit® Shop, will pay for standard shipping for all orders placed on its Website www.ChristmasSpiritShop.com by June 29, 2010. To receive this special offer, enter the promotion code SUMMER at the bottom of the address collections page during your checkout process.

Relive the fresh taste of lobster!
Harbor Scene painted on a lobster claw
Click the photo for more info

Roofing Slates

Make Your Memories Permanent

Hikers painted on a slate shingle Click the photo for more info	One of the popular up-cycled media for our artists is slate, which was once used to shingle the roofs of New England homes. Pieces of this slate, in a variety of sizes and shapes, create a sturdy canvas for paintings of birds, lighthouses and other tranquil scenes. These scenes remind us of some of our favorite things: breathtaking views form the end of a hike up Cadillac Mountain, our fascination with lighthouses or the haunting call of the loon. Whatever it is, a painting on slate makes the memory permanent.
	Bass Harbor Light painted on a slate chip Click the photo for more info	Loon painted on a slate chip Click the photo for more info

Nature Scenes

Capture Your Vacation Memories

Many of our artists up-cycle different types of seashells and turn them into unique ornaments. The harbor and lighthouse themes are so appropriate for these shells. Whether using lobster claws, scallop shells, mussel shells, clam shells or sand dollars, they turn this discarded “trash” from the sea into a treasure of memories.		Egg Rock Light painted on a mussel shell Click the photo for more info
West Quoddy Light painted on a sand dollar Click the photo for more info	Harbor scene painted on a clam shell Click the photo for more info

Ocean Scenes

Reflect Your Love for the Sea

Mountain scene painted on a scallop shell Click the photo for more info	Another popular use of shells is to depict the natural beauty surrounding us. Whether it be floral scenes or mountain views, these scenes are nicely framed with nature’s bounty. They remind us of vacations in June with colorful lupines growing wild everywhere! Maybe you remember hiking the trails of Acadia, picking wild blueberries along the way. A favorite stop after a long, hot hike is sitting, peacefully, sipping freshly made lemonade, eating popovers and marveling at the view of the "Bubbles" across Jordan Pond.
	Blueberries painted on a mussel shell Click the photo for more info	Lupines painted on a sand dollar Click the photo for more info

Reminder - Get FREE SHIPPING year-round

Just a reminder for 2010, in celebration of our 20th Anniversary, we are still offering you, our loyal customers, a special offer good any time this year. For all orders of $20.00 or more, placed on our Website, the Christmas Spirit® Shop will pay for standard shipping to one address when you use the promo code NEWS.

So, for example, if you want to order an "upcycled" Hand Carved Santa Net Float after this promotion ends, you can still get FREE shipping. Just order $20.00 or more and enter the promotion code NEWS at the bottom of the address collections page during your checkout process.

Hand Carved Santa Net Float
Click the photo for more info

ISLAND UPDATE
Lupines and Buttercups Photo by Beverly Bono We’ve had some glorious days in June! A few rainy days here and there help us appreciate the perfect days all the more. The rain also keeps the grass green, the flowers blooming and the fire danger low. All in all, we can’t complain when we remember last summer! Arbor in Bar Harbor's Bayfront Park Photo by Beverly Bono The location makes it VERY helpful for our customers because it is right around the corner from our shop.	Field of Lupines Photo by Beverly Bono Our new Comfort Station is now open and appropriately named. The shingled building blends nicely with the terrain and even has skylights! It sits at the top of Bar Harbor's Bayfront Park. Through the Arbor to the new Comfort Station Photo by Beverly Bono
The town gets busier every day now that most of the children are out of school. During the week of June 20-27 we will celebrate the 12th Annual Legacy of the Arts. The Christmas Spirit® Shop is participating by demonstrating how to "customize" and make your own Bar Harbor Vacation ornament. We will also be hosting a build-your-own-ornament session for kids. They get a chance to practice the art of "upcycling" by making their own nautical ornament using items that have washed up on the shores of the Maine coast. The Grand Finale is an Art Show at the Village Green on Sunday, June 27. Check out the Chamber's Website for all the dates and times.

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT®'S SAMANTHA

Samantha Sporting her Pink Elbow Wrap
Photo by Beverly Bono
Her only consolation is the pink wrap she got during her last visit to the Vet. It perfectly matches her Frisbee and all the flowers blooming in her garden! Stay tuned for her column in the next Newsletter to see how her elbow is healing. It’s no fun getting old!

Samantha's column will be a little short this month. She has been having a bit of a hard time. Due to an infection on her elbow, we've had to keep her home and quiet with her elbow wrapped. Try that with an active dog! Needless to say, she is starving for the attention of her doting customers. It has been a slow process, but we hope she'll soon be ready for "Dr. Mark", at Acadia Veterinary Clinic, to sew her elbow up for good!

Peony in Samantha's Garden
Photo by Beverly Bono

WEBSITE NEWS YOU CAN USE

Recently, a customer called who was having trouble EXPEDITING her shipment. Since it has been almost a year and a half since we discussed this subject, we thought it might be time to revisit it, perhaps in a different way.

Let’s look 1st at the steps to order processing:

1. Select the item
2. Add names, dates, etc. to "personalize" the item

3. Use a "nickname" to designate who should get the item. In the example, Sandra.
4. Add the item to your shopping cart

Continue the selection process, until you have all the items you want in your basket (remember, with each of your shipping addresses, if you are sending $50 or more, SHIPPING IS FREE).

Next, you will give us your billing information.

Finally, complete the shipping information for each of the people you “nicknamed” above - in this case Sandra. It is at this point that you choose the shipping speed from a drop-down window. You will also see the cost for each of the shipping speeds, so you can decide on the combination of speed and price that best fits your situation.

The shipping cost for your selection will be automatically added to your total. Of course, if you send $50 or more to a single address, regular shipping is FREE. If you want expedited shipping, you only pay the charge for the additional speed.

Select and Personalize Your Ornament

Use a Nickname and Add to Your Cart

Shipping Address and Speed

CUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS
"My husband Nick came across your site and told me to check it out since he knew how much I enjoyed nautical items. We're actually both big fans of lighthouses. What beautifully handcrafted items we found! I know we'll be ordering gifts from here for Christmas and for ourselves as well." Pat from CA	"A belated thank you for the nice flip flop ornaments you sent me a couple of weeks ago. They look great! I also appreciate your not charging me for the shipping." Lee from GA.
	"We are having a family reunion cruise - Christmas in August ornament exchange. I ordered 4 nautical personalized ornmanets and I am very impressed with the quality. I love the way they were individually packed in clear boxes. I will return . . . Thank You!" Charlotte from MA.

www.ChristmasSpiritShop.com
80 Main Street
Bar Harbor, Maine 04609
1-800-242-2913

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