Happy New Year: Winter Solstice

As I write this blog we arrive at the winter Solstice. The longest night is behind us and we are heading into a season of more light. Ahhhhhh!!!!!!! And here we are on Main St. in Vineyard Haven with a fresh supply of snow, the lights of Christmas and more than the usual number of shoppers on the street. Very festive and very light. We love this time of year because it is so festive and because "old" friends return for a brief time. This year we are lucky to have Julia MacNelley work for us while on break from the Claremont Colleges. Great to hear the stories from "over there" and great to see a friendly, beautiful face. We are grateful and overjoyed this season and we wish you gratitude and happiness in this new year.

Giving Thanks

Here we are on the verge of another holiday season. Time and the seasons just zip by in a blink of the eye. It is appropriate that the season begin with a recognition of our gratitude for our lives. May I suggest making a list of all the things for which you are grateful as this will put you in the mindset of gratitude. When we are grateful we are also present, helpful and happy. Funny how this all works but it does. May I also suggest that this thanksgiving we try 2 new things: first find something locally grown that you may have at your thanksgiving table and secondly find just one thing you could volunteer to do for you community. Pick something that is for just one day to start, i am sure you can find something. This is a great way of thanking your community and supporting those who live there. So start with the gratitude "list" and with this in mind you can maybe move onto that Christmas list. Happy Holidays!!

As the sun journeys to the south

Well here we are at the first of November. Halloween has passed and may i say kudos to the Tisbury Business Association for its "Trick or Treat on Main Street" campaign as it was a huge success and much fun for those of us working yesterday. Thank you!! Since we turned our clocks back an hour last night we may look forward to the sun setting at 4:30 this "evening". Another winter is almost upon us but also coming are Thanksgiving and Christmas/Hanukka. We keep a holiday wish list book at the store so stop in and let your friends know what you REALLY want this year. Our Edgartown store has closed for the season. Thanks for all your support.

Columbus Day Weekend

Well, here we are at the unofficial end of the season. Our season runs from Memorial Day through Columbus Day, which is a holiday here in Massachusetts. We look at this time as "happy kinda sad" time. The busy season is over but then we do get our Island back. The traffic has died down, our friends' happy, smiling faces have reappeared and the air is cool and dry. But then again, our long season has begun and business, is well, sleepy. Of course it is also the season of cashmere wraps, chenille throws and wool scarves. So life is good!

Columbus Day Sale

Stop by next weekend for our annual Columbus Day Annex Sale!! Our annex will be open Sat. and Sun. Stop by and check out the savings on clothing, shoes and assorted items from the store. See you then!!!!!!!

How Time Flies

Wow, how is it possible that we find ourselves here on October 2 with summer but a distant memory? This is my favorite time on the island. For those still willing to chance the waters you will be pleasantly surprised as the water is still warm at least for the next week or so. The days are warm and the nights are cool but not yet cold. Even though i love this weather i do find that i am constantly over or underdressed for the day. Guess it is all about layering. If you were to come into the store these days you would find a great selection of sweaters of various weights and lengths; something for everyone and every temperature. We have a good variety of knit hats and beanies from Coal headwear as well as scarves, shawls and gloves to keep you toasty.

Is it summer yet?

For those of you who live in the Northeast corner of the States, you know what i mean. Where is the warm weather and the sun? Today is the first sunny day we have had in the past two months. Okay, i do exaggerate a bit but it has been some time since we had a full day of sun. It has had some impact on the number of people visiting the island. The good news is that there is plenty of parking and good selection of sizes still available. But July 4th is just next weekend so our serenity is about to come to an end. :)

New Products at Bramhall & Dunn

The other morning i drove from Vineyard Haven to Chilmark in the fog and mist.  What struck me as i passed  the West Tisbury School was how a new shade of green had been achieved.  It was great to see the new  green leaves against the dark green foliage of established growth.    I was reminded me of the great "Green" window that Wendy designed for the store in Vineyard Haven. Speaking of new things, we are now carrying Pine Cone Hill linens and Dash & Albert rugs for the home and for the body we now have  Roberta Fryman kurtas  and Luna Luz dresses.   Come on in to check out our new items for spring and say hello.

A Major New Arrival!!!!!!

The arrival of spring always brings fresh ideas, new colors and a sense of renewal. Well in this spirit of regeneration we are excited to announce arrival of another Bramhall and Dunn store, this time in Edgartown. We will be located at #9 Winter Street and will hopefully open at the end of May or early in June. We will keep you posted as to our progress but we wanted you to be the first to know. Thanks for your support this winter and we look forward to seeing you in Edgartown.

Happy Easter!

Well Easter has finally arrived and things are beginning to stir on the island.  Seasonal residents are reappearing to open their homes and spring break students are paying visits to secure jobs for the summer.  In this time of financially insecurity and rising unemployment we are happy to say that our crew from last summer will all be here for the upcoming season.  Barb has emailed her return date from Marseille; the Julia(s) have both phoned and stopped in to say they are thrilled to be coming "home".  They will join Wendy, Rose, Robert and Emily for another summer here at 23 Main St. with some new faces to be announced soon.  Ah, another season is about to start and this long, cold winter draws to to a close.

Spring has sprung!!

Ah yes, spring on the Vineyard.  Days are getting longer and inevitably a wee bit warmer and a lot wetter.  I for one will take the warm, wet days over the cold, grey any old day.  So with the first few crocus blossoms come the first of the spring clothing arrivals.  This past week we welcomed  the spring Eileen Fisher, Johnny Was, Hartford and Newman collections.  Bursts of bright color on skirts, blouses, dresses and the first of the spring cotton scarves.  Combine these with the spring arrival  of Coal structured hats and cashmere beanies to make a new statement for the spring.  This upcoming weekend is the traditional beginning of the gardening season so check out the free plants and goodies at Eden, Heather Gardens, Middletown Nursery, Donaroma's, Mahoney's or Vineyard Gardens this Palm Sunday.  It is always fun to tour the nurseries and realize that yes, spring has actually arrived.

In like a lion

March on the Island is, well it is a happy-kinda-sad.  In other parts of the eastern seaboard, spring is beginning it's slow progress.   Here on Martha's Vineyard we often come to a place of seemingly insurmountable obstacles: rain, snow and cold.  April may be the cruelest month but March takes the cake for the worst weather.  As we hear of friends enjoying the first hopeful days of spring, we remain cold and damp.  Not to fear, spring is coming, just not right now.  Spring's arrival is never on our time schedule.  So we are trying to help by deepening our sales on winter clothing and continuing our White Sale.  It is time to move the inventory to make way for spring arrivals. 

The White Sale Deepens!!

Now, in addition to the 30% off White Sale ongoing, we additionally have a 50% off section. Check out the selection of sheets, towels, duvet covers, pillows and even rugs at deep discounts.   So as we begin to look forward to spring flowers and warmer temperatures, it may be time to spruce up the bedroom or bathroom.  Out with the old and in with the new! And don't forget, all winter clothing is now 40% off as even we have to make room for the new.

The Sale Season is On!!!!!!!!!!!

It is the end of January and we have all had just about enough of the cold and snow, right???  Well the days are getting longer and the sun is beginning to return on a regular basis and we have begun our winter sales.  Our White Sale of 30% off includes all bedding, bath and table linens.  So if you have been coveting that Judi Boisson quilt of Manuel Canovas sheet set, now is the time to buy.  You may shop our gloves, scarves and accessories at 25% off.  Finally our clothing discount ranges from 40% to 75% off!!!!!  Please come in and browse our selection of past season's  clothing and this season's sweaters.  Open 11 to 5, Monday to Saturday closed Sundays.

On the brink

For years now we have been seeing those bumperstickers that read "1.20.09 Bush's Last Day" and now that day has come. Let's all say "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh".  Like him (Bush) or not, i think one thing we can all agree on is that it is time for a substantial change.  A change in Washington, a change in economic leadership and absolutely a change in the way we conduct ourselves in the world today.  We need fresh ideas, eyes and ears to make way for a new Earth.  But lets not put all of the responsibility on our new President's shoulders.  It is all of our responsibility to change the way we walk on this planet.  We cannot expect someone else to do all the work.  Tomorrow the heavens will not part with a heavenly choir ushering in a new age.  However, maybe our path will be a bit more illuminated and we will feel somewhat lighter in our step.  Lets all be hopeful but lets us all now get to work.