Kamala: Ten Years Young on Columbus Day

by Paul Saulnier 10/6/12

The little yellow house at 31 Union Street has been offering items for the soul and heart of area residents since 2002.

You can't help but savor the aroma and relaxed atmosphere the minute you enter Kamala Boutique. Every possible space is filled with interesting items, some likely not found anywhere else.

Owner Kate Lamontagne refuses to carry trendy items that increase revenue but have no soul. Everything on the shelves supports her desire to help customers forget the stresses of daily life or shed a little light in a friend's day. Kate's and other artists' original paintings are scattered through the shop and in the new workshop nook.

A cozy space accomodates up to six people who sign up for some new offerings at Kamala.

One class that has become very popular is Zentangle, which is the creation of intricate drawings by hand, no straight edges or special drawing tools or any kind.

According to Kate, most people look at the drawings and declare that they can't draw like that. But Kate reassures them that she can teach them. It's easy.  After a two hour workshop, students always are amazed that they created these works of art, one line at a time.

Details on Zentangle classes are seen above and on Kamala Boutique's facebook page (click on Kamala's ad on HollistonReporter.com to see Kate's Facebook page).

Customers have been asking for Kate's original creations again, mostly now for her custom prayer beads. She crafts a strand of stone beads based on the intentions and prayers of the client, includes a hand drawn story of the beads and includes a hand crafted bag to store them.

Naked Bee, "All the Good Stuff, None of the Bad Stuff", is a US made line of lotion and body products that smell divine. It is one of the most popular gift items in the shop.

These tiny animal figures, made in St. Petersburg, Russia, a city noted for its high quality glassware, are popular with little boys dragged into Kamala by Mom. (Girls love them, too.) They have been a Kamala staple for almost the whole of the ten years. 

Kate says that socks, an inexpensive comfort and great gift idea, are so popular they practically walk off the shelves. Look for HBA president John Drohan to be wearing his beer socks at Brewfest on October 11, 2012, at the Historical Society.

Kate and her mom, Nan, set the welcoming and relaxed atmosphere at Kamala Boutique.

Celebrating Kamala's 10th anniversary on Saturday October 13th, Kate will be featuring extra-special sales. Stop by for the fun, have a cookie and enter the free birthday drawing.  You will too will likely become a regular visitor to Kamala Boutique, the little yellow building on Union.

Posted in Marketplace.

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