Slow Down and Savor the Holiday Shop at Craftsman Farms

December 3, 2015 newjerseyisntboring

You may not even know that a treasure exists right around the corner. And this year, the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms is debuting a special new holiday shop—a veritable treasure trove–stocked full of gifts and decorations to tickle your nose and delight your homes.

Over the river and through the wood to grandmother’s house we go… We all know the childhood holiday tune, which came from an 1840’s poem by Lydia Maria Child. It evokes a sense of a simpler age, when life’s pace was slower and we had time to enjoy friends, family, and the natural beauty of wintertime.

If you find that vision appealing, you’ll love a visit to the Holiday Shop at Craftsman Farms. Tucked away alongside Route 10 in Parsippany sits 30 acres of rustic former farm land, owned by the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills and operated by The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms. A National Historic Landmark, the centerpiece of the museum is the Log House, the former family home of turn-of-the-century designer Gustav Stickley, known as the father of the American Arts and Crafts movement. The Log House has been largely restored to its 1910-1917 appearance in the 26 years the museum has been in operation, and it is open to the public for tours year-round.

The Museum Shop is also open year-round, operating out of the original kitchen of the Log House. This year’s Holiday Shop offers a new shopping experience for visitors.

“We’ve tried a variety of different holiday retail options over the years. What brought people back again and again were the little treats: handcrafted greeting cards, balsam-filled embroidered pillows, pinecone candlesticks,” says shop manager Kristen Sensenig. “I knew if we focused on that, we could make a warm and welcoming space where visitors could slow down and recapture the joy of selecting a special holiday gift or home decor treat.”

Drawing from Stickley’s ideas on the importance of natural elements in holiday decorating, and focusing on light as a common theme across many end-of-year holiday celebrations, the Holiday Shop will feature an expanded line of lovely gifts, home decor, holiday decorations, candles, holiday candy, and more. Also on display will be the typical selection of Arts-and-Crafts style textiles, books, art prints, and tiles. “Our shop is mission-driven. Gustav Stickley wasn’t satisfied with mass-produced rubbish, and neither are we! We feature many products from small American companies and local artists. A gorgeous hammered copper mantel clock, or a soda-fired beer stein; a gift of a hand-dipped candle, jingle bells on a leather strap, or divinely scented shea butter soaps—these are all treasures to be enjoyed.”

All purchases made in the Holiday Shop directly support the operations of the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms and the care of this National Historic Landmark. The Holiday Shop at Craftsman Farms begins November 12, 2015 and is open Thursdays through Sundays from noon to 4 p.m., with late shopping hours on select dates. Visit StickleyMuseum.org for more information about museum tours and other special holiday events.

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On days when there are no special programs, the museum’s regular hours are Thursday through Sunday, from 12 to 4 p.m. year round, with tours hourly from 12:15 to 3:15. The entrance is located at the intersection of Manor Lane and Route 10 West in Morris Plains, New Jersey. Standard admission is Free for Members; $10 for Adults; $7 for Seniors and Students; $4 for Children.

Craftsman Farms, the former home of noted designer Gustav Stickley, is owned by the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills and is operated by The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms, Inc., (“SMCF”) (formerly known as The Craftsman Farms Foundation, Inc.). SMCF is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization incorporated in the State of New Jersey. Restoration of the National Historic Landmark, Craftsman Farms, is made possible, in part, by a Save America’s Treasures Grant administered by the National Parks Service, Department of the Interior, and by support from Morris County Preservation Trust, The New Jersey Historic Trust, and individual members. SMCF received an operating grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission. SMCF gratefully acknowledges a grant from the New Jersey Cultural Trust. Educational programs are funded, in part, by grants from the Arts & Crafts Research Fund.