‘Let‘s Gather‘ for a unique vendor show

One of the historic restored outbuildings at the Mottice farm. Each one is surrounded by a small garden.

by Marsha Chartrand

Heather Rathburn grew up on a mini farmstead that has always had a bit of a flavor of Greenfield Village to it. Her dad, Bob Mottice, has enjoyed building several buildings from the ground up, as well as restoring and rebuilding a number of vintage buildings on their property over the years, while her mom, Sandy, helped with several of the buildings while also enjoying her interests in gardening,  baking and cooking on their indoor woodstove, sewing, crafts, and rug hooking. At one time she even had a small country store, Maple Grove Country Store, selling bulk spices and other small goods from inside their home. They’ve focused on leading a homesteading lifestyle.

So it isn’t surprising that Heather took her own interest in these household and heritage crafts, long before these ideas became popular in the wider realm, and put her own spin on it! In addition to her own “scrappi little things” she makes and sells locally,  she has gathered an eclectic assortment of vendors who are creating unique hand-crafted items. . This idea evolved into a vendor show that will be located from 10am to 5pm on Saturday, September 21, at the farmstead at 20830 E Pleasant Lake Rd in Sharon Township. Heather describes it as a “one-of-a-kind market adventure.”

Come and visit this event that will feature 25+ artisan vendors, food trucks, live music, kids’ activities, and hands-on heritage craft demonstrations (including some of our own Manchester Area Historical Society artisans). In time with fall, Bob Mottice will be smoking meats for sausage in his brick smokehouse and dishing out servings of his “extra-special Bob’s Better Bean Soup,” cooked in a cast-iron kettle over an open fire. The unique 1840 log cabin, the functioning blacksmith shop, and the newly rebuilt 1870s Sharon Township schoolhouse will also be on display. Some of the historic buildings will accommodate vendors, too!

Other vendors will include: Mo’s Pottery, Sheila’s Soy Scents + Crafts, Megan Originals, The Roaming Stone, Quincy & Me, Debbie’s Bead Design, Midwestern Pottery, The Best Nest, Bobilin Honey, Quirks LTD., Pampered Chef, Bennetts Balloons, scrappi little things, Crown Jules Baking, Party Paws Mobile, Salt and Light Acres, Smiling Jim’s, Mary Schmidt Dunham Watercolors, Southward’s Sawdust, Dirt Girl Gardenz, Blue Collar Hot Sauce, Heather’s Hobby Hut, Good Times Kettle Corn, Dexter Cider Mill, Kathy’s Kreative Korner & Vintage Finds, Mantra Mamma Healing Arts, Emily Hunt Face Painting, “and my old-timey mom and dad,” says Heather with a chuckle!

Food Trucks planned include Duck Fat and Bacon and Smokey Michigan and there will be music by Marcus and Tiffany Shelton, plus dulcimer by Sharon. Come and take in the sights, sounds, and smells of this new event.

One more exciting addition to the day will be a raffle of “A Night in the Cabin” — yes, the historically rebuilt 1840s log cabin that is a major attraction on the Mottice farmstead village. Terms and timing can be negotiated between the parties after the winner is announced.

Will this be an annual event? “We’ll see,” says Heather with a smile and a glance at her parents. Since this is a new, unknown event — and will also be dependent upon the weather — there’s a lot hanging in the balance. And since attendance is sure to be a big factor in that decision making, get this event, ‘Let’s Gather,’ on your calendar right away, for Saturday, September 21, from 10am to 5pm. See you at the gathering!

The Sharon Township schoolhouse #4, rebuilt this year.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.