Celebrate the holiday season at MOTI
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the Museum of the Islands and everone is invited to join in the holiday cheer this weekend. On Saturday, Dec. 4, MOTI will celebrate its annual Holiday Open House from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“Please consider this a special invitation to join us for some holiday cheer at the annual MOTI Holiday Open House,” said museum president Sharon Traylor. “We have planned a special event and hope you will join us for it and at the same time peruse the museum’s permanent collections while shopping for holiday gifts made by local craftspeople and artisans.”
Within the walls of the museum visitors will find items that truly say Pine Island such as cases filled with shells collected on and around the island, dolls, antique tools and household items.
“In addition to the extensive selection of items in the museum gift shop, there will be a number of great vendors on site to offer special goodies for your holiday needs,” Traylor said.
Vendors at the open house will offer stitchings, crochetwork, pottery, woodworking, painting, knitting, photography, beading, shellwork and jewelry as well as plants and other items.
According to Traylor, the Holiday Open House will feature music provided by “Island” Frank Tuma as well as free light refreshments. Several drawings also will be offered to help raise funds for the museum. Tickets will be on sale throughout the event for a gift package containing a MOTI afghan, pillow and tote valued at $100. The drawing will be held on Feb. 12, at the MOTI Rummage Sale scheduled to take place at the St. James City Civic Center.
“The MOTI Holiday Open House is a great place to purchase holiday gifts that will even be in time to send them up north for the holidays,” Traylor said. “All proceeds from sales at the open house will benefit your museum. We hope you will come, spend a fun morning with us and at the same time, get some of your shopping done without even having to leave our beautiful island.
Admission to the Holiday Open House is free and ample parking is available.
During the season, the Museum of the Islands holds regular membership meetings which are held on the first Monday of the month. This year, the first seasonal general membership meeting will take place on Dec. 6, at the Fishers of Men Lutheran Church beginning at 7 p.m. Each month MOTI hosts a guest speaker and the December meeting will feature local author Robert Macomber. Providing goers with an informal evening of insight and story telling, Macomber will share his latest adventures experienced while researching material for his novels. Earlier this year, the eighth volume of the Honor Series hit book shelves and in this book, The “Darkest Shade of Honor,” main character, Peter Wake, is found meeting Theodore Roosevelt and Jose Marti. Filled with intrigue, “Darkest Shade of Honor” involves spies, codes, revolutionary activity and government agents making for an exciting and interesting read.
For more information about the Museum of the Islands or about the Holiday Open House, call 283-1525.