NEW YEAR, NEW MARIA LUISA…

So, how’s your new year shaping up so far?

We have to say that we are pretty excited about the possibilities of 2019 – a year that all of us at Maria Luisa are embracing as one of positive change.

We’re firmly powered up by the spirit of fresh starts.

“It’s going to be a year when I personally will be exploring more”

WELCOMING 2019-ML TEAM

Already, the ML Faves for Good team gathered to participate in the Jan. 5 “Resolution Run” to raise funds for the Nyack Hunger Coalition.  

And, registration has already begun for our favorite summer event, the team’s participation in the Women’s Distance Festival at Rockland Lake State Park in Congers. This year’s event, the 32^nd, will be held July 13; we hope you’ll participate in the 5K walk/run, cheer us on – or simply make a donation to our team effort to once again support the Center for Safety and Change.

---> REGISTER <-->  DONATE <---

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In addition, we look forward to the fifth annual presentation of the ML by Maria Luisa Scholarship this spring, as well as all the community events we will be participating in throughout the year, from street fairs to sidewalk sales, the Halloween parade to the holiday season’s special events. (Check out our frequently updated community calendar for the lineup).

You’ll also notice the fresh start playing out in our shops, as we’ve embraced the new year as a chance to “freshen things up” overall, from new merchandise to new displays. We think you’ll like it; feel free to share your thoughts.

One of last year’s good (very good) things was the introduction of the results of our new collaboration with Nyack-based artist Johanna Goodman. We unveiled the award-winning illustrator’s latest work, an exclusive collection of totes, pillows and shower curtains for Maria Luisa, during our December holiday party and we can share that there’s plenty more, including a special Edward Hopper-inspired bag, pillows and shower curtains so stay tuned.

                                            Plate No.185: Edward Hopper

Also in the shops, we look forward to another year – our own 32^nd – of continued growth and reinvention.

As Maria says, “It’s going to be a year when I personally will be exploring more” – and that’s translating to sourcing new merchandise for the shops from local artists and artisans to taking that search international, literally, as she explores the world in search of fresh finds.

It’s all about inspiration, whether you find it gazing out over the Hudson – or in an artisan’s workshop or a street market halfway across the world.

We can’t wait to see how it all plays out but know it will all be good.

As Maria puts it – in no uncertain terms – “It will be a positive year.”

Who are we to argue?

– Mary Shustack, Maria Luisa newsletter editor.

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WHAT A YEAR IT HAS BEEN

It’s hard to believe but another year has run its course.

But before we leave 2018 behind, we’re taking a moment – as we like to do here at Maria Luisa – to reflect on the year.

And what a year it was, thanks in large part to you, our loyal customers.
First, we want to thank you for your ongoing support – not only for your dedication to shopping local but also your joining us at special events, helping to raise funds and awareness and quite simply, for your loyalty and friendship. It’s the most rewarding part of life here at Maria Luisa.

Our year got off to a healthy start with the #ML Faves For Good participating in Nyack’s annual Resolution Run, a through-the-streets walk/run designed to raise funds to combat hunger in our own community. We’ll be doing it again in the new year – with the 2019 event set for Jan. 5; please join us! --->SIGN UP-DONATE HERE---> NYACK RESOLUTION RUN/WALK

That on-the-road spirit continued throughout the year, with #ML Faves again gathering to participate in the 31st annual Women’s Distance Festival in July at Rockland Lake State Park in Congers. Our team had another strong showing – helping raise funds for the Center for Safety and Change, an organization that we have long supported. (We’ll be there again in 2019; save the date of July 13 and plan to join us). Registration begins on Janyuary 11, 2019.

WHAT A YEAR IT HAS BEEN  at MARIA LUISA

We also took to the streets… of South Broadway, participating in each and every Nyack street fair held throughout the year, from the SpringFest through the last event in October. Village events are a mainstay of the Maria Luisa calendar, as we often tie in special store activities and promotions to events going on in the community such as the annual Halloween Parade.

This year also saw us, for the first time, presenting two awards through our ML by Maria Luisa Scholarship Fund. The program has been expanded – and thanks to your ongoing and generous support – we were able to recognize both Ruth Uriarte and Katherine Bacolas. As you know, the scholarship program is something we are especially proud of, this year expanding to recognize both a Nyack High School senior and a senior from anywhere in the county. We also now invite applications from any female graduating senior as well as those who identify as female – and look forward to our next presentation toward the end of the academic year. (Stay tuned for an announcement about the 2019 program and application details). DONATE --->HERE

Throughout the year, we have continued our commitment to artist- and artisan-made goods, sustainable production and Fair Trade principles, adding new merchandise that reflects our new discoveries. In addition, we’re continually impressed – and inspired – by how many customers support our “Say NO! to the Bag” initiative, bringing their own bags or purchasing the reusable Maria Luisa shopper. Village events are a mainstay of the Maria Luisa calendar, as we often tie in special store activities and promotions to events going on in the community such as the annual Halloween Parade. We celebrated the whole day of the parade in store, while also taking part in the main event itself. ML team members and friends once again wore eco-minded costumes to raise awareness of the power of recycling as we walked the village streets in this most-popular Nyack event.
We saw that often during the holiday season, which was especially rewarding – as was this year’s holiday party. Sure, it was a chance to kick back and have some fun while helping you with your own holiday shopping, but this year’s event was something really special.

The early December evening served as the official introduction of one of our most exciting efforts to date, the collaboration with Nyack-based artist and illustrator Johanna Goodman. The teaming up with this amazingly talented woman has been quite a creative endeavor, as we developed an exclusive collection of totes, pillows and shower curtains based on her signature “The Catalogue of Imaginary Beings” series. The designs have been a hit, as we knew they would be – and we look forward to expanding the line in the new year.

As you can see, 2018 was a great year at Maria Luisa, one filled with milestones and memories.

In that spirit of moving ever forward, we’re excited for 2019, and hope you are, as well.

Stay tuned to next week’s blog for details on some more of what’s planned for 2019 at Maria Luisa Boutique and ML by Maria Luisa.

And until we see you in the shops to say it in person, HAPPY NEW YEAR from all of us at Maria Luisa.

Maria Luisa

LAST-MINUTE FINDS at MARIA LUISA

Is it us or is this month zipping by way too quickly?
Seems we go through each day – focused on the tasks at hand – and suddenly, weeks have passed.
Sure, we all have to get by… but when it comes to holiday shopping, sometimes that can get away from us.

That’s why we want to remind you that we are here FOR YOU – every single day through Dec. 24 at both Maria Luisa Boutique and ML by Maria Luisa, not to mention online 24-7 at both MariaLuisaBoutique.com and Shoptiques.com – for all your holiday-shopping needs.
No one wants to look like they picked up a gift at the last minute, right?

Stop by and we’ll help you pick out gifts that would never appear to be afterthoughts.

SHOP

SHOP

We have luxurious candles, rich body lotions and special ornaments, specialty cookbooks and distinctive home goods, bags and totes, scarves and sweaters, boots, jewelry (lots of jewelry) – and of course, items from our exclusive partnership with Nyack-based artist Johanna Goodman. Introduced at our Holiday Party earlier this month, these have been simply flying off the shelves. You’ll feel good giving something made by an artist or an artisan, often local, or a product created by a small business just like ours or one that follows Fair Trade practices.

It really adds another layer to your gift-gifting, no matter the season.
And if you’re still in need of that finishing touch or entire outfit, don’t forget our shops are filled with fashions or accessories for you, too!

SHOP

Whether it’s for your own holiday entertaining at home or any parties or special events (New Year’s Eve, anyone?) you’ll be attending, we’re jam-packed with stylish options, some with a bit of that holiday spirit – from lush velvets to a touch of sparkle – that we’d love to show you.
And remember, even if you don’t know what to get for someone on your list, the Maria Luisa gift certificate always fits – and thanks to you, also gives your recipients the fun of shopping for themselves.

SHOP

SHOP

SHOP

Hope to see you soon.

WHY SHOPPING LOCAL MATTERS…Especially during the holiday season

We here at Maria Luisa Boutique and ML by Maria Luisa appreciate your business throughout the year. We hope you were able to join us this past Friday for our annual Holiday Party, a great event that included the unveiling of our exciting collaboration with Nyack-based artist Johanna Goodman – with her captivating collages translated to tote bags, pillows, shower curtains and, of course, beautiful prints. It was an evening that also showcased the work of jewelry designer Lisa Medoff, whose work we have long supported.

The spirits were high – and the sense of community strong. It was lovely for us to see so many loyal – and a few new – customers stop by and support what we do day in and day out.
And that is strive to bring you quality, comfortable, stylish – and thoughtful – fashions, accessories and more. We pride ourselves on seeking out goods created by artists, artisans, Fair Trade and small businesses, whether they’re around the corner or around the world.
And we thank you for “returning the favor” – deciding to spend your hard-earned dollars in our shops, supporting what we do as a woman-owned small business.

It’s not just happening here – but something consumers around the country are also supporting, especially during these challenging economic times.
WCIA, a TV station in Champaign, Illinois, for example, has a great piece on why shopping local matters, which mentions, in part, that local businesses often have better service overall since they are used to “taking time to know their customers and having passion for their products or services.”

That’s definitely true of us here at Maria Luisa.
You may recall that we put our philosophy out there in an op-ed piece a few years back on LoHud.com that said, in part, “Season after season, we all work hard to offer distinctive goods, confirming our unique identities. Most of us sell goods personally selected for our customers, not generic goods mandated by a faraway corporate office. We, because of our size, can quickly respond to customer requests and see what best connects with them. Our products are often a reflection of ourselves and our beliefs.”

It’s always been true – and will remain true.
So we look forward to seeing you often this holiday season, helping you buy something special for those you love – or even a treat for yourself – and sharing the good will of the season.

THE SPIRIT OF GIVING AT MARIA LUISA

We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving – and thank you for supporting us this past weekend, especially during Small Business Saturday.

Every day, really, offers the chance to shop small and shop local – but we’ll certainly take this nationwide recognition!

Today, is Giving Tuesday – an “official” chance to donate during the holiday season. Our food drive for People to People and our clothing and cold-weather accessories collection for the Nyack Homeless Project continue. We also ask you to consider making a donation to the ML by Maria Luisa Scholarship Fund, which supports young students in our county. It’s a most important effort for us – and one we’re grateful that you continue to support.

ML by Maria Luisa Scholarship Fund

Of course, we’re also sharing another recipe (actually two) from members of the Maria Luisa team in this edition of our blog, which we’ll do throughout the holiday season – we hope it inspires you to try out some new recipes or just pull out some of you own favorites that perhaps you haven’t made in awhile. We’d love to share some of yours, too, so get in touch if you have one you’re willing to divulge.

Join us!

Keep in mind, too, that our annual Holiday Wish List Party is set for Dec. 7, and we’ll soon be kicking off our expanded holiday-season hours. Full details on all in next week’s blog – and as always, through continuous updates to our social media.

And now, for those recipes, this week from Mary, our newsletter editor.

STUFFED CELERY

Ingredients

1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened

1 4-ounce package of blue cheese crumbles

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon milk

Garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste

Celery stalks, rinsed and cut into sticks

Directions

• Put cream cheese and milk into bowl and mix well.

• Add garlic powder, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce and mix until all combined well.

• Crumble in blue cheese and mix until smooth.

• Fill stuffing into celery sticks. Refrigerate until serving.

CHEESE BALL

Ingredients

• Blue cheese mixture, as above

• 2 cups chopped walnuts

• 2 tablespoons parsley (fresh or dried)

Directions

• Spread the blue-cheese mixture onto a sheet of wax paper, on a baking sheet (which keeps it contained).

• Form the cheese into a ball and slowly roll it onto a mixture you have made of the nuts and parsley until cheese is completely covered.

• Place on a plate and refrigerate at least three hours (or overnight).

• Serve with crackers.

What I like about these recipes – My mother made these for years – only around the holidays. Though simple, we never had them the rest of the year, so they have come to be associated with Thanksgiving (stuffed celery) and New Year’s  (the cheese ball), a tradition my sisters and I continue.

Remember, as always, stop by to say hello. We’re always happy to offer suggestions on all of your holiday-shopping needs.

 

Nyack Events

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Maria Luisa Whittingham

845-664-8492

845-353-4122

LONGTIME NYACK MERCHANT ANNOUNCES ARTISTIC COLLABORATION

Maria Luisa Boutique teams with award-winning illustrator Johanna Goodman

Maria Luisa Whittingham, who has owned and operated Maria Luisa Boutique in Nyack for more than 30 years, announces a new venture – an artistic collaboration with award-winning, Nyack-based artist and illustrator Johanna Goodman.

The effort, another example of Whittingham’s ongoing commitment to supporting local arts and artisans, has yielded an exclusive collection of accessories and home goods designed in close collaboration with Goodman,

The collection will be formally unveiled during the South Broadway boutique’s annual Holiday Party, an open-to-the-public event set for 4 to 8 p.m. Dec. 7.

The initial offerings will feature designs from Goodman’s distinctive “The Catalogue of Imaginary Beings,” an ongoing series that Goodman launched in 2015 and is based on more than 20 years of portraiture and collage work. Products in the debut collection for Maria Luisa Boutique will include pillows, shower curtains and tote bags.

Of the collaboration, Whittingham says it “brings ‘Imaginary Beings’ into a lifestyle setting, which is really what Maria Luisa is all about, bringing creativity into our homes.”

Whittingham particularly sees the tote bags, featuring strong women characters, as ideal holiday gifts for all ages, offering “great, positive imagery for young people.”

BIOS/BACKGROUND

• Johanna Goodman studied at Boston University’s School of Fine Art and Parsons School of Design in Manhattan, where she graduated with a bachelor’s of fine arts in illustration in 1992. Since then, she has worked as a freelance illustrator for clients ranging from The Metropolitan Transit Authority of New York to The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, West Elm to Habitat Skateboards and for publications including Time Magazine, Rolling Stone, The New York Times and The Washington Post. Her work has been honored by organizations including The Society of Publication Design, American Illustration and Communication Arts. In 2017, Goodman was awarded a NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship grant for Printingmaking/Drawing/Book Arts for her work on “The Catalogue of Imaginary Beings.”

• Maria Luisa Whittingham, who opened her eponymous Nyack boutique in 1987 and today is also the owner of sister store ML by Maria Luisa, is noted for her small-business success as she helms two brick-and-mortar boutiques while maintaining a thriving web-based business on both her own site, marialuisaboutique.com and through Shoptiques.com.

Having also lived in Rockland County for more than 30 years, Whittingham is both rooted in the local community and its issues – and willing to lend a hand to causes she believes in. Past and continuing efforts support causes ranging from the arts to racial equality, women’s issues to economic development, education to gender issues. Whittingham has been recognized over the years, having being named the “Woman of the Year” by the Rockland Business Women’s Network and the “Latina Entrepreneur of the Year” by the Business Development Center and RCC College Foundation and has also been honored by Friends of the Nyacks with its “Distinguished Citizen Award.”

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Maria Luisa Whittingham
75-77 SOUTH BROADWAY, NYACK NY