The decor is European, Victorian, country and heartland, all blend together to make a most interesting setting for one of Orem's newest businesses, Heart's Desire Marketplace.
Located at 172 E. 1300 South (in the old Ernst Home Center building), this business has a new twist on the crafting and home decorating scene. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday.Customers entering the store are greeted by a pond, fountain and bridge and the facades of English-style cottages - complete with thatched roofs and chimneys.
Within the walls of these little cottages are displayed various crafts and decorating items, some spilling out onto the paths that lead from one to another.
Leaving the cottages, one is led to a wilderness area, a school-house, a seaside shop and other settings.
Owners of the Heart's Desire Marketplace are Marilyn Gandre, Lance Olsen and Susan Harkness, all Salt Lake Valley residents. They pooled their talents and ideas to create a setting designed to warm the heart.
"We wanted to create an environment that would be worthy of the visions artists have," said Olsen, whose designing input and building skills have played a large part in the shaping of this business.
The influence of popular American artist Thomas Kinkade is felt throughout the marketplace, as is the feel of an English countryside.
"We want this to be a special place to visit . . . a dreamland," a place to "fantasize and become revitalized, a place where women can come and get away from their cares, just shop and enjoy what they are seeing," Olsen said. He said a series of men's shops are also part of the master plan.
The talents of Harkness were a large catalyst in getting the project started. She has been in the crafting business for several years in the Salt Lake City area.
Gandre said a grand opening is planned for the latter part of September.
They hope to begin classes in the near future to teach the arts of quiltmaking, designing, decorating and other "homey" activities.
She said they would also like to offer quilt tying for charity. Groups would be encouraged to come to the store, tie the quilts and would be charged only for the fabrics used. The staff would be available to set up and take down the frames, as well as give instruction and help.
A fall festival is planned for sometime in September. Pumpkin carving especially for children is planned for around Halloween.
Crafters who wish to display and sell their items can rent space at the store and are responsible for keeping their area well-supplied and appealing to shoppers.
A Farmer's Market is included as part of the store's activities. Here, farmers bring their produce, corn stalks or other items they wish to sell. These items go quickly.
As an interesting and delicious sidelight to a shopper's visit, the Bun Basket restaurant, now open and part of the marketplace, offers fresh, home-baked breads and pastries, cookies.
For more information call 221-7744.