Doors Open Pakenham: Three Yellow Tulips Art Shoppe

I must admit that I have not gone into Pakenham's only stand-alone gift shop much lately, though I had visited in the past before we were residents. My absence is mostly because I'm a sucker for pretty things that I can't afford, so to avoid temptation I often steer clear of places such as Three Yellow Tulips. I made an exception last Sunday. The husband and wife team of Don DeGroat and Pat DuBreuil have been living and operating out of this little white house on mainstreet Pakenham for the past three years. Prior to that, they sold art out of the carriage house at the Stonebridge Inn during the summer months. Both skilled photographers, Pat and Don sell their work alongside the work of up to 30 other local artisans (criteria for submission is that the artists be located within a 50km radius of the store).

When I visited last Sunday, it was quiet, but I still thought I was being a bit brazen bringing a toddler with me to an art store. Not this one! They've got a hutch with an open cabinet stocked with toys, stuffed animals and dolls - right at 'Abigail height'. And Pat was so sweet... while I browsed for wedding gifts, she played peekaboo with Abbie and essentially supervised her for me. We'll certainly be spoiled for choice for those wedding gifts. I was drawn, as I have been every time I go in, to Larissa Wheeler's clay loons. This time I also spotted Linda Northey's pottery. I'll certainly be making a return visit.

And, once again proved wrong: Three Yellow Tulips has a great little website too, complete with a list of all the artists they feature in the store. They're open Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30 til 6 (nice and late, a real bonus for a city worker like me) and on Sundays from 10-5.