Meet the Heart Behind Ember & Elegance“
Hi friends! I’m Trish—owner of Ember & Elegance, proud Navy veteran, mom of nine, creative enthusiast, and your newest neighbor in Whidbey’s crafting community.After serving 20 years in the U.S. Navy as an AZ (Aviation Maintenance Administrationman), spending my last tour at Search and Rescue, I retired with a deep love for structure, service, and community. I was first stationed here on Whidbey Island in 2009, and I knew this special place would eventually become home. Now, it’s where I get to build something new—with creativity at the center.Outside of the store, I’m kept happily busy by my incredible husband and our blended family of nine amazing kids. Life is full—and I wouldn’t have it any other way!Crafting has always been my personal escape, joy, and passion. Over the years, I’ve explored everything from painting and scrapbooking to resin and mixed media. But my true creative spark lit up when I discovered the world of laser engraving and cutting. I now create custom art using both a Glowforge Pro HD and an AEON Super Nova 16—tools that allow me to turn imagination into heirloom-quality pieces and one-of-a-kind designs.Opening Ember & Elegance was a dream born from that passion—and a desire to continue the legacy of a place that meant so much to so many: Frida’s Beautiful Mess. I was honored to carry the torch after that incredible space closed, and I hope to keep the spirit of creativity, connection, and community alive in everything we do here.I believe wholeheartedly in the mission of Ember & Elegance:To foster creativity and community by offering a space where makers of all levels can explore, connect, and create—together.Whether you're a seasoned artist or just getting started, I can’t wait to meet you, support your journey, and offer the best products, tools, and experiences to spark your creativity. Thank you for being here—and for helping make Ember & Elegance a place where passion meets purpose.Over the next week, we’ll be introducing the incredible vendors, makers, and creative souls who are part of the Ember & Elegance family. Be sure to follow along—you won’t want to miss the amazing talent that’s coming together to make this space truly special!”
Find Ember & Elegance at 665 SE Pioneer Way, Suite 6, downtown Oak Harbor.
Welcome to the Historic Downtown Oak Harbor Neighborhood Whidbey African Store! We are excited to have Juliet Dei and her store in the Harborside Village at 830 SE Pioneer Way Suite 103. We know Juliet will love her neighbors in the mall and look forward to having her and her store downtown! Juliet loves the Oak Harbor community and looks forward to meeting many of you at her new location! Her store will be open Tuesday-Saturday 10am-6pm
Read more about Juliet and Whidbey African Store in this article from the November 14, 2024 issue of the Whidbey News-Times written by Luisa Loi (article was written for her original location on Midway Blvd, she has now moved to downtown Oak Harbor)
https://www.whidbeynewstimes.com/business/whidbey-store-supports-african-businesses-organizations/
Keto Carb Crave moved across the hall in the Harborside Village Mall! Find Morgan & Sarah at 830 SE Pioneer Way #108, downtown Oak Harbor!
Collectibles store reignites childhood hobby
A shared passion for trading cards recently turned into a business for all sports aficionados.
Photo and Whidbey News-Times article by Luisa Loi
https://www.whidbeynewstimes.com/business/collectibles-store-reignites-childhood-hobby/
Meet Amanda Myre White of Nurtured Sprout Caregiving “Changed perspective caregiving & community support” a business new to Pioneer Way in downtown Oak Harbor! The military brought Amanda and her family here, and they have decided to make Oak Harbor their home. They love being outdoors and Whidbey & Washington state are the perfect place to find things to do outside!Amanda, an RN, got her master’s certificate in infant & toddler mental health and is currently a RIE Practicum student. Rie is “Resources for Infant Educarers” is a set of principles and practices guiding parents and professional caregivers in the education and care of infants and young toddlers.
Nurture Sprout Caregiving facilitates groups/classes based on stages specific to gross motor development. A great experience for when families are ready to leave the house with their infant or toddler to meet other parents to bond with and talk about the postpartum process. Families develop a community with other parents going through the same thing with children of similar age. The goal of the groups are infant & toddler mental health through social connection and supporting development. Amanda works with children and parents from baby to age 3. The groups are: premobile, rolling babies, crawling babies, new walkers, toddlers 18-23 months and older toddlers 24-36 months.
You’ll find Nurture Sprout Caregiving at 910 SE Pioneer Way, Suite 1
And you can find more information at https://www.nurturedsproutcaregiving.com/
Island Nutrition & Wellness
Meet Shannon Grube, the founder of Island Nutrition & Wellness! Shannon and her family moved to Oak Harbor 3 years ago from West Seattle. They wanted a home on Whidbey where they can feel safe and their children have walkability to school. She & her family love it here!
Shannon is a registered dietitian and nutritionist with over 20 year of experience. She is passionate about helping people have a healthier relationship with food and wants them to feel better. She believes successful nutrition therapy starts with compassion and understanding. She will get to know you as a person and work together with you to achieve your health & wellness goals while improving your relationship with food and your body.
Island Nutrition helps men, women & children with a broad range of medical nutrition therapy needs. They take most insurance and will be able to take Tricare beginning in January of 2025.
You can find out more about Shannon and Island Nutrition & Wellness at islandnutrition.studio
Island Nutrition & Wellness is located in historic downtown Oak Harbor at 720 SE Pioneer Way Suite 1B.
Call 360-544-2466 today to schedule an appointment.
Salt Glow Wellness Spa is now open at 729-B SE Fidalgo Ave!
Salt Glow spa facilities are designed to provide a serene and peaceful environment for their clients. From the comfortable waiting area next to the soft glow of a Himalayan Salt wall to the private treatment rooms, every detail has been carefully considered to ensure your comfort and relaxation. They offer skincare, energy healing, manicures/pedicures, and massage, along with a full-spectrum sauna and halotherapy to help heal their clients on all levels.
At Salt Glow wellness spa, they believe in providing transformative and rejuvenating experiences, focusing on holistic self-care from the inside out. They are dedicated to nourishing the mind, body, skin, and spirit by creating a tranquil space for the residents and visitors of Whidbey Island to heal and recharge.
Carol, Shannon, and Nora are all experienced and licensed estheticians - and are dedicated to providing the best possible skincare products to their clients. They have chosen to feature Korean skincare lines because of the quality of the ingredients and the amazing results. These highly sought-after products combine the ancient art of herbal ingredients along with cutting-edge innovation.
Carol is the skincare specialist focusing on treatment-based facials and facial waxing. Her specialties include; anti-aging and acne facials; hydradermabrasion; peels and skin resurfacing; oncology skincare and much more. She stands ready to guide and support individuals on their journey to optimal skin health and confidence.
Shannon serves as the in-house energy healer and esthetician with a specialization in sensitive skin care. Her primary focus is on soothing the nervous system and skin, reducing anxiety; and aiding clients in holistic healing. Her offerings encompass Reiki and energy healing, NeurOptimal brain training as well as deeply relaxing and therapeutic skincare treatments.
Nora, the holistic esthetician, is a graduate from the Aveda Institute with a focus on Ayurvedic natural esthetics. She offers a variety of services from women's and men's care, face and body waxing , sugaring, and vajacials, while giving her clients the feeling of relaxation and rejuvenation through her intentional touch in her facials and body treatments.
You’ll find Salt Glow Wellness Spa at 729 SE Fidalgo Ave • 360-320-6011
Online bookings at: www.saltglowspa.com
Wild Ophelia's opened April 26! Stop by and meet mother & daughter Billie & Ameina - you’ll find them at 881 SE Pioneer Way - Main Street Market A & B.
Ameina, owner of Wild Ophelia’s has lived in Oak Harbor for 2 years. She, her husband and daughter moved here to be closer to family.Ameina has been selling curated, fashionable, hand picked trendy items online for 10 years for something to do while being a stay at home mom with her daughter. Family and friends have encouraged her to open up a shop and when the Oak Harbor Main Street Association moved to our new location with the incubator store location up front it was the perfect opportunity to open Wild Ophelia’s downtown!
At Wild Ophelia’s you’ll find modern & vintage women’s clothing, shoes, jewelry, purses and decor with a bohemian vibe.
You can find them in historic downtown Oak Harbor or shop online at:poshmark.com/closet/wild_ophelias
A lot of changes are happening on Fidalgo!
Island Inflatables will be having a Grand Opening on Sunday, April 14. They are located at 710 SE Fidalgo Ave #103.
Apothecary Skinworks & Mind Sanctuary have moved out of the Loft and will soon be opening "Salt Glow" at 729 SE Fidalgo Ave.
Speaking of The Loft on Fidalgo & Dock:
Melissa York Studio has moved in to Suite 104.
A new shop, Sand and Stone has opened in Suite 105.
The Studio by Chelsea B Photography is open now in Suite 203.
Ship Shape Hair Salon has moved from Suite 201 to Suite 202.
The Lash Librarian will be opening up in Suite 201 (we'll keep you posted on her opening).
Construction has begun for Amaya's Bakery in Suite 102 and we hope to see them open in May!
We have moved from the Harborside Village Mall to our new location at 881 SE Pioneer Way! We are excited to be in our much larger space where we have offices for our executive director Margaret and marketing coordinator Teresa, a space for visitor information, a meeting room, storage and most exciting of all - 2 incubator stores up front! We'll keep you posted for our Ribbon Cutting/Grand Opening in May!
We're excited to have Bandana's Italian Market open at Fidalgo & Dock!
Chef in the Black Bandana is a Whidbey Island family run business that offers five generations of Southern Italian cooking methods and recipes. Chef Thomas and Crystal are excited to share their culinary and cultural traditions by serving their family recipes using locally sourced ingredients. Their foods can be enjoyed in three ways: Bandana's Italian Market, Bandana's Catering and Bandana's Street Food.
Bandana's Italian Market is at 1191 SE Dock Street, Suite 2 • 360-682-5902
chefintheblackbandana.com • [email protected]
Facebook and instagram @chefintheblackbandana
The Studio by Chelsea B Photography is in downtown Oak Harbor in the revitalized Feed & Seed building "The Loft" at Fidalgo & Dock. With 9 foot slanted ceilings and natural wood beams, the character of the building is undeniable. When you first walk into the unit you will enter into the "business area". This area is the perfect landing area for all your gear and a place to greet your clients. In this area you will find a table, seating area, changing area, and a few things to drink and snack on. The business area could also be cleared out and changing room curtains pulled to be used for a micro event space like hosting a book club, birthday party, or class. The Studio space is a light and bright versatile area ready for any shoot you have in mind. The Studio has been used to host classes, meet with clients, shoot head shots, lifestyles photos, and boudoir. The possibilities are endless. The Studio is a natural light studio and will not have lighting unless it is brought in by yourself.
715 SE Fidalgo Ave #203 • [email protected]
chelseabphoto.mypixieset.com
Blanket Creations by Mary is a new business downtown in the Harborside Village Mall at 830 SE Pioneer Way in Suite 104.
Blankets are Continuous “HUGS”
Blanket Creations by Mary is a small business owned & operated for 15 years by Mary (creator/sewer) and her husband Doug Fyfe.
Mary has sewn all of her life, taught by her grandmother and school way back when. Being in business for 15 years, the passion and love for sewing has not changed except for the LOVE and PASSION is much stronger, creating and making people warm, cozy and all her “HUGS” that last forever are sewn into each and every blanket and they LAST FOREVER! That is her reward for what she does.
Mary’s blankets are double anti-pill fleece and/or cotton/fleece depending on a customer’s request. Requests can be far and wide in nature from flowers to dinosaurs and anything in between, if she can find the fabric, she can make you a beautiful, high quality, warm & cozy satin bound blanket that will last forever - custom orders are her specialty!
Come see Mary in the mall or you can contact her at 360-675-2695 or [email protected]
Meet Sarah Smallwood and her daughter Morgan Magnia. They just brought their business Keto Carb Crave to a new location in the Harborside Village Mall in Historic Downtown Oak Harbor!
Their bake shop sells low-carb, diabetic friendly and gluten free pre-packaged sweets and desserts, baked by Magnia and Smallwood. You’ll find items like cupcakes, brownies, cookies, carrot cake and chocolate-covered strawberries that are made without sugar or white flour. All the ingredients are listed on their products and they have additional nutrition information in store.
They make everything but also they sell other keto items such as bread, pasta and ice cream.
They’re doing a soft opening now and their Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting will be on Saturday, November 18. You can find Keto Carb Crave at 830 SE Pioneer Way #103.
Follow them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/KetoCarbCrave for hours and more information and to order online: ketocarbcrave.com.
We had lots of moving around going on downtown during 2023!
Allure Salon & Spa moved from Pioneer Way to Dock Street & Bayshore.
TerraVen moved from Bayshore to where Allure had been located on Pioneer Way.
Bayshore Chiropractic moved from Bayshore to Dock Street and opened "Dock Street Health & Wellness".
Polished Studio moved from Pioneer Way to where Bayshore Chiropractic was on Bayshore Drive.
PNW Vibes moved from Dock Street to half of where Polished had been in the Historic Masten's Bldg on Pioneer Way and Whidbey Leaf & Vine opened a new business in the other half of the Masten's location on Pioneer Way!
Meet mother & daughter duo Geneva & Tanzi Blackmer of Whidbey Leaf & Vine! Whidbey Leaf & Vine is our newest store in historic downtown Oak Harbor with houseplants & accessories.
Geneva and her daughter Tanzi both grew up in Oak Harbor and love it here. Because of their love of plants, a few years ago they started talking about opening a shop. Now that dream has become a reality!
At Whidbey Leaf & Vine you’ll find houseplants, plant accessories, pots, plant themed jewelry & stickers and there’ll be much more to come.
You can find them at 861 SE Pioneer Way Suite 101.
They’re having a soft opening today and their grand opening and ribbon cutting will be at Noon on Saturday, December 2.
Follow them on Facebook for more information!
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094278430248
https://www.whidbeyleafandvine.com/
360-682-1213
