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By THERESA REYNOLDS
Rappahannock New* Staff Writer
The newest addition to Sperryville’s Rt 211 “strip” is a Christmas shop operated by Howard Maree and John Norberg.
The building that formerly accommodated the House of Gem and prior to that, the House of Baskets has emerged in its latest transformation as Chipmunk Hollow.
Maree and Norberg, recent residents of Luray, are newcomers to the gift shop business as well as to this area.
Their reason for opening the Sperryville shop? “Well, it was the proverbial love at first sight,” Maree said. “We drove through Sperryville and just fell in love with it.”
Maree’s field is interior design and the arrangement of the shop shows it. Antique toys and furniture (on loan from the Apple Tree Cottage) are arranged among the wrappings and ribbons. Sleighs hang from the ceiling, ornaments, ribbons and novelty gifts are tucked into wooden crates and barrels. Lights twinkle, Christmas carols play, and the scent of evergreens fills the air.
The effect is magical and enough to make visitors to Chipmunk Hollow feel Christmas-sy on a warm autumn day. A brief inspection of the shop turned up many gifts under five dollars and a selection for every age group as well as gifts suitable for other occasions besides Christmas.
Among the stars of the Christmas collection are Jan Richardson’s ceramic houses—miniature dwellings that have a cozy, ramshackle look. Richardson received public recognition with her rendition of former Vice President Mondale's house and her designs are produced in limited editions.
Tucked in among her houses in one display are votive candles with the color and fragrance of maple syrup. Beautifully stencilled wrapping paper is displayed everywhere in the store, and there is paper and ribbon to suit every mood from Victorian to country. Wreaths are everywhere—made of quilted fabric, grapevines and comshucks.
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