02/02/2025
Coming Soon!
Light in the Attic (formerly known as Sting, Humbug)
Welcome to Light in the Attic, a virtual shop filled with “previously loved” art, crafts, books, and cottage industry treasures—perfect for those who love a good find and a great bargain. This shop is a continuation of my lifelong passion for curating unique items, a journey that began decades ago.
A Look Back
In the summer of 1974, before the pipeline boom, Patti Skondovitch, Vikki Meyer, and I opened a nostalgia shop called The Sting in a small cabin at 407 4th Ave. Patti and Vikki sourced treasures, Alfred Skondovitch painted our Open/Closed sign, and Hank Howard built shelves and displays. At the end of the season, any unsold items were donated to F. Bruce Haldeman, fueling his legendary yard sales for years to come.
Fast forward to the late ’70s and early ’80s—Marlene Bell, my mother Athena, Gene de Wilde, and I created Humbug, a holiday marketplace brimming with handcrafted wonders. Gene’s embroidery and tapestries, Athena’s pressed flower cards and framed arrangements, and Marlene’s and my masks, art dolls, ornaments, and Victorian jesters made Humbug a seasonal delight. From mid-October through Christmas Eve, we transformed a space above the Big I into a whimsical emporium of handcrafted beauty.
In the late ’90s, Marlene, Athena, and I came together once more to form Light in the Attic (LITA) at the same location. With the addition of Patty Peirsol, who brought fascinating finds from her European travels, LITA evolved into a more curated space, even hosting First Friday art shows. We truly had the time of our lives.
A New Chapter
With Marlene and my mother now gone, I’m carrying Light in the Attic forward—this time, online. Marlene, Athena, I know you’d both prefer a brick-and-mortar shop, but without you, it just wouldn’t be the same.
In their honor, I will also be listing special creations by Marlene and Athena, as well as pieces generously donated by other artists. All proceeds from these sales will go toward scholarship funds in the names of Sarah E. Mitchell, Ed Bermudez, and Daniel Simon Guadarrama.
Thank you for being part of this journey—past, present, and future.
