By Jane Bartnett
Looking for that special coastal home decor item or gift? Look no further than Coastal Flow, Sarasota’s newest shop for all things coastal, hand-crafted and unique that celebrate the beauty of the Siesta Key region.
Located just off Siesta Key at 7616 South Tamiami Trail, shoppers will discover a pirate’s treasure trove of unique gifts, jewelry, home goods, art and custom made furniture. Inside the spacious boutique, store owners Jessica (Jessie) Gill and Jonathan (John) Hendershott are currently featuring the work of 15 local Sarasota area artists. “Our store is filled with handcrafted pieces by local artists and amazingly skilled craftsmen,” said Jessie. “We’re always looking for local artists who are passionate about their work and encourage them to get in touch with us,” said John.
Earlier this year, just before the Coronavirus crisis struck, Jessie and John decided that it was the right time to open Coastal Flow. Prior to opening their shop, the couple’s business was focused on sales of John’s custom-made, surf-board tables. Together, they exhibited and sold the one-of-a-kind creations at coastal art shows and arts and crafts festivals up and down the East coast. As demand increased, juggling travel to festivals and carving out the necessary time for John to work in his Bradenton, FL, wood-shop, where he designs and builds his creations, become an issue.
As the new year began, the “40-something” couple, who are both successful entrepreneurs, made their decision to create a unique retail home to showcase John’s surf-inspired tables while also creating a space to display the work of talented Sarasota and Siesta Key area artists. “We’re kind of like Etsy, in that we have unique designs from great artists, but we’re here in-person, in Sarasota!” John said.
One of the store’s most popular items are John’s surfboard tables that are hand-crafted and made-to-order. “Each table is unique. I customize the design and color of each table,” John reported. The wood tables are available in three sizes: 8-foot, with six matching stools ($1,499), 6-foot with four stools ($999), and the 4-foot model with 2 stools ($499). A custom surf-board coffee table is also available for order at $299. For a patio, lanai, or outdoor space, a “Polywood” style can also be customized. John creates these tables in a 6-foot style with 4 stools at $1,499, and a 4-foot model with 2 stools, for $699.
The tables are just one of the many custom and handmade items sold at Coastal Flow. Customers dropping in will discover hand-crafted items for their home, for gifts, or perhaps as a special something for themselves. Pastel painted, sea-shell-embellished guitars and violins, coastal photography, hand-painted T-shirts, delicate opal and sterling silver jewelry, macramé plant holders, pottery, glass vases, as well as a line of colorful men’s swimming trunks by the Sarasota based men’s swim suit brand, Trunkers, are a few of the ever changing items to discover.
Artists and their wares at Coastal Flow include:
Bodhi Botanicals – Homemade and organic hand sanitizers and massage balms
Coastal Clay Studio – Coastal hand-thrown potter
Feisty Mermaid – Mixed-media artist specializing in nautical themes and bar art
Flamingo Treasures – Sterling silver jewelry with opals, and quality sourced costume jewelry
JC Photography – Resin and acrylic furniture and decor
Island Time Signs – Tropical art on re-claimed wood
Knot Art – Handmade macramé plant holders, wall designs and creative home decor
Pressed Pixie Dust – Custom designed apparel and tumblers
Raye Sketches – Custom art and design mermaid and sea-life inspired
Reclaimed Treasure – Repurposed, refinished, restored steampunk coastal
Reds Shadow – Shadow-boxes of seashore settings & mermaid inspired paperweights, jewelry holders and coasters
Rosemary’s Relics – Shell inspired unique art creations
Sand-Surf Sun – Photographs of sunsets from local beaches printed on an aluminum backing
Sea-Shell Oil Lamps – Handcrafted shell sculptured oil lamps with a never-ending wick
Trunkers – Sarasota based, high-quality men’s swimwear and beach towels (A portion of Trunkers’ sales help elephants-in-need around the world.) John endorses them himself and says, “they’re the best swim trunks I’ve ever worn.”
As Siesta Key and Sarasota get back to business, a visit to Coastal Flow Ocean Inspired Design & Decor offers the shopper a chance to purchase some of the finest arts and crafts available in our area. With new items arriving from local artists daily, there’s always a good reason to drop in, find that special something and support the Siesta Key/Sarasota art community and small business. Visit surboardtables.com to see John’s designs, and Coastal Flow on Facebook, or at www.coastal-flow.com, for photos from the store.
Sarasota and Siesta Key area artists who are interested in displaying their work at Coastal Flow are encouraged to call Jessie Gill or John Hendershott at: (941) 445-3989. Store hours are Tuesdays-Saturday, from 11 am – 4:00 pm.
Author: Siesta Sand