Seaweed & Co. focuses on lighthearted, whimsical

By Tara Nelson

Trudy Hovorka’s new store Seaweed & Company may not be the place to find sturdy winter wear or rubber galoshes, but her eclectic array of strange and delightful items from around the globe make a visit to her store well worth the trip.

“I like variety,” she said. “Everything I have comes from a different area. That’s what I like.”

Hovorka, of Custer, moved to Whatcom County from Carlsbad, New Mexico several years ago to be closer to her children – four of whom live in Birch Bay. A former realtor, she opened her shop two weeks ago with the intent of creating a “supplemental income.”

In order to compete with larger stores such as Wal Mart, Hovorka said she buys wholesale items that were discontinued to keep prices low, and created a niche for herself selling unusual and hard-to-find items.

The store specializes in funky, colorful and unusual items such as hanging cloth lanterns, bobblehead giraffes hand-carved from African gourds, Filipino wind chimes and clothing from Geeta, an India-based clothing company.

Her main line, Sacred Threads, is a fair trade, Florida-based clothing company that donates a portion of its revenues to health and education programs in India.

She also sells several locally-made items such as Cris Kramer’s glass window charms and “scarf necklaces.” Hovorka said she also plans to carry more swim suits in the spring and summer.

Seaweed & Company is open Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. They are located at 7620 Birch Bay Drive next to the C Shop in Birch Bay, and can be reached at 371-5104.