Open Wed - Sun · Downtown Richmond, VT · 6 Depot street · Come Wander
Wild at heART is a gift shop and community gathering space in the heart of Richmond, VT - just minutes from Burlington, Williston, Bolton and Waterbury.
I spent twenty years as an art teacher, and I loved every moment of it — the kids, the creativity, the moments when something clicked for a student who never thought of themselves as an artist. Art education was my calling; and I was good at it.
When I was part of a Reduction in Force, I had a choice: look for another classroom, or finally take the leap my partner Matt and I had been talking about for years. We’d always dreamed of owning a small business together. And I’d been watching something disappear from towns like ours — the little independent shops that give a community its character. I wanted to bring one back. It’s about creating community, supporting local artists near and far, promoting conscious consumerism, and opening a space for music and arts events to flow.
We live in this amazing town of Richmond Vermont. In so many ways it’s a hidden gem – a lot of people don’t know how amazing this place is and I want to share that.
“They’ve been going away for a while now – the little shops that make a town feel like itself. I wanted to bring one back.”
Wild at heART is my dream. It’s a place to discover new artists, a place for locals and visitors to find something thoughtful, something different, something made with care. With the help of my partner, Matt, and my friends and amazing community, I’ve opened this artisan gift shop in downtown Richmond. And, because a part of me will always be an art teacher, I’m now teaching K-6th grade art once a week at Beeman Elementary School in New Haven, VT.
Being brave is about staying true to your young self. It’s about showing up for the things that scare you a little – the things that make you feel alive.
Being wild about staying true to your young self and honoring the crazy, youthful inhibitions you still possess.
It’s the garden you planted, the charcuterie board you turned into a work of art, the art print you hung on the wall because you loved it – not because it matched the couch.
It’s about making art a part of your every day life and not just for galleries and special occasions. It’s a beautiful mug, a print that makes you smile, a candle that smells like a Vermont morning.
“For me, it’s about creating a space that supports local artists near and far. A place to discover new makers. A place where what you buy means something.”
Wild at heART is a family affair. My husband Matt and I have built this together — he’s been a partner in the dream since long before there was a shop to point to.
Our 8-year-old son is the unofficial tester of every kids’ art kit that comes through the door. And our dog is very much part of the story.
We live in Richmond, we play outside in Richmond, we shop in Richmond. We’re part of this community in every way. The shop isn’t just a business, it’s an extension of who we are and what we care about.
