Our Story

I was 18 the first time I saw the ocean. I was immediately overwhelmed with its size and color, the beautiful reflection of the sun on its surface, and its smell. I couldn’t believe the beauty of the sand covered beach with all of the offerings of the ocean washing up and leaving things of beauty in its wake. Watching the seagulls and the sandpipers was so enjoyable. The calm and peace of it all somehow won over my heart and definitely shook me to my soul.

It just seemed right when two years later, my husband, John, and I honeymooned on Chincoteague Island and I enjoyed the ocean again. As the years flew by, and our two daughters arrived, John and I made sure they learned about the beauty of the ocean also. Each year we saved our two weeks of vacation for camping at Assateague State Park outside of Ocean City, MD. Each year we brought home bags of seashells and driftwood. Each year it got harder to head back home to Pittsburgh.

In 1994, I had the opportunity to open a small gift shop in Shantytown Village, West Ocean City, MD named “Gifts for Shore”. After a few years, John and I purchased the Flower Shop in Shantytown and that is where I discovered a way to show my true love of the beach. “The Petal Pusher of Shantytown” was my outlet for creating one of a kind items, as well as some customer favorites we kept in stock. I learned so much from talking to customers about what they were looking for, what they needed, and I tried to fill that need. The store was a wonderful place for me to work, learn, and create. More and more, I found peace working with driftwood and shells. In 2000, the owner of Shantytown announced its sale, and that 2001 would be the last year of its existence. It was with a heavy heart that I closed that door for the last time.

I don’t think that I realized the depth of the grief for losing my store until I came to Witches Night Out in Volant, PA in 2019. That is when I saw the “Retail Space Available” sign in the window. When I opened the door to those two small rooms, I immediately saw my work filling the walls and floor. It was like those two rooms were welcoming me home. The lease for Snowbirds Hideout was signed October 1, 2019, and in July, 2020, I expanded into the other side, now occupying the entire bottom floor of the house.

I am so thankful to all of my customers who have chosen the items I have made and chosen to sell, so thankful for the customers who talk with me and give me new ideas, and so very thankful to those “Not Beachy” customers that make their way through the Nautical-themed room finding my other treasures and seasonal items on the original side of my store. Without you, I couldn’t have this peace working with seashells and creating original items for display and sale.

I sincerely thank you all for your visits, here and in-store. I hope to see you or hear from you all soon.

— Elaine