Sun-Up Shines On

You’ve driven past it on your way to the beach many times, meaning to stop, but looming plans reigned and again you drove by. Well, it is time you took the time to stop by or even plan a special trip to Sun-Up Gallery in Westerly’s Avondale section.

Fronting a peaceful cove, this shop at 95 Watch Hill Road (Route 1A) is a gem; its first level is filled with unique, eclectic American crafts, while its second offers cool women’s clothing, where you’ll find classics with an edge, including many dresses and a selection of scarves, belts and handbags.

Thoughtful, creative gifts abound here, and they have since Nancy Klotz began her business in 1977 that features local artists and all USA artisans. The shop also hosts meet-the-artist events and offers a bridal registry.

For jewelry, Sun-Up offers a range of price points, beginning at $15. You’ll find distinctive mixes in fine jewelry—such as earrings and necklaces fashioned from Lucite, semi-precious stones and Swarovski crystals—a necklace of pyrite, freshwater pearls, amethyst and gold—geode-like earrings with aquamarine—and vintage jewelry handcrafted with antique buttons. And that’s just one section of the store.

The shop’s main room gives new meaning to eye candy, with well-thought-out displays designed to elicit instant appeal with stunning color combinations and placement. It’s hard to know where to start. A twinkling string of lights branches out above a display featuring colorful bowls and glassware. Another display truly takes the cake, showcasing a polka-dot cake dish and yellow cake platter; invert both and the set becomes a punch bowl and stand—for $129.

You’ll find a ceramic platter in a mix of blues, gray, fuchsia and purple, or a very large and handsome carved cedar bowl sitting on a round side table topped with a mix of paint and imprinted copper. Another stunning piece, a grand oval glass bowl, shimmers in fuchsia, yellow and blue. Also, select from a bounty of specialty theme books, whether they’re about cakes, appetizers, drinks, wine, pasta or cupcakes.

Then there are the lamps. I am a sucker for cool illumination and pried myself away from a table lamp, showing off a hand-painted ceramic shade, whimsical finial and pulls, a marble base and a copper stem – $695 and a piece of art at that.

Among its beautiful pieces are the hand-blown glass fish by Chris Belleau of Providence. Sun-Up displays some, while the shop also sells these one-of-a-kind pieces at in the . On your way to the host’s stand, a wall of glass and shelves features Belleau’s creations in the form of fish, lobster and other sea life. Prices range from about $110 to $450.

The restaurant also displays very reasonably priced, handcrafted jewelry and stained-glass fish by local artist Colleen O’Connor. She also created imaginative mobiles and lovely, large stained-glass panels that make the sunny front room at Go Fish only more beautiful.