We all know that many businesses are in trouble because of the economy. I wanted to let you know about one small local business in particular. It's a gallery and pottery studio in downtown Rochester called Firebrick. It's owned by an artist who used to work at The Painted Pot. The gallery has a wide selection of ceramics, paintings, jewelry, stationary and other things, all made by local artists. Some items are whimsical, some modern and abstract, and some more traditional. Best of all, there is a large price range! I bought a

beautiful handcrafted mug there today for $15. They also have some adorable "creatures" made out of pieces of hardware. I bought one for my husband last Christmas and he loves it!

If you're looking for a unique Christmas gift for someone, I encourage you to stop by! You can look at their website for more information; www.firebrickgalleryandpotterystudio.com. It's likely that they will close next spring, unless they have a big boost in sales. Every little bit helps. I would be really sad to see this place go. Of course there are many other local stores that could also use our support.

Wishing you all a happy Thanksgiving weekend!

Liane