Imagination + Creativity at Abilis = Unique Affordable Holiday Gifts from the Heart

As the clock winds down, are you still looking for unique gifts for those on your holiday list?

Look no further. Head to the Glenville section of Greenwich, just off King Street in the town's northwest corner, tucked into a cozy corner of the Abilis campus in Glenville is the Abilis gift shop chockfull of delightful cards, calendars, candles, jewelry and soaps created by the agency's clients.

And new to the inventory is a 2014 annual planner. The planner features the colorful artwork of Ablis clients. 

"It's a good way to increase awareness and for the community to learn more about the people who make up there community," said Keelin Daly of Abilis. "There's a lot of talent and imagination here. This is a good way to showcase the limitless talent of people with disabilities."

And the dozens of pieces of artwork featured in the planner (which sells for $18.99) also is used to create cards and prints.

A group of the clients were surprised when the walked into the gift shop last week to discover their work was selected for the calendar and those paintings were tranformed into prints decorating the shop walls. 

Abilis staff hosted an informal reception for the artists who were presented with copies of the planner and a customized framed copy of their art. 

"Oh there's my painting," exclaimed Jack Iovanna as he pointed to one of a dozen prints hanging in the shop that's open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

Kristy Kasmarski said she was happy to see her 'Rainbow Love' painting featured in the calendar and on the wall. She said she enjoys painting "because I like the colors." Of her 'Rainbow Love', she added, "It's romantic...My side of the family likes love."

"We were so excited when Keelin and the team decided to produce the planner — to make something so useful that highlights the talents of the people here," said Executive Director Lolly Ross.

The entire planner was designed, produced and printed by Abilis staff and clients. Daly said that many companies have chosen Abilis-produced artwork because the multi-hued creations dovetail with the theme of the company or a company event

Standing beneath one of the many chandeliers adorned with glistening handmade tree ornaments the clients made, Ross added, "our aim is to get more and more products that our people produce as inventory. Our goal is to have 80 percent."

The reception also featured a presentation of a $325 donation from Sonia Sotire Malloy, owner of the Splurge gift shop in Greenwich, who hosted a benefit shopping evening for Abilis in which a portion of the evening's receipts were donated. And Malloy, who has sold Abilis soaps and candles in her shop, is joining the gift shop advisory board to help grow the agency's efforts.

Presently, about half of the shop's inventory — which make for wonderful stocking stuff and hostess gifts — is produced by the clients.

The shop — located at 50 Glenville St. — will be open Monday and Christmas Eve, and resume regular business hours after Christmas. The store phone is 203-531-4438.