One of QCRG’s newest sponsors this year is Martinsville Emporium, a unique jewel nestled in a historic section of North Tonawanda.
You’d never know it from the traffic and surrounding businesses, but Martinsville Emporium gives a nod to a simpler time when chickens wandered the yard, sewing machines worked by treadle and wash was done by hand. Most things were done by hand in the 1840’s, when Heather Kalisiak’s family immigrated to America and settled in the little hamlet of Martinsville and they have been there ever since.
Heather Kalisiak is part artist and part scientist as she fine-tunes the unique fragrances she uses in her soaps, lotions, shower gels, and lip balms. With names like Forbidden Fruit, Love’s Basket, Yuzu, Here there be Dragons, Niagara Falls, and Black Tie, among others, you aren’t sure what you are going to get when you take a sniff. And while you might not be able to identify what it is, you’ll know it’s appealing. Heather makes all of her products by hand in small batches through the traditional cold process method, using her own formula that she has perfected over the years.
In addition to the hand-made bath products, she also makes soy candles, each infused with one of her unique fragrances.
On the fourth Friday of every month, Heather gives a tour through the soap making process, giving customers the opportunity to learn about the process she uses to create her wonderful products. She also features several local artisans who sell jewelry, hair accessories, water-color paintings, tie-dyed clothing, hand-made children’s clothing, baskets, and many more unique items that you will surely find nowhere else.
Extra special to the derby player, or referee is her fantastic Odor Eliminator spray, that helps control odor gear odor. Currently, she has pink grapefruit, lilac, and French Lavender, but likely any of her lotions or shower gels, you can request a fragrance and she can cook it up quickly.
We would like to thank Martinsville Emporium for supporting the Queen City Roller Girls, and encourage all of our fans, skaters, and the like to stop by!