My shop sign says Karleen’s Ideas ‘Gift Shop’ but Karleen’s Ideas is so much more than a gift shop.  I have combined my love for children & my love for creating to help Special Needs families and to make unique gifts for everyone.  

My parents told me stories about when I was sick in the hospital. How I always wanted to play and help the other children in the hospital, I am happy to say that I never outgrew wanting to help others. Now 47 years later God has blessed me with 4 amazing children even though Doctors thought that would be impossible. We have 4 children and our 3 sons have Autism. From the moment Dr. Singer said that Donald should be tested for Autism, I was eager to learn the best ways to help him and then his brothers. About 15 years ago Donald’s OT asked me if I could try to make a weighted blanket at reasonable prices as she knew I could sew. I looked at some examples of weighted blankets and did a lot of research before I designed my first weighted blanket. Over the years I have tweaked my technique but one thing that has not changed is that they are made with love. Shortly after I started making weighted blankets, I created pressure tubes, weighted lap pads, weighted shawls, sensory bags, sensory blankets and fidget strips. I do not have a lot of items in stock as most items are custom made for the child/adult that needs them. I believe it is more important to make a weighted blanket to what a person likes and what their needs are instead of them just getting what is in stock.  I work with parents to create the perfect weighted blanket or sensory item for each child and adult. 

Years later to help bring awareness to Autism and other diseases, I started to make awareness bracelets. I found making jewelry so relaxing that I started to created theme jewelry. Then I found myself just looking for unique beads to make other styles of jewelry. Lots of jewelry, so much jewelry I opened Karleen’s Ideas at our house on December 11, 2011. Wanting to fill the porch with more items, I started creating other items with the fabric scraps from the weighted blankets. Things like fabric gift bags, hats, neck warmers, Christmas stockings, surgical caps etc... 4 ½ years later Karleen’s Ideas outgrew the porch so we moved the shop to a retail space in Kennebunkport.

Through the years of having the shop in KPT, my sons have worked right by my side. They have learned to make a few Jewelry styles, wait on customers, learn how to run a retail shop, work on eye contact and their Social Skills. Karl’s Jewelry line is ‘Karl’s Kreations,’ while Kyle’s is ‘Style by Kyle.’ Donald helps me a lot but refuses to put his name on any of it. He has learned so much through the years, he can now help customers find the right sensory item too. I love when a customer comes in and says “We were here the other day when your son was working. We had to come back and tell you how amazing he is, knowledgeable, friendly and kind.” It melts my heart!

We are a true family business, Mike (my husband) has been learning how to work at the shop as Donald has a full-time job elsewhere now. While I started out just making sensory items, we have turned into a Gift Shop where you can find a fidget ring, educational toys, rosary beads, jewelry, cuff links, aprons, Maine souvenirs, pillows, Autism Awareness t-shirts, etc... and we are adding new items all the time. We make most items in the shop besides the Sensory, Therapy & Social based toys. Our dream is that one day we will have a retail space large enough to change our shop to Karleen’s Ideas & Friends. Where we will have Art Workstations for disabled adults to have a space to create & sell their Art.

We hope you enjoy looking though the treasures on our website. If there is anything special you are looking for but do not see it, feel free to send me an email or call to see if I can create it.