Owner of Bleu River Jeannee Gannuch on left and vendor Connie Bock on right.
MARLA BALLARD, REPORTER
FORT PAYNE, ALA. – Bleu River is a home accent and candle bar gift shop located at 204 Gault Ave. N. Owner Jeannee Gannuch is a wildlife and nature photographer, she enhances her photos with her artistic ability both by hand and digitally. The shop showcases her artwork as well as other artisans and crafters from locals and out-of-state vendors.
Gannuch’s photos have been derived from her travels abroad to South Africa, Namibia, Australia, and places throughout the United States. She is able to recount to her customers where she was when she took the photos she has on display. She has photographed bears, wolves, and horses, along with other animals in the wild. Some photos are of domesticated animals.
When Gannuch takes a photo of an old barn or sunset she often enhances the photo by editing out something she does not want in the picture or she adds something to the picture with her paintbrush. For example, she has a photo of an old church, she enhanced the photo by painting in a field of cotton.
“At the store, I focus on displaying handmade and unique items,” said Gannuch. One of Bleu River’s newest vendors is Connie Bock who makes one-of-a-kind jellies and jams.” Bock is from Germany and has been selling her sweet treats long before she moved to the United States. She calls her business, “Simply Something Different.” What makes her homemade concoctions distinctive are the blends of fruits she mixes along with the spices and nuts she adds. “You won’t find my blends at the supermarket,” said Bock. “I use flavors that are not commonly found such as elderberry, papaya, and lemon.”
The wax melt bar has over 100 fragrances. “Mixing and matching fragrances is part of the fun when it comes to wax melts. We have unusual aromas such as gun powder, crisp linen, DeSoto Falls, and Fort Payne rain,” said Gannuch. “From my research, I offer the largest wax melt bar in the country.” She also sells over 30 fragrances of individually designed, hand-poured candles. She embellishes her candles with agates that glow as the candle melts and other accents to make her candles stand out as different.
Other items sold in the gift shop include; driftwood with blown glass fitted to the shape of the wood, cutting boards in the shape of Alabama with local maps etched into them, high-end cutting boards with forged metal handles, metal sculptures, kitchen linens, leather journals, metal wind chimes, wood furnishings, soaps, Damascus steel pocket knives, agate candle coasters, hand-held, lamellophones (also known as finger pianos), cowhide backpacks and coasters, wooden clocks, and much more. “I try to have something for men, women, and children,” said Gannuch.
Bleu River welcomes new vendors who make handmade items. Potential vendors may make an appointment for an interview by calling 256-997-6729. Current hours are Friday – Monday 10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Commonly open extra days close to holiday seasons.
