Manzanita Connections – June 3, 2025
Community Member Spotlight: Connecting with Maggie Blanke-Hewitt of Dragonfly Crystals and Gallery, plus a grab bag of goings-on!
It’s my pleasure to share Maggie Blanke-Hewitt’s story with you this week. She is the positive energy behind Dragonfly Crystals and Gallery in Wheeler. Maggie and her husband Ted have been coming to Manzanita and driving up and down the coast for over 40 years. Last September they opened up their shop next to the Old Wheeler Hotel and recently expanded the space. What may have seemed like somewhat of a spur of the moment decision makes sense when you learn more. The dragonfly symbolizes transformation, change, and new beginnings. For Maggie, it was the perfect name to symbolize their next chapter here near the beach.
Below I share more about Maggie and what Dragonfly is all about, followed by a quick summary of upcoming goings-on in our hamlet on the coast.
How did you come to open a shop in Wheeler?
Having most recently lived in NW Portland, Maggie and Ted, retired during the pandemic in 2020 and moved to Rockaway. She’s a city girl originally from Chicago. She didn’t want to leave her Portland neighborhood and jokes that the only way to get her out of the neighborhood, was to take her to the beach. Drinking a good red wine on the beach at sunset and gazing out her windows into the forest afford a nice way of life that is much quieter and much calmer. But listening to her, she is far from “retired” in the traditional sense of the word. She’s busy with her shop open five days a week, going to markets – including Manzanita Farmers Market, and holding various pop-ups.
When she first moved here, Maggie had all her stones in storage. Together, for two years, she and her husband sold crystals and stones at various farmer’s markets for fun and for a little travel money. Then, one day while doing a wellness show in Garibaldi, someone who was staying at the Old Wheeler Hotel told her she needed to be at the hotel. While they weren’t sure about committing to a brick-and-mortar retail shop, they walked through the space and upon seeing it, Maggie thought, “Oh my gosh, this is gonna fit just perfectly.” So that’s what they did. Last September they opened Dragonfly Crystals and Gallery on the 101 in Wheeler.
Tell us about your gallery. What more do you have in your shop besides crystals?
Maggie describes Dragonfly as a fun place to spend your afternoon, come in and see things you might not see everywhere else, get some design ideas, play with the fountains, ask about plants, or see some art.
Maggie has created a gallery effect showing people that they can incorporate crystals in the design of their home or garden and how to mix and match different design elements. Some people place crystals on a stack of books on a coffee table and others place stones in their yard. She carries very affordable pieces and even some precious pieces that aren’t for sale. She has one stone – a blue topaz picked up on a magical trip to South Africa over 20 years ago – that she’s loaning to the Rice Museum of Rocks & Minerals, a philanthropic museum in Hillsboro.
In addition to her life-long love of rocks, Maggie loves art, antiques, jewelry, and plants. The shop aptly reflects the many facets of her life and travels. She was a freelance photographer for 20 years, evidenced by some of her photos hanging framed on the gallery walls. She also had an interior landscaping business in Portland called Green Leaves Unlimited and has just added plants to her gallery. An antique French cart sits out front with plants for sale, as well as plants mixed into the shop environment. They support a handful of local artists by selling their items in the shop, including jewelry from The Aloha Hippie made especially for Dragonfly. The new side room in the gallery has beautiful sound bowls, perfectly sized for people to use in their homes.
Are crystals for everybody?
The answer seems to be, there’s a crystal for everyone depending on the time and place. It’s really what speaks to somebody at the time.
Back in Portland, Maggie and her husband taught classes about the metaphysical properties and energetic qualities of stones. But at the basic level, she believes that crystals have certain qualities that help you reconnect with yourself. She likes to ask people what they are attracted to. Does a particular stone speak to you? Is there anything that jumps out at you that you really like?
Crystals are touchy feely. People need something tactile. She encourages people to feel the stones. Try picking up a stone and see how you feel. Maggie tells me about a recent conversation with a customer who asked if crystals heal. While they don’t cure a disease, she believes that crystals do have a factor in the healing process. Picking up a stone and being conscious of your feelings is a starting point. One person may leave with a few pocket stones, and another with a large piece to display on their fireplace mantel.
I asked her if she has a favorite crystal. Like a proud mother, she said, “I like them all. And then, reaching into her pocket, she said, “Let’s see what’s in my pocket today,” and brought out a rare type of obsidian and a citrine. Grounding and sunny. I asked, do you always have something in your pocket? The answer: “I try! I like them all. It’s fun, don’t take it too seriously. Life is too serious. Lighten up and have fun. We’re all going to have pain, tears, uncomfortable times,” said Maggie. “Try to relax and enjoy the moment – my god, we live here!”
What are your thoughts on community?
Having once thought about selling her crystals online, Maggie treasures connecting with people in person. “One out of three people that come in here, we have some kind of thing,” says Maggie. “They get a hug, they want one or give one. That’s my community, connecting one-on-one with someone.”
Mostly, Maggie is having fun. She keeps it real Zen inside the shop. One thing she hears over and over again from people is how good they feel when they walk inside the shop. “And to me that is worth the price of admission.” She says, “Leave your stress at the door, life is short, everyone needs to find a moment of peace – that’s kind of what I’m trying to do.”
Visit Dragonfly Crystals and Gallery
Maggie’s shop is open Thursday through Monday from 11:00 am-ish to 4:30 pm-ish. She’ll even open her doors to a private party. She says, “Want to come in and play with rocks for a couple hours and drink wine? I’ll set that up for you.”
Grabbag of Goings-on
Two Cloud & Leaf Bookstore owners in one place - tomorrow, June 4 at 5pm! Author Deborah Reed, owner of Cloud & Leaf until June 2022, will be reading from her newest manuscript and then answering questions in conversation with author and current bookstore owner Holly Lorincz. Deborah now lives and writes in Berlin.
Arcadia Park is closed! 👷♂️ Say what? Until late June - they’re promising to be open before July 1.
🎼 North Oregon Coast Symphony’s spring concert is at Nehalem Elementary School Gym on Saturday, June 14 from 3 – 5 pm. Tickets available at the door. $10/adults, children under 18 free. Cash or personal check.
Nature Break: Brunch & Book Exchange on Father's Day
Manzanita Pride Month Events 🏳️🌈 June 18 from 5-7pm is the Pride Picnic at Manzanita City Park; June 28 at 11:30am is the Pride Parade & Party
Registration is open for the July 4th parade. 🇺🇸 The 2025 theme is Hometown Pride: Family, Friends & Fun. The Manzanita parade is entirely volunteer-run and community-financed. The best small-town parade ever!
The Winery at Manzanita 🍷 has restructured their wine club levels with the hopes that more of you can join. Sign up on the website.
