Wildwood Crest native operates Blue Bottle Art at the Akroteria on Beach Avenue
CAPE MAY — Nestled in the Akroteria is a spot where a dream came true for Cape May resident Maggie Senatore, who sells one-of-a-kind pieces of whimsical sea glass art by the seashore from the Blue Bottle Art beach shack.
Visitors to her booth at the outdoor venue with food and small shops at 309 Beach Ave. can buy genuine sea glass art, handmade by Senatore. Each piece of artwork is unique, and there are no copies or prints.
Senatore, who grew up in Wildwood Crest, has always been an artist, usually working in paint mediums, but no single medium stuck until she started Blue Bottle Art.
“Blue Bottle Art began as a happy accident in 2020, during the stillness of the pandemic,” Senatore said. “I decided to make some special gifts for loved ones and friends, using my parents’ small sea glass collection from Puerto Rico.”
She posted her creations on Instagram, and the rest is history.
Senatore would sell her designs at various events throughout New Jersey and slowly began to work with shop owners to carry her art in their stores.
The next summer, she opened the Blue Bottle Art beach shack.
What’s in a name?
When it came to naming her business, Senatore knew she wanted to incorporate alliteration into her branding.
“As a previous teacher, I’ve always loved a little alliteration, so I chose ‘blue’ and ‘bottle,’” she said. “The acronym BBA flows off the tongue and has become a known abbreviation for my company since the beginning.”
Her favorite colors are blue and orange, and with sea glass coming from bottles that have tumbled in the sea, the name was fitting.
The art
When it comes to designs, Senatore said it is impossible to choose a favorite.
“They are all so fun, whimsical and come from my heart,” she said.
If she had to pick, she would choose her original design of a sea glass sea gull on a piling that says, ‘Today, I will be happier than a seagull with a French fry.’
“It makes everyone laugh and is the best conversation starter,” she said. “I’ve heard more stories about people losing food on the beach than I ever thought [possible].””
While Senatore utilizes mainly sea glass in her artwork, she also loves to use driftwood, shells, sand dollars and starfish.
““These are natural items from Mother Earth, so the only way I will collect and utilize them is if they are no longer living or necessary to nature,” she said. “I encourage and urge everyone who collects treasures from the beach to never harm, touch or take anything that is living unless you’re placing it gently back into the water to help it live.”
Senatore also loves to take custom orders each spring and fall so that shoppers can order their own designs.
She takes please in connecting with customers and encourages people to introduce themselves and tell her how the art makes them feel.
“I’ve received hugs, tears, stories, gifts, surprises, meals, etc. from so many of my customers,” she said. “It means the world to me that you all care so much about BBA and me as a person. It makes this ‘job’ so much more rewarding than I could’ve ever imagined.”
BBA provides décor and favors for baby showers, weddings, birthdays, retirement parties, student gifts and more.
“I have repeat customers in all 50 states and my artwork hangs in seven other countries,” Senatore said. “My business account has reached over 6 million followers in less than a month [recently].”
Background
Before Senatore’s career took a “beautiful, unexpected” turn, as she dubs it, she spent her time as an educator. Her art allowed her to resign from her 10-year job in education and become a full-time artist and business owner.
“I spent half my life dedicated to teaching and guiding thousands of children and families,” she said. “I am so incredibly grateful for the relationships I built with many co-workers and families during my time as an educator.”
Her three favorite teaching years included preschool, kindergarten and second-grade autistic support.
“I’ll never forget the admins, colleagues, students and parents who changed my life for the better during those years,” Senatore said. “One day I hope to go back to school just for fun, for either art or psychology, or both.”
Senatore grew up in Wildwood Crest, spending her summers surfing and hanging out on Rambler Road every day. Despite going away for her undergrad and master’s degrees, she always returned home to the Crest for the summer.
“Following college, I lived in Pennsylvania for 10 winters but could never keep myself from coming home each summer,” she said. “By the time COVID hit, I reached my 30s and could feel in my soul that my permanent home needed to be the beach.”
She packed up and moved home for good, and now resides in Cape May. Her time away gave her many experiences and relationships, but showed her that there will never be any place like home.
Running the shack
Operating a small business out of a shack by the ocean means every day is a little bit different.
“Every year just gets better,” Senatore said. “Every day is different depending on what needs to get checked off my to-do list.”
In addition to making her artwork, she spends time answering emails and DMs, creating content, framing her work, restocking the walls and meeting hundreds of people per week, all while trying to balance her everyday life.
“It’s equally busy and relaxing, and I count my blessings every day at my little studio by the sea,” she said.
When Senatore is off work, she spends her time with family, friends and her beloved cats Tuna and Ahi. Her perfect day is sitting at the beach for hours, getting up only to go into the ocean or grab a snack.
“I also love to paint, and it is one of my favorite pastimes, when I have time,” she said with a laugh. “One day I plan to incorporate it into my products for sale, but for now I will continue to enjoy it as a stress-relieving hobby.”
The shack is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Oct. 31, unless Mother Nature intervenes.
“It’s an outdoor space, so I am at the mercy of summer storms and winds from time to time,” Senatore said.
The best way to shop BBA throughout the year is to follow on Facebook and Instagram @bluebottleart.
By RACHEL SHUBIN/Special to the Star and Wave
