Questions & Answers with community faces
Amy and Sarah Blessing grew up in Portland, Oregon, but they came to Frankfort every summer to visit their grandparents, who lived in Chicago during the rest of the year. The Blessing sisters come from a large extended family who spent as much time in Benzie County during the summers as possible; a legacy that they continue for their own children: Amy has a 14-year-old daughter, while Sarah has 10- and 12-year-old sons.
“We’re basically in Frankfort from the day that school ends in the spring to the day that school begins in the fall,” Amy says.
And now that the Blessing sisters are local business owners, they may be spending even more time here in Northern Michigan—but that is getting ahead of ourselves.
After high school, Sarah attended DePauw University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History. She later worked in architecture and design firms.
Meanwhile, younger sister Amy attended Denison University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature.
By the time that the sisters were in their late 20s, they had opened their own clothing stores—called “apartment number 9”—in both Chicago, where Sarah lives, and Los Angeles, where Amy lives.
Later, they began consulting with various online brands that were opening brick-and-mortar stores—Roman and Williams Guild, a design firm; Claire V, specialty handbags, accessories, and apparel designed by Claire Vivier; Doen, a woman-run business offering timeless clothing collections; and even Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop, which previously had a blog and a website but wanted to open physical store locations, as well.
The sisters also started “loop,” a modern needlepoint, brand in 2021.
Being long-time fans of Gwen Frostic—a celebrated Michigan nature artist, author, and entrepreneur whose studio on River Road, between Benzonia and Frankfort, has welcomed guests since 1964—the Blessing sisters bought the Gwen Frostic Prints business at the end of May 2026, just a few days before the busy summer season began. They are the fourth owners of the business, the third since Gwen herself.
Continuing with our interview series on impactful Benzie County characters, The Betsie Current caught up with the Blessings as they were going over the latest printing projects with Brett Wilcox, the pressman at Gwen Frostic Prints.
The Betsie Current: How did you come into the ownership of Gwen Frostic Prints?
Amy and Sarah Blessing: As so many people did, we grew up going to Gwen Frostic on rainy days in the summer with our grandmother. We watched the presses hum along and chose our 12 “nature notes.” It became a yearly tradition. Over the years, we got to know the most recent owners, and this all just sort of evolved—and now here we are!
Current: What does a typical day of work look like for you? What does the operating side of things look like?
Blessings: Really different each day! We are learning so much about the presses, the paper, and the production right now. But last month, we were working to clean out the retail space in order to reopen in time for Memorial Day. We are working on product development right now, bringing back some old favorites like wrapping paper and dinner napkins, but also some new items, like puzzles and playing cards. We are also working on our first custom wedding pieces! We can’t wait to bring back wedding menus, personal stationery, baby shower invitations, etc. Next week, we’ll be in the [Congregational Summer Assembly] CSA Craft Fair on Wednesday, July 22, and we’ve never done anything like that before, so we are researching tents and deciding what products to bring. We are really excited.
Current: What changes can people expect? What will be staying the same? What is next?
Blessings: The biggest change is really about restoring what was already here. Gwen had this whole experience she created. You could walk through the building, see the blocks and watch the presses, wander the nature trails around the pond. Over time, some of that has closed, so a lot of what we’re doing right now isn’t adding something new, it’s about reopening what Gwen intended people to have all along. We want people to be able to walk into all areas of the building again, to walk the trails, to have that full experience she designed—not just buy a print and leave, but actually spend time in the space, the way she intended. And then, alongside that, we’re thinking about how to build on that foundation for the future. That means new products, programs for kids, ways to introduce her work to people who’ve never encountered it before. But the starting point is really just open the doors and let people experience Gwen Frostic, the way she meant it to be experienced.
Current: What are your top sellers? What are your personal three favorite items in the store?
Blessings: The large and small ”nature notes” are everyone’s favorite! The customer has the experience of choosing their own set from a large selection of cards. Gwen was so ahead of her time by creating these in-store activations that keep people coming back. Also the calendars, those are really popular; we make them in three sizes. We created a set of coloring postcards based on her art, and some new sticker sheets and washi tape. Those have all been really popular, as well. We sold out of our needlepoint kits, based on her art, and are adding new designs next month.
Current: What kinds of things do you do for fun, when you are not working? What other things are you involved with? How did you get involved with them, and why are you passionate about these causes?
Blessings: We are both moms, and while we are here in the summer, we spend time with the kids. Days at the beach, runs to town for ice cream, board games and movies on rainy days, probably what a lot of people say. We also have a needlepoint company—loop—so we needlepoint a lot! We love to go on walks, but we really haven’t had the time this summer. The [Crystal Lake Watershed Association] CLWA is probably one the most important organizations for us. Protecting Crystal Lake is no small task, and we are so grateful for the Watershed Association. We aren’t there yet, but we really hope to partner with local environmental causes and also reconnect to Western Michigan University’s Gwen Frostic School of Art.
Current: How have you seen Benzie County change since you first came here? What are your hopes for the area in the future?
Blessings: We’ve watched Benzie County change in ways that feel bittersweet, honestly. It was quieter, in the best way. People and things moved at their own pace. Now, there’s more growth, more visitors discovering what those of us who grew up coming here always knew—that this is a special place. That’s mostly a wonderful thing. More people get to experience it, more young families are choosing to come here. Our hope is that we don’t lose what made it special in the first place. We want Benzie County, 20 years from now, to still feel like a place where you can walk into the woods and lose yourself; a place where there is still so much nature and wildlife. We want local businesses and local history to matter; where growth doesn’t come at the cost of identity. That’s honestly a big part of why taking on Gwen Frostic Prints mattered so much to us; this is a place with real history, real meaning to this community, and to Gwen’s legacy as an artist and as one of Michigan’s great conservationists. We want to be the kind of stewards who could honor what she built, while making sure that the studio has a future for visitors and locals alike.
Current: What are the biggest challenges and rewards of living/working in Benzie County, and in Northern Michigan, in general? What is the best or most rewarding part?
Blessings: The rewards outweigh everything so far! There’s something about this place—the lake, the woods, the quiet—that resets you. You walk outside, and you’re reminded of what actually matters. And the community here is real. People show up for each other in a way that’s rare. We have been so incredibly lucky to keep all of the employees at Gwen Frostic Prints as it changed hands. They are so wonderful. They show up, they care about Gwen’s legacy, they tell us stories; three of them have worked here since Gwen was alive, and they are who you should interview! They direct us to certain blocks when we are looking for things, and they have great ideas. We have been fortunate to have them. It has been one of the biggest gifts during this process.
Current: What could Benzie County do to attract more and/or retain talented people in this area? What else does Benzie County need?
Blessings: We have said it again and again; this place is special. Rich with nature, community, and a pace of life that we think many people are craving these days. We could sell folks all day long on Benzie County, but people must come to experience it themselves. There is magic in these woods!
Current: What are your favorite local events and activities? Any favorite dining, recreation, hiking spots?
Blessings: We love all of the favorites that we grew up with—Sleeping Bear Dunes, biking along the Betsie River, The Cherry Hut, Stormcloud Brewing Company, we go to movies at The Garden and then get ice cream at The Cool Spot. We love The Market Basket, and there is also a wonderful new shop in Beulah called Murphy’s Markette. L’Chayim is one of our favorite lunch spots. One day, we hope to make it to the Frankfort Film Festival in October. As for the hiking, we love to walk, so anywhere! We love to search for Petoskey stones on the beaches, especially after a good rain, when everything is nice and wet, so the distinctive design stands out!
Current: What does your perfect summer day look like in Benzie County? How would you spend it?
Blessings: This is an easy one! Wake up and take a walk, right outside our doors, with a cup of coffee in hand. Come back for breakfast and take the kids to their morning activities. Run to town, grab lunch, and stop by Gwen’s studio to say hello to everyone. The afternoon would be on the beach, watching the kids fish and swim, while we needlepoint and chat with family and friends. Nothing could beat that, anywhere in the world.
Gwen Frostic Prints is located at 5140 River Road, between Benzonia and Frankfort. Learn more at GwenFrostic.com online or follow @Gwen_Frostic on Instagram.Open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Watch the presses run Mondays through Fridays. The first annual Yard Sale will run July 31 through August 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when you can shop past calendars, matted Gwen Frostic prints, home decor, gifts, and nature-inspired art. Enjoy a coffee and popsicle cart, as well as a complimentary kids craft table at the Yard Sale.
Featured Photo Caption: Amy (left) and Sarah (right) Blessing recently purchased Gwen Frowtic Prints of Benzonia, making them the third owners since Gwen Frostic heself. Photo courtesy of the Blessing Family.
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