b'Duringthedrive,Carmenspottedthoughtfullydisplayed,makingevery- of animals. She has never met an English something out of the corner of her eye.where you look a wondrous work of artBulldog she hasnt fallen in love with. As Itwasthelittlewhitecottageinmyin and of itself.shewaxespoeticallybetweendogsand dream, she said. Turning her car around,Throughouttheyear,duringholi- art, Carmen leans into a piece of work in she pulled into the parking lot, and ran todays, the store is transformed to fit thethestore.Shepointsoutthatitisthe thebigpicturewindow.Icouldntcelebration. Christmastime is a must-visitimperfections that make it beautiful and believemyeyes.Justlikeinmydreamfor in-the-know locals.unique. No two are alike when it is hand-there were the hardwood floors, a charm- Every item in ArtsiPhartsi is an orig- crafted by the artist.ingfireplaceandaperfectlittleyard,inal. From handcrafted jewelry, stationery,Perfect imperfections, she remarks, Carmensaid.Trustingherintuition,clothing, home accessories, furniture, andeyes twinkling as she smiles. Just like the Carmen rented the little cottage, and gavechandeliersno two are alike.EnglishBulldog,especiallythosewith herself some time to let her ideas perco- I feel the energy of anyone who hadspecial needs. No two are alike and they late,includingwhattonamehernewan idea and turned it into a unique artare each perfectly imperfect to me. venture.piece, Carmen said. Its something spe-Afewweekslater,beforedawn,cial Ive always felt and cant describe, but Carmen sat up in bed, waking her hus- people get it. band with, Oh my gosh, Harry! I have the name for the shop. Its Daddys word,To thine own ArtsiPhartsi! Harry,stillhalfasleep,muttered,self be true. Carmen, go back to sleep. You cant sayI never knew, fart in Palma Ceia. And that was the beginning of what has now grown intoin my 20s, one of the coolest destination shopping experiences for anyone looking for one- what that meant. of-a-kind pieces and gifts.I sure do now.Part boutique, part home, hearth andBeau, the newest member of the Barkett pack.artgallery,peoplehavetraveledfromCarmen Barkettacross the country to browse and shop atAs we were heading to press with this ArtsiPhartsi, discovering original worksInevitably, when Carmen falls in loveissue of The New Barker,Carmen adopted of arts and crafts, showcasing the works ofwith something, so do her clients. Whena third English Bulldog. And, she came more than 500 artisans.I buy things, my criteria is this: If I had tofull circle with the name. close tomorrow, would it be perfect in myBeau! she exclaimed. He is bigger house,shesaid. Notagreatbusinessthan any other Bulldog Ive had, weighing model, but its the truth.Prices rangein at eighty pounds. But, he is so lovable. from $7 for stationery cards to a pair ofGosh is he ever! $28,000 ceramic vases.And Harry, on bringing home a third Its clear to anyone within her pres- dog who needs help? He said, sure! Why ence,afterjustafewmoments,thatnot, said Carmen.When it comes to his Carmen loves what she does. She loveslove for Carmen, Harry never waivers. Uher family, friends and community. Earlier this year, she and Harry, who is the CEO ofAmalieOil,werehonoredbythe AmericanHeartAssociationfortheir philanthropic work. In 2021, the Barkett family was the recipient of the Captain JamesMcKayPort Achievementaward. The award is given annually to an indi-Lulu enjoys regular Epsom soaksvidual or group in recognition of their to keep her skin healthy. contributionovermanyyearstoPort During our walk around ArtsiPhartsiTampa Bay and the maritime community. with Carmen, she exuded the enthusiasmAsoneofPortTampaBayslongest-of an art lover whod just unearthed a loststanding tenants, Amalie Oil, led by the Picasso. And it felt like we were on theBarkett family, has been a major contrib-treasurehuntwithher.Therearetheutor to the Ports growth and economic galleriesandretailspaces,bothindoorsdevelopment for almost 50 years.Y ArtsiPhartsi4002 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa 813.839.7000www.ArtsiPhartsi.comand outdoors. Everything is artfully andAnd, of course, there is Carmens love 36 THE NEW BARKER'