My story with Howard’s Maps.... I was visiting a friend’s home on Sullivan’s Island in 2004 and I noticed there were many paintings in their beautiful home but no maps. I went on my search for the perfect map and I found Howard’s Maps. I purchased a map of Charleston with Sullivan’s Island marked and I sent the gift as a thank you for my stay. The next year my family was staying on the Isle of Palms in Charleston and as a reminder of our memorable trip I purchased another map of Charleston as a gift for my mother. The third map I purchased was St. Simon’s Island for my sister, Dodie. I also purchased Nantucket for a dear friend. I loved these pieces of art that Howard called maps. They were so unique and Howard put so much thought into them, even using words from famous poets for the Borders of the Maps. I loved the Detail! I continued buying Howard’s Maps thru the years and I never knew anything about this person as most of us don’t when we buy something from the web. Fast forward to Summer, 2020. I came to St. Simons Island to heal and an amazing couple took me under their wing. They have the most beautiful home on Saint Simon’s Island, and I couldn’t think of anything to give them to show them how much they meant to me. Then I thought of Howard’s Maps! He said he would make a custom map and mark the location of their house on the Island. I asked Howard to mail it to me in Saint Simons Island and he replies, “Well, I’d like to meet you in person because I live in Brunswick”. I have been buying these maps for over 15 years and never in a million years thought about where this map person lived...he could have been in Australia for all I knew. But he wasn’t...he was 15 minutes away because God has been a part of this from day one. There is no coincidence. This has been part of His plan for my life. I know it. A week later, the map is done, and I meet Howard in Brunswick. I see that he is 91 years old, still driving and very chatty, just like me ❤️ We stand outside of our cars and talk for an hour. My heart was absolutely full. I had LOVED these maps for so many years and now I got to meet the Man Behind the Maps! That night God spoke to me and I knew at that point I was supposed to do something with these maps. I prayed about it for a few days and then contacted Howard about my idea to help him expand his business. He told me he had done some similar things in the past, but he didn’t like cold call selling his art, so he just did Etsy. I said, well, I’ll sell them for you! We met and talked about it several more times and talked thru more ideas. I knew it was all going to work out, I just didn’t know how. He kept saying, I like you, you’ve got hustle. I knew he was right, but life happens…turns your world upside down and your faith brings you back 🙏🏻 So, God knew all along how this was going to play out but if He had showed me, it would’ve been too much for me to handle at the time. We stayed in touch and talked a lot during Christmas and we both realized that life takes unexpected turns and you find yourself at a crossroads making decisions that you didn’t necessarily want to make. But sometimes you must and that’s just part of life he said. You have to keep going. He said it again, you can do this. You’ve got hustle. Those words will stay with me forever. He was right though. I’ve always had hustle. I didn’t hear from him after the holidays and got very concerned and knew something was wrong. I found out that Howard had fallen and was in the hospital. I was blessed to get to visit with him as much as they would allow and then continued to visit him when he was moved to assisted living. During that time, I met his family and we had an instant connection. There was no way this was anything other than God bringing us all together. Sadly, we lost Howard in February, 2021, but I am honored and blessed to be carrying on his legacy of The Island Maps. Howard’s Maps, as they are known to many as NeoClassical Maps, were hand drawn by Howard Handlen over a forty year span. He started in Puerto Rico, made his way around to various areas and his final home near the Georgia Coast. Howard’s Maps have a very special charm and uniqueness to each location that he drew. We are spreading the love of his maps and carrying numerous Map Goods with different Maps on each item so that you can always have a piece of your vacation at home with you ❤️ Thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting The Island Maps. Please check out theislandmaps.com, Amazon and Etsy Shop, IslandMaps for 70+ different Maps as we add other items and continue to grow. Please follow us on Facebook and Instagram, The Island Maps! I hope you love these little pieces of art we call Maps.❤️
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