Page 7 - MARCH2026

March 2026 NEWFOUNDLAKELIFE.COM Page 7 Community
By Donna RhoDes
As Alexandria residents, Ste- phen and Nikki Wooster-Good- win’s young daughters grew, and there came a day when the girls asked if they could no longer be homeschooled and instead at- tend classes in the Newfound Re- gional School District. Mom and Dad said yes, but that left Nikki wondering what to do next if the girls were gone all day.
Nikki had already helped es- tablish the Alexandria Park and Rec Committee and filled hours working with the committee on local events, but that wasn’t enough to fill her days.
The answer to her question came on the night before the town’s first Easter Egg Hunt, when Nikki feared there would not be enough treats for all the participants. So, she woke up early, made an extra-large batch of cupcakes, then felt sad that they all looked so pretty but would be gone in a few hours.
The next day, while her family was busy at school and work, the Hofstra University art and the- ater graduate decided that the best way to preserve those pretty cupcakes she made the day be- fore was to paint one.
“I sat down and painted a cupcake, then decided to squish it between two pieces of paper, and it came out great,” she re- called.
It was that squished cupcake that prompted her to then call her husband at work. She laid out her proposal for the next phase of her life, and he was as enthusiastic as she was.
“I told Steven I wanted to start a business, and he said, ‘All
right. I quit!” Nikki recalled.
It was then that she began watching webinars, painting sweet treats (“Who doesn’t like dessert?” she quipped), and pur- chased equipment to transfer her
paintings onto T-shirts.
And while it all began with
just a pretty cupcake she painted after Easter, that sweet dessert was the reason the family de- cided to name their new business “Cotton Cupcakes.”
Nikki was already busy paint- ing other sweet desserts no one can resist, such as a slice of pumpkin pie, ice cream cones, and chocolate cake.
From there, she started mov- ing on to other designs inspired by the N.H. seacoast, where she grew up. It wasn’t long before she also added wildlife, vegetables, fruits, and berries found at local farmers’ markets, and of course, simple woodland scenes to her inventory.
The three other family mem- bers, who were inspired by her paintings, got wrapped up in the creativity as well. Among their top sellers are daughter Hen- na’s Chinese lantern, younger daughter River’s “The Shabby Heart,” and dad Steve’s “Gus the Moose.” Nikki laughed about her husband’s attempt to paint a moose. When she transferred it onto a T-shirt, however, they were astounded when it imme- diately drew sales on their online market.
Cotton Cupcakes was suc- cessfully selling items both lo- cally and online, but with Steve available to help promote the business, the couple decided they could do even more. Their
The Wooster-Goodwin family, Nikki, River, Steve, and Henna, are pleased to announce the opening of their new clothing and accessories business, “Cotton Cupcakes,” located on the corner of Town Pound Road and Bog Road in Alexandria village. Photo by Donna Rhodes
all-purpose tote bags, larger market bags, and even handy makeup bags. Each is available in all of the 111 designs currently made by the Wooster-Goodwin family, so if there isn’t one avail- able in their current inventory, just wait a few minutes; Nikki will gladly make the one of your choice before you leave.
It’s not all about the textiles, though. Cotton Cupcakes also sells charm bracelets, each with charms to match its designs. A charm comes with each pur- chase, online or in-store, and bracelets are on sale that custom- ers can add after each purchase or buy the charms individually.
Steve said that the family has put their all into the business, from its creation to the beautiful shop, catalogs, a growing list of retail locations, and the website they have today.
“Nikki’s really the artist, though. I handle the operations, and the girls are our models. It’s a real family affair!” he said.
The Cotton Cupcakes Shop is located at 2 Town Pound Road in South Alexandria, with the shop entrance just behind the home off Bog Road. It is currently open throughout the winter months on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., or by appoint- ment by calling 603-631-2213. People can also follow them on Facebook for specials and up- dates, or shop their store online at www.cottoncupcakes.com.
Cotton Cupcakes Shop Opens in Alexandria
daughters’ playroom was filled with the equipment, packaging, and all the t-shirts they had cre- ated, so they made the decision to expand their space.
The Wooster-Goodwin fam- ily owns a farm in Alexandria Village with horses and a large barn, so Steve and Nikki took a long, hard look at that barn and began to make plans. After deciding how much room they needed to store supplies for their horses, which are housed behind their home, they started moving timbers, building walls, and mak- ing work and storage space for their growing business. Their de- sign plans also included a quaint shop for their products, and all the customers they looked for- ward to welcoming into “Cotton Cupcakes.”
Just 1.5 years into their new endeavor, the family is excited
about the growth of their rurally based business. They even pur- chased a classic 1980 Volkswa- gen Samba van. They had the van refurbished and wrapped in pink with a spiral frosted, cher- ry-topped cupcake installed on the roof. The family now uses it as a “Pop-Up Shop,” which travels to events and even college campuses, where it has done very well in sales.
The Cotton Cupcakes shop itself is a cosy and well-designed spot where people can browse their products. Today, there are not only T-shirts and sweat- shirts for sale but “bucket” hats, cell phone satchels, key chains,
Cotton Cupcakes is Now Open!
T-SHIRTS • BAGS • HATS
TUMBLERS • & MORE
We are a local, designer t-shirt and apparel store. Located at 2 Town Pound Rd, Alexandria Winter Hours:
Friday & Saturday 10am to 4pm (603) 631-2213
Follow us on Facebook for updates and t-shirt giveaways and check us out on line at cottoncupcakes.com
MORE THAN JUST A BREWERY
A place to sit back and relax from the world
Good Food, Good Conversation - Your favorite beverage including a selection of Craft Beers and Wine
THE Traveler’s
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22 Hemp Hill Rd, Bristol - New Hours: Friday and Saturday 4 to 9pm, Sunday 2 to 7pm & Monday 4 to 9pm