Loose Leaf Notes

-The following first appeared in The Floyd Press on December 12, 2019.

From one end of Locust Street to the other, and up and down Main Street, locally-owned downtown shops are stocked and decked-out for the holidays. Everything from fine arts and crafts to warm woolies, toys and stockings stuffers can be found within walking distance.

Jeannie O’Neill describes the offerings at her Gallery and Boutique as “an infusion of Paris, New York and the Blue Ridge.” The boutique, which just moved from Main Street to the Shoppes at the Station, is filled with wearable art, apparel and accessories, along with O’Neill’s original paintings and designs.

Troika Gallery, also in the Station, is chock full of local and regional handmade craft, including garden sculpture, home décor, pottery, jewelry, glass pieces, woven clothing, silk scarves and more. “We’re open every day,” said Abby Reczek, one of the owners.

“We’re the novelty sock store,” said Ellen Wright at A Little Monkey Business, across from Troika at The Station.  “We have 100% wool mittens, gloves, hats and scarves,” said Wright. The shop’s clothing line includes Fair Trade pieces from Guatemala, Peru, Brazil, Columbia, Malawi, Indonesia, Nepal, India, Thailand, and the USA. “And we just got in a new line of RFID leather bags and wallets. They block anyone walking by from being able to scan your credit cards,” Wright added.

Other shops at The Station include Elma’s Corner, A New Leaf Gallery, Vintage Finds, Eye Candy Optical and more. Other downtown destination gift shops that feature Floyd handcrafted arts and crafts include The New Mountain Mercantile and Bell Gallery.

The Mercantile, the town’s oldest artisan outlet, also offers essential oils and diffusers, candles, clothing and more. Bell Gallery features a wide range of handmade works, along with shop owners Joanne Bell’s pressed floral sun catchers and jewelry and William Bell’s large format landscape photography. On the north end of Locust Street, Hey Helen’s lifestyle boutique is filled with unique women’s clothing, home decor and jewelry.

The Republic of Floyd, across from the Station, is a great place to shop for stocking stuffers, said store employee Connie Ratner. Although Republic of Floyd T-shirts and hats are the store’s biggest sellers, people also come in for those last-minute gifts, like 6 packs of craft beer, Floyd souvenirs and hot sauce, Ratner said.

Not just a hardware store, Farmers Supply is known for their festive holiday window displays. Along with hardware, the store sells classic gifts, including kitchenware, bird feeders, sporting goods, children’s sleds, wagons, bicycles and tricycles and more.

Some downtown Floyd shoppers come from out of town to shop, like the Richardson family, who travel from Greensboro every year to buy their tree at Slaughters Garden Shop and to shop for classic toys and general store offerings at the Floyd Country Store. “It’s a tradition. We do it every year,” said Laurie Richardson, who was shopping with her husband Tyler and their four children.

Another Christmas shopping opportunity is the Floyd Center for the Arts’ longest running signature event, the Winterfest Arts and Crafts Festival, held at the center (220 Parkway Lane) on December 7 and 8th.  With a “Shop Handmade for the Holidays” theme, this year’s 25th annual festival features 30 artisan vendors, kid’s holiday-themed art activities, a café and the Festival of Trees Silent Auction – a roomful of brightly lit table trees and wreaths that the public is invited to view and bid on. Sure to bring on the holiday spirit, and ready to take home and plug in, the trees and wreaths are decorated by local business and stocked with unique gifts and gift certificates.

Amy Avery, the small business owner of “AVery Crafty Gal,” makes handmade quilts and a wide-range of quilted products. She will be vending at Winterfest this weekend. “People come from throughout the region to shop at Winterfest,” Avery said, “because of the unique variety of creative gifts they can find and that Floyd is known for.” “Winterfest shoppers like to buy direct from artisans without middle men getting a cut,” she added. “Our community and our economy benefit from shopping local, and that benefits all of us directly.”

Amy Avery’s mother, Jayn Avery, is the small business owner of “Blue Heron Pottery,” and likes to shop local. “I’m an artisan and I like to support other artisans,” she said, explaining that she also buys a portion of her food from local farmers.  Another reason to buy locally crafted gifts?  Avery says, “Because handmade gifts are more meaningful to me.”__________________Our World Tuesday