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At Simply Homespun on the north side of the square, they
are seeing handcrafted wooden toys being gobbled up by shoppers.
These old-fashioned toys will have kid’s imaginations going for
hours on end. Crafted and fashioned by a local artist they will
serve your kids for years to come.
Another big mover for Simply Homespun, according to store clerk
Susan Radespiel, is the handmade natural lotions. Simply Homespun is
an eclectic collection of art, crafts and anything handmade. They
currently have nearly 40 vendors.
Moving next door to MKS Jewelry, Angie Getchel shared that diamonds
are still a girl’s best friend! Particularly interesting this year
is a diamond pendant known as 'Rhythm of Love.' The diamond appears
to float in the mounting and the wearer’s heartbeat causes the
diamond to move and reflect the surrounding light. This creates an
eye catching shimmer of beauty.
There are also a number of newly designed necklaces, one interesting
one was a “trapeze bar.” It is a narrow horizontal bar that can be
engraved or left blank.
Among MKS’s offerings were USA made bangles and bracelets. Designed
to be worn singly or as a collection there were many styles and
charms to make each one your very own. Made from recycled materials,
a portion of the purchase price goes to Generation Rescue, a site
that helps autistic children.
And right next door to the west is Lloyd and Luna’s, a treat for the
discerning eye. Unique items that would make wonderful gifts fill
the entire shop. Nick-a-nack, bric-a-brac, furniture, antiques and
faux antiques, clothing, jewelry and other very different items are
all on display. If you shopped at Lloyd and Luna’s for Christmas
gifts, you could truly say, “Uncle George doesn’t have one of
these!”
Dropping in at Abe’s it was pointed out there were some kid perfect
stuffed animals that came with a matching book. Each book featured
the head of the stuffed animal attached to it as well. That would
lend to the perfect time for a child to hold the stuffed toy and
that special adult to read the story to them.
New also at Abe’s were a line of very unique baskets. And as we all
know there’s not a basket Shirley can’t fill and make amazing!
Another hot item was a line of scented soy candles.
National Rent To Own manager, Roger Matson’s first response was
furniture. And that was followed by stoves and refrigerators. His
explanation was with all the Holiday entertaining people want to
update their stoves, or they currently didn’t have large enough
refrigerators to accommodate the extra storage of food.
Moving over to By the Bean, one was greeted by the wonderful aromas
coming from their specialty drinks. Barista Zack Embrey mentioned
the seasonal lattes are popular and that the Pumpkin Spice is
enjoyed by many too. And this time of year finds Apple Cider to be a
frequent request.
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Next door at Beans & Such found owner David Lanterman perched behind the
counter. Among the beautiful gift and decorating ideas were battery operated
candles. David was quick to gather some together. These candles are operated by
a timer, when they are turned on in the evening they will shut themselves off in
four to six hours. Then the next day they will turn themselves back on at nearly
the same time and repeat the process. They are available in either pillar or
taper versions.
Three Roses Floral found owner Bill Bree and his staff up to their ears and over
their heads in Christmas themed decorating. From Dan Bailey atop a ten foot
ladder putting the finishing touches on a garland swag, to Nettie hanging
ornaments on yet another tree, everyone was in the spirit.
Bill mentioned that along with seasonal fresh and silk arrangements, garland and
wreath’s were among the favorites.
Another featured item was Christmas Ornaments featuring every branch of the
armed services.
The end of the block brings Serendipity. Jeanie Xamis smiled brightly as she
shared that one of the popular gift ideas are hat kits. The kits contained the
yarn, instruction and in some cases, just the right amount of bling to make that
special girl feel even prettier. And for the smaller kids there were hats with
pom poms or animal heads attached to them.
Jeanie also does matting and framing of pictures. She mentioned that customers
bring in a collection of family memorabilia and she creates a piece of art from
it. The customer then gifts the keepsakes back to another family member. So if
you’re wondering what to do with the kids arts and crafts or those Christmas
cards from 20 years ago…
Overall there were lots of really neat options to find unique and special gifts
right here at home. Support our local merchants and keep our revenues here.
There really was a sense of cheer and Christmas to be found in each and every
store. So meet your neighbors and shout out holiday wishes to your friends as
you discover a wonderful selection of gifts.
[Roy Logan/ with addition on Lloyd and Luna's by Jim Youngquist]
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