Local Shopping & What it Truly Means

Hello, 

Tis’ the season for over stimulation, family, work, and my love language – GIFTING.  For awhile my husband didn’t understand why an actual tangible gift over experiential gifts is so significant to me.  Over the years the clarity around my love of gift giving emerged.  My mother always loved Christmas but also was exhausted by it.  However, she always selflessly fussed, purchased, made and gathered our gifts & family on this big holiday. Over the years I have narrowed-in on my own personal style and meaning behind; the act of: gift giving.  It’s a nuanced and finely balanced act like a glass of fine wine. Ok maybe dramatic but the discussions around having a shared awareness of mass production, fast fashion, Amazon (did you watch the documentary Buy Now?), Insta Shopping, and the convenience of speed through technology/web that makes it so much easier not to leave our houses, permeates us in every way & every day.  By the way, I am not judging!  I am part of the madness.

Even though Christmas time can be challenging and exhausting when the convenience of online shopping or Amazon seem so mouth watering. I think it’s important to continually challenge ourselves to shop local. Just like how my mom loves Christmas but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t come with some sacrifice & hard work. Take the time to get out into your shopping community and meet your neighbors. If you do shop online then look for small businesses or artisans to purchase from instead of big box stores. Even if you buy a product or gift at a LOCAL brick & mortar it’s better than hitting purchase on Amazon. Every little effort matters to those makers & brick & mortar owners.

I own a floral design brick & mortar shop/studio in South Portland, Maine, aka a small business. Our little gift shop portion of the business holds meaning and impact beyond the floral design services. Although I am not a skilled merchandiser, I have taken the time to meet other makers, creatives, and small business owners in the community and across the US.  I make sure to source, showcase, and sell other creative makers work because that’s important to me.  And this is why —  as a resident of Portland, I support my small business community, because I know how hard it is to be in it!!  We all need to shop big sometimes and I am a layman consumer many times throughout my life (back to the no judgment thing).  However, being an actual shop owner myself, has opened my eyes to the significance of supporting your brick & mortars & makers from restaurants, boutiques, gift stores, coffee shops, floral shops, makers markets, and everything in between!  We’re sharing in a communal effort to provide artisanal, nuanced, unique products & services to our community.  So we need their support in return!  We need the consumerism, patrons, customers, & neighbors to understand the value a lot more not a little bit more.

SOOOO last year, yes that’s right, that’s how far behind I am on this effort to write this blog and edit these nice flatlay photos. I made a huge effort to walk into my local shops whether it be a liquor store, a larger bicycle store, a smaller artisanal shop, artisanal grocer or I supported my local artist friends, I tried to make an impact even if small.

Please support your local shops, because they're supporting you.  If not within your own state than extend that mindset to makers. shops, or businesses in other states/international via online shopping.  Where there’s a will there’s a way!!! <3

BELOW are photos & links to some of my fav local small businesses OR simply local brick & mortars OR ONLINE out-of-state makers/businesses that I purchased a gift.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:

Vintage Pansie Play Deck of Cards & The Complete Brambly Hedge (for Alivia): Back Cove Books via Monstera Vintage, Portland.

Gnome Card - Sad to say I forgot. I will ponder and come back & edit. If anyone knows the artist, DM me!

Ceramic Fish CandleStick Holder (for MIL) - BUG-EYED Co, Portland artist

Crescent Moon Tree Topper (for myself) - Suzanne Oddy Design via Etsy, UK artist

Barreled Souls Brews & Tequila/Bourbon (for family) - RSVP Discount Beverage, Portland

Four Brothers Peppermint Bark (for husband) - must have purchased at local grocer! Can’t recall.

Bike Gadgets (for sister) - Allspeed, Portland

Shine Gift Card (for mom) - Shine Salon, Westbrook

Jaggerspun wool, Springvale, ME via KnitWit Yarn Shop - Portland, ME (for sister)

Menorah made in Israel (for husband) - Monstera Vintage, Portland

Cake book (for myself, Nana, & step-mom) - Longfellow Books, Portland

Peter Rabbit Music Box Collectible (for my baby) - Monstera Vintage

Floral Art Print of Petalage arrangement - Jess Webb Photo

Seabird Aromatics (for mom & stepmom) - South Portland

Wine - SoPo Wine, South Portland via Petalage

Katherine Watson kitchen towel via Petalage - South Portland

Black Ceramic Earrings - Ceramica Co., Portland

Ceramic Funky Ornament - New Talk Studio

Virgin Mary Framed Art - Monstera Vintage