OPINION: Everything Enfield + More with Alyssa

This opinion column written by Enfield twentysomething Alyssa Cannella is featured periodically on Enfield Patch. She seeks to discover and write about “anything and everything different, fun and new” in Enfield and the surrounding area. The opinions expressed are strictly hers, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Enfield Patch.

Gift Shops

By Alyssa Cannella

For this long awaited dose of Everything Enfield + More with Alyssa, I am going to discuss one of my favorite things in the entire world, right next to hair salons and iced coffees: gift shops.

I have an obsession with gift shops. I am the kind of person that needs to go into every single gift shop on vacation to compare their inventory and comment on their displays. It’s kind of my thing.

With that being said, today I am going to write about three gift shops, privately owned by local families that hold a place close to my heart. And because I love them, you should too.

Revay’s Gardens and Gift shop: I spent the first 10 years of my working life, pretending I was a Revay. As soon as I was old enough to work I was cleaning greenhouses full of Geraniums, working with Teddy the Talking Tree, feeding my Vera Bradley collection and spending as many hours as possible inside the walls of Revay’s. I grew up there. My Revay’s work family was there for my high school proms and graduation, all 5 years of college, Boston and back again. It got to the point where every time I’d leave for my next opportunity, they’d find me at their front door asking if they need any help on the weekends. Revay’s has always been a version of home for me and plays a big role in my love for gift shops.

Needless to say, Revay’s has it all. Summer, winter and everything in between, they’ve got your gifting and planting needs covered. Whether you are looking for a wide selection of great gift items, a planter that makes your neighbors envy your green thumb, unique Christmas gifts or the latest, greatest Vera Bradley pattern, Revay’s is the place. Yes, these people are practically my family, but they are also very good at what they do.

Fun fact, if you are like me and want to plant it and forget it, June is Perennial Planting Month at Revay’s! Go see Dave, he is their in-house Perennial guru.

Somersvillage Gifts: I would have to say my favorite part about this gift shop, is the sense of pride the owners have. The first time I visited, I got a tour of the items and you could tell they were both excited and proud to share with me. From the gifts, through the chocolates and into the pantry, I got to see it all! Not to mention, they had opened on a day they are usually closed so my friend and I could go in. VIP treatment.

Somersvillage is the bee's knees when it comes to unique food items to fill a gift basket with. Or a grocery basket (like I have done). My home pantry is currently full of items from their pantry. A few of my favorites include; chocolate s'mores dip, all of their crockpot meal mixes, spinach artichoke beer bread, the pineapple jalapeno marinade and, of course dill dip.

If you are somewhere between store-bought gifts and homemade gifts, Somersvillage is the perfect place to bridge that gap. They have everything you need to put together a meaningful and delicious gift basket. If you aren’t feeling particularly creative, you could always buy one of their premade baskets or something from their variety of gift items. One stop shopping for all your gifting needs!

THIRTY6SIGNSTUDIO on Etsy (http://bit.ly/THIRTY6): Come on, I’m 28. Other than local gift shops and the grocery store, I like to shop online. Plus, who doesn’t like to get lost in Etsy and feel inadequate about their own personal creative abilities every now and then? Etsy, the place where old wood chips and fabric scraps become beautiful works of art. That is precisely what you will find at THIRTY6SIGNSTUDIO, which happens to be owned and operated by Enfield artist, Rebecca Skrabely.

THIRTY6SIGNSTUDIO is the place to go it you are looking for a personal and handcrafted gift. There is a sign option for everything! Housewarming, graduation, baby showers, bridal shower, birthday, Mother's Day, weddings! Looking for something more specific like your anniversary date or favorite song lyrics? Perhaps a quote from Oh, the Places You’ll Go to give as a graduation gift? Something to spruce up that Man Cave? She’s got you covered, just send her a custom order through her Etsy site.

The best part about this shop? Unlike most ridiculously adorable things on Etsy, these wall delicacies are incredibly affordable (and I’m talking new homeowner budget kind of affordable)! Check it out and tell her I sent you, for no reason other than it’ll make me feel cool.

Perhaps it was growing up working for a family business, or being old enough to understand the importance, but I try to support local businesses whenever possible. All three of these shops are worth the trip/web browse if you are looking for gifts, plants or some home decor. You will find something for whatever your gifting needs may be. And please, if you have any favorite gift shops, let me know! I will GLADLY check them out.

Till next time!