Del Ray Artist Makes Handmade Goods From Her Home

ALEXANDRIA, VA—The holiday season is as good a time as ever to support Del Ray businesses, notably the pop-up shops appearing in the area.

Today we're spotlighting Sue Henry's home goods business Tulusa, where she makes by hand from her home in Del Ray. Her home goods are especially popular during Christmas, as they make unique gifts for loved ones.

For the third year, she'll be holding a pop-up shop out of her home at 2 Ancell Street near Commonwealth Avenue, which is conveniently close to the Del Ray Artisans Holiday Market. The hours are Friday, Dec. 8 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 9 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 10 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Henry will be donating a portion of napkin sales to the hurricane-devastated Gifft Hill School in the U.S. Virgin Islands, which her friends run. Customers can also expect a $36 special for three tea towels.

Patch recently spoke with Henry to discuss her products and what she loves about Del Ray.

When did you start your business?

I started my business two years ago. That was my first pop-up and the start of my business as well.

What does your pop-up shop offer?

I'm a textile designer, so I design blocks and then I block print, mostly on linens, and then I make pillows, tea towels, napkins and table runners, tablecloths and all sorts of home decor things out of those hand-blocked pieces. Everything is made from beginning to end. The designs are all mine. They're all printed by me. They're all sewn by me.

They're unique and they're not super expensive. I try to keep my prices as low as I can. For me, a set of four linen napkins could be a beautiful gift for someone like me. I think they're great teachers' gifts, they're great gifts for neighbors, give them to a hostess that's having a party you're going to. And then there's some more unique pieces like the pillows and there's clutches that are printed. Most of them are double printed, so they have two patterns on them, and then they're hand embroidered.

What motivated you to get into this kind of work?

I've been an artist for about 25 years and I've had a lot of different businesses within the arts. I used to be a sculptor and a ceramic artist. And then I had children, and making things out of clay seemed a little bit daunting. I have two little boys...and I wouldn't be able to get to it soon enough. I moved to textiles about six years ago and started printing and carving linoleum blocks...and then I took a break for about four or five years, because my kids were growing up, I had some other business opportunities and I just jumped out of the arts. Then about two years ago, I found a bin I had printed years ago and I started embroidering on those textiles, and that's what sort of relaunched Tulusa.

How long have you lived in Del Ray?

We've been in Del Ray since 2003 and Alexandria since 2001. We moved here from Colorado.

What is your favorite eatery in Del Ray?

It's so hard to choose...I go to Stomping Ground a lot. I also love Junction [Bakery], and we go to Taqueria el Poblano quite a bit.

What do you like about living in Del Ray?

I just love the community here. It's so great and very supportive. We've got lots of good friends here. Our youngest still goes to school at Mount Vernon [Community School], so it's right across the street from us. Del Ray is a special place to live.

Check out the business at the pop-up this weekend and follow it on Instagram.

Images by Casey Gammon