EVANSVILLE – Locally made arts and crafts are great gift options for that hard-to-buy loved one on your Christmas list. Fortunately, we have many galleries and gift shops where you can find them in Southwestern Indiana.
Confectionery is a new shop not to be missed. Open for just over a year, this store features sugary soaps, jewelry, and live plant creations from owner Sara Rhoades, as well as artwork from a host of local makers.
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Rhoades is a goldsmith and jeweler who found a second passion in soap making about four years ago.
“My husband thought I was crazy when I started making soap,” she said. “One day he noticed my jewelry closet had all this soap in it and he was like, ‘What’s going on?’ The name The Confectionary actually started out as a joke, I was making soap cupcakes or strawberry soap for my daughters, then I did a farmers market, and it got so big so fast.
Rhoades, who also teaches jewelry making at the University of Evansville, worked from home full-time and successfully sold soap and jewelry at markets and events for a few years, but that’s the pandemic. who pushed her to open a shop window.
“A lot of my friends were in the same situation as me,” she said. “All the arts and crafts events had been closed and we weren’t able to make any money. I had to either open a store or make very difficult choices in my workplace, because my old career wasn’t in the works either, so we opened the store and in the process helped some friends find a place to sell.”
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She grew the store throughout 2021 and now offers a wide range of items. Approximately 50% of the store’s inventory is made up of products unique to Rhodes. Another 30% comes from artists in the region and the remaining 20% are pieces from small national or international manufacturers.
Local items include Hat and Rabbit tea towels, Loughrie honey, Naynaysay Glass and Bonfire pottery pieces and Hannah Girten prints. Garb2art Cosmetics in Columbus, Indiana, offers bath bomb donuts with sprinkles that can be purchased individually, in a box of donuts per dozen, or in a combo box with Rhoades’ Coffee Soap.
“I just want this store to be sweet, eclectic, fun, contemporary, and joyful,” Rhoades said.
The confectionery is at 2003 Lincoln Ave.; 812-204-7901
Holiday hours: Monday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday 10am-5pm; Friday 10am-6pm; Sunday 11am-3pm
Here’s a list of other shops where you’ll find fun gifts. Hours may vary between now and Christmas, so we suggest checking Facebook or calling ahead.
Indiana Southwest Arts Council, 212 Main Street; 812-303-3178
The Arts Council keeps tables full of gift items. As things sell out, they will be replaced with new items. Look for ceramics and jewelry, paintings, prints and paper art, wood ornaments, fabric art and more.
Social Bluestocking, 606 S. Weinbach Avenue, Suite B; 812-402-2055
This bookstore keeps a fine selection of books by local authors as well as greeting cards, wooden ornaments and more.
Evansville African American Museum, 579 S Garvin St.; 812-423-5188
This is where you’ll find bath and body products for Deborah Wagner’s D and Company and Company of Women dolls. These beautiful dolls are made by four generations of Wagner women and are dedicated to the many nameless and faceless women who quietly ensure the enrichment of those around them.
Framing and image gallery from Inman, 2828 Lincoln Ave.; 812-471-8651
Paintings and more by popular artist Cynthia Watson, soft painted rocks, ornaments, ceramics and more.
Mason-Nordgauer Gallery of Fine Arts, 510 Main Street, New Harmony; 812-682-6127
A show by Evansville artist Gary Hobdy will continue through the holidays, and you’ll find beautiful paintings and prints by many other local and regional artists as well as glassware and much more.
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Nance Galleries, 662 S Green River Road; 812-476-6295
Nance is a large gallery that curates beautiful one-of-a-kind artworks from around the world and locally. You’ll find wooden pieces from Donald Meuth of Henderson, glass from Michael Hudson in Louisville and other regional pieces as well as whimsical artwork from around the world.
New Harmony Contemporary Art Gallery, 506 Main St. in New Harmony; 812-682-3156
The ever-changing selection of art in this modern gallery contains many ceramics in conjunction with the current exhibition of ceramic mugs. We also love the comedic ceramic wall sculpture by Dee Schaad from Indianapolis.
Chic on Hand, 330 Main Street, Suite B; 812-401-0075
With 45 local artists and artisans, Posh on Main offers a huge selection of gifts as well as clothing, jewelry and artwork from around the world. Items produced nearby include hand-sewn baby and children’s clothing, soap and bath products, canned goods and relishes, hot chocolate bombs, coffee, honey, gift cards and more. Moreover.
Unusual rare bird gifts, 2605 Lincoln Ave.; 812-473-0645
This Lincoln Avenue store offers a wide and fun selection of quirky items with an eye for humor. From local artists, you’ll find knitwear, turned wood, jewelry, coffee and more.
River City Cafe + Merchandise, 223 Main Street; 812-550-1695
Grab a cup of great coffee and a pastry while you shop for a wide assortment of local art and jewelry at River City Coffee + Goods. Arrangements from Timberview Flower Farm, textile art from Bruce’s Heirloom Rugs and soap from the Sith Street Soapery are just a few.
Social bird shop2744 Epworth Road, Newburgh
Honey, popcorn, textile arts and more from local makers share space with everything from handbags to kitchenware in this new gift shop.
Contact Aimee Blume at aimee.blume@courierpress.com.