noteworthy sources for uncommon treasures

by Jessa Cast

locally owned shops offer novel products and memorable spaces

A WONDERFUL ASPECT of locally owned shops is their individuality and nuance. And we’re lucky to have a bevy of choices in our community. Each boutique, with an ambience as unique as a fingerprint, offers an absorbing experience. For your next gift-buying expedition—or to indulge yourself—pop into one of these shops.

Homestyle Happiness
Whether you love rustic-chic style, vintage furniture or enjoy a little DIY, Oak and Ivory is the place for you. The store exudes an embracing, homey ambience, and there is so much to see it’s worth an extended visit. Antique dressers around the store showcase everything from decorative curios to kitchenware, mirrors and toys. For those interested in reviving furniture at home, Oak and Ivory is a distributor for Dixie Belle and Wise Owl chalk paints in an array of colors. If you seek a baby shower or birthday gift (or a self-love present), your only trouble will be choosing from the multitudes of candies and candles, textiles and trinkets.
Oak and Ivory
oakandivorydecor.com

While to locals, Lilly Barrack is synonymous with jewelry, the store’s homewares and art should not be overlooked. It’s an excellent destination for one-of-a-kind discoveries. Stone candle-powered cuisine warmers and cactus-shaped fragrance diffusers are sure conversation starters, and Travis Black’s distinctively colorful paintings of desert birds will favor any decor. Or choose from an extensive line of Michael Aram’s decorative serveware, from teapots to tongs, to dress up the dinner table. Unique soaps, scented candles and fragrance diffusers will enchant the “scentsory” enthusiast in your life. While stopping in to peruse earrings, spend some time outfitting your cocktail bar with contemporary glassware or choose a brightly painted picture frame for mom. There are two locations in Albuquerque—NE Heights and the North Valley—as well as one in Scottsdale.
Lilly Barrack
lillybarrack.com

At Retail Therapy in Nob Hill, every item inspires joy and a sense of fun. This funky mother-daughter-owned shop invites guests to browse in a cheerful atmosphere, greeted by hot-pink neon signs. Many of the products, from an array of home goods to clothing and babywear, feature New Mexican themes: mugs and tea towels bearing chile ristras, wall art in our state’s familiar shape and even some iconic Southwestern animal skulls. Cocktail accoutrements, glassware, stationery and some rather risqué items, make for a delightful—and therapeutic—retail experience.
Retail Therapy
retailtherapyabq.com

Products with Provenance
Heritage by Hand, snuggled cozily in Santa Fe’s popular Sena Plaza, promotes the significance and beauty of handmade items. With a focus on products from Latin America, owner Heidi McKinnon showcases crafts made by masters in countries such as Chile, Panama and Mexico. Her knowledge of each product runs deep, so you can learn a great deal about the materials and artists, which makes for meaningful gifting or ornamentation for your own abode. Check out beautiful hollowware, upcycled textiles from Caralarga, alpaca scarves and eye-catching lacquered gourds by Cristobal Santos Diaz, which seem to glow from within. Bonus: Heritage by Hand offers carbon offsetting with every sale to support sustainability.
Heritage by Hand
heritagebyhand.com