From all the moving I’ve done during the last fifteen years, I’ve realized that bringing too many souvenirs on the road can be a burden. I’ve also realized that the t-shirt or the cheesy souvenirs some bring back do not have any value added nor represent the time you spent at a certain destination. The more I travel, the more I gravitate towards small businesses where I can bring something unique back to my friends and loved ones.
Last Friday, I discovered Red Barn Mercantile as I was part of the Old Town Alexandria Blogger Crawl organized by Carlis of Spicy Candy DC. The shop began as an antique shop but now it has a diverse selection of items that are hand selected by Amy, the owner of the shop. Just as its location of Old Town Alexandria, the shop really reflects Americana: beautiful hand-stitched pillows of all fifty states, small batch cocktail mixes, and small representations of the region such as a nautical themed Alexandria pillow.
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| “East Coaster” Hand-carved Wood Coasters |
One of the things I love from shopping at a locally owned store is the personal touch. Amy and her team have made shopping here into a more personal experience by teaming up with local interior designers. If a customer purchases design services through Red Barn, they get discounts on the selected items for decor.
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| Shopping for Pillows Photo Courtesy of Julien Garman |
If you are a traveler like me, there are a few pieces that are easy to take back home. My favorite items at the shop are reflective of the area. The first was a pillow with a map of the USA with an anchor in Washington, DC. Found this so symbolic as I repatriated from Europe two years ago and my husband moved from the Netherlands and now we have made our anchor in DC. This we will be gifting to my in-laws for Christmas. The pillow case is light and really easy to carry. Other pieces I loved were the wooden coasters (pictured above). I am of course partial to the East Coast Coasters, perfect gift for someone who’s an expat or stationed overseas (they have all regions). Last but not least a favorite were the Sydney Hale candles, made in Virginia. It’s always great to bring something home handmade from the place you’re visiting.
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| More Pretty Gift Ideas from Red Barn Mercantile Photo Courtesy of Julien Garman |
As I’ve already shared on my Old Town Alexandria staycation story, I love the small town vibe of Alexandria and how it’s a world away across the Potomac. I truly enjoy the welcoming vibe of Old Town Alexandria and the originality of each of the boutiques. If you like shopping for unique pieces to take home, Old Town Alexandria Boutique District is the place to be.
