Join us June 19 at The Harrison Center with Independent Music and Art Festival (IMAF) for a day of fun filled with live music, food trucks, stand up comedy, art, activities for all, and LOTS of handmade crafts from over 50 local vendors.

Welcome back to the blog, Homespun Shoppers!

Time flies when you’re stuck inside – the holidays are almost here. As a local business, the holidays are our favorite time of year! Nothing makes us happier than helping our community spread love; like when we help a customer find the perfect gift for a loved one.  While gatherings and holiday prep may look a bit different this year, there is so much magic to be made this holiday season.

We want our community to know above all; we hear you and we’re here for you. Hesitations about crowds, anxiety around holiday planning and social distancing are all valid and we want to meet you wherever you are by keeping our store clean and sanitized, practicing social distancing, and offering alternatives to in store shopping such as online ordering, curb side pickup, and call in ordering.

Shop Early, Shop Local

Our first and best tip is to get your holiday shopping done EARLY this year. Beat the holiday crowds and last minute gift giving anxiety! This allows you to take the stress out of the actual holiday season and enjoy yourself this season. Who hasn’t had to skip family hot cocoa time to sneak in last minute shopping days before Christmas? We typically suggest knocking out holiday shopping in early November in order to spend your holiday season making memories that don’t involve a check out line. This will particularly come in handy this year, and we’re suggesting shopping earlier than ever. The earlier you can get out to holiday shop, the less crowds you will run into and the better chance you have at scoring the best finds.

If you are interested in an added precaution, we are happy to accept Holiday Shopping Appointments prior to opening or after closing hours. To set up a private shopping appointment, please call the store at 317.351.0280!

Shop in Your PJs

Work, school, socializing, and even grocery shopping is being done online more than ever. Why not take the same practice with your holiday shopping list? We are working to keep our online store up-to-date for all of your shopping needs. Go ahead and wear your pjs, we’ll never know the difference. HAPPY SHOPPING! 

In-Store Practices

We will continue to practice social distancing in store. We have marked spots on the floor indicating your distance from other shoppers, as well as clear barriers at the registers. Our staff will continue to wear face masks and require our guests to do the same before entering the store. We have hand sanitizer and extra masks available by the front door. We also have handmade face masks for sale in store and online in a variety of designs, including kids sizes! We will be participating in holiday shopping events in November, and are working to create heated outdoor spaces for you to wait in, and we will continue these practices even with ongoing Mass Ave events.

Alternative Shopping

Still not feeling up for in person shopping? Not a worry! In addition to our online store, you can now purchase select products through Instagram. You can shop our online store from the comfort (and warmth) of your home. We’re happy to offer call in orders and curbside pickup as well; simply call the store and one of us will select and bag your items for you, take a contactless payment over the phone, and you’ll have the option to pick up your items by our front door or have a team member hand them off to you! Working around COVID has only made our team more creative in getting our products to you safely and responsibly (we’re still a lot of fun, don’t worry.) We’re thrilled to be open for extended holiday hours, and to have you in store, but want you to know you have options to fit your schedules and needs!

November Events (but distance-y)

For those wondering, YES some of your Mass Ave holiday traditions are still happening. We will be socially and spatially aware of crowds and gathering, as we plan on participating in Midnight Shopper Nov. 20, and Small Business Saturday Nov. 28.

Midnight Shopper, a beloved Mass Ave tradition, will take place Nov. 20 from 6 pm to midnight. You can join your favorite Mass Ave shops and restaurants for this once-a-year shopping and entertainment experience. We’re excited to join our neighbors in the fun!

It wouldn’t be November without our favorite day of the year, SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY, Nov. 28. This year you can support by shopping with us and our over 300 makers in store AND online. Show some love for your favorite locally-owned businesses and restaurants by shopping small.

We are so excited to be your go-to for holiday shopping in store and online, and look forward to spending the holidays with you! Stay tuned on our social media and blog as we take you #HomeWithHomespun, tease new holiday releases, post upcoming events and more. You can also stay in touch with us by joining our mailing list!

Happy Holidays,

Homespun

International Women’s Day

Today, we celebrate International Women’s Day and implore you to lift up your fellow ladies!

Stand in solidarity with your mothers, daughters, sisters, friends, and citizens of this world as we still fight for equal rights for women today.

“Let us be proud to be born girls!” -Djingarey Maiga -coordinator of the International Federation of Human Rights, who aims at empowering women and girls by educating them about their human rights in various domains.

“You deserve the best, the very best, because you are one of the few people in this lousy world who are honest to themselves, and that is the only thing that really counts.” Frida Kahlo, painter, activist, and celebrated internationally for her uncompromising depiction of the female experience.

“We women, are born with rights! It’s time to recover our rights!” – Haydee Castillo, a Global Fund for Women-supported activist in Nicaragua.

“The future of our world is only as bright as the future of our girls.” – Michelle Obama

“No woman can call herself free who does not control her own body.”
—Margaret Sanger, an American birth control activist, sex educator, writer, and nurse. Sanger popularized the term “birth control”, opened the first birth control clinic in the United States, and established organizations that evolved into the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

INDIEana Handicraft Exchange Winter Market

2018 Winter Market Details:

This holiday, give the gift of handmade! Shop 50+ makers and artists during our annual Winter Market on Friday, December 7th from 5pm – 10pm at our regular venue, the Harrison Center!

Admission is always free to the public and parking is available on neighborhood streets surrounding the venue and the parking lot at 16th & Alabama.

To check out the full list of makers at this year’s show, click here. 

Our Winter Market is held in conjunction with the Harrison Center’s monthly First Friday gallery openings, their annual color-themed show, and artist open studios. This event is indoors, with the exception of food trucks outside on Delaware Street, is free to the public as always, and is a great way to knock out holiday shopping!

Get free raffle tickets during our Winter Market by bringing in donations for Project Home Indy and Coburn Place! The holidays are the perfect time to give back and you’ll get a chance to win product from our makers too!

And as always, be one of the first customers in line at 5pm to get a free swag bag with goodies and coupons from the artists!

We can’t wait to see you there!