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Am new here so please forgive if this topic has come up before (searched and searched but couldnt find anything)
My DH and I have been to St Thomas before on cruises, but we usually do the excursion thing. This time we just want to walk around and explore. Shopping of course is a given. In order to cut down on weight of what we bring back from cruises we have opted the last couple of times to stick with buying Christmas ornaments as our souvenir of the ports, our tree looks great with all the destination ornaments and not a lot of weight added to the suitcase. I really like the shell or home made ornaments rather than the mass produced ones. We noticed that just before downtown Charlotte A shows many outside vendors (we usually hit them as we find that you can find more hand made or different items than going to the retail stores and I would rather support the individual than a chain.
Has anyone bought this kind of ornament in St Thomas before? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I've purchased shell Christmas ornaments in a small store along the waterfront of Charlotte Amalie...........its right across from the open air market. I don't recall the name of the business but it sells local crafts and art. I'm sure someone on Island would know the name of the store,
Native Arts and Crafts
Phone # 340-777-1153
Native Arts and Crafts has been closed for a while. You can buy shell ornaments, some are made here, at the Captain's Corner stores.
I don't think anybody in the Vendors Plaza has any.
Shells here are not only in very short supply compared to many other areas of the world but it's also illegal to transport them out of the territory. 99.9% of shell ornaments sold here aren't local at all (even if they have a cute little touristy "St Thomas" sticker on them)!
The shells might not be local shells,but the workmanship is local. If other areas are willing to sell their shells, why not buy them? Some of the sea items come from the Atlantic coast, maybe even FL.
Look at all the goods sold around the world that are made from imported parts.
Some of the workmanship might be local but I'd still bet that the majority is not. I know several store owners who carry souvenir items including shell and other Christmas ornaments, some of which are quite spectacular but aren't locally made, although many of them carry the aforementioned "St Thomas" stickers. Of course there's nothing illegal involved where the stickers are concerned since they don't say, "Made In St Thomas" - and that's what to look for if you want something genuinely made on island.
Likewise, a lot of other goods (pottery and chinaware are good examples) which one assumes are produced here because they're even embossed with "St Thomas" are in fact designed here but produced in China.
ms411 wrote:
Native Arts and Crafts has been closed for a while.
You mean the store right on the corner across the street from Vendor's Plaza along the Waterfront is closed?
They sold handmade brooms, dolls, and other West Indian/Caribbean arts and crafts.
I thought that was the name of the store.
I think it was also considered a Visitor's Center.
They sold VI lottery scratch-off tickets, had brochures, postcards, and a public bathroom.
Yes, the store across from the Vendors Plaza is closed.
I said some of the ornaments are made here. The sticker says Made Here. A few others that are made here don't have that sticker.
I just stopped by "Water Candy" in Tillett Gardens Center for the Arts (east STT) and you should stop by there if you have a chance. Barbara designs and makes by hand a wonderful selection of sea glass jewelry, ornaments and other delightful things which are unique and quite beautiful!
www.h2ocandy.com
We were talking about that store last week, but nobody could remember the name! I haven't been there since she opened, but will probably go when the new restaurant opens permanently.
STT Resident wrote:
I just stopped by "Water Candy" in [b]Tillett Gardens Center for the Arts (east STT)[/b] and you should stop by there if you have a chance. Barbara designs and makes by hand a wonderful selection of sea glass jewelry, ornaments and other delightful things which are unique and quite beautiful!www.h2ocandy.com
STT Resident, Did Tillett Gardens move? Isn't Tillett Gardens in Tutu (not east STT)?
Mango Tango represents local artist. http://www.mangotango-art.com/
Raphune Hill between C.A and Tutu
blu4u wrote:
[quote=STT Resident]
I just stopped by "Water Candy" in [b]Tillett Gardens Center for the Arts (east STT)[/b] and you should stop by there if you have a chance. Barbara designs and makes by hand a wonderful selection of sea glass jewelry, ornaments and other delightful things which are unique and quite beautiful!www.h2ocandy.com
STT Resident, Did Tillett Gardens move? Isn't Tillett Gardens in Tutu (not east STT)?
Mango Tango represents local artist. http://www.mangotango-art.com/
Raphune Hill between C.A and Tutu
Yes, it's in Tutu but for the benefit of visitors who aren't geographically adept, "east" is acceptable as a generality. I didn't say, "East end". Had I said, "country" would that have been more helpful?
For the benefit of visitors and anyone else who isn't familiar with "geography", a map link is available.
Find Tillet Gardens at E - 13,
Find Raphune at E- 15
This map is bit outdated. Hotels , restaurants, retail stores change hands over the years. But the beaches and "towns" haven't moved! Click on map to enlarge.
Hopefully this is helpful!
