|
With the holidays approaching, our thoughts turn to what else? shopping. Island shops are filled with special merchandise for all the island lovers on your gift list. Sanibel souvenirs abound at Tuttles Sea Shell Shop, which is celebrating its 25th year in business. Located near the lighthouse, the shop sells gold or silver charms depicting that well-known landmark. They sell well, says owner Bob Tuttle, as do charms that say Sanibel. Tuttle's Christmas ornaments include beautifully decorated sand dollars or glass globes with the lighthouse painted on the inside. 342 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 941/472-0707. She Sells Sea Shells has a tongue-twister name as memorable as its gift items. Actually, there are two shops, and both carry figurines made out of shells by owner Anne Joffe. They also sell shells from local beaches, in case you want to supplement your collection. Employee Eileen Waldner says the Sanibel Roller, a small conch with Sanibel written on it is a big seller. Also popular are conch lamps, as well as Christmas ornaments made from sand dollars or starfish. 1157 Periwinkle Way or 2422 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 941/472-6991 or 941/472-8080. A Touch of Sanibel Pottery lives up to its name, offering clay or porcelain lighthouses, as well as mugs, plates, and ornaments that say Sanibel or Captiva. Many wildlife motifs are depicted on the pottery, including shore birds, dolphins, and loggerhead turtles. 1544 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 941/472-4330. Newly opened Traders, next to the Sanibel Brew Pub, is just the place to find island lifestyle gifts for home or condo. We have a ton of accessories and furnishings with the British West Indies look, explains manager Corrine Ziel. Also available is the eye-catching, colorful, and whimsical pottery made by talented Sanibel teen Molly Landl. A company known as Island Times offers a line of bathing items such as soaps, and coconut or ginger bath milk, Ziel notes. We have fabulous pineapple-shaped candy jars and palm tree-shaped candlesticks made of pewter or brass, she adds. 1551 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 941/395-3151. A popular item at Mary Thomas's Island Gifts is a clear, poured-resin trivet with a sand background and embedded shells. Customers are also partial to hand-blown glass manatees, dolphins, or snails mounted on pieces of coral and trimmed in 24-carat gold. 1609 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 941/472-4318. Just off Periwinkle Way, on Fitzhugh Street, Sanibel Seashell Industries is known for its glass shell lamps and sailorÕs valentine kits, which let you make your own version of the time-honored craft. Shell books and specimen shells share shelf space with ornaments made of shells. Owner Gary Greenplate reveals that more than a few husbands have been known to buy a junonia, which they later casually drop while walking on the beach with their wife, who may have been searching for one for the past 15 years. 905 Fitzhugh St., Sanibel, 941/472-1603. Forest of Flowers Christmas Shoppe offers a year-round opportunity to find a variety of locally themed Christmas gifts. Big sellers include sand-dollar ornaments with pictures of the lighthouse painted on them. Each one is different and numbered by the artist, Lindy Bramner. Many people hang them in a window, not just on their Christmas tree, according to employee Dominic Blanco. Another popular ornament is a ceramic Santa Claus astride a dolphin. 1622 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 941/472-0755. Gold charms in the shape of such shells as the wentletrap, lion's paw, or lace murex are available at FridayÕs, along with bracelets, rings, necklaces, and dolphin or conch pendants. The owner, jeweler Gene Rebeor, says other customer favorites include sailboats, sand dollars, starfish, turtles, and sea otters. 1700 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 941/472-1454. At Tahitian Gardens, Island Treasures offers unique glass palm trees about two feet high. They are free-standing on a marble base and have verdigris fronds. Sand balls, like snow globes but filled with sand and shells, sell well, says owner Monika Brandt. Locally made bisque pottery, enhanced with raffia and Sanibel or Captiva shells, are also on display. 1979 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 941/472-4955. The Cedar Chest sells one-of-a-kind sea-life-oriented gold pieces with unusual stones, in such designs as mermaids or birds, according to owner Pat Zambuto. Customers favorites include the wentletrap shell, in gold, or gold with diamonds. Dolphin or manatee charms and shell-link bracelets make great gifts, too. 1987 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 941/472-2876 or 800/749-1987. Laurel's Lamps and Gifts is known for its glass lamps filled with deluxe shells from the beaches of Sanibel and Captiva, explains owner Laurel Cody. Some people bring in shells they have found on the beach and ask us to fill the lamp bases, she adds. 2009 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 941-472-4035. Kevin and Kim Gretens Sanibel Goldsmith sells a wildly popular 14-carat gold manatee charm with emerald eyes. Kevin has designed a new bracelet called Santiva, which is made of assorted shells in 14-carat gold. Just out is his new pendant coin that has the word Sanibel and a picture of the island shown on one side, and a little shell and turtle on the other. 2055 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 941/472-8677 or 800/472-7572. Marsha Paplham, owner of Maggie Elliott, purchased the company that makes Sanibel Perfume, now available at her shop and four others on the island. About five years ago, a friend of hers came up with the perfume, which is made of many of the islandÕs floral and citrus scents. Maggie Elliott also carries the Sanibel versionÓ of the popular Nantucket basket, which sports an environmentally friendly ivoryite design of the lighthouse on top of the purse. 2075 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 941/472-2230. Popular items at Pandora's Box are Sanibel bear ornaments featuring 24 styles, including a bear board-sailing, Jet-skiing, or relaxing under palm trees. Write your holiday thank-you notes on note cards that show memorable watercolor scenes of Sanibel and Captiva. Display a photo of yourself on the beach in one of the store's pewter frames, which are decorated with nautical or sea-life motifs. 2075 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 941/472-6263. Selling like gangbusters at Congress Jewelers are its new Sanibel Sandals charms, in gold, or gold with diamonds or other gems. Children's names can be engraved on them, too, says Brad Congress. Other top-selling charms include a map of the islands, sand dollars, and Òevery shell you find on the beach. The Sanibel medallion is always in demand, depicting a palm tree, water, and a dolphin jumping in the waves. 35 Periwinkle Place, 2075 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 941/472-4177 or 800/882-6624. Man's best friend should be remembered during the holidays, too, and Jenafish can help. The store, in The Village, sells squeaky rubber dog toys, adorned with the word Sanibel (in case you are teaching your dog to read). Owner Joan Chiaramonte also stocks her store with handpainted Sanibel tiles featuring pictures of dogs. Cat lovers will enjoy the canvas Sanibel tote bags with images of their favorite feline breeds. 2340 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 941/472-3003. Kassia Strauss's shop, The Secret Garden, displays whimsical wooden frames that look like Sanibel or Captiva T-shirts on a hanger. She sells miniature Sanibel or Captiva life preservers or oars and birdhouses painted with local beach scenes. Top-selling items also include palm-sized river stones, cut with a laser and engraved ÒSanibelÓ or Captiva. 2340 Periwinkle Way, 941/395-0600. Goldsmith and diamond broker William E. Wilson has been in the jewelry business for 35 years and handcrafts pieces in 14-, 18-, or 22-carat gold, and platinum. A pelican pin, a diamond-encrusted shell choker, and a loggerhead sea turtle charm are just a few of his island-themed creations. 2340 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 941/472-8590 or 888/WEW-GEMS. Sanibel Art and Frame does a brisk business selling prints, photographs, oils, and watercolors of the Sanibel lighthouse. Owner Dan Warren says beach photos sell well, including a panoramic shot of the lighthouse at sunrise. The Sanibel Stoop print is a big hit. Many people buy prints of shells to accompany the actual specimens they've found on the islands. 2460 Palm Ridge Road, Sanibel, 941/395-1350 or 800/393-9192. The Tree House gallery has been the home for the past 20 years of artist Hilda Kaihlanen's watercolors of the Sanibel lighthouse, Captiva's Chapel by the Sea, and scenes of local restaurants and stores. The gallery is also the exclusive home of Jo and David Stark's beloved shell-o-grams, which are known for their intricate beauty. 630 Tarpon Bay Road, Sanibel, 941/472-1850. On Captiva, T.H. Osprey at Tween Waters Inn displays shell frames and jewelry made of shells and gems by Jane Baker. Buyer Cindy Scragg says glass sand-and-shell globes sell well and are meant to be hung from a Christmas tree or placed on a stand. 15951 Captiva Drive, Captiva, 941/472-5161. After dessert at the famous Bubble Room, meander through its Emporium, where watercolorist Pam Webb's paintings of the well-known restaurant are for sale, as are artist Teri Causey's wooden fish, trunks, and couch tables. Of course, the emporium does a brisk business in Bubble Room souvenirs such as key chains, hats, T-shirts, and magnets. 15001 Captiva Drive, Captiva, 941/472-6545. John and Denise Beggs offer an assortment of works by local artists in their Paradise of Captiva gallery. Teresa Oltmans paints tropical scenes on dresses, vests, sarongs, pillows, and scarves. Medith Mantyla's watercolors capture such Captiva sites as Chapel by the Sea, Bubble Room, Island Store, and the now-razed Timmy's Nook. Anisa Wigginton's sterling silver jewelry depicts manatees, dolphins, and other marine life. 11508 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva, 941/472-8556. Carmen and Vanessa Lombardo's Confused Chameleon features Vanessa's painted starfish and sand-dollar ornaments. Sanibel Lighthouse rubber magnets sell well, as do Captiva or Sanibel dolphin and turtle suncatchers, made of plastic or stained glass. 11528 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva, 941/472-0560. LG |