Looking for that perfect little gift for your honeypie? Consider shopping local this Valentine’s Day. These Arlington-area shops and makers offer handcrafted items that will leave your significant other (or close friend) feeling loved. Here are a few ideas worth a look:
Floral Statement Earrings
Jewelry simply can’t get more “lovely” than these earrings from Bluemont boutique Covet (5140 Wilson Blvd.). The brass-and-bead creations are just one of dozens of delicate accessories the shop carries, amid an array of edgy greeting cards and unique finds for home.
Stained Glass Suncatcher
Amid the pandemic, restaurant-industry veteran Maria Milton left her career to pursue a longtime interest in glass art. Working from her Arlington-based MarzDM Studio, she now crafts etched vases, jewelry, planters and more. This suncatcher ($115) is made with silver, copper and red leather and includes a small vase perfect for an air plant (or a rose!).
Rose Shower Steamers
No bath tub? No problem. Try a little shower pampering courtesy of Thulisa Naturals in Falls Church. Founder Anusha Moodley conveniently organizes her bath and body products by scent, including eucalyptus, orange-mint, and that quintessential Valentine’s Day fragrance—rose. “This scent helps to ease tension and balance your mood,” says Moodley. The shower steamers ($16) offer a transportive experience, she says, and leave a heavenly aroma in your shower even after the water’s turned off. Shop her products online, or at Covet boutique in Arlington and Vivid Chill in the Mosaic District.
Artisanal Truffles
A box of chocolates may not be an unusual Valentine’s gift, but an affordable one can be hard to find. Clarendon-based Artisan Confections (1025 N. Fillmore St., Suite H, Arlington) offers decadent truffles that are nearly too gorgeous to eat, in packages built for any budget. For the sweetie in your life, a five-piece sampler ($11)—including crème brûlée, dark red cabernet and death by chocolate—won’t break the bank, while giving your special someone a few bites of pure bliss.
Sweetheart Plants
For the green thumb in your life, how about a succulent sweetheart plant ($22) from Botanologica in Falls Church (817 W. Broad St.)? With a little TLC, a heart-shaped leaf cutting from the southeast Asian Hoya kerrii plant ($22) will grow into a full vine. The shop also carries other amorous plants, including the Portulacaria afra ($30), Philodendron cordatum ($16) and the Aglaonema “valentine” Chinese evergreen ($26). Or for a long-lasting token of your affection, try a dried flower bouquet.
Trinket Dish
A special piece of jewelry deserves a special spot on the nightstand. Falls Church artist Nafia Syeed, the talent behind Nafiart Studio, turns natural found objects into romantic keepsakes, including decoupage trinket dishes made from gilded oyster and scallop shells ($30). In the kitchen, the pretty shells can also be used as salt-and-pepper cellars, or to hold sugar cubes for tea time. Visit her online shop for home accessories, as well as wearable art made from found flower petals, butterfly wings and other organic materials.
Love and Lust Candles
Say “I love you” with aromatherapy. Arlington-based Antik Lakay—whose products have been mentioned in Vogue, Elle and The Strategist—creates intoxicating candles ($42) using soy and coconut wax as well as essential oils. For a seasonal scent, try Love (jasmine, amber oud and muguet) or Lust (sandalwood, patchouli, rose musk), depending on your mood. Shop the collection online, or find select candles at Shop Made in Virginia in Old Town, Alexandria (1121 King Street, Alexandria).
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Hand-Tied Tulips
Can’t decide between flowers or a too-cute stuffed animal for your sweetheart? Snag both in an adorable gift set ($85) from Ballston sandwich and flower shop Poppyseed Rye (818 N. Quincy St., Arlington). Teddy bears not your thing? Check out the cafe’s other Valentine’s Day-themed gifts and floral arrangements.
Wire Love Bracelet
Help your sweetheart feel loved each day with a bracelet ($12) that spells it out from Shirlington boutique Diament Jewelry (4017B Campbell Ave., Arlington). The re-plated, vintage accessory comes in silver or gold and can be paired with several other love-themed pieces, including the shop’s wooden heart necklace and double-heart coil belt.