If you’ve been following The Philadelphia Outsider, then you know how I like to support locally owned businesses as much as possible. That’s not to say I don’t love my weekly trip to Target, but I feel an obligation to support the small businesses in my community.

That’s why I am so excited to kick off my holiday shopping series 12 Days : 12 Ways : 2 Buy Local. For the next few weeks The Philadelphia Outsider will feature ideas to help you shop local this holiday season.

First in the spotlight is a little shop right in Narberth called Sweet Mabel. I wandered into this quirky store a few weeks ago and knew right away I would be shopping there for Christmas.

Owned and operated by Tracy Tumulo, a former art director, Sweet Mabel boasts a lively and ever-changing collection folk art and fine crafts from more than 150 local artists (which means shopping at Sweet Mable is buying local … x2).

The selection is huge and has something for all ages. Handmade ceramic tiles, original paintings, jewelry, woodcrafts and more. Yes, there are a few items on display by artists outside the region, but just ask the shopkeeper on duty which objects are local. They know who made nearly every item in the store and where it came from.

It’s a small world sidebar: Sweet Mabel has a series of paintings on display made by my Birmingham, AL friend and neighbor , Tres Taylor. You can imagine my surprise to recognize his work hanging on the wall!

Back to the topic of interest: I recommend going in with a plan to make sure you see everything. Browse clockwise twice, then counterclockwise twice shopping just at eye-level. Then do the same thing for knee level and then again for sky-level. With every trip around, you’re sure to spot something you didn’t see before. I know I always do.

Here are just a few of my personal favorites:

These pendants are handmade from bottlecaps by Rotorcaps right here in Philadelphia are. Sweet Mabel stocks Rotorcaps earrings and cufflinks, too. Don’t tell the husband, but there may be some cufflinks in his stocking if I can find some in “Natty Boh” or “Stella Artois”.

I was also digging this vintage Bob Marley album-turned-bowl by Vinylux in Germantown. These are actually recycled albums, so this may have been in your record collection “way back when”. Sweet Mabel also carries Vinylux coasters made from album labels. Classic rock to country, this is a one-of-a-kind gift that will send your loved ones spinning.

Here’s another gift for the rock star in your life – a mosaic guitar made from recycled tiles by artist Beth Warren of Merion, PA. You won’t find something this special at Target.

Sweet Mable celebrated five years in business just last month. Named after the family dog, the shop has rich history. It was once a barber shop owned by Tracy’s grandfather. In fact, the original barber pole still adorns the building, which is now owned by Tracy’s father. He’s a regular at the shop and adds local color of his own.

Stop by Sweet Mabel on Friday for Narberth’s town-wide First Friday celebration. The shop is hosting an opening reception from 6-9 p.m. for an in-store exhibit of work by Leslie Stuart Matthews. Be sure to tell them the Philadelphia Outsider sent you!

Sweet Mabel

41 N. Narberth Avenue

Narberth, PA

610.667.3041

Directions

Interested in getting featured in 12 Days : 12 Ways : 2 Buy Local  ?   Contact me right away.  dey at philadelphiaoutsider dot com!

Tagged: 12 Days 12 Ways 2 Buy Local, beth warren, buy local, first fridays, leslie stuart matthews, narberth, philadelphia newcomer, rotorcaps, sweet mabel, tres taylor, vinylux on Wednesday, December 1, 2010 · 4 Comments »