By Steven Hoffman

Staff Writer

Friday, Sept. 5 marked the official grand opening of Pickled Pickles, but customers have been delighting in the unique handcrafted furnishings, decor, gifts, clothing and accessories that the eclectic boutique offers since it debuted in mid-May.

Owner Jennifer Campion said that customers frequently talk about how they can find items here that they won’t find anywhere else—including repurposed furnishings, unique handmade gifts, and jewelry by local artisans.

“I try to make sure that everything is handmade and authentic,” Campion explained. “We carry things that you’re not going to be able to find at the mall.”

This includes handcrafted and unique offerings by Glitzy Gals Accessories, Handmade with Love by Oma, Locust Candles, The Midway lace masks, Petrie Upholestry, It All Has a Purpose, and Cards by Eleanor.

The shop also features the work Brenda Lynch of Handmade Creations and the art of local illustrator Lynden Godsoe and photographer Nikkole Hale. In all, there are approximately a dozen different people contributing items to the shop on a regular basis, including Campion's mother, Linda, who makes crocheted items. Linda also fills in for Campion at times.

Showcasing the work of local artists and artisans was one of the things that the Oxford resident had in mind when she started her own business. Campion previously worked as an art teacher in Maryland for seven years. The idea of opening a boutique grew out of discussions that she had with another teacher, Tiffany Sumler. Sumler makes jewelry in her free time and now supplies Pickled Pickles with some of her custom work.

Campion said that the first few months of running her own business have been enjoyable, especially with the help and support of her husband, Eric.

“Business has increased steadily each month,” she said. “None of this would have been possible without him.”

Pickled Pickles is purposefully eclectic so Campion is always looking for new and different items to bring in. No two visits to the shop will ever be the same for customers.

“Right now, we are looking to bring in handmade bags and woodcarvings,” Campion said.

Campion also wants to be active during events organized for downtown businesses. During the First Friday event in  October, she plans to have ten local vendors selling their wares at an outside vendor mart. On the Third Friday in October, Godsoe will be doing a live watercolor demonstration. Then, in November, a “retail crawl” of businesses in downtown Oxford is being planned.

Pickled Pickles is located at 221 East Locust Street. For more information, visit the Facebook page.

To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email [email protected].