Without a story, it's just stuff.
Evelyn and Harriette were the matriarchs of our families and the inspiration behind our vision. They both held an appreciation for nice things of high quality, without undo extravagance. Learn more about these two remarkable women when you visit Evelyn & Harriette’s Gifts.
Evelyn and Harriette's Gifts was started in 2001 to be the showroom for furniture manufactured by our family business in Oley, Pennsylvania. The store quickly took on its own character as we added items first from local artisans, and then from around the world. We retired from the furniture business in 2008, as Evelyn & Harriette's Gifts came into its own by reflecting some core beliefs:
We seek out items that are unique, and have both quality and value. Most importantly, we look for the story. Whether it's the game invented by a mother for her visually impaired son, the pottery hand-painted in the Mexican tradition revived by the artist's father (Gorky Pottery), or the antics of the Aunties inspired by two neighbors of the Finnish artist Inge Löök, the stories add something special to the gifts we give those we love.
- nice things do not have to be expensive
- many outstanding products go unnoticed by most stores
- sometimes the real gems are right here in our own backyard
- a true gift comes from the heart, not the pocketbook
- a good toy stimulates experimentation, imagination, and creativity
- play is learning
- the child should do the playing, not the toy
- the value of a toy comes from lasting use, not fads, trends, or "must have" hype
We seek out items that are unique, and have both quality and value. Most importantly, we look for the story. Whether it's the game invented by a mother for her visually impaired son, the pottery hand-painted in the Mexican tradition revived by the artist's father (Gorky Pottery), or the antics of the Aunties inspired by two neighbors of the Finnish artist Inge Löök, the stories add something special to the gifts we give those we love.