Beach vacations are all about the experience. Why not make your experience an especially memorable one with a handmade souvenir to take home with you?
Sure, you can pop into local shops to pick up T-shirts, jewelry, picture frames, and similar items to take home to reminisce on your trip. But a handmade souvenir, made yourself or by a local artisan, is much more special.
The Alabama Gulf Coast has several unique souvenir options. From decorative crafts created out of clay or blown glass, to homemade goods like soap and bath bombs, the one-of-a-kind pieces you can find and create are limitless.
Custom-Made Crafts and Homemade Goods to Treasure
Coastal Alabama is a crafter’s paradise. The beautiful scenery serves as the perfect inspiration for any art project. And places like the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach make it easy and enjoyable to create your own masterpiece.
The Clay Studio – Orange Beach
The Clay Studio is one of the unique artistic experiences offered by the Coastal Arts Center. Stop by to learn about the art of pottery-making and create your own piece on the spinning pottery wheel.
The Clay Studio Facebook Page
If creating pottery from scratch isn’t your thing, don’t worry! The Clay Studio has many pre-glazed pieces for you to paint and make all your own. Either way, you will leave with a one-of-a-kind ceramic piece.
We will let you decide if you will use it as a gift or keep it for your own home!
Gigi’s Scrapbookin’ and More – Foley
Love to scrapbook? Gigi’s Scrapbookin’ & More has everything you need to craft a truly unique scrapbook full of memories of your vacation on the Alabama Gulf Coast. Take one of their classes for even more sweet memories!
High Cotton Bath Company – Orange Beach
High Cotton Bath Company is the perfect place if you are a fan of aromatherapy and spa products. Spend the afternoon creating soaps, scrubs, lotions, and more at the shop.
High Cotton Bath Company Facebook Page
Whatever your taste may be, you can use High Cotton’s variety of 250+ essential and fragrance oils to make your own custom scent. While that may seem like a daunting task, High Cotton’s friendly staff is happy to help you.
They even offer classes where you can test various fragrances and learn how to combine them to create a scent you love. These workshops are perfect for a rainy day or just a fun group activity.
The Hot Shop – Orange Beach
Another studio at the Coastal Arts Center where artists and creatives can put their imaginations and skills to work is The Hot Shop. Here, you can work with a professional glassblower to create your own piece of art with molten glass.
The Hot Shop Facebook Page
Watch as the colors change and the piece becomes your own during each step of the process. For a small fee, you can have your glass shell, Christmas ornament, or other art piece carefully packaged and shipped to your home if it’s not finished curing before your vacation ends.
If you’d prefer a less hands-on experience, you can watch the master artisans create beautiful glass items you can later purchase in the studio. No two pieces are the same!
Unique Pieces Hand-Made By Local Artisans
Shopping for one-of-a-kind finds to take home and cherish for years to come? The following shops are filled with unique, handmade goods and works of art made by local artisans.
Fish River Furnishings – Foley
Travel to nearby Foley and discover Fish River Furnishings. This store is an antiquer’s paradise. Find unique pieces of vintage furniture that have been given new life by the husband and wife team at Fish River.
Fish River Furnishings Facebook Page
The pair also custom builds everything, from bedroom sets, to dining room tables, and everything in between! Browse the shop for the next addition to your home.
Forrest and Jenny’s Yard Art – Foley
Who doesn’t love colorful yard art? That’s what you’ll find at Forrest and Jenny’s Yard Art , along with metal sculptures and signs to further embellish your outdoor space. Don’t miss out on this unique shop’s items designed to give your home more curb appeal.
Gulf Coast Arts Alliance – Gulf Shores
The Gulf Coast Arts Alliance is a must-visit location during your trip! This organization offers so much for the community and its visitors, including an art gallery and art classes for adults and children.
At the GCAA gift shop and the art markets held multiple times a year, works of more than 50 local artists are on display for visitors to enjoy and purchase.
Pottery Central – Gulf Shores
A visit to Pottery Central is sure to be a memorable one. The shop's owner and artist Steven Dark has been a ceramist and potter on the Alabama Gulf Coast for more than 30 years.
Pottery Central Facebook Page
His style is known as funky and unusual, and his masterpieces are always impressive. Stop by and purchase one of your own!
Sea Oat Studio – Gulf Shores
Looking for the perfect gift for someone? You’re sure to find something personal and one-of-a-kind at Sea Oat Studio in Gulf Shores.
This shop specializes in stoneware pottery and sculptures created by nationally recognized master potters. Come pick up your next gift, or purchase a piece for yourself.
Tino’s Fine Arts and Frames – Gulf Shores
Tino’s Fine Art and Frames is a community treasure where you’ll find not only framing services, but also a range of original artwork by local artists, limited edition prints, pottery, mosaics, and much more. While visiting, you may even get to see some of the artists working on their next masterpiece.
Tino's Fine Art & Frames Facebook Page
According to owner and local artist Rick Tino, “You never really know who you will see or who's work will be brought in. So many regional, national and internationally known artists have been in these doors it really has been amazing. Then there are the works that I have had both the honor and the privilege to have framed… wow.”
Perdido Artist Gallery & Gifts – Perdido Key
You will not find anything like the items at Perdido Artist Gallery & Gifts anywhere else on the Alabama Gulf Coast. This store is filled from floor to ceiling with colorful works of art, clothing, jewelry, and souvenirs, all made by more than 50 local artists.
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