We are thrilled to introduce the first in our “meet the community”posts! Crittenden-Eclipse is filled with history lovers, artists, small business owners, and storytellers, and we are looking forward to highlighting their stories and talents. Our first business highlight is our neighbor, Nansi Strickland!
Nansi Strickland brings magic, whimsy, and happiness to her customers at When Pigs Fly…Magic Happens in Smithfield, VA. With her primary purpose being making people happy, Nansi handcrafts affordable soap, jewelry, paintings, and tiles. She believes in “keeping everything extremely reasonable so it’s all affordable.” Her store is a uniquely welcoming place, and Nansi is proud of her strong base of repeat customers. She enjoys “getting to know who you are” and has great recommendations and stories to share.
One of her favorite modes of art is batik, the Indonesian technique of wax painting. She begins the process by sprinkling wax on old cotton and then sketching her painting design. She creates layers of paint and wax and then uses an iron to heat her finished creation. She never has many of these unique and vibrant designs in her store because they take her a week to create, so you’ll want to act fast if you see one in stock.
My favorite purchase from her store is her handcrafted floral-scented soap. Her animal-inspired designs include rabbits, cats, flying pigs, and bees and are perfect gifts for Mother’s Day. Some women love the soaps so much that they purchase 50 at a time twice a year! Nansi is also selling her soaps at the Pop-Shop by Jo Louise in Warwick Center in Newport News.
In addition to these staple items, Nansi has a rotating featured display. She is currently featuring an Alice in Wonderland theme, and the teapot and teacup jewelry are playful and feminine nods to the beloved book. The store is also well stocked with Easter-themed decorations perfect for your yard or home as well as plenty of rabbit-themed greeting cards. If you love pigs or bacon, there are plenty of items that celebrate both.
When Pigs Fly…Magic Happens is located at 315 Main Street in Suffolk, VA next to the Smithfield and Isle of Wight Convention and Visitors Bureau. For more information, please visit her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/whenpigsflymagichappens/
