Faire trade

Find unique, indie-made goods at Lincoln City’s Local Faire

By Sabine Wilson

For the TODAY

Tucked away in the middle of the Lincoln City Outlets is an alluring, beautiful and show-stopping shop, Local Faire.

The shop carries pieces from a multitude of local independent, or indie, artisans who craft a spectrum of high-quality and one-of-a-kind goods.

Customers are blanketed with a feeling of warmth as they enter, surrounded by products that seem to make the world a more colorful and connected place.

There is something about knowing all the products are locally crafted or designed that really grabs you. It is as if you are sauntering through an art museum.

“People who come in tell us ‘Everything is so beautiful and inspiring,’ owner Sheila Jaillet said. “People are able to have an experience where they just enjoy looking at all we have to offer.”

The story of Local Faire began last year when it opened as a holiday pop-up in the shopping center.

“Out of the blue, I received a call about it,” Jaillet said, “and although it wasn’t anywhere on my radar to do, I knew immediately that this was a ‘Yes!’”

Jailett was not new to operating a business, having experience in farmers markets like the Portland Saturday Market for years.

After deciding to do the pop-up, the group of artists involved all pitched in to split the fees of opening the shop.

“Last year, with our normal holiday markets closed, many of the artists and I didn’t have an outlet to sell,” Jailett said. “It felt like a really serendipitous and wonderful opportunity.”

This resulted in them being offered a permanent spot.

“It wasn’t in my plans to open a shop in the center, but the response from the people was so positive,” Jaillett said. “This is such an integral and centralized location for shoppers in Lincoln City. It’s been the best. It feels like it’s a shop that can benefit shoppers who find us and our goods, as well as support small-scale artisans and makers.”

One of the group’s many philosophies is to shop unique, but also shop local. At Local Faire, there are plenty of rare options that you simply cannot find anywhere else.

The artists take a simple product and then elevate it to the next level. There is something for everyone, from stickers, to jewelry, hats and cutting boards. 

“I really tried to find well-made goods that have something unique about them,” Jaillet said. “I wanted the store to feel like a cool, shoppable spot with a natural flow.”

Though she considers herself a practical artist, having studied herbalism, or plant-based medicine, Jaillet now considers the shop her current art project. She has devoted much of her spare time to running Local Faire.

“The shop is my current art project even though I do have some of my stuff in here,” she said.

And even though she never thought being a shop owner would be in her future, it has come somewhat naturally to her.

“It’s been so fulfilling in that it has utilized so many of my personality traits and skill sets,” Jaillet said. “I have really loved creating the aesthetic for this space. I just do what feels right and then when I hear people say they enjoyed the vibe and how this space is like an oasis to them, it makes me feel great.”

Jaillet has also worked to transform the space in a creative manner, taking color organization into consideration and manipulating basic items, like transforming peg boards into a beautiful display for more art.

Inside Local Faire, you’ll find products like botanical creations from Lush Living Sculpture, run by Atma Rashni. Using the Japanese kokedama technique, Rashni encases the roots of a plant into a ball of soil, which is then coated in moss and wrapped in string to keep it together.

The store also carries beautiful products from Earthlights, a family-owned business that produces “art on fire.” Earthlights creates candles from some of the Earth’s rarest and most beautiful elements, like vananydyte and black amethyst.

In a world where consumers are so far removed from the origins and story of the products they buy, Local Faire stands up and says “I’m here and I am made with love by real humans,” bridging the gap between creator and patron. 

Local Faire is open Monday through Sunday from 11 am to 7 pm. For more information, go to the Local Faire Shoppe page on Facebook or call 760-492-9237.