When we opened The Painted Pig almost 14 years ago, our focus was in-studio paint your own pottery. Since then, we’ve been able to grow and add other DIY and custom projects that appeal to a range of ages, skill levels, and events—all in the name of encouraging creativity and family-friendly fun. 

Until 2020, these changes evolved naturally over time. Well, like many small businesses, we had to think fast in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ve worked hard to offer the experience of The Painted Pig in a safe way, first through updating our website to offer online shopping, creating a system for Pottery To Go and curbside pickup, and then figuring out how to open the studio safely with limited seating, reservations, and an amped up cleaning routine.

It’s been a hard year, but it’s helped us be more thankful than ever for the support of our amazing customers. We would not be here without you!

As you start your holiday shopping, we want to encourage you to find ways to support your favorite small businesses. In doing so, you’ll be helping families like ours. To help encourage you to think outside the big-box stores (see what I did there?), I thought I’d share a list of a few of my favorites in Little Rock. I hope you’ll consider supporting them this holiday season!

Allie’s Shop Small Faves

Because The Painted Pig is in the Heights, we spend a lot of time in this neighborhood as a family, too. My kids have puzzles, games, books, and clothes from The Toggery, and we love stopping by LePops after school for an afternoon sweet treat. When at work in the studio, US Pizza, Poke Hula, Boulevard Bread, Baja Grill, Sushi Cafe, and Zaza are our favorites for lunches—plus, they’ve all been so accommodating during COVID and offer options for curbside pickup. When we need a caffeine boost (which we need often during the holidays, thanks to y’all!), we love that Mugs Cafe is so close. All these small businesses carry gift cards, which make the perfect stocking stuffers!

If there’s someone you’re shopping for who has always wanted to try barre, yoga, or kickboxing, get them a gift card to try out Zen Studio, which is even offering virtual classes during COVID. A few other favorites in the neighborhood are Eggshells, Domestic Domestic, and E. Leigh’s down the road in Hillcrest, all of which have really great websites for shopping online. And for the cutest wrapping paper, gift tags, and Christmas cards, you have to hit up The Social Type!

Downtown, some of our favorites to visit are along Main Street. One of the coolest art galleries in town, M2, just launched their new website, and in addition to original works, they have jewelry and prints, which make great gifts. In addition to her own handmade jewelry pieces, Bella Vita Jewelry carries an array of fun gifts, accessories, and DIY kits. We LOVE Loblolly Creamery’s ice cream (another gift card idea!), and we can’t go to South Main without checking out South Main Creative, where my mom and sister have a booth of vintage goods along with dozens of other collectors, makers, and artists. 

While we spend a lot of time on this side of town, we live on the other, and we have plenty of faves “out west,” too. The Wonder Place has been a favorite destination for almost eight years now. It’s great for birthday parties, but sometimes we head that way just for a fun excuse to get out of the house! Speaking of birthday parties, you can usually find us celebrating with sweets from The Cupcake Factory. Pigtails & Crewcuts is our go-to for trims for all three of my kids, and they actually look forward to it because of the fun atmosphere. And whether we’re dining in or picking up dinner on our way back to Chenal, we love All Aboard and Izzy’s. Both menus have something for all of my kids and for my husband and me, so it’s a win-win.

What are your favorite small businesses in town? Share their social media pages, comment on their posts, and recommend their products and gift cards to a friend. You just might help make their holiday season that much brighter!

— Allie