Flock of Five Gift and Art Emporium
Published 4:30 pm Tuesday, March 13, 2018
Stop by this unique Sulphur shop for a bit of restorative therapy to replenish the soul
Lovers of the original, the whimsical, Gulf Coastal character, hand-crafted artisan jewelry, vintage décor and furnishings, environment, books, collectibles and antiques will find plenty to make their hearts sing at Flock of Five Gift and Art Emporium in Sulphur.
Lisa Michele Briggs Reed is owner, artist and full-time Environmental Safety and Health manager at a Hackberry industry. Working with friend and jewelry artisan, Pam LeBleu, Flock of Five became a reality about two years ago.
Reed has always been an artist and poet. She expresses her imagination, love of Cameron Parish and the desire to keep the beach clean and safe by producing incredibly whimsical beach characters and other art. It’s fabricated mostly from the driftwood, shells and other detritus collected on the Cameron Parish coastline.
“Everything has a second life, you just have to figure out what it is,” Reed said.
It is the message of spring and rebirth that resonates within each of us.
Reed’s creativity doesn’t end with her fantastical creatures. She uses her sculptures, her paintings and her creative writing skills in her book, “Gondra the Driftwood Dragon of Cameron Parish.” The book tells the story of the unique beauty of the coast and how trash can harm wildlife and the environment. (Schools and libraries host readings and contact Reed to display the cast of characters.)
Reed wanted to bring attention to another of the area’s precious resources: local artisans. Flock of Five has 53 artisans and vendors.
“We wanted it to be different,” Reed said. “We wanted to remind visitors that art is a broad term, not to be applied only to canvas paintings. My mother, Delma Briggs, actually came up with ‘emporium;’ because we have a little bit of everything — we’re an art and gift gumbo really.”
Flock of Five is also fast-becoming known as a community resource.
“If we don’t have an item or service someone is looking for, we can usually find it,” Reed said. “We keep a list of who is looking for what, and who has something to offer, and try to help get folks in touch with each other; and it’s growing.”
For instance, if someone is looking for a green fairy hanging around in a seashell home, a vintage pie bird, or a furniture restorer who also canes chairs, Flock of Five is the place to go.
{{tncms-inline alignment="right" content="<ul> <li>Yard décor</li> <li>Metal signs that can be customized</li> <li>Fairy gardens</li> <li>Jellies</li> <li>Local honey</li> <li>Stained glass</li> <li>Textile art, including quilts</li> <li>Handmade cards</li> <li>Wind chimes</li> <li>Sun catchers</li> <li>One-of-kind purses made from vintage cowboy boots, baseball gloves and T-shirts</li> <li>Classic records</li> <li>Ceramics and pottery</li> <li>Natural pet care and grooming products</li> <li>Candles and aromatherapy</li> <li>Locally-crafted soaps</li> <li>Cutting boards that can be customized</li> <li>Door wreaths</li> <li>Plaster paint</li> <li>Loads of groovy little items kids will love in the price range parents can appreciate. (Alligator “eggs” are perfect for the kids’ Easter baskets.)</li> </ul>" id="4c1c1935-d83a-48e3-b987-9d7a13e36e2e" style-type="fact" title="Some of what you can expect to find at Flock of Five:" type="relcontent" width="half"}}
The catchy name, Flock of Five, is based on the five pelicans introduced as “Pelican, Party of Five” in Reed’s book, “Gondra.”
In addition to Reed’s art, find the work of local artists and photographers, writers and craftsman inside Flock of Five, along with a host of other items, some of which are listed at right.
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, spring, Easter or a Saturday away from home or the office with a visit to Flock of Five. (Call it restorative therapy.) Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Closed Sunday.
<ul><li>Yard décor</li><li>Metal signs that can be customized</li><li>Fairy gardens</li><li>Jellies</li><li>Local honey</li><li>Stained glass</li><li>Textile art, including quilts</li><li>Handmade cards</li><li>Wind chimes</li><li>Sun catchers</li><li>One-of-kind purses made from vintage cowboy boots, baseball gloves and T-shirts</li><li>Classic records</li><li>Ceramics and pottery</li><li>Natural pet care and grooming products</li><li>Candles and aromatherapy</li><li>Locally-crafted soaps</li><li>Cutting boards that can be customized</li><li>Door wreaths</li><li>Plaster paint</li><li>Loads of groovy little items kids will love in the price range parents can appreciate. (Alligator “eggs” are perfect for the kids’ Easter baskets.)</li></ul>
