ReFind Originals

Souvenir Sunday at Indianapolis International Airport

On Sundays we take a look at some of the inexpensive souvenirs you can pick up for around $10 when you’re stuck at the airport. This week, we’ve got some fun stuff to share from the Indianapolis International Airport (IND).

Of course, there’s the requisite candy ‘poop.’  Here, it’s Cardinal Poop, in honor of the state bird.

Marcella Gruelle created the Raggedy Ann doll in Indianapolis back in 1914, so you’ll find plenty of  Raggedy Anns and Andys for sale at the airport.  Only the tiniest sizes, and maybe the books, fit our $10 or under budget for Souvenir Sunday, but its fun to see the different-sized dolls all piled up and ready for new families.

There’s also the Just Pop In popcorn I featured yesterday on Snack Saturday, but it’s a fair bet that if you buy this as a souvenir, you’ll end up eating it all on the airplane.  Or before you get from the shop to your gate.

So consider doing some souvenir shopping at the airport spa. Yes, the spa.  IND is the only outpost for Erin Humphrey’s Enroute Spa and the spa is headquarters for a locally sustainable retail program Humphrey calls Hip and Handmade in Indy.  I had a chance to sit down and chat with Humphrey about the program and she told me how much fun she’s having scouring craft and DIY fairs in search of products to feature.

I’d already spotted these purses and Humphrey pointed out that they’re made by ReFind Originals, an Indiana company that turns reclaimed leather from everything from discarded old car seat covers to well-worn bomber jackets into purses and handbags.

The purse I had my eye on was over the $10 Souvenir Sunday limit, but the Enroute Spa also has this nicely smelling line of locally-made body care items with all natural ingredients. The blends have names such as Stress Relief, Immune Support, Elysia and Winter Magic and in addition to the $10 price tag on many of the containers, the selling point for me is the fact that body lotion also comes packaged in TSA-friendly solid sticks.

Have you found a great souvenir while you were Stuck at the Airport? If it’s $10 or under, “of” the city or region and, ideally a bit offbeat, please snap a photo and send it along.  Your souvenir may be featured on a future edition of Souvenir Sunday.