Ozarks Profile: Eunice Wallar

We opened at this same location 2031 S. Waverly in 1987, but the building was small, and as we increased our focus on art, we realized we needed more and different space. We rebuilt in 1991 and more than doubled our space and (added) the upstairs art gallery where we focus on changing shows.

What’s the Christmas room?

We have always had a year-round Christmas room featuring a variety of ornaments, collectible Santas, German nutcrackers and smokers, and holiday décor.

What types of ornaments do you carry? And do they sell year-round?

We carry Christopher Radko, European glass-blown ornaments, hand-blown ornaments by several glass artists from across the country, Egyptian glass ornaments, NeQwa reverse-painted ornaments, Byers’ Carolers and Vaillancourt chalkware, to name a few. Ornaments sell all year, for bridal showers, new home gifts and birthday gifts, and to collectors and tourists.

What are some of your other favorite gift selections in the store?

Some of my favorite gift selections are the jewelry, turned wood and pottery, all created by regional and nationally known artists. A songbird watercolor by David Plank must be mentioned as a favorite. My husband and I have given these to each other for special gifts.

What new items do you have for this holiday season? What makes them special?

First, I must say that since most of our gifts are created by artists, other than those in our Christmas room, our selection is ever-changing. Many of our items are one of a kind.

New to us this year are sculpted graphite writing tools, unique gifts for men and women … and new fused glass and pottery from several Kentucky and Arkansas artists. Also, new kaleidoscopes from Oregon and Maine artists, Spode glass ornaments and the NeQwa reverse-painted ornaments that I mentioned before.

Tell me about Waverly House’s Holiday Gallery. How long has that been a benefit for The Regional Girls Shelter?

The Holiday Gallery is a juried show with a winter holiday theme – any winter holiday, not just Christmas. A portion of the proceeds of this show benefits The Regional Girls Shelter, and it continues through Dec. 17. We always open it on the first Thursday of November. The opening includes a silent auction, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting The Regional Girls Shelter. Auction items include many donations from area artists and some of my suppliers, as well as our Purchase Award winners from the Holiday Gallery. This year, we raised more than $3,000 from the auction alone, and more will come in from the gallery sales – enough to build a needed bus shelter for The Regional Girls Shelter. We have had this benefit for youth agencies for 13 years total; The Regional Girls Shelter has been our beneficiary for eight years.

Do you expect this to be a busy holiday shopping season?

Hopefully, we will be very busy. Realistically, it will probably be about the same as last year, according to the fall sales so far. Of course, I would like to be able to say in January that it exceeded all of my expectations.

Is the holiday season your busiest of the year? What other times of year keep the store busy?

Our holiday season is our busiest – October to December. However, we do have a loyal customer base that enjoys finding very unusual or one-of-a-kind pieces made by artists all year long – a fine art and contemporary craft gallery that most people seek in large cities, and we are right here in Springfield.