Luck Be A Ladybug

In many cultures, the sight of a ladybug (the good luck bug) is either a call to make a wish or a sign that a wish will soon be granted; and so to fully understand the ladybug and all of its adornment, one should take the journey to a small village nestled among the oak trees and discover the little yellow house.  

Pam Howard, owner of The Village Ladybug - Gifts & Design, welcomes patrons to her home away from home in her store on Corinthian Avenue in Ortega.  Once a small modest residence was later transformed into a gift shop more than twenty years ago.  In 2007, Pam being entranced by the delightful charm of the house turned shop, burrowed in the heart of the business district of Old Ortega, began the pursuit of carrying on the retail store as the new proprietor and giving it its new name.

As the only gift shop in the Ortega Village, the Ladybug is a stop-and-shop hidden gem in the heart of an historic area in one of Jacksonville’s oldest neighborhoods.  Offering specialty wedding registry items, Trapp candles, handmade jewelry, pacific wood plates, and hostess/party gifts; customers utilize the shop’s array of goods while chit-chatting, catching up and filling Pam in with the going-on’s in their lives.

With experience in interior decorating and a passion for beautiful things, Pam has grown the business into a store offering special occasion gifts, but also added a design service component, as well as, a room dedicated to antiques and rare finds from estate sales brought in from all over the Southeast.

Just as a chrysalis must grow and morph into a butterfly, the Ladybug has gone through a metamorphosis of change throughout the past few years since opening.  While adding custom orders and services for residential interiors and a design studio with fabrics, lighting, wallcovering and home decor; Pam’s vision for her store brand evolved.  

“I’m surprised when I hear that people do not think that we are still a gift shop. I want people to know that the Ladybug is still a gift store and will always be a gift store; that is what I love about the Ladybug and what my customers love about this place.”  The Ladybug offers a plethora of new arrival items with free gift wrapping and special home deliveries as a service to her patrons.  

Pam’s concept of her store is simply defined as “living graciously”.  Each customer is welcomed with Southern hospitality, greeted with a warm benevolence as refreshing as a glass of cold iced tea on a hot Florida day.  The Sugarbakers of Designing Women have nothing on Pam Howard, for this Ladybug leaves you walking off of her front porch with your wishes granted of kind pleasantries wanting you to come back for more!

The Village Ladybug - Gifts & Designs is located in the Historic Ortega Village at 2930 Corinthian Avenue.  904.387.2900.  Visit the website at www.villageladybug.com and Facebook.

(This article can also be read in the April 2012 Issue of The Resident Community and News)

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