Shop Julian Unique Boutiques & More

Hinchliff Studio and Gallery is located at 2611 B Street in Julian and is open on the weekends. Photos by Amber Ward

By Bobbi Zane

Now is a good time to explore Julian’s truly unique shops. Most offer one-of-a-kind items that you’re unlikely to find in any of the down-the-hill shopping centers. Many of the shops are having sales this month, and most offer discounts to locals who ask for them.

So take a stroll through Julian to see what you can find. The following shops are located just off Main Street, where you’ll usually find convenient parking.

• Birding enthusiasts from all over the area flock to Rick Campbell’s The Bird Watcher, where they find a large selection of birdhouses, wild bird feed, books, bird-themed apparel, decorator items and jewelry. 2775 B St., (760) 765-1817.

• Housed in the historic Clarence King residence, Joan Dawkins’ Blue Heron holds gift items for gardening enthusiasts, garden art, tools and décor items for the home. 2116 Third St., (760) 765-0480, open weekends.

A handmade necklace created by Kaja Laustsen.

• At the Hinchliff Studio and Gallery, you can watch Timothy Hinchliff as he meticulously places strands of yarn into an original yarn painting. The art form, developed in Mexico, is called huichol. Hinchliff creates each painting specifically for his client and writes a poem to accompany the finished picture. 2611 B St., (760) 756-1477, open weekends.

• Kaja Laustsen specializes in beautifully handcrafted and brilliantly colored handpainted knitting yarns and woven jewelry with ethnic or environmental themes.

2608 B St., (760) 765-2399.

The Bird Watcher carries hundreds of unique bird items for birding enthusiasts.