Brooklyn Women's Exchange Inc

The people that work at this store are uptight and not friendly to customers. Take your business somewhere else!

These ladies sell children's items, however some of them seem to hate children. If you hate children and shoo them away like they are South American street dogs, you shouldn't be within 100 yards of child. And you definitely shouldn't work at a store that sells children's items. Children are humans too and should be treated with respect. I will not every buy anything at this store again. I have purchased many gifts there, but now I see the anger behind this facade, and will encourage you to reconsider buying anything there as well.

In this age of mass merchandising, it is refreshing to run across this little anachronism on a Brooklyn side street. Full of handmade treasures and practical, lovely baby gifts, this shop is the place to find a distinctive gift.

Run by an all-volunteer group of women, the shop has a long history: Women's Exchanges started after the Civil War as a way to help women support themselves (there were many impoverished women with children to support whose husbands had been killed in the war; ladies often had no marketable skills except their "handwork", and in this way they could earn money and stay home with their children). Today when so many kinds of traditional handcrafts are disappearing, the Women's Exchanges around the country support these traditions and keep them alive.

Tiny, adorable smocked dresses, precious little knitted caps and booties, onesies, cute hats, embroidered bibs and handmade crib quilts are among the infant gifts, along with handmade mobiles, nightlights, soaps and lotions, picture frames, painted furniture, and brag books. A christening gown as a work of art and future family heirloom? There are dozens here. There is also a wide range of old-fashioned (and new-fashioned) toys of all kinds. A marvelous selection of books for children and adults, many by local authors or of local interest, is an unexpected find. In addition, handmade soaps, unique jewelry and accessories, hand-embroidered linens, beautiful ceramics, and a few food items like homemade lemon curd and marvelous cookies are available for adult shoppers. Local craftspeople have made amazing wooden toys and turned wooden bowls and boxes (parents concerned about made-in-China items take note!), there are hand-made dolls and stuffed toys as well as wonderful decoupaged trays and boxes in the housewares section. In the fall, holiday Thursdays bring local authors, craft demonstrations, and a silhouette artist who does children's portraits by appointment.

How do I know all this? As a Brooklyn Heights resident, I know the shop has always been a destination for anyone looking for something unique, interesting, and well-priced. My mother bought their smocked dresses for me before I was born in hopes that I would be a girl, they were so beautiful she couldn't resist and they are still wrapped in tissue paper in perfect condition after two generations have worn them. When I have a gift to buy for anyone, child or adult, they are my first stop. Last year I started volunteering there, and I now love the shop more than ever, having gotten to know the interesting and dedicated women who make it possible. Hope to see you there!