Step inside Annie Eastman’s gift shop and spa and you’re sure to feel at home. Customers are greeted first by an assortment of teas, tea cups, tea pots and other accessories.
“I’ve never been a coffee drinker,” said Eastman, who first opened 7 Sisters Spa in 2011. For her tea is about comfort. “I look forward to getting up and having a cup of tea.”
The shop is located in the shopping center at 549 Tenney St., and is filled with all of the things Eastman loves. The decorations around the shop are that of trees, just one of the things she’s passionate about. A section on the gift shop side is of all things bees.
“Trees, bees and teas,” said Eastman of the themes of her business.
Eastman was born and raised in Kewanee. She’s married to Charles “Chip” Eastman and the couple raised 10 children, seven of those children are daughters, which is how she came up with the name for her business.
Thirteen years ago, when she started 7 Sisters Spa, she was a licensed esthetician and offered facial treatments, but her business switched focus to reflexology, which is what she offers now, after she was diagnosed with leukemia. Eastman underwent a bone marrow transplant in 2015 and for several years she was in and out of the hospital due to compromised immunity.
When she returned to her business, Eastman said she decided to make the change to reflexology, something she had studied extensively. She said her illness caused her to refocus on what was important to her.
“I am a stronger person than I was back then. I finally came out on the other side and I thought I could focus on tea and reflexology.”
Her reflexology sessions center on the pressure points of the feet, she said. The therapeutic practice involves applying pressure to specific points on the feet. The points correspond to different organs and systems in the body with the idea that stimulating the points can promote health and well-being and improve energy. Other noted benefits include stress reduction, pain relief, improved circulation and better sleep.
She provides reflexology massages by appointment on Tuesdays. On Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, her gift shop is open for business.
The gift shop side of her business offers an eclectic assortment of items perfect for gift-giving. A section is devoted to her passion for bees, but the shop offers T-shirts, hats, jewelry, children’s toys, books, games, and decor for the home.
She also makes custom gift baskets, which are popular for occasions such as Mother’s Day and Christmas. The baskets can be made to order and include tea, bath products, books and food.
“Whatever anyone wants,” said Eastman.
The baskets start at $20.
Tea is featured prominently in her shop and she carries caffeinated, decaffeinated and herbal varieties. Eastman said tea has been around since ancient times. Once thought of as medicine, tea was first mentioned in written records as far back as 879 A.D.
“For countries, tea was a main source of revenue,” she said. “There are millions of different kinds of tea,” and new varieties are constantly being created.
She also carries a line of tea products from Charleston, South Carolina.
“I feature that tea and products made with the tea such as lotions, lip balm, shower gel and soaps,” she said.
This fall, she has plans to resume craft classes, and is currently looking for people who are interested in teaching a class. She hopes to start off offering fall-themed crafts and in the past crafters have made wreaths, mugs and tried their hand at quilling, an art that involves rolling, shaping and gluing strips of paper to make designs. The classes are held on the first Friday of every month. Anyone interested in teaching a class is invited to contact her.
For Eastman, owning a gift shop and spa is simply a perfect fit for her.
“I feel everyday is a gift,” she said.
Eastman is available for reflexology appointments on Tuesdays and can be reached at 309-883-1815. The gift shop is open Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
7 Sisters Spa can be found on Facebook here.