The sign out front, off Center Street in Auburn, says Bear Necessities Primitives. Online, it’s referred to as The Bear Necessities and Old Farmhouse Primitives, a sort of two-in-one combo.

Call it what you will.

It’s Americana chic meets 1800s rustic, minus the risk of cholera.

In a great way.

Located in a converted home across the street from Pat’s Pizza, the shop offers two floors of theme rooms packed with candles, cool crows, furniture, fabric, antiqued wool bunnies with glasses, reproduced Colonial-era toys and lots of Christmas decor of the ye olde variety. 

Many of the pieces would work alone as tabletop decorations or as sweet little gifts. If you have a mom and you’re looking for something for Mother’s Day, both Bag Lady and Shopping Siren would put this on the list of unique gift contenders.

What mom doesn’t want a faucet-shaped soap dish heavy enough to serve as personal defense? 

* Old Village paint, $71 gallon/$25 quart

For your own rustic recreations, in colors such as Steeple White and New England Red. Not to be confused with Red Sox red, which is more moody and can’t find a good pitcher.

* Candles! All sorts, all prices

One that jumped out at us: a ginormous, pale yellow cornbread-scented candle ($23.95) by The Candlesmiths. We’re not sure how big the market is for cornbread candles, but, bam! It’s been served.

* Willow Tree figurines, various

Shopping Siren loved the “Something Special” figure ($24.95), which features a little boy kneeling on an etched rock, holding out a potted plant. The figurine’s tag line: “You make the world a better place.” If that isn’t mom-worthy, we don’t know what is.

* Indian Summer Hexagon boiled wool table runner, $29.95

Little hand-stitched circles in muted greens, blues and mustards. So eye-catching it would be worth dusting and shaking out crumbs.

* Handmade bonnets, $34-$36.95

Pretend you’re a “Little House on the Prairie” extra. Then tell Pa you’re going wading in the crick. 

* Mason jar nightlight, $12.99

With a little screw-on cap and a white, artsy silicone-tipped bulb. For anyone looking to upgrade their current Disney character or bare-bulb model.

* Rustic faucet with attached soap dish, $21.95

Cast in black iron with a fanciful design, then aged for a forgotten-in-the-attic-for-100-years vibe. The soap dish serves as the base while the faucet is attached in an L-shape above it. The piece is way heavy. Like, maim a man heavy. But it’s a faucet so that would be silly.

* Mona B bags, $17.95-$59.95

Upcycled (yes, that’s a word) canvas bags with leather accents, distressed graphics and antique-looking hardware. Tons to choose from, including wristlets and totes. Perfect for the mom who has stuff to carry and wants to do it in style. So, you know, every mom.

* Rudolf tree topper, $23.95

Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer’s head on a Christmas tree! It’s less creepy than it sounds. His antlers are brown, his red nose lights up and … trust us, it’s adorable. Buy now to avoid the rush. There are only 237 days left until Christmas.

Best find: Stuffed primitive Aurora sheep, $29.95

If you have a baby shower in your future, this super-cute, super-soft sheep with a bell around its neck and firm legs to stand on is an aww winner. Maybe even awwww. 

Think twice:  Mystery liquid, $21.95

Palm-sized brown bottles with cork bottle-stopper tops and wispy burlap wrapping. The burlap has a drawing of a crow on it. Or a star. Or the label “Amish Friendship.” We have no idea what the liquid is or what it does. Essential oils? Liquid candles? We’re sure it’s great — most everything in the shop was — but a little description would help its greatness. Like, “Don’t drink this!” Or, better, “Drink this!” Hey, moonshine is pretty rustic.

Bag Lady and Shopping Siren’s true identities are protected by a pair of stylish, sweater-wearing Doberman pinschers (who love wading in the crick but hate bath time) and the Customer Service counter at the Sun Journal. You can reach them at baglady@sunjournal.com and shoppingsiren@sunjournal.com.