As Christmas approaches, the malls get packed and picked over. Whether it’s weather, illness, time shortage or agoraphobia that keeps you from hitting the stores, here are some alternatives to help you finish that Christmas gift list in fine style. (And don’t forget a little something for yourself, while you’re at it!) Let your fingers do the shopping online to save time and energy. Keep the list handy for other gift-giving occasions, as well.
Gifts for the Palate (http://saucegods.com/Sauce_Gods/Welcome.html)
Give the gift of interesting or exotic foods to delight the recipient’s taste buds. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.
Sauce Gods Teriyaki Sauce
Sauce Gods offers two all-natural teriyaki sauces, one mild and one spicy. These sauces offer a great dipping flavor or marinade for cooking. Order by the bottle or case, or contact the company for information on decorative gift baskets containing one of each sauce as well as serving accessories, such as a pair of dipping bowls and chopsticks.
Skinny’s Sauces (http://www.skinnyssauces.com/Skinnys_Sauces/Welcome.html)
Southern style BBQ meets Southern California, according to the website for Skinny’s Sauces. No high-fructose corn syrup and no preservatives interfere with the delightful pomegranate-based flavor.
Winterhill (http://winterhillfarms.com/)
Winterhill Farms produces certified extra virgin olive oils, in both natural and flavored varieties. Their shop, as well as the online store, offers the oils, along with balsamic vinegars and other specialty foods individually and in gift baskets. Don’t hesitate to contact them if you’d like something other than the described baskets; the staff is more than happy to discuss a custom package for you.
David Girard Wine Tasting Gift Pack (http://wine.dgvwines.com/).
Many vineyards offer online ordering of their vintages and the award-winning David Girard Vineyard is no exception. In addition to full-sized bottles, this boutique vineyard also offers a sampler pack with 50 ml bottles of a variety of their finest. You’ll find a number of delicious wines available.
Gifts of Jewelry
Jewelry always pleases and here are two unusual jewelry creators who might offer the perfect solution!
Charming Silhouettes (charmingsilhouettes.etsy.com)
Leslie Jones takes the photos sent by her clients and turns them into custom charms, suitable for hanging on a bracelet or necklace or using in a wall hanging. She etches the design into hypoallergenic stainless steel. The finished product, polished and gleaming, offers a more personal gift than a generic boy or girl charm – truly, Charming Silhouettes. Jones also uses her method to create earrings.
Terra Rustica (http://www.terrarusticadesign.com/)
You may see a stone. Carol Dekle sees a beautiful piece of jewelry. Dekle cuts a design into the stone and applies appropriate coloration. She then uses wire to create a bale that becomes a complementary part of the piece, rather than just something to hang it. Her designs range from daring to whimsical. Terra Rustica offers pendants and earrings that bring nature into jewelry.