A rare morning out, just my mother and I, shopping and having lunch like we used to when I lived at home. Our community center hosts a Christmas craft fair each year,  the Saturday after Thanksgiving, filling both their main space and the nearby Masonic hall with crafters and artisans. I had a goal this year to find gifts for at least a handful of the names on my list while supporting the small businesses in our community. We had a nice time chatting with the people we know, and making some small purchases.

A couple of locals to highlight –

– Brianne at Minnehonk Made offers all natural skin and body care items. I love her lip balm, and she has wonderfully smelling beard and body oils. I’ve gifted the lip balms in the past, and find them to be quite affordable.

– Kathy at Sweet Clover Farm crafts woolen dryer balls with fleeces from her own sheep – the same sheep we met at their open farm day last spring. These are a great alternative to toxic dryer sheets, and would make wonderful gifts. She also has felted soaps in her Etsy shop, Pickens Fiber Fun.

And one not local to me, but whose work I love –

– Jessi Leigh Creations specializes in custom crochet work. I’ve loved my Taproot chicken jar since getting it at the Fair last year, but found that it both burned my hand and lost heat quickly, so I asked Jessi to make me a jar cozy. It turned out perfectly, and I love it – it’s been in almost constant use since arriving in the mail. Shoot her a message with with you’re looking for. She also makes beautiful hand-lettered art prints.

Do you have goals for how you choose gifts this year?