Despite the “buy local” mantra this holiday season, some shoppers may not know where to find homegrown gifts. Here’s a “12 Days of Christmas” guide to gifts made in Bremerton and Central Kitsap and sold by local businesses:
Day 1: Start with some home decor. Artist Lisa Stirrett, whose glass art studio and gift shop at 3656 Munson St. in Silverdale, offers glass crosses in several sizes to add a sparkling touch to one’s home or Christmas tree. Cross ornaments are $7 and larger crosses range up to $155. For those who want to drop a hint to loved ones about what they want from the studio, Stirrett offers wish lists for people to fill out and will call the gift-giver with more information.
Day 2: Among the several locally-made items at Fraiche Cup, located at 105 Washington Ave. in downtown Bremerton, are $4 bars of scented soap. They’re made by Silverdale resident Donna Schambron, who makes handcrafted soaps for her business, The Soap Crate. Find Schambron’s creations at Fraiche Cup or visit www.thesoapcrate.com for more information.
Day 3: In the midst of the holiday hustle, it’s easy to forget to relax. Give a gift to yourself and visit Edda’s Massage Therapy, located inside Judy’s Junk and Java at 3656 Munson St. in Silverdale. Edda Luce offers deep tissue massage, myopathic muscular therapy and even hypnotherapy. For those who want to give something better than more “stuff” to a parent or grandparent, Luce also specializes in geriatric massage and will even pick up patients at their homes for their appointments. Luce offers transportation and a massage for older patients for $50 and sells gift certificates.
Day 4: Give a gift that brings new life to otherwise trashed items and adds stylish flair. Lady Eleanor, a Bremerton-based business, sells wrist cuffs made from old belts in a variety of colors for $10. Find these and other Lady Eleanor accessories, including scarves and headbands, at Ish Vintage Clothing & Costumes, located at 249 Fourth Street in downtown Bremerton.
Day 5: Bubble and Squeak Studios, based in Seabeck, makes soy “Cup Candles,” designed to be refillable each time the candle melts away. Sold for $6 and $7 in scents such as black tea and coffee crunch at Judy’s Junk and Java, the candles can be brought back to the shop when they’re burned down and be refilled for $4 in a week’s time. People can also bring their own cup to the store to be filled in Seabeck and delivered back to Silverdale. People can also get a cup of coffee — with beans roasted a few miles away in Olympic View — for $1.50 a cup.
Day 6: By this time, holiday shoppers may have worn their wallets down. Tami Sioux, located at 519 Fourth Street in downtown Bremerton, offers recycled replacements in the form of purses and wallets made from old neckties, made by Bremertonian Sandy Walgren. Dated menswear now has a new purpose. Wallets, like those pictured, cost $18. Purses range from $25 to $38.
Day 7: For those with holiday cards piling up on the kitchen counter, they can stick them to the fridge with locally-made artistic glass magnets by Lisa Stirrett. Most in her studio have a nautical theme. Small magnets go for $3, larger ones are $17 and $24.
Day 8: That holiday dinner table may need a special touch. Tami Sioux, who specializes in handcrafted jewelry and home decor items made from repurposed silverware, sells silver vases for $20 that can hold flowers from the craft store or hold water for real flowers.
Day 9: Prepare for apocalyptic disasters by honing your survival strategy in 2012: The Board Game. Co-created by Paul Opheim, of Olympic View, the game challenges players to survive disasters and unexpected occurrences such as an alien invasion. Scenarios include those predicted by astrologers, psychics and ancient civilizations for 2012. The board’s artwork was done by Bremerton artist Merle Jones. The board game sells for $29.95 and is found at Judy’s Junk and Java or www.2012theboardgame.com.
Day 10: Add some stylish accents to a hairstyle for holiday parties. Bremerton-based Katie B.P. has hand-made hair pins available at Ish Vintage Clothing and Costumes, as well as other accessories such as rings and baby leggings. Hair pins range from $8 to 10.
Day 11: Holiday entertaining requires some artistic presentation. Find different sizes of glass food platters, ranging from a small cheese platter for $48 to a long serving tray for the whole holiday spread for $195, at the Lisa Sirrett Glass Art Studio. Stirrett offers gift certificates for gifts and classes for those who want to try making their own pieces.
Day 12: You need some good food to go on those new platters. FreshLocal, located at 540 Fourth Street in downtown Bremerton, lets customers fill a whole holiday gift bag of local and organic food for the price of the food plus $1 for the festive bag. Local fare includes Hummingbird Hill Soda, made by Silverdale residents Mike and Dee Armstrong, Port Orchard-based Carter’s Chocolates, bags of coffee brewed on Burwell Street in Bremerton by Prodigal Coffee Company and roasted nuts and peanut butter from CB’s Nuts in Kingston. FreshLocal also sells T-shirts for $15.
