You’d better shop smart, you’d better find buys,
Better load up your cart with stuff with Maine ties.
ShopGirl’s gifts are coming to town.
She knows if you buy local. She knows if you do not.
She’s even got some Hanukkah stuff.
Yes, this year, she found a lot.
So (sing it, kids!) …
You’d better be good, you’d better think twice.
Supporting the local economy’s nice.
ShopGirl’s gifts are coming to town.
It’s time once again for the annual ShopGirl all-Maine gift guide, and this year, I haven’t just found new goodies — I’ve found new stores. Since one guide isn’t nearly enough room to cover all of my favorite stores, I’ve put together a sidebar with some old and new favorites. So, enjoy. Be nice. And if you’re naughty, watch out. I know where to buy coal, too.
Sea urchin and “purple heart” wood ornament; $15.50, Olmsted’s Orchards & Gift Shop; 909 Dover Road (Route 15), Charleston, 285-3426.
Tom Hamel of Milford is a master with a wood lathe, and his delicate, unusual ornaments are an affordable treat. You could also treat someone on your list to one of his elegant jewelry boxes, vases or pill boxes, and many of his products are made with Maine wood.
Child’s apron, $24, Metropolitan Soul, 25 Hammond St., Bangor, 992-4147.
For her Sweet Fabrics line, Jana Markow of Calais makes adorable children’s goodies out of stylish, waterproof fabrics. If an apron isn’t quite your child’s style, try the coloring book covers or travel “chalkboards.”
Cassy Lain tote, $56, Studio, 24 Main St. Orono (formerly The Pretty Woman).
Super seamstress Cassy Lain of Skowhegan creates these gorgeously patterned totes using Amy Butler fabrics. Visit her site on Etsy to view her full line, which includes makeup cases, tiny totes and key fobs (www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5928614).
Handmade knives, prices vary, Olmsted’s Orchards & Gift Shop; 909 Dover Road (Route 15), Charleston, 285-3426.
Looking for something truly unique? Don Slowwalker’s handmade knives — this one features a “feather” tooled of leather and an antler handle — fit the bill. Slowwalker lives in Charleston, and his Iroquois heritage infuses all of his artwork, whether it’s a knife, an embellished walking stick or a traditional “talking stick.”
“A Passion for Sea Glass,” $30; “Gardens Maine Style Act II,” $35, at bookstores or online at www.downeast.com.
Down East Books are always on my personal list — I give at least one a year. But this year, I couldn’t decide between the gorgeous “A Passion for Sea Glass” by C.S. Lambert and “Gardens Maine Style Act II” by Rebecca Sawyer-Fay with photos by Lynn Karlin. So I got both. Very merry.
Jessi Sader designs, $59 for pictured tunic, Studio, 24 Main St. Orono (formerly The Pretty Woman); Bella Luna, 48 Main St., Bangor, 941-0950; Terra Cotta, 193 Main St., Ellsworth, 667-8822.
Last year, I fell in love with Jessi Sader’s recycled cashmere sweaters. Now, the Orono designer is back with sustainable bamboo shirts, tunics, head bands and cardigans, and they couldn’t be softer. You can view her full line — along with a ton of other locally made merchandise — at her new shop, Studio, which recently opened in the former Pretty Woman space.
ClinQs, $5.50, Metropolitan Soul, 25 Hammond St., Bangor, 992-4147; State Street Wine Cellar, 195 State St., Bangor, 262-9500.
After a glass or two of holiday cheer, it gets a little more difficult to figure out whose glass is whose. That’s why I love ClinQs. These adorable decals, the brainchild of Bangorean Jenn Khavari and her sister, Jeila Gueramian, stick to any glass — even those without stems. They’re the perfect hostess gift.
Ta-Ka-Radi game, $18.95, www.Ta-Ka-Radi.com.
Jeff and Pattie Parsons discovered the West African tower game Ta-Ka-Radi in the 1970s, and they found it so engaging, they decided to create their own version using Maine hardwoods. The Bethel couple’s take on the game is more complex than Jenga, and they’ve packaged it in a variety of African-inspired textiles, such as the pictured stripes, for Kwanzaa.
Dalet Designs earrings, $80, Metropolitan Soul, 25 Hammond St., Bangor, 992-4147; Terra Cotta, 193 Main St., Ellsworth, 667-8822; or online at www.daletdesigns.com.
Portland artisan Davida Newman reconnected with her Jewish heritage and began creating earrings, pendants and pins inspired by the Hebrew alphabet. These are they letter dalet, which means “door.” (Please note that the line is scheduled to arrive at Terra Cotta and Metropolitan Soul shortly, so please call first for availability). Looking for other Judaica for the Hanukkah season? Shop at Congregation Beth El, 183 French St., Bangor, which offers a selection of beautiful menorahs, candles, dreidels and more.
Pen made from wood from the Boston Garden parquet, $35, Judy’s Scrappin’ and Stampin’, 19 Mill St., Orono, 889-8000.
Stan Lucien of Old Town feels good about wood, and his pens (manufactured under the label Maine Heritage Inc., www.maineheritageproducts.com) are just the thing for history buffs, sports lovers or people who just love to write. I love the Boston Garden version, but there are plenty of other options — wood from historic ships, wood from the Penobscot Valley Country Club’s former building, and — soon, but not yet — wood from the Bangor Auditorium parquet.
The Ultimate Spinner game, The Mad Hatter, Too Much Fun at the Maine Discovery Museum, and the Briar Patch, all in Bangor; All About Games, Belfast; Shirley’s Yarns, Crafts and Gifts, Hancock.
Searsmont’s own Robbins Toy creates this fun, educational game out of Maine wood. Little ones can use the Ultimate Spinner, which is really 12 games in one, to learn their ABCs, math, numbers and how to tell time.
American Indian basket, $32.50, Olmsted’s Orchards & Gift Shop; 909 Dover Road (Route 15), Charleston, 285-3426.
Lori Anderson of Monson weaves some of the most affordable handmade baskets I’ve seen, and though I prefer the simpler styles, the more colorful ones are equally beautiful.
Christina Heiniger’s puppets, $19 and up, www.fernhousestudio.com; SevenArts Gallery at the Maine Grind, 192 Main St., Ellsworth; by chance at the European market at Ingrid’s German Shop, 117 Buck St., Bangor, 947-4232.
I’ve loved Christina Heiniger’s whimsical paintings for some time now, and the Lamoine artist’s handmade puppets are the ultimate embodiment of her playful style. They’re sweet, affordable and sure to become an heirloom toy.
Barkwheats, $9.50, visit www.barkwheats.com for a full list of retailers.
You love your dogs so much, you sing them ridiculous Christmas carols. After enduring such torture, don’t they deserve an all-organic treat, baked with love by Renee Johnson and Chris Roberts of Stockton Springs? They’re made with Maine-sourced ingredients and packaged in an entirely compost-ready box. Yes, they’re high-end. And the buckwheat flour makes them very hard, so they take a little getting used to. But once your dogs grow to love Barkwheats, they’ll turn up their snouts at anything else. Except a rib roast.
Best of the rest
If I featured gifts from every Maine spot I love, I could take up an entire week’s worth of papers. So here’s a (very) short list of my other favorite spots for Maine-made goodies:
www.mainecreates.com, Maine Creates, the brainchild of Matt Zito, is a wonderful destination for anyone interested in Maine products. The site serves as a portal to more than 100 artisans, crafters and food producers, and there’s a marketplace for shoppers, too.
The Center for Maine Craft recently opened at the new West Gardiner service plaza off the Turnpike and I-295, and it is worth the trip, even if you aren’t traveling anywhere. It has the feel of a high-end museum store, and the juried selection focuses on the best of the best. Visit www.mainecrafts.org for details.
We’re so lucky to have Maureen Elizabeth Handbags in Bangor, and though it’s probably too late to get a custom-made purse before Christmas, you can pick up a gift certificate or try one of the many other, noncustom lines Maureen Buzzeo selects. Visit www.maureenelizabethhandbags.com for details.
Archipelago on Main Street in Rockland is loaded with unique Maine-made gifts for everyone on your list. I’m a huge fan of the MA Bird felted barrettes and the Crow 7 Sock Lobster. Sales benefit the Island Institute. For more, visit www.thearchipelago.net/.
ShopGirl would love to hear from you! Send questions, comments or suggestions by e-mail to: kandresen@bangordailynews.net, by U.S. mail to Kristen Andresen, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329, or by fax to 941-9476. For exclusive online shopping tips, visit http://shoppingblogbdn.blogspot.com.