Add some local love to your gift-giving list

It’s Christmas, which means you’re probably up to your ears in holiday shopping madness, and with so many people to buy for, you might be running a bit thin on ideas. 

To help you out, I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite local gift makers right here in the great state of Connecticut.  After all, what better way to show some hometown spirit than to give our local economy a little holiday cheer?

Dan and Lindsey from D&L Woodworking in New Britain create really neat home décor using reclaimed wood to craft beautiful American flag motifs. Starting from $75, these one-of-a-kind pieces would look great on any patriotic living room wall.

Keep the heads of your family and friends warm with a hand loomed alpaca beanie from Peterson Sweater Company. They are warm, comfortable and great for the slopes.

Stock The Bar Candles repurposes old beer bottles and turns them into long lasting organic soy wax candles. You can even pick one up from local favorite, City Steam Brewery. They come in a variety of scents and can be custom made to order.

Hartford Prints is a great place to look if you need a little inspiration. These three printmaking sisters have an assortment of Connecticut goods, from aprons to artwork, available both online and in their store in the capital city. I am eyeing the cherry wood earrings for my daughter in California to make sure she doesn’t forget where home is!

Need a stocking stuffer or two?  Look no further than B. Meyer Studio out of New Haven. Bethany’s handcrafted Connecticut shaped Christmas tree ornaments show a little home state pride and look really cool on the tree. She also makes great small tables and triangular shelving units.

King Bull Creations makes unique cheese boards with a river running through them, literally. Each board is hand carved using pine and then treated with an epoxy resin inlay, and Nick Bull painstakingly makes each and every one in Ridgefield. It’s a perfect gift for jazzing up the finger food table.

Leah Beckett from Herd Supply Co churns out some killer soap from her sheep farm in Glastonbury. I like the charcoal and coffee bar for a good scrub after a dirty day on the job. She splits her time between Boston and Connecticut, but she leaves the flock here at home when she heads north.

This last one’s not exactly local, but hey, it wouldn’t be a contractor’s Christmas gift guide without a cordless drill.  For a lightweight tool to use around the house, I like the Bosch DDB181-02 Compact Tough Drill. It packs enough punch to use on the job but is still light enough to make a novice feel comfortable. Plus, at under $100 on Amazon, it won’t break the bank.

Happy Holidays!