Do you like the idea of shopping local, even though the thought of bundling up and hunting for gifts in actual stores sends a shiver down your spine? Lucky of you, some of the best mom-and-pop shops and the most talented makers in upstate New York offer their wares through well-designed online stores. If you have a little wiggle room for shipping deadlines, this is a far more pleasant option than loading up an Amazon cart. Plus, you can find unique gifts and support local businesses without having to change out of your pajamas.
For Your Lady Love: Sara Golden Jewelry
We found the perfect gift for any woman who has ever loved a great, sparkly piece of Kate Spade or J.Crew costume jewelry but really deserves something better. Sara Golden did design work for those lines before she grew tired of mass-produced jewelry with colored plastics glued in place to imitate real stones and settings. Now, in her small studio in the Catskill Mountains, she uses the the techniques she learned during her apprenticeship in Florence, Italy to create hand-made, heirloom-quality pieces. We can’t decide which we like better—the Crystal Willoughby Necklace in clear and cloudy quartz ($328, pictured above) or the Periwinkle Ridgeline Necklace, made with Dalmatian jasper, blue chalcedony, and black spinel ($428, pictured below). But if those are out-of-budget, we also love her Birthstone Star Necklaces ($125) and her simple-yet-striking Halo Ring ($68). Available at some upcoming pop-up markets and at SaraGolden.com
For Your Host: Hamilton & Adams
This time of year, gift shops are brimming with pretty little hostess gifts, but what do you do if the people who invite you to their upstate house are too manly for all that jazz? Hamilton & Adams, the home of Upstate & Chill™ (oh yes, it’s trademarked!), has a brick and mortar menswear shop in Kingston, and a great online shop for the more masculine hosts in your life. On the low end, we love their $16 Upstate & Chill Mug (which we spotted at the impeccably designed Herwood Inn). If you want to ramp up the gift, why not add some luxe lounge-wear? They’ve got plenty of logo apparel here, but we’re partial to this cozy, cool-blue M.Singer double-layer cotton hoodie ($110). Hamilton & Adams, 2 John Street, Kingston
For Your Sister: Facets of Earth
If your sister is your drinking buddy at every family event, she’d probably appreciate a cute little Kelly & Jones Eau de Mezcal fragrance ($30). These coconut oil-based (and alcohol-free) scents were developed with mezcal experts in Oaxaca and a portion of their sales go to Programa Vaca, a Mexico-based organization helping rebuild the country’s earthquake-affected rural areas. Kingston’s Facets of Earth carries an array of well-curated gifts like these fragances, but they specialize in custom jewelry. They have their own line and also offer handcrafted fine jewelry from independent jewelry designers. If you want to spend a little more on your sister/sister-in-law/sister-from-another-mister, we love their delicate Chakra Bangle, set with a rainbow of balancing stones ($180). Facets of Earth, 22 Broadway Avenue, Kingston
For Your Bosses and Colleagues (even the vegans): Lagusta’s Luscious
The chocolate-lover in your office (or any vegan in your life) is sure to go nuts for Lagusta’s Luscious. The New Paltz chocolatier (with an East Village outpost) has been working with local farmers and making dairy-free, ethical chocolate since 2003. They also use 100% post-consumer recycled paper boxes and packing materials, but the real reason you want to shop here is because their chocolates are crazy-delicious. You could treat your office to the Large Caramel Assortment ($70, pictured above), or the 33-chocolate Winter Wonderland Box ($75, pictured at top), or you could just send a little love to your office-spouse in the form of a $10 Heart Quartet. Lagusta’s Luscious, 25 North Front Street, New Paltz and Lagusta’s Luscious Confectionery, 440 East 9th St, East Village
