2010 Holiday Gift Guide

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'Tis the season — and giving is the reason. As the holiday rush approaches, find something for everyone on your list without making endless trips to department stores. Unique items are available all around Lansing, homemade and homegrown to suit your needs. From beads to beats, food and art, Lansing has all sorts of items for those shoppers looking for a more personalized gift this holiday season. Why settle for the same gift everyone else is getting, when you can get pure quality Lansing?

Absolute Gallery

307 E. Grand River Ave., Lansing (517) 482-8845 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tues.-Wed.; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thurs.-Fri.; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.-Sun.

Absolute Gallery features Michiganthemed posters ($30) and the work of Michigan artist Sue Wagner, who creates jewelry out of ordinary materials. For instance, Wagner created a bracelet and necklace set out of wing nuts ($30 for the bracelet, $75 for the necklace). The gallery also features Christmas ornaments made by Grand Rapids artist Lori Kanneraad.

Graig Mitchel Smith Glass Gallery

Located in the Macys Wing of Meridian Mall 1982 W. Grand River Ave., Okemos (517) 420-3721 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; noon-6 p.m. Sunday

The Glass Gallery, which recently opened in Meridian Mall, has a wide selection for any holiday shopper in the market for art or decorations. One attraction is, of course, Craig Mitchell Smith’s National Christmas Tree Ornament, featuring the figure of a cardinal ($75). The gallery also sells hand-cut glass snowflakes of varying shapes and sizes ($30 for the small, $50 for the large), and icicles ($9.50 each, or 10 for $75) that would make great ornaments on any tree.

Other potential holiday items include glass leaves ($15-$90) and prints of the gallery’s larger works.

By The Riverside Gallery

1209 Turner St., Lansing (517) 484-6534 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tues.; 1 p.m.-6 p.m. Wed.; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Thurs.- Fri.; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.

By the Riverside Gallery features an array of pottery and jewelry, almost all made by local artists, including jewelry from Simarhra, which incorporates 24-karat gold and semi-precious stones. The jewelry sells for anywhere from $10 to $150, based on the materials and craftsmanship. All of the pottery in the gallery is created by Michigan artists.

These pieces range in price from $20 to $100, based on size. By the Riverside Gallery also features hand-blown glass and paintings by Michigan artists.

Bead Boutique

2015 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing (517) 267-0541 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tues.-Sat.

The Bead Boutique features a wide array of beads, but that’s not all. Owner Barbara Murray crafts many pieces of jewelry herself, including a vintage-style bracelet that features German glass beads, beads from Italy, Swarovski crystals and pearls ($60).

Curious Book Shop

307 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing (517) 332-0112 www.curiousbooks.com 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; noon-5 p.m. Sun.

In addition to an astonishing array of vintage books, magazines and collectibles (including movie posters, old advertisements and Big Little Books from the 1930s), Curious also features a variety of paperback and hardback novels from Michigan authors ($2.95 to $30).

Flat, Black and Circular

541 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing (517) 351-0838 www.flatblackandcircular.com 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Thur. and Sat.; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Fri.

FBC offers CDs ($5 to $13) and vinyl records ($10 to $15) by local musicians; a few 7-inch singles are also available for $5-$7.

Gallery 1212

1212 Turner St., Lansing (517) 484-3545 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tues.-Sat.; noon-5 p.m. Sun.

The just-opened Gallery 1212 exhibits work by many local artists. The space currently features work by Lisa Poulson, a glasswork artist from Ann Arbor. Her pieces are similar to mosaics in style, but use many different colors of glass to create intricate designs.

These pieces are priced at $200 to $300. Poulson also makes glass lamps ($200) with a similar color and design scheme. Gallery 1212 also offers workshops in everything from watercolor to photography.

Cravings Popcorn

1220 Turner St., Lansing (517) 485-3404 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon-Fri; 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sat; 12 p.m.-5 p.m. Sun

Giving gifts to a foodie this holiday season? Unique flavors of fresh popcorn are Cravings’ specialty. Cravings Popcorn in Old Town Lansing also has seasonings and popping oils. For the holiday season, they feature a box with 12 bags of popcorn in a variety of flavors ($50). More traditional tins are also available with different holiday themed exteriors ($32 for up to three flavors). Other gift ideas include packaged items to help you make the best batch of popcorn. One set includes a microwaveable bowl, popcorn kernels, peanut oil, and some seasoning ($24.99).

Grove Gallery Co-op

325 Grove St. Suite A, East Lansing (517) 333-7180 12 p.m.-6 p.m. Tues–Fri; noon-4 p.m. Sat.-Sun. grovegallerycoop.com

The Grove Gallery Co-op in East Lansing features pieces made by local artists that are members of the co-op. The gallery sells handmade jewelry: earrings, bracelets, necklaces, etc. Prices start at about $18 for earrings and are determined by the size of the pieces and effort used to make them. Also available are journals and sketchbooks with handmade surface designed exteriors by Candace Farmer. In the holiday spirit, gallery artists are also selling Christmas ornaments in a variety of styles ranging from felt fish and peace signs to decorated glass ornaments. These range in price from $7 to $15. Gift certificates for avid art lovers are also available through the co-op.

Grace Gallery

115 E. Grand River Ave., Lansing (517) 927-8628 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon-Sat; noon-5 p.m. Sun.

Need a gift for the fashion guru in your life? Grace of Old Town features a variety of clothing and jewelry and handbags.

Just in time for the shopping season, handbag designer and Michigan State University grad, Jenna Kator brings Grace the Old Town handbag. Kator’s line of handbags has a unique twist: Each handbag is named after a Michigan city. Kator has named one of the bags in her winter collection after Old Town Lansing, which will be available in Grace, along with Kator’s other bags. Each bag comes with a postcard-sized write-up detailing the design of the bag, along with information on the city that inspired it.

Lambs’ Gate Antiques

1219 Turner St., Lansing (517) 999-2617 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tues.-Sat.

Lambs’ Gate Antiques makes a concerted effort to acquire interesting antiques that have been passed down through generations of Michigan families. In their store, they feature old books from Sexton High School and East Lansing High School, as well as furniture, such as a chair that was made by the Grand Ledge Chair Co. If you want a practical throwback to the past, they also carry Natural Old White House Laundry Soap ($80), made in Portland. They also carry a line of handcrafted bath soap ($5) from the Soap Shoppe, based in Laingsburg. Lamb’s Gate Antiques also has another store at 208 South Bridge St. in Grand Ledge that is a little larger and features more items than the Old Town location.

Katalyst

1214 Turner St., Lansing (517) 708-8916 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; noon-5 p.m. Sun.

It’s the first holiday season for this gallery, which opened in September. Scented candles to carved soaps, scarves and handbags to jewelry — they’re all here. The soaps, with inlaid carvings and designs, cost $7.95. The store also has Christmas-themed scarves by Jennifer Litteral ($19.99 to $34.99) and unusual cloth handbags by Ellie Conneol for $32. You can also find jewelry and recycled furniture, like Shannon McKeon’s chair from made from newspaper ($195). Owner Sarah Christiansen sells her own photographs ($95 and up) and paintings ($125 and up) and watercolors ($120 and up).

Lansing Art Glass

2320 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing (517) 484-8875 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat.; noon-5 p.m. Sun (through Dec.)

Lansing Art Glass features a variety of handmade glass pieces ranging from nightlights to lighthouses to window hangings, as well as pieces in glass and copper. Holidaythemed glass pieces, including Christmas ornaments, will be available later in the season. Pieces range in price depending on size and design of pieces.

Mad Eagle

301 M.A.C. Ave., East Lansing (517) 333-3998 www.madeagle.com 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon.-Thurs.; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun.

Mad Eagle stocks a variety of jewelry, mittens, coats, etc., with the jewelry being the main attraction. The Cleverclover Redux line of sterling silver earrings ranges from $12 to $45. The store holds another line of vintage sterling silver earrings, which falls between $20 and $78. If you are looking for something on the pricier end, there is a line of semi-precious stones, including amethyst and ruby. For special occasions, there is also a custom bridal jewelry collection. Looking for something precious and reasonably priced? Try Karma, a line of sterling silver with pieces from $18 to $24 or gold-dipped jewelry ($22 to $35). Also available: colorful metal and glass-beaded jewelry ($14 to $28).

Mackerel Sky Gallery

211 M.A.C. Ave., East Lansing (517) 351-2211 www.mackerelsky.com 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon.-Wed.; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thur.-Fri.; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat.; noon-5 p.m. Sun.

Mackerel Sky Gallery displays vibrant crafts by artists from all over Michigan. If snuggling up in a colorful, cozy quilt is what you’re planning on doing this Christmas, check out the creations of Peggy Szasz and Mckenna Ryan ($575-$1,800). Deb Karppinen’s hats range from $130-$180. Clothing sold at the gallery also includes $60 scarves by Battle Creek designer Diana Morrison; hats, mittens, fingerless gloves and vests from a designer line called Baabaazuzu; and silk-woven scarves ($90) by Kalamazoo artist Nancy Crampton.

Money is tight? Not to worry: Mackerel offers $35 wooden jewelry boxes and cutting boards ($32) designed by Traverse City artist Matt Joppich. Plainwell artist Heidi Fahrenacher’s microwave-, dishwasher- and oven-safe pottery is priced at $30 and up.

Other items include House and Garden Jewelry by Sue Long ($60 and up), Barb Hranilovick’s fairy houses ($35 and up) and the Uncle Goose blocks, which are the only embossed woodblocks in America that come in a host of alphabets, from your regular ABCs to Braille, Russian, Hebrew, etc. ($45-$60, depending on language and packaging).

October Moon

119 E. Grand River Ave., Lansing (517) 485-4100 www.octobermoon.net 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; noon-5 p.m. Sunday

October Moon Art Gallery and Gift Boutique offers a variety of gift-able items that are Michigan-made, including products from American Spoon, a Northern Michigan company that produces a variety of food products featuring Michigan fruits. These products range from preserves and marmalades ($7.95) to salsas and grilling sauces ($8.95), all with a fruity twist.

American Spoon also offers many varieties of fruit butter ($7.95), in flavors such as apricot, red raspberry and mango.

Polka Dots Bead-a-ful Boutique

1207 Turner Street, Lansing (517) 267-1479 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tues.-Fri.; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat; noon-4 p.m. Sun.

Polka Dots Bead-a-ful Boutique features jewelry, as well as an array of beads and other materials to create your own jewelry. Beads and other materials come in an array of colors and designs. Jewelry can range from $9 to $50 or more, depending on the design, the beads and the size of the piece.

The Record Lounge

503 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing (517) 337-1221 www.therecordlounge.net Noon-6 p.m. Tues.-Thur.; noon-7 p.m. Fri.; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sat.; noon-5 p.m. Sun.

The Record Lounge shares the same basement with Scavenger Hunt, although it’s a separate business. Owner Heather Frarey offers as interesting collection of CDs and vinyl records by local artists and musicians, including Verve Pipe and Frontier Ruckus, at various prices. The Record Lounge also has books of poetry, DVDs by local filmmakers and the work of graphic artist Christian Frarey, who designs his own versions of movie posters ($15 each).

Saper Galleries and Custom Framing

433 Albert Ave., East Lansing (517) 351-0815 www.sapergalleries.com 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; 10 a.m.- 9 p.m. Thurs.; 1 p.m.- 4 p.m. Sun. (through Dec.)

This art gallery has a variety of oil pastels, from realist to impressionist and abstracts. Impressionist Michael Callihan from Rockford specializes in painting landscapes, while Kathleen Chaney Fritz transforms photographs into landscape art. Although Fritz and Heiser’s original works are in the $400-$950 range, smaller prints for Fritz’s works are available for $39. If you’re looking for something else in the lower price range there are also books like “Tears of Mother Bear” and “Gitchi Gumee,” both illustrated by Fritz and priced between $17 and $19. Other pieces include Paul Varga’s unusual bronze sculptures with wooden casts ($3000-$4500), Randall Higdon’s abstracts ($400-$950), Peggy Lynn Smith’s still life pastels ($600- $1200) and the works of Michigan artist Janet Baughman ($900).

Tallulah’s Folly

1220 Turner St., Suite B, Lansing (517) 485-4166 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun.

Tallulah’s Folly houses a collection of eclectic items to suit any fancy. The stock changes almost weekly, with some locally made items available for the holiday season. From Grand Rapids, Tallulah’s Folly has mittens that were created from old sweaters. The mittens come in a variety of different designs and colors ($40).

Another type of mittens, sold at Tallulah’s from a Lansing artist, are called Smittens and feature an incredibly soft interior ($60). Besides knitwear, Tallulah’s Folly also features many locally made sauces and treats. Sweet Sass, in Livonia, offers a sauce comparable to barbecue and can be used in a variety of ways. Mrs. Dog’s, out of Grand Rapids, makes nut mixes, hot pepper sauces, mustard and even marinades ($8 to $10).

Schuler Books

Eastwood: 2820 Towne Centre Blvd., Lansing (517) 316-7495 9:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Mon.-Thur.; 9:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sun. Okemos: 1982 Grand River Ave., Okemos (517) 349-8840 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun. www.schulerbooks.com

What’s on the shopping list today? OK, a copy of Jean-Paul Sartre’s “Being and Nothingness” for my existential friend. And an audiobook of “The Kissing Hand” for my niece. Dad wanted that biography of Bette Davis, and it would be great to find the out-of-print soundtrack to that Katie Holmes’ movie “Disturbing Behavior” for my cousin, the music collector. Hard to believe, but Schuler Books’ Eastwood location had all of those items within easy reach. Used books, new books, used CDs and LPs, kids’ stuff: They’ve got it all. If you get hungry midway through your holiday shopping, stop off at Chapbook Caf for a slice of quiche or a personal-size pizza.

Scavenger Hunt

501 1/2 E Grand River Ave., East Lansing (517) 337-1221 www.scavengerhunt vintage.com Noon-6 p.m. Tues.-Thur.; noon-7 p.m. Fri.; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sat.; noon-5 p.m. Sun.

Located in a small basement, Scavenger Hunt sells glass jewelry earrings and pendants by local artist Michael Crosby, priced from $4 to $40. He also uses an eco-friendly approach to some of his jewelry, by using items like old cassette tapes. Artist Rebecca- Lynn Douglas’ Scrabble rings and artistic buttons are also available ($12 each).

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