It’s the week before Christmas and if you haven’t done it yet, it’s time to get your ass in gear and buy the people in your life some presents. No reason to panic, though, the Advocate has combed the Valley looking for the best last minute gifts for your family, friends, and the people to whom you’re obliged to hand a wrapped box each winter. To make it into the Last Minute Gift Guide, the present had to be in stock and plentiful, easy to access, and under $50.
FAMILY
Paint it for Grandma
Target, Holyoke Mall and craft stores everywhere
Forget to have your kids make something for grandma and grandpa? No problem. Many craft stores have a bunch of ceramic and wooden decorations waiting for a coat of acrylic paint and a layer of Mod Podge to seal it in. Boom. Gifted.
Acrylic paint, 49 cents and up; Ceramic bottle, $4.99 each; Mod Podge, $3.99
I (Heart) Mug
Louis & Clark Country Gifts, Westfield
Completely out of ideas? Give the gift of a love mug. No one can complain about a love mug.
I (Heart) My Wife, Husband, Grandma, Aunt, Sister, Fill in the Blank Mug. $10.99
Coloring Book and Pens
A to Z Science and Learning, Northampton
Coloring books are all the rage right now, and they’re not just for kids anymore. Coloring books for adults have been among Amazon’s best-selling items since the summer, praised for their ability to provide fidgeters of all ages a way to de-stress and self-express.
Books, $14.95; pens $19.99
Animal Face Slipper
Faces, Northampton
Slippers! It’s winter in New England and feet everywhere will be cold without them. And because socks are boring sometimes.
$12.99
Fingerless Gloves
Loot, Turners Falls
Yes, your old mittens and gloves still work fine. But in the age of smartphones, good luck swiping a screen with hands shaped like Winnie the Pooh’s. BFK Designs in Cummington, MA handcrafts these fingerless gloves from recycled wool sweaters, and they’re roasty-toasty warm.
$30
Metal Earth 3D Steel Models
Magical Child, Greenfield
These little laser-cut models are easy to assemble — no cutting or gluing necessary — and they’re one of Magical Child’s best-sellers. The variety is impressive: models include vehicles (tractors, tanks, and the 1908 Ford Model T), architecture (the Golden Gate Bridge, the Empire State Building), and a few oddball options (a tarantula, the Mars rover, and an electric guitar). Great for young adults and hobby enthusiasts everywhere.
$10
Ceramic Cups
Molly Cantor Pottery, Shelburne Falls
Molly Cantor’s pottery is wonderfully whimsical, and many of her pieces feature appealing sketch-like depictions of plants, domestic scenes, and woodland critters. These small cups are extra cute. We especially like the ones with the friendly bunny and the grumpy raccoon — don’t drink tea without them.
$32
Homemade Maple Cream
Hager’s Farm Market, Shelburne Falls
Sweet lord, this stuff is good. Maple cream is the nectar of the gods of New England, our region’s answer to Nutella. Spread it on anything, or turn your back on polite society and spoon it directly into your indulgent face. Maple cream doesn’t go bad, and it freezes well — on the off-chance that it lasts more than a week after you bring it home.
$7 for a half-pound jar; $13 for a one-pound jar
FRIENDS
Festive Drinks by Green River Ambrosia
McCusker’s Market, Shelburne Falls
Green River Ambrosia, produced in Greenfield, offers yummy variations on mead (made from fermented honey). The company’s Winter Warmer is spiced like a mulled wine, with cinnamon and orange. Liquid Sunshine is just as good, made from wildflower honey. And Valley Cyzer incorporates apples from Clarkdale Fruit Farm in Deerfield.
Price varies; typically $16-19
3D Hologram Art
Holyoke Mall Kiosk
This is the perfect gift for … someone. The poster-sized, framed pieces depict scenes of dogs playing poker, kitties under rainbows, a basket of puppies, and an Eagle staring majestically at an American flag. Your hipster brother might ironically enjoy the basket of puppies or maybe you want to give one to a frenemy.
$30, or 2 for $50
Butterfly Half Moon Betta
Exotic Pet and Fish City, Southampton
Have a person on your list who you know wants a critter? Get ’em a betta. They’re surprisingly good company — they’ll sit there with you no matter what mood you’re in. And the way they move is so majestic it’s bound to brighten your day. This setup even has a Spongebob in it.
$15
Glass Bowl (Stork)
Exscape, Amherst
Is this a shelf ornament or the cutest smoking piece you’ve ever seen? Exactly.
$28.99
Blank Journal
The Bookmill, Montague
Whether you’re shopping for a dear friend or a distant acquaintance, consider giving them an opportunity to record their thoughts in writing. The Montague Bookmill sells several types of journals, but we’re partial to this one, made by Peter Pauper Press, featuring Van Gogh’s beautiful 1890 depiction of the blossoming branch of an almond tree. 192 pages, with ribbon bookmark.
$15
Red Nek Glassware
Louis & Clark Country Gifts, Westfield
It’s kind of a gag gift, but these backcountry chalices are, for the most part, made out of mason jars, which have their own everyday beauty to them. I’ve seen “redneck” wine glasses before, but this is the first time I’ve seen one with a stately red cup. Perfect for the king of the keg party.
$10.99 and up
Sephora Samples
Sephora, Holyoke Mall
The aisle to pay for your beauty items at Sephora is lined with luxe samples of makeup, hair products, nail polishes, hair supplies, lotions, and soaps. Buy a couple, reuse the black Sephora bag as a gift bag, and hand it to your stylish friend.
$5 and up
Bad Cat 2016 Calendar
A.J. Hastings, Amherst
Blech, so it’s Monday again. At least you get to rip a page off the calendar!
$14.99
Touchscreen Gloves
Tractor Supply Co., Southampton
Gloves — everybody needs them and everybody loses them. It’s always good to have extra. Have someone on your list who works outside? They’ll always be able to text you back when they’re wearing these.
$3.99
OBLIGATORY GIFTS
Balsam & Cedar Candle
Yankee Candle, Deerfield
This candle, released just for 2015, is rich and piney, with nothing cloying or fake-smelling about it. Does every home need one? Probably not, since it’s so easy to get a real tree and wreath this time of year. But think of the destitute Christmas tree-less among us — hard-working college students, for example, or residents of small apartments — and consider whether one of them might appreciate an olfactory burst of the holidays.
Price varies, but the collector jar version is $27.99.
Foxy Fun Fox Ceramic Travel Coffee Cup
A.J. Hastings, Amherst
Most of us drink some type of hot beverage year-round, but especially when the colder temperatures hit we reach for these heat-containing babies. And many of us like to leave our mugs at the office or in the car and could always use another to grab from the cabinet as we’re flying out of the house in the morning.
$14.95
Pricey beer
Table & Vine in West Springfield has one of the largest craft beer selections in the area, but just about every liquor store in the Valley carries craft beer.
The Valley is in the midst of a beer renaissance, which makes it a great time to be alive. Celebrate a lust for life and the luxurious spirit of the season and buy your craft-brew loving person in your life a bottle of top-of-the-line local beer. Around the holidays many brewers roll out indulgent seasonal beers that come in fancy bottle with cork tops and a $12 (or more) per 24-ounce price tag. Element Brewing in Millers Falls is a good choice, but there are so many more options. For some ideas, check out the Beerhunter columns.
Price varies
Gift Card
Restaurants Across the Valley
Yeah yeah, we know, gift cards are kind of a cop-out. But there are exceptions to this rule, and one of them is Blue Heron (pictured here). The former Sunderland Town Hall dining space is lovely, the menu is excellent, and the food is locally sourced. It’s one of the Valley’s best special-occasion spots, and your giftee is sure to thank you later. Other paint the town red places include The Federal in Agawam, Lattitude in West Springfield, 350 Grill in Springfield, The Whatley Inn, and the Delaney House in Holyoke.
Price varies
Archipelago Botanicals Morning Mint Body Wash, and Lotion
Cedar Chest, Northampton
Gift-giving is all about buying things for your family and friends that they wouldn’t normally buy for themselves. What better way to do that than with some luxurious shower items? This “morning mint” set isn’t subtly minty — it provides a morning kick of exhilaration.
Body wash, $19.95 and lotion, $27.95
Wild Birdseed Feeders
World Eye Bookshop, Greenfield
We can’t all be Briar Rose in Sleeping Beauty, skipping through the woods trailing cute animal friends, but we can make up for it by feeding the birds something they’ll love: sunflower seeds, safflower, millet, and corn, packed into colorful shapes by The Bird Barn in Southbridge, MA. Designed to attract a range of birds including chickadees, nuthatches, cardinals, wrens, and finches.
Prices range from $4.50 to $18.
Whitman’s Mega Chocolate Sampler
Sears, Holyoke
Whitman’s is going big for the season with a 78-piece box of chocolates. With all the varieties — and the chocolate — this gift is a win with just about anyone. I’ve seen the box selling for $25 in some stores, but Sears has the best deal.
$19.99
Screwdriver Set
Sears, Holyoke
Screws come loose. Pennies are terrible screwdrivers. This set of six is a practical gift for just about anyone under 35.
$19.99
Crock Pot
Target, Holyoke
Dinner goes in at 8 a.m. and comes out hot and delish at 5 p.m. Sounds like a win to us.
$19.99
Handmade Potholders
Historic Deerfield Gift Shop, Deerfield
Gift shops at tourist destinations don’t always make for adventurous holiday shopping, but Historic Deerfield’s shop carries an admirable array of domestic goods and crafts. We like these potholders, which are handmade by local artist Anne Nyman. They’re charming but inexpensive, so consider grabbing several.
$8.50
