Local businesses have you covered if the holiday rush leaves you with little time to craft, cook, or finish high quality, handmade gifts. At TLC, we are excited to share our Handmade Holiday Shopping List for this week, as well as share the many amazing local gift purchasing opportunities available at the CU Winter Farmers Market.
TLC’s Handmade Holiday shopping list for this week:
Fresh & Local Decor
Bright berries, lush greens, and natural texture draw us towards Illinois Willows and Delight Flower Farm’s holiday displays like moths to a beautiful glow. There is something about the natural materials that adds an authenticity to holiday decorations that reminds us of the best holiday movies and grand decorations of holidays past. Whether you are an aspiring florist yourself or you appreciate a professional’s work, there are plenty of options!
Elevated Meat & Cheese Boxes
Skip the pre-made grocery boxes and find award winning, locally made summer sausage, beef sticks, and amazing cheeses for the food lovers on your holiday shopping list. Allison Centennial Farm’s amazing line up of summer sausage and beef sticks pair wonderfully with Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery’s seasonal chevre spreads or washed rind cheeses. Add flourishes to your boxes with a tasting jar of Second Nature hot honey, a package of mushroom jerky from Flyaway Family Farm, a bottle of seasoning from Alexander’s Primetime Seasonings n Rubs or a package of sea salt crackers from Central IL Bakehouse.
Fiber Arts
If you are like us, you may have tried your hand in the past with a pair of knitting needles, crochet hook or sewing machine and discovered just how much time and skill goes into those scarves, bags, and hats that Pinterest has us all aspiring to create. Luckily, makers like Fabrikate, Northwest Midwest, and Broad Knits have us covered for all the fiber beauties that we know we won’t have time (or skill!) to make ourselves. (Bonus: you’ll avoid adding to your “craft stash” of yarn & fabric that seems to rarely turn into finished products 😅 )
Need some more inspiration for handmade holiday gifts? Check this out for a collection of easy edible gifts that you can make using ingredients from your local farmers market.
