One-of-a-kind gift-giving

Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching and, as annoying as it may be, yes, people are already hanging Christmas decorations. I seem to remember a time when St. Nick was expected to stay in his designated box in the garage until after the annual turkey feast. But I digress.

In America, the day after Thanksgiving has come to be known as Black Friday. It’s a day I usually try to stay home, as I feel no need to stand in long lines to (possibly) walk out with a free pair of mittens or an iPad case for my nonexistent iPad. And I will never, ever shop on Thanksgiving. Again, I digress. What I have enjoyed in recent years, however, is the growing popularity of Small Business Saturday—even if it was created by big American Express—because it encourages spending money in locally owned shops rather than blowing it all in a big-box store.

Numerous studies have shown that spending money locally is good for the community because more of that money gets spent, in turn, locally. When you shop at a big-box or online, that money leaves Chico, usually for good. With that in mind, I wanted to highlight some of my favorite local stores that feature a good amount of locally created items that make great, one-of-a-kind gifts for loved ones (or even yourself).

Made in Chico: This is a no-brainer. Everything in this store, from handbags and stuffed animals to postcards and hot sauce, is made right here in our backyard. If you haven’t been in, you’re missing out. 127 W. Third St., 894-7009.

Iron Mountain Leather: What a treasure trove. If you like leather, you owe it to yourself to check out this shop, owned by leather craftsman Alan H. Meigs. Meigs makes jackets, slippers, purses, wallets and belts. Actually, you name it, he can probably make it. He also does custom orders, but it might just be too late to get your hubby a custom Harley saddlebag by Christmas. 804 Broadway, 342-4788.

AicoraGems: If you love jewelry like I do, then I highly recommend stopping by “The Jewelry Box.” Run by Geralyn Sheridan, a gemologist, metalsmith and jewelry artist, this shop offers jaw-dropping pieces for every individual taste. She takes custom orders, too, but make your appointment fast! Open limited hours—Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (expanding to Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. in December)—or by appointment. 1334 Mangrove Ave., 809-1034.

The best of the rest: Of course, there are lots of other stores that sell locally made stuff. In this space I’ve written previously about Three-Sixty Ecotique and Konjo—those are two great spots to find handcrafted jewelry and clothing. Head over to Chico Natural Foods, S&S Organic Produce and Natural Foods, Maisie Jane’s California Sunshine Products or The Galley for locally made wines and other foodstuffs as well as personal care items. And don’t forget to check out any of our local art galleries for works by local artists that might be perfect for a loved one’s wall or mantle.