Unwrap some local love

Visit neighbourhood shops to find the perfect holiday gifts for everyone on your list.

Hamilton and Burlington are home to an eclectic collection of gift shops – from charming and whimsical to bold and playful. Featuring locally made products that showcase our homegrown talent, and unique items from across Canada, this festive collection has something for even the hardest person you have to buy for this season.

A Blue Christmas
len4all.com (online only)
Got a potty-mouth on your list? These extra-spicy coasters, available at Len: Democratic Purveyors of Fine Art & Beautiful Things, are the perfect gift. Proudly made in Canada, these attention-grabbing coasters are a collaboration between Effin’ Birds, a beloved bird illustrator from Toronto, and Versatile Coasters based in Almonte, Ont. They’re made using a custom-developed ceramic blend to absorb condensation from your glassware and feature a large cork pad on the bottom to prevent scratches. Get them for $10 each or a mix-and-match set of 4 for $36.

Vintage Style
storeonjames.ca
129 James St. N., Hamilton
Go back in time for the holidays with these retro floral ceramic mugs from STOREonjames, perfect for that nostalgia lover on your list. Brimming with sunshine and whimsy, these playful daisy-patterned mugs are handmade, hand-carved and hand-painted by Hamilton potter and owner of STOREonjames Chris de Takacsy. Fill them with coffee or tea, or use them as a vase for more dainty blooms. Mugs starting at $50.

A Golden Gift
flowermarketwaterdown.com
255 Dundas St. E. #23, Waterdown
Give them a present full of joy and warmth with these polymer clay sunflower earrings available from The Flower Market Waterdown. Each pair is handcrafted by sisters Jenni and Marija, the owners of Forget Me Knot, based in Flamborough and Guelph. The duo use various tools like rollers, 3D-printed cutters and impressions to fashion a collection of cheerful artisanal jewelry. The handmade shop also sells necklaces, bracelets, beaded earrings and studs. Get a pair of sunflower earrings for $22 each.

So Fresh, So Clean
vintagecharmhome.com
162 Locke St. S., Hamilton
The holidays are a time to scrub up and put on your sharpest attire. Help those partygoers get ready for the festive season with this Everyday Cream by Love Fresh available at Vintage Charm. Made in Toronto, this line of luxurious moisturizers is all-natural and cruelty-free and will leave your skin hydrated and feeling super soft. Inspired by the fresh and aromatic notes of the Italian seaside, this grapefruit and lemon scent will leave your recipient feeling like they’re in the Bel Paese during those cold winter months to come. Treat them for $28.

Fill Your Cup
simplygifted.ca
491 Brant St., Burlington
Spread some holiday cheer with these unique clay cups made by Stoney Creek-based potter Melody Stumpf of Stoney Ridge Pottery. These 8-ounce teal wine cups with a robin egg bottom, available from Simply Gifted in Burlington, are handmade on the pottery wheel from high-fired stoneware clay and finished with a beautiful glaze that is food- and dishwasher-safe. Stumpf’s pottery is crafted to bring joy and utility into your daily routine and makes a perfect stocking stuffer. Grab a cup for $20.

Cozy Up and Chill
prettygrit.ca
128 James St. N., Hamilton
Who doesn’t love to curl up with a hot cup of tea over the holidays? How about a blend that can relieve all those holiday stresses? Available at Pretty Grit, this Vanilla Cookie Calm tea offers a sweet blend of rooibos, chamomile, toasted coconut and vanilla to help achieve that festive zen state. This delectable blend is made by Lake & Oak Tea Co., a Hamilton-based, female-owned and operated company. The brand specializes in clean and functional superfood teas that are 100 per cent plant-based, sustainable and eco-friendly. Get one for you and a friend for $19 each.

Chocolate For The Ages 
basketsnbundles.ca
386 Wilson St. E., Ancaster
For those discerning chocolate lovers on your list, gift them a classic assortment of Rogers' Chocolates from Baskets 'N' Bundles. This heritage brand has been making chocolates since 1885 in Victoria, B.C. and is still considered one of the finest chocolate companies in the country. Its signature Victoria Cream is rich and velvety, with a naturally flavoured whip crème centre smothered in chocolate. This chocolatier still uses the original recipe and sustainable certified cocoa in all its chocolates. With 20 flavours to try, treat a friend (or yourself) to an assorted box for a little taste of everything. $37 for a box of 10.

Jolly Jigsaws
luluandlavigne.com
228 Locke St. S., Hamilton
Fun fact: puzzles are a form of self-care. Help friends and family rediscover downtime with a picturesque puzzle made by Villager Puzzles, available at Lulu & Lavigne. Villager Puzzles partners with Canadian female artists to design each puzzle and pays royalties to the artist for every puzzle sold. Each puzzle is carefully crafted with perfect-fit pieces and a matte, low-glare and textured finish. They’re made with premium blue paperboard and packaged in a sleek magnetic closure box with a poster. From breathtaking landscapes to quaint indoor settings, these folk-art-style illustrations are equal parts fun and beautiful. Pick a 500-piece puzzle for $30.99 or give them a challenge with a 1,000-piece for $32.99.