You swore you wouldn’t let it happen this year, but there you are…. standing in the middle of a crowded shopping mall…. heart racing, palms sweaty, credit limit – almost maxed out. The bright holiday lights are almost blinding and you begin to feel nauseous as you hear “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” for the umpteenth time! You want to find that perfect gift for Aunt Sally, your nephew Josh, and lastly, your boss, but your stamina is waning and with just a few more shopping days left ‘till Christmas, you finally give in to the temptation of buying the totally unimaginative GIFT CARD! “It’s the thought that counts,” you reassure yourself.

 

So this year, make your list, check it twice and with a little advance shopping and creativity, find that truly unique gift that exemplifies the “thoughtful” sentiment you intend.    By shopping in locally-owned stores, you can find unique, sometimes one-of-a-kind items, and local stores can often offer the personal service of the owner themselves. While you may spend a little more travel time to reach these stores, the overall shopping experience will be much more enjoyable, allowing you to truly feel the holiday spirit. And isn’t that what this time of year is all about?   Read on to learn more about what local stores are offering this holiday season. 

GENEVIEVE BOND

 

At GENEVIEVE BOND, you are in for a one-of-a-kind shopping experience. Boasting an all-encompassing “gifts galore” feeling, blending nostalgia with the present, energy abounds for an experience that is awe-inspiring and heart-warming.

 

Located on East Brainerd Road, GENEVIEVE BOND offers gifts that range from simple and traditional to elegant and extraordinarily unique. A place where simple window shopping seems impossible and purchasing seems inevitable, GENEVIEVE BOND features a broad array of products that include Emily Ray jewelry, collectibles, scented candles, dishes and cookware, infant and children clothing, toys, books, garden decor and even gourmet foods. The energetic, dedicated and knowledgeable staff makes you feel welcome and works diligently to help every shopper find the perfect gift from the heart and for a person’s individuality.

 

Owner Kelly Jolley opened her shop in 2000 and named it in honor of her maternal grandmother who passed away when she was young. Her grandmother was a loving, caring and giving person. For Kelly, her gift shop provides the means for her to bless others the way her grandmother blessed her. Through the gifts that she knows her clients will love and the “Experience” enjoyed while in her store, Kelly gives what she received and from the heart. She says, “After all, isn’t that what life’s all about.”

 

 

If you find yourself in the East Brainerd area near the mall, and who doesn’t this time of year, be sure to seek out Mia Cucina. Nestled in the midst of the big chain retailers in Hamilton Corner, Mia Cucina (aka – the place for cooks) is not just for folks serious about cooking. It’s a store for anyone serious about eating! True, the store offers the top of the line cutlery, glassware, and cookware, but it also offers a wide array of unique bar and entertaining items as well as a great selection of gourmet specialty foods.   “One of our most popular items during the holidays is our made-to-order gift baskets,” says owner Heidi Swartz. “We take some of our yummy food items and combine them with a useful container, like a piece of cookware or a serving piece.   After the food is gone, a nice reminder of the giver remains.” The store always offers some ready-made baskets for shoppers crunched for time, but they love doing custom work. Heidi says her company has all the convenience of those 1-800 basket companies, but each custom Mia Cucina basket is unique to its recipient. “Once we know a little something about the person receiving the gift, we can create a one-of-a-kind gift basket.” Heidi adds.   So whether you need to buy for a business associate, a wine connoisseur, a veteran gourmet cook, or a young child with a budding interest in cooking, Mia Cucina can create a basket that is sure to delight. As an added convenience, baskets can be ordered from their web site at www.theplaceforcooks.com. 

 

 

 

Off the beaten path, six miles north of the Ooltewah exit, is an unusual store aptly named The Quirky Crow. Run by affable artist J. Derek Taylor, The Quirky Crow is part art gallery and part antique store. If you are looking for a one-of-a-kind gift, this may be the place. A collection of reclaimed decorative items, mixed in with unusual architectural elements, and some original art work by the owner, makes up this store’s ever-changing inventory.   A little bit retro, a little bit country, and a touch of funk, make this store an adventure for those who can see the hidden potential in old and unusual things. Visit their website at www.quirkycrow.com for more information. 

 

 

Since the wonderful revitalization of the North Shore, Frasier Avenue has become a favorite holiday shopping destination. The city sidewalks, combined with the many eateries, make it a great place to shop, window shop, and dine. 

If you’re looking for a gift that is out of the ordinary, be sure to check out blue skies. Popular with the young and young at heart, blue skies offers an eclectic assortment of handcrafted jewelry, decorative items, stationery, handmade soaps, candles and more.   Appropriately named blue skies, the store puts shoppers in a dream-like state of mind.   From the blue sky painted on the tin ceiling to the understated music that plays throughout the store, blue skies titillates the senses. “One cannot take themselves too seriously when shopping here,” says owner Tina Harrison. Audible laughs and giggles can be heard from the back of the store as folks peruse the great selection of cards, refrigerator magnets, and games. “Many of our repeat customers come in to just ‘experience’ what’s new,” adds Tina. “We strive to keep the store fresh and exciting so we are constantly changing.”    Tina happily regrets that the store has no website. “You have to experience ‘blue skies’ to appreciate it!” 

 

If you’re looking for personalized gifts, look no further than Charlotte’s Web, located just off Hixson Pike near Greenlife Grocery. In addition to their great inventory of monogramable pillows, towels, and tote bags, Charlotte’s Web offers some out-of-the-ordinary items, such as monogrammed floor mats for a car or door, monogrammed tennis bags, and a clever assortment of children’s books, toys, musical instruments, blankets, fancy pants and more. For the entertainer on your list, Charlotte’s Web also offers a beautiful line of etched glass dinnerware. Owner Heather Corley says the dinner, salad, and dessert plates with monograms etched in glass are great because they are affordable and they match any table setting. Got a traveler on your list? Then check out their colorful line of soft-side luggage and garment bags. Their selection includes animal prints, black and white damask, and polka dots; all of which can be accented with a colorful monogram. “Don’t shy away from personalized items because you think your item won’t be ready in time for the holidays,” says Heather. “We typically turn around a special order in a week to ten days!   In addition to monogramming any line they carry, Charlotte’s Web also accepts customer’s items for stitched monograms. “With the addition of a personal monogram, an ordinary gift becomes extraordinary!” she adds.   Check out their website at

www.shopcharlottesweb.com for more ideas. 

 

 

Charlotte’s Web, along with other merchants in Riverview, will be hosting their annual Riverview Holiday Open House on Friday and Saturday, November 2^nd and 3^rd, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.

 

Far from the maddening crowd atop Signal Mountain, you will find several unique shops, making the trip up the mountain worth the effort. The Brow Gallery, a mountain institution since 1982, is a quaint shop that has a reputation for the finer things in life. From exquisite platters, bowls, and trays to whimsical polka-dotted tableware, this shop packs a lot of punch into their small space. “Whether it’s a wedding gift, holiday gift, or just a ‘welcome to the neighborhood’ gift, we carry a full line of gift items in varied price ranges,” says owner Connie Blunt. Connie balances her inventory of traditional favorites with some fun, trendy items. Coton Colors Pottery, the Willow Tree angels and nativity scene, and Arthur Court aluminum platters are among the lines they carry. “One of our most popular gifts is the Christopher Radko European glass ornaments,” says Connie. “And when you buy one of the Awareness Ornaments for Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Pediatric Cancer, the company will give a percentage of the sale to the charity that supports research in that field. It’s really like two gifts rolled into one! ” And if a trip to Signal is not convenient, Connie suggests stopping in The Brow Gallery’s second store located at the Southside Galleries. 

 

 

Just across the street from The Brow Gallery is another Signal Mountain favorite for gifts. Accents, owned by Karie Holmes, carries an eclectic mix of traditional as well as funky items for the home and the individual. “I have a tremendous number of shoppers who are looking for that perfect gift under $25, so in the past few years, I’ve really expanded my line of personal gifts, including jewelry, scarves, small handbags, shoes, candles and more,” says Karie. The store is also very popular for custom-printed invitations and holiday cards. In addition to  an excellent selection, turn-around time on an invitation order takes one day. Karie also says you can order as many or as few invitations as you like. “Ooops…forgot two people? - Don’t worry!” says Karie. “We can print up the extra ones –no problem.” Accents has upgraded their system to provide high quality, glossy holiday photo cards that are unique and affordable. Karie says her customers keep coming back, not just for the great selection of merchandise, but for the personal service she and her staff provide.

 

 

 

If there’s an animal or nature lover on your list, there’s no greater place than All Creatures Great and Small. This warm and fuzzy little shop has shelves brimming with items, both elegant and whimsical, ranging from home and garden décor to infant and children’s clothing and toys.    “So many people think of their pets as an extension of their own family, so something with a pet’s image on it is always a welcome gift,” says owner Yvette Blackwell. “Then I have customers who are collectors. Whether it’s a t-shirt, a coffee mug, a note pad, or a garden stake, if it has a certain animal on it, they want it for their collection!” she adds.   Some of the store’s more popular items are items with roosters and birds on them. For the kids, the Webbkinz are by far the most popular item. These small stuffed animals come with a secret code that enables the owner to go online and enter the computer world of virtual fun and games. And anyone looking for stocking stuffers, teacher gifts, and hostess gifts is sure to find a plethora of fun soaps, bath oils, candles, and notepads all at reasonable prices. 

 

All three stores participate in “Sunday on Signal,” a special Sunday shopping day when stores offer free samples, special prices, and a wonderful selection of gift items. This year’s “Sunday on Signal” is set for November 11th, 1:00 – 6:00 pm.

 

 

Twiggs is to Bloomingdales as a real twig is to a tree branch – quite similar, just a smaller version! Twiggs Gift Shop, on Lookout Mountain, offers the quality and assortment of its big city counterpart, but with small town convenience and personal service. Whether you need a pair of cotton sateen pajamas, a baby or wedding gift, a centerpiece for your dining room table or just a lamp to fill in a dark corner of a room, Twiggs has it. And during the holidays, the store is exploding with color, texture, fragrance, and pizzazz! Shelves are filled with a great selection of candlesticks, frames, lamps, as well as more personal items, like a faux reptile-wrapped liquor flask, sumptuous lotions, and Vera Bradley totes and bags. “In keeping with our name, our store always has an extensive line of gifts in natural materials, such as wood, stone, and glass,” says owner Vanessa Corley. Regular customers appreciate the ever-changing inventory and the fact that the store limits quantities on many items.