Few of us may still hang our stockings in front of the fire to dry, but that doesn’t stop us from making our modern sock-shaped gift receptacles available for Santa’s deliveries. Whether the stuffed stocking is a fun prelude to the main event in the shade of the Christmas tree or a tradition among friends, there’s something delightful about this little treasure trove, and itty-bitty presents can pack a powerful punch. If it’s crunch time and you’re drawing a blank on stocking stuff, check out these local sources of petite presents and an array of special somethings to suit everyone on your “Nice” list.
1. 10,000 Villages
For the socially conscious friend or relative who likes to know where products come from and whether their manufacture is helping or hurting the planet, 10,000 Villages is the place to go.
Showcasing handmade ornaments, jewelry and other gifts made by artisans around the world, their collection is composed of a lot of earthy, natural and recycled materials that reflect their places of origin and a dedication to sustainable practices.
In fact, 80 percent of the store’s fair trade inventory is made by women, and every item in the store carries a history with it, whether it’s the tiny nativity in a bottle delicately crafted by a former nail artist in Peru, or the Cambodian earrings made of repurposed bombshells. The knowledgeable staff can tell you just which communities are finding a stable income through their art.
Here you’ll find ornaments made of shimmery capiz, a clamshell used in the Philippines for windows before the advent of glass, fragrant cinnamon ornaments and boxes from Vietnam, fuzzy baby vicuna figures made of real wool from Peru, and the popular Kenyan yoga giraffe or zebra ornament made from building remnants and posed in a butterfly asana, along with many more vibrant and creative decorations benefiting artisans with both great skills and struggles.
There are also useful gifts here, like the soaps from Israel and India (check out the seasonal candy cane scent!), bookmarks, journals and even something for the philanthropic foodie in your life, like fair trade chocolate. If the stocking is big enough, you might jam in a delicious soup mix from the Women’s Bean Project, a domestic enterprise providing work to disadvantaged women.
Lehigh Valley Mall | 610.231.8776 | tenthousandvillages.com
Photo by Olaf Starorypinski
2. BOUTIQUE2GO
When it comes to the lady in your life who likes to look like a million bucks with every hair in place and killer accessories, you’ll find her something she didn’t know she needed at BOUTIQUE2GO in Allentown. This upscale jewelry and accessories boutique carries the glitzy, the chunky, the trendy and the chic–from long, dangling necklaces to big funky rings and everything in between.
If you want to be cute, throw in a minutely bundled Hanky Panky thong, or really help her out with a life-saving mini emergency kit containing must-haves like deodorant, safety pins, dental floss and a tiny mending kit. She’ll be able to pamper herself with Olivini natural skin care and a Branché eyemask, or keep her affairs in order with cute wallets and decorative pens.
Some snug, cold-weather cozies that will fit in a stocking include boot toppers and dyed, fox fur head wraps–there are still months of winter left for optimum opulent bundling! If you want to zero in on the really hot items, check out the display of HEET bracelets, leather, crystal and metal statement cuffs, or the Lulu DK metallic tattoos. These show-stopping gold and silver temporary tattoos look amazing shimmering on the skin. They’re sure to impress a fashion-forward teen.
522 N. 19th St., Allentown | 610.437.1663 | boutiquetogo.com
Photo by Olaf Starorypinski
3. Allentown Art Museum
We all know a student or appreciator of art, be it modern, Impressionist or pop, and walking into the Allentown Art Museum’s store you’ll see a plethora of ways to surround yourself with it. The vibrant, classic artwork of the greats bedecks everything from eye glass cloths to switchplates to little sketchbooks and notebooks of perfect stocking size, bringing a little beauty into every polish of the spectacles or scribbling of a shopping list.
Renoir and Gauguin aside, cute gifts abound, like quotable magnets that will keep encouraging giftees long after the holiday season with lines like Lincoln’s, “Whatever you are, be a good one.” Super tough Tyvek wallets printed with classic tattoo motifs, vintage Wonder Woman or Japanese Noh masks could be a fun choice for a young person’s stocking, while cute art-printed hammers or Frank Lloyd Wright playing cards are useful at any age.
The jewelry selection here reflects the best of the art world as well, with designs inspired by famous works like Rembrandt house tiles and Tiffany lamps. For something a little more offbeat but none-the-less lovely, check out the whimsical Chickenscratch collection, handcrafted jewelry in the shapes of fun bugs and animals. Something out of the ordinary for the quirky creative!
31 N. 5th St., Allentown | 610.432.4333 | allentownartmuseum.org
4. Artfully Elegant
This Bethlehem Main Street jewelry store and art gallery excels at curating a variety of beautiful artisan-made pieces from around the country and as nearby as Ottsville and Coopersburg. Along with some really neat gift items, there are watches, rings, necklaces and earrings here to tickle the fancy of anyone with an appreciation for unique, delicate, and interesting jewelry and charms.
The shop is a joy to enter, with fine art lining the walls, but the supply of goodies small enough for a stocking is more than ample. One adorable option for the gardener in your life is Plants in a Can, a little tin, winsomely labeled, with everything you need to start a tomato, basil, daisy or even a Christmas tree! Along with “crack & grow” Egglings with a similar concept, these are great starters for kids to get into cultivation. A new mother might appreciate a set of Chewbeads, colorful baby-safe jewelry, and there’s a selection of glasses made from beer bottles for the hops-happy.
You definitely know someone who would be excited by the chalkboard coasters, and even more likely, a horoscope lover who’d feel really special getting a necklace daintily adorned with their star sign’s constellation. Drop in and explore!
451 Main St., Bethlehem | 610.866.6600 | artfullyelegant.com
Photo by Alison Conklin
5. RE:find
You may have someone on your gift-giving list who makes their house a stylish home and loves to entertain. A good way to show appreciation for their killer dinner parties is with stocking stuffers from Easton’s RE:find on Northampton Street. The space is beautiful, high-ceilinged and appointed with gorgeous furniture and décor, but there are plenty of products stocked with conscience and refined taste that will fit neatly into a sock. In fact, you may opt to pick up a stocking here while you’re at it—RE:find’s French Laundry stockings are simply gorgeous.
Whether the recipient is a foodie, host or both, they’ll be charmed to find useful items like a sleek little cutting board, perfect for assembling a knockout cheese tray, or Vinylux coasters made from vintage 45s. A drink-mixing whiz will appreciate cute doorknob bottle stoppers, handheld juicers, and wooden honey dippers, likely to be put to good use throughout your holiday festivities! The slim leather-bound wine log will encourage someone developing their tastes, and adorable Anchor Up cocktail hooks will make the fan of stiffer drinks eager to adorn their work.
Kitchen accessories aside, RE:find also offers stocking-style gifts for just about anyone. Collapsible chopsticks are a great way to know you’ll always have a utensil on hand, vintage wallpaper pocket mirrors and recycled inner tube jewelry make cute style finds, and there’s much more to explore in this lovely shop.
437 Northampton St., Easton | 610.829.1313 | refindeaston.com
6. Peeps & Company
At this point you may be thinking this is all great, but kids aren’t going to appreciate imported soap and wine stoppers. Sweets and goodies are just what they’re looking for, and they’re a great way to pad out a grown-up’s stocking, too! The Just Born Candy Company is local to Bethlehem and has a wonderland of your favorite treats right in The Outlets at Sands.
An abundance of Mike and Ikes, jelly beans, and of course those marshmallow chicks can be found at Peeps & Company in every color imaginable, and flavors you might not expect! Festive flavors for the marshmallows include hot cocoa and candy cane, and they could help pad a fragile item!
Peeps on a stick, chocolate-coated Peeps, and Despicable Me marshmallow Minions are just the beginning. Stop in and stock up!
77 Sands Blvd., Bethlehem | 610.625.5353 | peepsandcompany.com
