Buy, Wrap, Open, Repeat
By Margaret Briller
‘Tis the season to find the right, hard-to-find gift for that special someone: son, daughter, spouse, grandkids, neighbor, best friend, book club members … the list goes on.
Below are Northeast Ohio-specific places to find unique gifts for special people of all ages and interests, and maybe a couple for yourself.
Cleveland Craft Nook
If you admire handmade crafted treasures but never can find the right craft show at the right time, Cleveland Craft Nook is the place to go. This marketplace in North Royalton is open year-round, seven days a week, and showcases handcrafted masterpieces — high-quality art, crafts and handmade items with a big dose of wow factor in a range of prices. During the holidays, nearly 120 vendors are represented in 3,000 square feet of a delightful holiday gift shop. Vendors are chosen based on their hand craftsmanship and the uniqueness of their items. You can find the marketplace at 13803 Ridge Road, North Royalton. 440-628-8500. clevelandcraftnook.com
Customized Holiday Gift Baskets
Flavor of Ohio has earned the reputation of being the North Coast’s first original all-Ohio food and gourmet gift basket store. For over 36 years, it has provided festive gift baskets with all-Ohio foods and merchandise designed to spread joy, warmth and the holiday spirit. Since closing the brick-and-mortar store in 2010, this family-run operation currently works as an e-commerce store to customize baskets in any price range. With a pledge to provide high-quality goods and great customer service, their gift baskets promise a lasting holiday memory of Ohio. 216-264-1016. flavorohio.com
LNDMRKS®
Maybe you have a significant place where you met someone in your life, or have fond memories of a favorite hangout spot, now that you’re older. This unique handcrafted collection of jewelry is inspired by the awesome architectural details of landmarks around Northeast Ohio. Unless noted differently, each piece is carved, sculpted, molded or stamped and crafted in copper, steel, leather or other medium by hand, then distressed and aged with intention. Each piece comes packaged with a photo and the history of the building that inspired the piece. Allow two to three weeks when ordering. lndmrks.com
Don Drumm Studios & Gallery
If the gifts you give must be astounding, then Don Drumm Studios & Gallery is the place to shop. Akron sculptor Don Drumm is world-renowned for pioneering the use of contemporary building materials such as cast aluminum as an artistic medium. Find extraordinary home accessories that are both functional and decorative. The gallery also represents over 500 top contemporary retailers in North America, a cross-continent adventure in color, style, beauty and creativity. 437 Crouse St., Akron. 330-253-6268. dondrummstudios.com
Warther Cutlery
If there’s someone on your gift list who values kitchen cutlery, Warther Cutlery represents the perfect blend of beauty, quality and superior craftsmanship. The Warthers are in their third and fourth generations of knife makers, using the same technique and standards of craftsmanship developed by Mooney Warther in the early 1900s. Kitchen knives are made from high-quality steel and polished to a convex grind, ensuring the blades retain a razor-like edge. The handles are made of layers of birch riveted onto the blades. Cutlery sets, specialty knives, cutting boards and other items would be welcome in any chef’s kitchen. 924 N. Tuscarawas Ave., Dover, Ohio. 330-859-4068. warthercutlery.com
Margaret Briller is a freelance writer in Northeast Ohio who loves the hunt to find unique treasures.
