Stitch n Scrap offers wonderful gift ideas for the sewer or crafter; you can purchase space in the shop to work on projects or take a class with a friend. Photo by Teri Nehrenz

“Maybe Christmas, perhaps, doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more,” said the Grinch.

Well, the most anti-Christmas figure may have just hated those big chain stores, and who wouldn’t? They’re all crowded this time of year and oh boy, the noise, noise, noise, noise; it’s enough to turn anyone into a Grinch but that doesn’t mean the gift giving or shopping has to stop.

You can avoid turning green with nausea at the thought of fighting the masses by simply by putting a little though and imagination into your purchases this year.

Mesquite has an abundance of gift giving ideas everywhere; you don’t have to fight noisy crowds to get them, you won’t have to worry that someone else got your giftee the exact, assembly line made gift and by shopping locally, you’re gifting your friends, neighbors and local business owners support, which will mean so much more.

Take a drive down Mesquite Boulevard; there are many so many options for you in one shopping center alone; with just a little bit of consideration about who the giftee is and a little outside of the box thinking, you can find a gift from a local shop for any “who.”

Do you have a friend who is into quilting/sewing/crafting with textiles? Check out Stitch-n-Scrap located in the shopping center at 355 W. Mesquite Blvd.  Owner Sharon Blakemore will be happy to offer you a variety of card making, quilting and even machine embroidered items or classes that your friend may be thrilled to receive.

Perhaps your friend loves doing craft work but is limited on space; you can buy them space in Blakemore’s store so they can spread their wings and materials out at a very reasonable rate. You can even sign up for some of Blakemore’s classes and learn a new craft plus spend some quality time together. You never have to worry about rushing things, if the husbands are along for morale support; Blakemore offers an overstuffed and very comfy chair for them while they play the waiting game.

Maybe you don’t have any friends but you drew a co-worker’s name out of the hat for Secret Santa. You don’t really know them all that well and there’s a limit on spending what do you do? Chicago Greek offers gift certificates. You can gift them a healthy and delicious lunch at their leisure or take them to lunch and make a new friend; who doesn’t love good food?

Mesquite Fine Arts Center (MFAC). There are thousands of one-of-a-kind gifts, handmade by local artists that you can guarantee they don’t already have. The Christmas Boutique offers everything from paintings to pot holders. Photo by Teri Nehrenz

Maybe you have a new grandchild and the parents have to move out of their house because the toys/clothes/furniture and miscellaneous baby items are taking over. They might move in with you, you probably want to avoid that.

Practically next door to Chicago Greek is Mountain America Credit Union.  There’s a great gift idea waiting for you there; no, we’re not suggesting you buy them a bigger home but how about something that won’t contribute to the take-over?  You can open a savings account for the baby’s future education, car or whatever. It’s a gift that truly keeps on giving and can be added to at any time; who wouldn’t love to have options when the time comes?

If you’re one of those who has a friend who has everything, get in the car or take a nice stroll down the boulevard to the Mesquite Fine Arts Center. There are thousands of one-of-a-kind gifts, handmade by local artists that you can guarantee they don’t already have. The Christmas Boutique offers everything from paintings to pot holders.

Don’t forget your pets this year; take a drive down Pioneer Boulevard to the new True Value Animal Farm. You’ll find anything that your canine, feline, equine fish or fowl can imagine; if they can imagine. They’ve got grooming tools, feed, bedding and even pet clothing in case you like to dress up Rover for the Christmas photos. You can also find one of a kind gifts and personalized items at shops such as Final Details and City Shoppes.

When you’re shopping for gifts this year, like the Grinch, consider how much “more” Christmas can mean by supporting your local businesses; it’s like giving a gift to your entire community.