The truly organized have not only shopped for everyone on their Christmas list, but they’ve also already mailed all the gifts and are busy baking homemade treats.
For the rest of us mere mortals who are still struggling with decisions about what to buy and — “tick, tock, time’s running out” — how to ship it to our friends and loved ones, here are some suggestions.
Scouring the Sonoma Valley, we’ve come up with a sleigh-full of unique gifts, many handmade, most from the Bay Area, and all lightweight so they’re inexpensive to mail and easy to hand-carry. (All stores mentioned are open daily.)
Wheels O’ Wisdom “Cordless Search Engine”
Simple, well-designed and a bit tongue-in-cheek, these wheels let you find the answer to profound questions like “Where to Find True Love, Because it May Not Find You,” and advice on what to do “After the Breakup,” as well as “Loves Me, Loves Me Not,” “Choose Your Religion,” and the all-important “Dial-an-Excuse,” which contains 36 excuse-necessary scenarios and provides 180 corresponding excuses.
Eight inches in diameter, the top wheel has die-cut windows to view answers.
Wheels have inscription space on back and come with 8.25-inch square, colored envelope. Extra postage is necessary.
Price: $6.95
the fig pantry
1190 E. Napa St.
707.933.3000
Gift-wrapped cheese set
A handy gift set that comes festively wrapped. Includes a cheese planer for thin slices, a spreader and a hollow knife that cuts without sticking. All handles made with high quality Australian Jupa wood, and manufactured by Czarina. Small enough to fit in a bubble envelope or small box.
Price: $32
Robin’s Nest
116 E. Napa St.
707.996.4169
Sheekoo handmade handbags
The Purse Party has a selection of Sheekoo bags by Mimi Reid, a multi-talented local designer. Reid uses natural fabrics and bold, eye-catching designs, and the lightweight bags are all made by hand in batches of five or less. Perfect for sunny regions or to brighten up an outfit in wintry climes.
Price: zippered cosmetic bag $29, handbag $84
The Purse Party
13608 Arnold Dr.
Glen Ellen
707.888.4026
Sonoma Lavender Sachets
Send a scent of summer in Sonoma with an elegant sachet. Organically grown French and English lavender from Rock Hill Estate comes in a shimmery organza bag with a sequined hanging grape cluster. Decorative as well as refreshing, the natural lavender fragrance will provide a year-round reminder of Sonoma. Add the matching organza wine bag and create a very special gift.
Price: Organza sachet $15, organza wine bag $14
Rock Hill Estate
All Things Lavender
115 E. Napa St.
707.938.9421
Starlightz
Handmade in an endless variety of incredibly beautiful, one-of-a-kind designs, these paper stars can be hung by themselves or illuminated from within by a special hanging light bulb. Each star is individually printed, punched and glued by hand in India from 100 percent burn-proof material using an environmentally conscious process. This handmade production makes each star unique.
The stars are approximately 2-feet across and come folded and packaged with a mailing envelope, 12-inches by 12 ½-inches. Hand-glued sequined stars are also available.
Price: From $16.50 – $30
Hanging bulb: $10
Fine Line Art Supply
500 W. Napa St., Ste. 538
707.935.3199
Skateboard gear
For the skateboarder in your life (we all have one in the family, don’t we?), pick up a T-shirt made by a local boy. The Roots + Branches design — a black on white graphic — was created by skateboarder and artist Beau Filipello and the popular Monarch line is designed by Trevor Amador. Toss in a Christmas card by Jon Lohne of Revolution Skate Shop and complete the skateboard theme.
Price: T-Shirts $16.95, card $3.50
Sonoma Old School
1001 Broadway
707.938.5500
Remote-Controlled Vehicles
If you’re not a kid, or a kid at heart, you probably don’t know that the Venom Micro Rescue remote-controlled model helicopter is one of the hottest selling items this season. Popular with boys and girls, the models are made to exact scale and available in three different trim colors and three frequencies (so three people can each fly at once). For children eight-years-old and above.
For the car enthusiast, there are the Losi Micro-T, the Micro-Desert and the Micro-Baja. Modeled after the real vehicles, the Micros are manufactured to 1/36 scale and the kit includes controller, batteries and charger. Hop-up parts, to “soup up” your car, are available.
Price:
Venom helicopter $34.99
Losi Micro series $69 – $89
Sonoma R/C Hobbies
20093 Broadway
707.938.9765
Felted wool cap and scarf
Always a welcome gift, a warm cap and scarf are even more appreciated when you pick a hand-knit and lovingly created design. Made from felted wool, which has been boiled to create a dense cloth with a soft texture, these hats will always retain their shape and size. Knit for Adele’s Designs by Mary Smith, the hat and scarf are one-of-a-kind.
Price: Hat $46; scarf $44
Gifted
450-H First St. E., (The Mercato)
707.939.8876
Now THIS is a knife
Every man on your shopping list will thank you for this gift, whether they cook or not. Men tend to like the sharpest, highest quality and best handling knives and Wustof knives are one of the top brands in the world. This three-piece set includes a paring knife (4 inches), a carving or slicing knife (8 inches) and a cook’s knife (8 inches).
Price: $249.99
Sign of the Bear
435 First St. W.
707.996.3722
USPS
Holiday mailing & shipping cutoff dates
Domestic Mail
First Class Mail Dec. 20
Priority Mail Dec. 20
Express Mail Dec. 22
Parcel Post Dec. 15
USPS recommends using postal packaging.
Flat rate options are available.
Automated Postal Center at main post office on Broadway is open 24/7 for packages up to 70 lbs.
UPS
Domestic shipping cutoff dates:
Regular ground delivery to East coast Dec. 14
Three-day guaranteed Dec. 19
Two-day guaranteed Dec. 20
Overnight noon guaranteed Dec. 22
UPS recommends using new boxes and bubble wrap or Styrofoam peanuts.
(Both recyclable at UPS Stores)
19229 Hwy. 12
(Maxwell Shopping Center)
707.935.3438
www.theupsstore.com
Closed Sun.
