15 last-minute Michigan-made gifts to shop in the Mitten
Shop small with Michigan-made gifts that will still arrive in plenty of time for the holidays! P.S., we’re grabbing candied bourbon pecans!
As Michiganders, we’re all about spreading local cheer during the holiday season. For instance, we’re shopping small at local holiday craft fairs, and you had better believe we’re decking our halls and our homes with Michigan-grown Christmas trees and greenery.
But as the deadlines for Christmas and other holiday events inch closer, it can be tempting to click-and-ship from large retailers to check items off that list. Fortunately, we’re here to help you finish your shopping and stay true to your Michigan roots. We found 15 Michigan-made gifts, from homemade candy from a local blacksmith-turned-‘Sugarsmith‘ to virtual fitness sessions to festive candles and personalized Owala nameplates.
In short, there’s something Michigan-made for everyone on your list!
1. A Merry Michigan candle
Price: $28
Estimated arrival: Dec 15-19
With an arrival date before Christmas, you can’t go wrong with a homemade, hand-poured Michigan candle. The candles from the Unsalted Candle company are all made in Michigan, and the shop features a Holiday Hearth scent, which contains scents of pomegranate, mandarin orange, pine, clove, cinnamon, vanilla, and amber.
The jar is also recycled and can be reused, with a lead-free cotton wick. The candle uses a refreshing coconut apricot wax, and the products ship within a week, perfect for last-minute Michigan-made gifts.
2. A lovely Petoskey gemstone beaded bracelet
Price: $26.99
Estimated arrival: Dec 15-20
Every Michigander has experienced the joy of hunting (and sometimes, finding) Petoskey stones. Those coveted stone treasures are actually fossilized coral from the ancient waters that once covered our great state. (Side note: Am I the only one who finds that mind-boggling?) The coral lived in the warm waters over 350 million years ago, so finding a Petoskey stone is definitely worth celebrating.
The Moonlight and Moss Co. turned Petoskey stone hunting into a business with handmade Petoskey stone jewelry. The shop sells stretch cord bracelets in different sizes, and you can order this unique and beautiful piece of jewelry in time for the holidays. (The 4 x 8 mm stone size is currently sold out, but shop owner Emily still has other sizes of stones available.) And, as an extra holiday bonus, the bracelet will ship free.
3. A set of wooden Michigan coasters
Price: $30
Estimated arrival: Dec 20-27
If there’s one rule in life, it should be this: One can never have too many coasters. And even better? If those coasters happen to be shaped like the Mitten State, Michigan. As the wife of a woodworker myself, I can appreciate the quality wood (choose from a rich walnut, oak, or pine) and craftsmanship of these Michigan-shaped coasters from the Oil Frenzy Shop on Etsy.
The set comes with four coasters, all of which are handmade and finished to last. Because they’re handcrafted, there is a little longer lead time with these than with some of the other items on our list, so if you’re looking to order, we recommend doing it quickly!
4. Ornaments straight from the Great Lakes
Price: $35
Estimated arrival: Dec 16-26
Ornaments are a unique and foolproof gift to give for the holidays for anyone who puts up a Christmas tree, and these handmade options from MI Lake Creations on Etsy really take creativity to the next level with all-natural components straight from Michigan, like driftwood, Petoskey stones, and pebbles straight from Great Lakes beaches.
The shop also makes other items using Michigan’s natural components, like resin art, rock bowls, picture frames, and candles, so be sure to browse all their offerings to find the perfect handmade gift.
5. A Sweet Treats gift box with Michigan goodies
Price: $50
Estimated arrival: Dec 16-25
Ornaments and coasters are great, but my heart will always lie with sweet treats, especially if they’re Michigan-made. The Michigan Pantry, based in Grand Haven, offers a wide variety of Michigan gifts, treats, and gift baskets, making it the perfect place to get all of your holiday shopping done.
We’re big fans of the Michigan Sweet Treats gift box, for, well, obvious reasons, like the fact that it contains delicious, locally-made Michigan treats. The holiday gift box contains Frosty White Yogurt-Covered Pretzels, Large Chocolate Sinterklaas, Lomonaco Sicilian Shortbread Cookies, Chocolate-Covered Michigan Cherries, and Holiday Fudge. Plus, you can skip the gift wrapping as each box comes fully wrapped and ready to be opened. If you’re local, you can also choose a pickup from the store within 24 hours.
Oh, and if you’re on a bit of a tighter budget this year, they also offer an adorable and still delicious Mini Michigan sweet treat box as well, for only $30.
6. Michigan Petoskey-inspired potholders
Price: $16
Estimated arrival: Dec 15-20
Sorry, we’re not sorry that we’re featuring yet another Petoskey stone-themed Michigan-made gift. These Petoskey potholders are in honor of the real thing and include appliques of Michigan’s lower and upper peninsulas. Choose from four colors, blue, gray, blue, or white, and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing you’re gifting a lovely, yet practical gift for any Michigan resident.
Pro Michigander tip: The potholders make a great gift for anyone you know who loves to camp in the summer. Potholders are one of those pesky items you always forget to stock or pack in the camper.
7. An ornament made with real Lake Michigan stones and sand
Price: $24.99
Estimated arrival: Dec 16-22
If you’re a Michigander like me who dreams of living near the Great Lakes but hasn’t quite figured out the financial aspect of a move to the water, we have good news for you: You can bring the sand and shores of Lake Michigan home with you through these unique Lake Michigan ornaments.
Each ornament is handmade with sand and stones, all collected from Lake Michigan shores. So while you’re curled up to stay warm this winter, you can gaze at your new ornament to remind you that sun and warmth from Michigan’s summers are on the horizon.
8. Cozy clay mugs for sipping cocoa
Price: $29.99
Estimated arrival: Varies
I am of the opinion that you can never have too many handmade mugs, and that theory only holds more true if they happen to be made in Michigan. Megan McKee is a talented ceramic artist who handmakes beautiful mugs featuring Michigan themes or wintery scenes.
I’m particularly in love with her “Snow” mug, but she also has Michigan mugs in a variety of colors. The mugs are handmade, so you’ll want to order as soon as possible for holiday gifts. If you want, she can also personalize mugs upon request.
9. A bag of Michigan bourbon-roasted candied pecans
Price: $9
Estimated arrival: Dec 15-18
Have you seen the social media threads about how many of us grew up with the holidays involving giant bowls of walnuts or pistachios? Roasted nuts were a holiday treat way back when, and we say it’s time to bring them back—with a festive twist, of course.
For instance, these candied pecans from Michigan company Rock n Roll Nuts are roasted with bourbon for a rich and luxurious flavor that will make a great gift. Plus, the company is known worldwide for its delicious nuts and high-quality products, and any gift comes with flat-rate shipping.
10. A very cherry Christmas gift box
Price: $74.95
Estimated arrival: Dec 20
You haven’t lived until you’ve tasted fresh-from-the-farm salsa made with Michigan cherries. There’s just something so special about a jar full of that sweet and tart summer goodness. Fortunately, you can give that very gift this Christmas with a ‘Let’s Talk Cherries’ deluxe gift from CoveYou Scenic Farm.
The gift box also includes sour cherry preserves, dried tart cherries, yogurt-covered cherries, and, of course, chocolate-covered cherry treats.
11. A ‘Mud of the Month’ coffee subscription
Price: Varies, with shipping cost of $7.95
Estimated arrival: Monthly
Buy a bag of Leelanau Peninsula-roasted coffee beans or give the gift of a monthly coffee subscription from Leelanau Coffee Roasters to let your recipient sample and explore new flavor profiles every month. You can choose holiday blends, local blends, or try new blends from around the world.
12. The Sugarsmith Candy Subscription Box
Price: $25
Estimated arrival: Varies monthly
What do the art of blacksmithing and candy making have in common? Surprisingly, a lot, according to Marlette, Michigan local Randy Haas, a professional blacksmith and candy maker in Marlette, Michigan. Hass, who has dubbed himself “The Sugarsmith,” explains that working with steel and working with sugar are surprisingly similar crafts.
“Both require exact timing, temperature, and technique to achieve perfect patterns and textures,” Haas describes on his website. Today, Haas has honed his techniques as a professional blacksmith to forge something a little sweeter for his customers: handmade, small-batch Michigan candy.
You can buy everything from homemade brittle to chocolate-covered potato chip bark to old-fashioned cherry cordials on his site, but we recommend the $25 candy subscription box for a monthly sweet treat, delivered right to your door.
13. Virtual personal training sessions
Price: Varies
Estimated arrival: n/a
We’ll preface this by saying you’ll want to be certain your gift recipient does indeed want personal training sessions, but if you have someone in your life who can’t make it to a gym or who travels a lot for work and still wants the expertise, motivation, and accountability a personal trainer can provide, virtual personal training sessions may be perfect.
PT in the D offers virtual personal training that promises live (nothing pre-recorded) and personalized workouts straight to the individual, no matter where they are and what equipment they have available to them. The website doesn’t advertise gift cards, so we do recommend calling the gym at (586)-381-4387 or filling out a contact form for specific information on buying sessions as a gift.
14. A custom Owala name plate to stand out in the crowd
Price: $11.05 and up
Estimated arrival: Dec 16-24
If you’re the parent, aunt, uncle, or friend of anyone around the age of 20-ish or younger, you’re probably familiar with how popular Owalas are. But attending any type of event or gathering can quickly transform into a sea of similar, brightly-colored Owalas that leave you afraid of taking a swig from the wrong bottle.
Enter a custom Owala nameplate. This Etsy shop from Troy, Michigan, lets you choose a custom color and design for an Owala nameplate that will leave mix-ups a thing of the past. They’re personalized and snap in easily without interfering with the bottle’s flow or function. Genius.
15. A colorful map of the Mitten state
Price: $11.20
Estimated arrival: Dec 15-20
I did some digging on Etsy, and while you can find some pretty cool Michigan-themed items on the storefront, I wanted to make sure we included Michigan artisans, which is why I was thrilled to come across this gorgeous watercolor map of the Mitten state.
Artist Robyn Love Steele is from Farmington Hills, Michigan, and created the print with both watercolor and pointed pen calligraphy. Each map is a joyful hunt to discover Michigan themes, creatures, and places, like black bears prowling the U.P., cherry blossoms blooming, and of course, plenty of deer a-crossing. You can also personalize any of her products with details like names, dates, and locations (although adding in personal touches may delay shipping, so plan accordingly!).
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