Looking for a unique holiday gift in Central Austin? This guide could spark a few ideas from businesses throughout the city. All the businesses featured are locally owned and operated, and many include gift ideas that can only be found in Austin.

The Burlap Bag


Lauren and Josiah Lowe moved back to Austin and opened The Burlap Bag three years ago. The couple has a passion for handmade goods and said they considered the city a great market to display their unique collection.
More than 100 artisans showcase their handmade jewelry, clothing, cards, bowls and other crafts at The Burlap Bag. The Lowes also make scented soy candles that are known by names as unique as the scents they create. The couple said they chose to use soy in their candles because they felt it was healthier for the environment.

502 W. 30th St.
512-617-9825
www.theburlapbag.com

Terra Toys


The Austin-based toy store has been in business for 35 years and continues to expand since moving to its new location. The owners focus on stocking shelves with toys for younger ages that are not mainstream or trademarked merchandise but are instead classic, fun and beautiful, CEO Sylvia Edwards said.
The handmade Hansa plush animal line that Terra Toys carries has a diverse cast of creatures from the real to the magical. They are all anatomically correct, able to be repositioned and soft to the touch. Prices vary and increase as the size of the plush increases.

2438 W. Anderson Lane
512-445-4498
www.terratoys.com

Monkey See, Monkey Do


Monkey See, Monkey Do is where many interesting and humorous gifts from various corners of the Internet are available for off-the-shelf purchase.
Although some gifts are interesting trinkets or action figures, many are everyday, functional items with a touch of fandom. Owner Isaac Hernandez said the variety of humorous shower curtains best represents what the store carries because the curtains are funny, playful and also useful for whomever receives or purchases the item.

1712 S. Congress Ave.
512-443-4999
www.monkeyseeonline.com


El Interior


El Interior, owned by Marcia Lucas, is filled with clothing, shoes, ceramics and accessories from Mexico and Guatemala. The handmade items are high-quality and deeply rooted in tradition, Lucas said.
One such item is a pina, or pineapple, from Michoacan, Mexico. The pineapple is a traditional symbol of welcome, Lucas said. Adding this decorative pineapple to one’s home creates a statement and sense of warmth because it is handmade,
she said.

1009 W. Lynn St.
512-474-8680
www.elinterior.com

Jerry’s Artarama


Paint, pastels, pencils, photograph frames and other crafts can be found at Jerry’s Artarama. The art store offers a wide variety of tools that allow customers to express themselves or create something new for their home or loved ones. The variety of items allows someone of any skill level or budget to find something inspiring, General Manager Brittany Stracke said.
“If you can use it to make art, you’ll find it here,” Stracke said. “We pride ourselves on discount art supplies.”
Screen printing is an art form that has taken the craft world by storm, Stracke said. The medium is easily accessible by users of any creative level because it allows for outlines or drawings to be applied to shirts, furniture or other items with accuracy. Screen prints also enable creativity because artists can customize their own designs to use in the process, Stracke said.
“With screen printing you can make so many gifts out of the kit—T-shirts, towels, cards [or] block printing for stamps,” she said.
Pastels are another art tool almost any age can use effectively. With a wide variety of colors and price points, the possibilities for creating something unique using pastels seem almost endless, Stracke said.
“Pastels are great for kids and adults on various surfaces,” she said.

6010 N. I-35
512-420-9359
www.jerrysartarama.com

Serve: Gourmet, Gadgets and Goods 


Bob and Brooke Gentry, owners of Serve: Gourmet, Gadgets and Goods, said they frequent trade shows throughout the year in different parts of the country to find the latest kitchen items for their customers. Local cookbooks, souvenirs, candies, coasters, cutting boards and other kitchen accessories can be found in the store.
“We’re always searching for the next best thing,” store coordinator Robyn Foxworth said. “We also want to be competitive in pricing with all the other big-box stores. There’s a lot of things we can’t carry in the store because our price would be so
much higher.”
Although the store has a wide variety of items to stock any kitchen, there are also gadgets that are not typically found in a kitchen store. For instance, Serve carries a homemade gin-making kit so users can have the craftsman experience of creating their own drinks.
There is also a line of water bottles that can keep liquids cold for 24 hours or hot for 12 hours. The S’well bottle is popular in both the Texas summer heat and the chilly winter, Foxworth said.

241 W. Third St.
512-480-0171
www.servegourmet.com

Austin Gift Company


Owner Mike Lopez has 9,000 square feet of shop space featuring a wide variety of items, from the intricate and handmade to classic tourist paraphernalia. There are 130 booths in the store for the artisans he hosts to feature their work.
Because the store is a “year-round Armadillo Christmas Bazaar,” as described by Lopez, unique holiday finds line the shelves, including a wooden tree that features tiny, handmade ornaments. The base of the tree reads “Merry Texmas” in true Texan fashion.

4211 S. Lamar Blvd.
512-326-9460
www.austingiftcompany.com

Wilson Jewelers


Chris Wilson’s parents started the Austin jewelry store 47 years ago. The shop offers a low-pressure atmosphere for shoppers with price points for anyone’s budget, said Wilson, who now runs the store. The store’s showcases are full of gemstones for custom creations, bridal sets, inside-out diamond hoop earrings, preowned watches, Rolexes and jewelry obtained from estate sales. Diamond Sparkle by the Yard and black-faceted diamond necklaces help add sparkle to any outfit, Wilson said, whether the wearer is dressing casual or dressing up.

5010 Burnet Road
512-451-2105
www.wilsonjewelryexchange.com