HANDMADE HOLIDAY GIFT IDEA #65 // H.S. Chocolate Co. Goes for Decadence and Nostalgia

Like we'd mentioned earlier, the Handmade Holiday Craft Fair is around the corner, and there's no shortage of unique, must-buy-or-else gifts. Here's one we predict will go fast...

We caught up with chocolatier MaryAnne Hoekstra Shekar of H.S. Chocolate Co. By way of introduction, let us say that we know it's hackneyed to drivel on about how decadent and sinful chocolate is, but some of her concoctions (the Figgy Blue candy bar, made with Bailey Hazen Blue cheese and fig Ganache, the Chinese Five Spice Chocomels) actually made us gasp. Pearls were clutched and monocles were shattered. These are some fancy chocolates. 

So yes, H.S. chocolates, candy bars, and Chocomels (chocolate covered caramels) sound lovely and indulgent. But would you believe they look nice too? Because of course they do. Gold foil, playful paper wrappers, and a retro logo bring a sense of fun and nostalgia to the whole endeavor. For Hoekstra Shekar, that feeling of reminscence is an important piece of the puzzle. "Our chocolates and confections make the best gift because they invoke nostalgia by putting a unique, modern twist on classic treats like candy bars, filled chocolates and chocolate-covered caramels," she says. "We use fresh, local ingredients to create exciting flavor profiles." 

--Layla Schlack

HANDMADE HOLIDAY GIFT IDEA #44 // For The Absolute Worst Days, Bummer Baskets to the Rescue

One of Bummer Baskets' dutifully bummed-out gifts.

We're making our lists, and Siri's checking them twice--because the 5th annual 3rd Ward Handmade Holiday Craft Fair is happening on December 10. In anticipation of this awesome event, we're giving you a sneak preview of who will be selling what.

The folks at Bummer Baskets know that what you really want on a bad day (a lost-your-job-and-got-dumped kind of day, or just a cowlick-and-shouty-boss day) is not a Hallmark card. You want a stiff drink, something sugary and a few tokens of the laughter and comfort of days gone by, before everything went to hell. That's why they've brilliantly put together care packages with things like "Here's to Happy Endings" wine glasses, fresh-baked brownies, temporary tattoos, and flower-planting kits.

Better still, the kindly basketmakers source their products as locally as possible. "Final selections for baskets are based on team input as well as asking friends and loved ones what they would want to receive in a bummer situation," cofounder Kerry Kirk says. "We are tirelessly baking new things in pursuit of the perfect recipes for bummer times-which is really at the core of our baskets."

While we certainly don't wish you or your loved ones to have bummer holidays, it may be helpful to have one of these adorable kits on hand--if only for yourself in case your drunk uncle decides to talk bad politics, and your grandmother starts hounding you about wanting to live to meet her great-grandchildren.

--Layla Schlack