With an abundance of local craft fairs and new shops featuring local artists and products, supporting and buying local seems to be getting easier and easier in Duluth. With that in mind we bring you the annual PDD Gift Guide, a list of ideas with a local connection. As in previous years, we’ll kick it off with 15 suggestions. If you have your own ideas, or if you’re a local maker, feel free to add products and links in the comments.
Designer Ken Zakovich has been applying his skills to wood and three-dimensional pieces over the past few years. He has an e-commerce site with a handful of Minnesota-inspired items at timbr.design.
$46
Harmonic Goods makes backpacks and other sizes of bags from canvas, wool, hemp, leather and other materials. The design is simple and clean. Available at Makers Mercantile.
$165
This is probably the Duluthiest book you’ll find this year. Filled with historic photos, sketches and information about the evolution of our park system. Published by Zenith City Press. Available at local bookstores or at zenithcity.com.
$24.95
Other local book releases for 2017 are listed here.
There are so many great Minnesota-themed gift ideas on the ReplaceEverything web store, it’s hard to pick just one to feature. But we’ll go with this poster. If you’re stuck in a gifting rut, take a look through this site to get inspired. Fifty percent of the profit will benefit Minneapolis Parks Foundation. Available at Replace Everything.
$20
Atelier & Stone Jewelry started out in the Duluth MakerSpace, and is now in the new Duluth Folk School building. Louise Payjack-Guillou designs contemporary Jewelry. Available online from Atelier & Stone, or at Makers Mercantile, Waters of Superior and Adeline, Inc.
From $295
Alison Lee is a senior at East High School. As part of a class she started a T-shirt company called Bummer. It continues to be a business for her with several designs and an e-com site. Available at bummerbylurk.com.
$20
Introduce the little ones to the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle with a mini First Avenue lego set. The 98-piece reproduction of the Minnesota landmark includes stickers, instructions and packaging and is 3.8 x 3.8 x 1.8 inches when assembled. Available from First Avenue.
$45
Dock 5 is the Park Point-based studio of Natalija Walbridge. She makes canvas bags and accessories screenprinted with simple elegant designs. Available at dock-5.com.
$40
The American Indian Community Housing Organization has a vibrant, thriving art community, and has hosted some amazing art displays recently. The organization has published a 2018 calendar featuring some of those works. Available at aicho.org. Or call 218-722-7225 or email aichoduluth @ gmail.com.
$17 + $5 S&H
The eleventh volume in the Christmas by the Lake compilation series features more than 200 local musicians and all proceeds go to the Bluebird Foundation, providing grants and scholarships to youth in the performing arts. Available at Super One stores, Gary Milk House, Big Daddy’s Burgers, Holiday Spirit in the Lights, Lake It, Schmitt Music, Engwall Florist & Gifts and Discoverpc. For more local music options, refer to PDDs list of Duluth Album releases in 2017.
Hoops Brewing opened in Canal Park this past summer and offers more than a dozen beers in 750 ml crowlers. Available at Hoops Brewing.
$9
Lake Superior Spice Company makes a variety of hot sauces and a tasty mustard called, appropriately enough, Damn Good Mustard. Available on squareup.com and at various craft and food events.
$8
White Cedar Studio in Superior makes one of a kind, custom jewelry. Available at White Cedar Jewelry.
Various prices
Life House, which offers support to homeless and street youth, started a program called Legitimate Hustle, to give youth an opportunity to safely earn money while learning entrepreneurial and employment skills. This year, the kids are making and selling candles. Available on Small Business Saturday (Nov. 25) in the new Annex (21 N. First Ave. W., just down the hill from the main Life House facility) and after that by contacting Life House.
A down-insulated skirt, or as described on their website: “a jacket for your butt.” The Minne-Skirt is designed by Heim-made, a Northern-Minnesota based clothing company, “Where haute meets cold.” Available at heim-made.com.
$130-$150
