Christmas has always been my favorite time of the year, largely due to the fact that I love coming up with thoughtful gift ideas for friends and family. Living in Vermont makes gift giving easy with so many Vermont-made products, from art and clothing to beer and beauty products. I’ve compiled some of my favorite made-in-Vermont gifts for everyone on your Christmas gift. Have recommendations for other Vermont-made gifts (the possibilities are endless!)? Share them in the comments below.

Vermont-Made Gifts: Foodies, Cheese Lovers and Craft Beer Snobs

For the Cheese Lover in Your Life…
Who doesn’t like cheese? For your entertaining friend, pair Farmhouse Pottery‘s hand-dipped Cheese Stone ($95), which can be put in the oven to warm up a soft cheese or in the freezer to serve cheese colder as well, with a sample of Vermont’s best cheeses. Some of my favorites include Twig Farm Goat Tomme, Jasper Hill Farm Bayley Hazen Blue, Maplebrook Farm’s Cherrywood Smoked Mozzarella, Grafton Village Maple Smoked Cheddar, Blythdale Farm Vermont Brie, Blue Ledge Farm’s Lake’s Edge, and Shelburne Farms’ Aged Cheddar, among others.
Farmhouse Pottery (Woodstock, Vermont): farmhousepottery.com

For the “Likes-to-Drink” Family Member in Your Life…
There are extensive Vermont-made gifts for the family member or friend who is fond of Vermont-made beer, wine or spirits. Every few weeks I’m hearing about a new winery, brewery or cidery opening nearby. Here are just a few of my favorites, although you really can’t go wrong with much of the beer, wine, cider and spirits being made in Vermont!

Vermont Beer: Otter Creek Brewing’s Kind Ryed, a hoppy, yet smooth and drinkable rye (Middlebury, Vermont), or anything from Lawson’s Finest, specializing in juicy IPAs, maple stouts and many other. Anything you can get your hands on from Lawson will be terrific. (Waitsfield, Vermont)
Vermont Wine: Lincoln Peak 2013 Marquette, a dry, fuller bodied red with a soft finish (Middlebury, Vermont)
Vermont Hard Cider: Citizen Cider Dirty Mayor, a ginger-lemon cider that pops a bit of a kick (Burlington, Vermont)
Vermont Whiskey: Mad River Distillers’ Bourbon, a smokey, sooth whiskey made with Vermont corn (Waitsfield, Vermont)
Vermont Gin: Barr Hill Gin from Caledonia Spirits, a smooth gin showcasing Vermont honey and juniper berry flavors (Hardwick, Vermont)
Vermont Liqueur: Appalachian Gap Distillery’s Kaffevän Coffee Liqueur, a blend of coffee whiskey with brewed coffee and Belgian sugar (I dare you not to put this in your morning coffee…) (Middlebury, Vermont)

For the Cook in Your Life…
The Bowl Mill in Granville, Vermont, has been making one-piece wooden bowls since 1857. Bowls range from 8 to 20 inches, and each features a unique grain and history; no two bowls are alike. I am seriously impressed by the beautiful craftsmanship and the uniqueness of each bowl. A Vermont-made bowl is a classic gift that can be passed down from generation to generation. The bowls aren’t just made with maple either. You can find bowls in black walnut, red oak, cherry, beech, etc. Shop online here, or if you visit the store in Granville, where they have a wide selection of even more unique “seconds” to choose from.
The Bowl Mill (Granville, Vermont): bowlmill.com

Vermont-Made Gifts: Outdoorsman, Fisherman & Lumbersexuals, Oh My!

For the Outdoorsman or Outdoorswoman on Your List…
With a mission of bringing people together, encouraging play, generating smiles and making a better place, Burlington-based Skida Headware & Accessories specializes in limited edition products and local production. Seamstresses work from home in northern Vermont, continuing “local cottage industry sewing.” Even better, the company was started by a 2013 Middlebury College grad and her mom! Hats feature breathable, moisture-wicking materials and funky, easy-to-spot patterns—and all fit comfortable under a helmet. There are many options for men, women and children from colorful paisleys to camo. Choose from Alpine and Nordic hats to neckwarmers and bandanas.
Skida Headware & Accessories (Burlington, Vermont): shopskida.com

For the Exercise Enthusiast in Your Life…
Vermonters are lucky to have many opportunities for regular exercise outdoors in every season, from hiking and skiing to paddleboarding and snowmobiling, but there are plenty of good options inside as well for the bitterly cold winter days. For a friend or family member living in the Burlington area, gift a class pass to Rev Indoor Cycling, an awesome indoor cycling studio with a variety of rides that is one of the best workouts you’ll ever had, or a class pass to Yoga Roots, where yoga classes led by passionate, knowledgeable instructors with make both your body and mind feel content.
Rev Indoor Cycling (Burlington, Vermont): revindoor.com
Yoga Roots (Burlington, Vermont): yogarootsvt.com

For the Fisherman in Your Life…
Second best to gifting an all-expensive paid fishing trip, Rachel Laundon‘s fish folk art makes a unique, meaningful gift for the fisherman (or fisherwoman) in your life. Rachel comes from a long line of ladies who like to fish, and her art was inspired by fishing on lakes and rivers throughout Vermont. All of her fish are made of wood, are painted and are available in a variety of sizes. I particularly like the Brook Trout ($255) and the Pumpkinseed ($265). Nick Mayer, a naturalist and fisheries biologist turned artist from Escape Studio, also creates beautiful nature illustrations, specializing in fish. Choose from a box of printed fish notecards ($20) to a larger print, framed or unframed ($75 – $300). Both Rachel and Nick do commissions as well, if you’re looking for a really one-of-a-kind piece of fish art!
Rachel Laundon Art (Waterbury, Vermont): rachellaundon.com
Nick Mayer, Escape Studio (Lincoln, Vermont): escapestudio.org

For the “Lumbersexual” in Your Life…
I learned a new term in the last month, “Lumbersexual,” explained by Urban dictionary as a metrosexual who needs to hold onto some kind of outdoor ruggedness and thus, where’s flannel and has a neatly kept beard. For the lumbersexual man (or woman) in your life, consider Vermont Flannel Company‘s Classic Buttondown Shirt ($48.80). Available in 15 different plaid patterns, the shirt is 100% cotton and made of double-brushed flannel; your 100% satisfaction is guaranteed. The best part? The tightly woven flannel will have minimal shrinkage in case the lumbersexual in your life hasn’t yet perfected the art of the washing machine.
Vermont Flannel Company, East Barre, Vermont: vermontflannel.com

Vermont-Made Gifts: Beauty Products
For the “Eco-Conscious Beauty Queen” in Your Life…
Tata Harper Skin Care, located in Shoreham, Vermont, makes 100% natural, one-of-a-kind, anti-aging formulas to reinvirgorate your skin, all free of chemicals and synthetics. The company specializes in “a health-conscious, natural beauty lifestyle that’s committed to safety, honesty and sustainability.” Tata Harper products are not cheap, but they will reinvent your skin in a few uses, and you’ll feel good about the ingredients used in their unique formulas. The coolest part? Many of the ingredients are cultivated on the 1,200-acre, Julius Kingdom Farm. Try the Purely Powerful: Best of Natural Skincare kit ($48) or Tata’s Daily Essentials: Natural Antiaging Skincare Discovery Kit ($68) to introduce a friend or family member to a new, natural beauty regime through Tata Harper.
Tata Harper Skincare (Shoreham, Vermont): tataharperskincare.com

Vermont-Made Gifts: Art, Pottery and Glassware

For the Artist in Your Life…
Give the artistic person in your life an experience that allows them to roll up their sleeves and create something beautiful alongside one of Vermont’s best artisans. The Naked Potter, located at the Wilder Farm Inn in Waitsfield, Vermont, and run by Luke Iannuzzi, specializes in the unglazed “naked” method of firing raku pots. For $60 per person, Luke offers a three-hour class with hands-on instruction for beginner to advanced potters; the result is learning to make a pot from a ball of clay to a finished product, whether functional stoneware of decorative raku. The Wilder Farm Inn also offer Stay & Clay packages, where you can choose the length of stay and course of study for around $200 a day.
Naked Potter (Waitsfield, Vermont): thenakedpotter.org

For the Dog Lover in Your Life…
Any dog lover will enjoy one of the late Stephen Huneck’s whimsical animal prints or woodcuts, made at the famed Dog Mountain in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, where there is no leash law and dogs are free to explore, play, swim and hike at their leisure. Huneck depicted many breeds of dogs in a variety of settings and playful situations. For the dog lover who complains of their dogs taking up too much space in bed, consider the Menage a Quatre giclee ($39-$129). For the Vermont dog owner, consider the Bessie – Vermont giclee, featuring Huneck’s “Bessie,” a cow in his book Sally Goes to the Farm, and, of course, Sally the black lab. Help a family welcome their new adopted dog to the family with the Get a New Leash on Life giclee. There are so many playful prints to choose from for the animal lover in your life. Love is Give and Take ($39) is another one of my favorites.
Stephen Huneck, Dog Mountain (St. Johnsbury, Vermont): dogmt.com

For the Newly Engaged or Soon-to-be-Married Couple in Your Life…
For our wedding, I loved receiving made-in-Vermont gifts that will always remind us where we met and made our home. I didn’t quite appreciate all that goes into making Simon Pearce‘s glass until a visit to their production facility in Windsor, Vermont, this past summer. Seeing not only how long it takes to make one piece of glass, but also the precise technique of the glassblower, puts the price of Simon Pearce pieces in perspective. Consider the simple and timeless Barre Vase ($150), the Engraved Celebration Bowl ($295) or a set of the Woodstock Balloon Wine glasses ($70 each), that have a stable base and feel good in your hand.
Simon Pearce (Queeche and Windsor, Vermont): simonpearce.com

Vermont-Made Gifts: Newborns, Toddlers and Out-of-State Family Members

For the Newborn in Your Life…
Whenever a friend has a baby, I immediately head to Zutano, a Cabot-based company that makes adorable, brightly colored, whimsical baby clothing. One of the coolest things about Zutano, despite how cute babies looks in their clothing, is that they have a progressive maternity/paternity program, where parents are encouraged to bring their babies to work for the first year after giving birth. How cool is that? One of my go-to newborn gifts are Zutano’s Newborn Cozie Booties ($21), fluffy fleece booties made in 15 colors, paired with the Cozie Newborn Elf Onesie ($43), perfect for getting through a cold Vermont winter. Zutano’s baby and toddler hats are just about the cutest thing ever as well… I particularly like the Cozie Newborn Hat ($14.50), an affordable, adorable, Vermont-made baby gift.
Zutano (Cabot, Vermont): zutano.com

For the Tots in Your Life…
Skip the plastic, made-in-China toys and choose Vermont-made wooden toys from Maple Landmark, a manufacturer in Middlebury that has been making eco-friendly, educational toys since 1979. Get the Buccaneer Sword ($10.50, ages 3+) for the pirate in your life, a wooden train set for your future conductor, or if you want to splurge and buy a family heirloom, the sturdy Rocker-Feller Rocking Horse ($325), available for a cowboy or cowgirl. I, personally, would have loved the Memory board game ($24) when I was a kid, available with a variety of educational themes.
Maple Landmark (Middlebury, Vermont): maplelandmark.com

For Out-of-State Family Members…
For family that can’t make it to Vermont for the holidays, send a piece of Vermont to them with the Lumberjack ($79.95) gift basket from Dakin Farm, complete with cob-smoked bacon, Canadian bacon, breakfast ham, blueberry pancake mix, Vermont clover honey, Vermont maple butter and wild strawberry jam. We’ve sent this along to out-of-state family for years, and they rave about the awesome Christmas breakfast they have each year. Like your family but not quite that much? If you’re looking to spend a bit less money, you can’t go wrong with the Dakin Farm Sampler ($39.95), which pairs Vermont cheddar, Vermont maple syrup, cob-smoked bacon, summer sausage, honey n’ spice mustard, Vermont clover honey and wild strawberry jam.
Dakin Farm (Ferrisburgh, Vermont): dakinfarm.com

Charitable Vermont Gifts:

For the Need-Nothing Person in Your Life…
Everyone has a friend or family member who needs nor wants anything material. Instead of adding to their clutter, give them a truly impactful gift donation on their behalf to a cause they’re close to. Some options include the Vermont Food Bank (for the foodie), the Vermont Community Foundation (for the generally good-hearted), Vermont Adaptive Ski (for the winter-sport enthusiast), Spectrum Youth & Family Services (for those passionate about empower teenagers, young adults, people with a history of violence, and their families to sustain positive changes in their lives.)

For the Animal Lovers in Your Life…
There’s no better gift for an animal lover than a donation to a local animal shelter, dedicated to making a difference in the lives of animals in need. Some shelters will allow you to sponsor a particular animal and donate that sponsorship to a friend or family member. Homeward Bound, Addison County’s Humane Society, partners with area restaurants and markets a 2015 dining card; you pay $100 for dinner (or $50 for a lunch card) to receive one free entry when you buy an entrée at participating restaurants. This year there are over 15 supporting restaurants in Addison County. In addition to supporting the shelter, you’re also supporting local restaurants by expanding your culinary horizons and giving new restaurants on a the list a try. Even a small donation goes a long way at Vermont animal shelters and rescues.
Homeward Bound Animal Society (Middlebury, Vermont): homewardboundanimals.org
All Breed Rescue (Burlington, Vermont): allbreedrescuevt.com
Rutland County Humane Society (Rutland, Vermont): rchsvt.org
Humane Society of Chittenden County (South Burlington, Vermont): chittendenhumane.org