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Best Places For Handmade Gifts In OC

gift handmade
(credit: istockphoto)

This holiday season, make the gift of giving a little more personal with handmade gifts. Handmade gifts are a great spin on traditional gifts and they also make for a memorable holiday. In Orange County, there are a handful of places that specialize in handmade gifts, and after browsing a few of the selections at these particular locations, you'll be sure to find the gift that is right for you.

share and do good
(credit: Dillon Phommasa Photography)

Share & Do Good
115 S. Harbor Blvd., Suite F
Fullerton, CA 92832
(714) 305-5582
www.shareanddogood.com

A shop with a passion for giving back, Share & Do Good, located in Fullerton, has a variety of unique and crafty signature items. With so many selections to choose from that include jewelry, accessories and clothing, all of which are made by artisans from across the globe, you can spread some holiday cheer with custom-made gifting ideas. Among them are jewelry made from past weapons of war or t-shirts that will help feed the homeless in Thailand.

EIKON_displays
(credit: Eikon Home)

Eikon Home
142 S. Glassell St.
Orange, CA 92866
(714) 744-3255
www.eikonhome.com

Eikon Home is for the shopper who isn't quite sure of what to get but knows they would prefer something more distinctive yet practical. At Eikon, you'll discover a host of potential gift-giving ideas centered around one of a kind, including carefully curated antique furniture, vintage finds and handmade decorative goods. Eikon Home also carries a vast array of artisan-based home wares that would make for perfect holiday gifts like vases, candles and home decor. Be sure to stock up early.

Handmade Hearts
(credit: Handmade Hearts Gallery & Studio)

Handmade Hearts Gallery & Art Glass Studio
1432 S. Coast Highway
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(714) 767-2897
www.handmadehearts.com

Located in Laguna Beach, Handmade Hearts Gallery & Arts Glass Studio is home to one of Orange County's premiere custom glass artists, Hillel Rzepka. Rzepka worked for 10 years blowing glass on the street at festivals and farmers' markets before he opened his Handmade Hearts Gallery two years ago. For a more personalized touch on gift ideas, you can acquire custom-made glasses at this location in a variety of colors, shapes and styles to suit your personal taste. Glass art is a unique and great idea considering it can be utilized as a stocking stuffer and holiday ornament or can be beautifully arranged into a novel jewelry piece such as a pendant or charm for necklaces, bracelets and earring sets. The Handmade Hearts Gallery also gives back to the community. Charities, schools and other organizations can sign up to sell Handmade Hearts' pieces to raise money for their respective charities. For more information on fundraising, visit www.fundraisingwithhearts.com.

Related: Best Crafting In Orange County

rumble ruse
(credit: Rumble Ruse)

Rumble Ruse
2930 Bristol St.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(949) 413-1119
www.facebook.com/Rumble-Ruse

A little different from the norm, Rumble Ruse is not your typical garden variety shop. Located in Costa Mesa, Rumble Ruse is a snazzy kiosk located inside the Lab Anti-Mall. Aside from its miniature appearance, there are plenty of unique gifting ideas to be discovered here, including a variety of handmade designs from local artists such as personalized art, accessories, jewelry, home decor, stationary items and more. For a local approach in unique gifts that would be difficult to spot anywhere else, you can't beat Rumble Ruse.

a little known shop holiday handmade gifts
(credit: A Little Known Shop)

A Little Known Shop
423 S. Brookhurst St. Suite M
Anaheim, CA 92804
(714) 982-8584
www.alittleknowshop.com

A Little Known Shop is known to have somewhat of an unofficial rule where shoppers who frequent the place often never leave the store empty handed. Sure, the name suggests that very few people in Orange County would know of the place, but with its large selection of out-of-the-ordinary but totally fascinating handmade arts and crafts, more people should get very well acquainted with the shop. If you're looking for gifts that give with the theme of originality and creativity, A Little Known Shop is among the best that Orange County has to offer. Some of the more popular items found here include clocks made out of vinyl records, original art prints and handmade soaps.

Related: Best Flea Markets In Orange County

Barbara Akowuah is a freelance journalist based in Southern California. As a fashion examiner who is privy to style, Barbara loves to write about fashion and how it relates to the Los Angeles scene. Barbara loves to dish out the latest trends, style tips, and inside scoop. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.

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