Holiday shoppers can stay close to home in Lake Oswego, Oregon to find the perfect gift

The bad news: only 16 more shopping days ’til Christmas. The good news: that’s plenty of time because you can find what you need right here in Lake Oswego.

The Lake Oswego retail community offers a wide selection of gifts for anyone on your list. Between this week and next, I will identify 12 Reasons why you can wrap up your holiday shopping without leaving town. There are many more where these came from.

This week, get out of your car and walk the downtown neighborhood in search of these small businesses as well as the good company they keep. Next week I’ll highlight gift shops out and about Lake Oswego.

 ACCESSORIES FROM THE HEART Owner Carol Winston likes to think of her shop as “a candy store for women.” The good news is women can indulge without the calories by choosing from a handpicked selection of distinctive fashion and home accessories. The current hot item?  Echo Touch gloves that are designed with special fabric sewn on the index finger and thumb to enable you to interact with your touch screen devices while keeping your gloves on. Winston carries merchandise from both local artisans like jewelry designer, Deborah Funches, as well as popular product lines like Brighton and Hobo International. Good news for men: women on your list can fill out a wish list and the store will keep it on hand when you come shopping. 220 A Avenue, Lake Oswego. (503) 675-1144. Website.

THE ART SPOT Twenty artists from Local 14 Artist’s Gallery (an association of close to 95 women artists in the Pacific Northwest) have opened up a temporary pop-up gallery in downtown Lake Oswego in an empty storefront rent-free, thanks to the City of Lake Oswego. Shoppers can find truly original gifts including cards, calendars, ornaments, wearable art, ceramics, garden art, whimsical sculptures, glass, and paintings in a variety of mediums. No risk of duplication here…only inspiration. 510 First St., Lake Oswego. (503) 635-0845.

FROG POND TOYS. Local Palisades School moms Mary Langley and Lynn Gleeson pride themselves in what they have tried to establish as a gathering place as well as a specialty toy shop. An in-store café caters to the family crowd complete with kids’ meals, sandwiches, wraps, soup, lattes and scoops of Cheerios at 50 cents each. The draw is the toy selection with this season’s biggest hits including Zibits miniature remote control robots complete with robotic sounds and lights, Squishable giant round stuffed animals, and Spooner Boards that enable kids to practice all their favorite skateboard, snowboard, and surfing moves indoors. 310 N. State Street, Suite 102, Lake Oswego. (503) 697-3764. Website.

GRAHAM’S BOOK AND STATIONERY. The store’s official moniker may be Book and Stationery store, but come the holidays, Teri and Paul Graham offer gifts for everyone on your list. Some of this season’s bestsellers come from their book department: Craft Beers of the Pacific Northwest by Portland’s own Beer Goddess, Lisa Morrison, and Walter Isaacson’s biography, Steve Jobs.  Items in their holiday gift guide prove popular including the talking alarm clock that rolls off your nightstand and on to the floor, talking or ringing until you get out of bed to turn it off; and a three letter golf ball monogram stamper. 460 Second Street, Lake Oswego. (503) 636-5676.

 GRAND PAPERY. Customers tell owner, Lauren Barnes Gaar, that they return to her store because, “I know I can find something here,” and “You save me from going to the mall.” She offers a wide selection of paper goods including personalized invitations and stationery as well as unique gifts. Lake Oswego Laker and Lakeridge Pacer fans can take their spirit on the road with “Logo-on-the-gogo,” logos designed to attach to front car grilles.  Personalization is a theme among many of the gifts, including monogrammed dessert plates and cheeseboards. Stocking stuffer ideas range from conversation starter cards with questions like, “If you had to spend the rest of your life at one age, which would that be and why?” to festive bottle toppers. 459 Second Street, Lake Oswego. (503) 697-4424. Website.

LUCKY ME.  If a woman is on your gift list, owner Denise Cain has done her best to increase your luck of finding the perfect present with her selection of one-of-a-kind gifts, jewelry, fashion accessories and holiday décor. One of her more popular items? PJ Salvage pajamas for those cold Oregon nights. 385 1^st St., #115, Lake Oswego. (503) 636-9595. Website.

R BLOOMS. Each holiday season, owners Richard and Trudi Bloom set out “to saturate the store with Christmas.” Surrounded by Christopher Radko ornaments, nutcrackers, and wreaths made locally by Lake Oswego moms featuring vintage ornaments, it’s hard not to be filled with the holiday spirit while browsing their shop. One of this season’s must-have items is Hot Skwash–velvet pumpkins with natural stems in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors. Daria Knowles of West Linn is the designer and employs 20 stay-at-home moms to meet the now-national demand. But you’re in luck–you can find them right here in what  many of Blooms’ customers call “Santa’s workshop.” 449 Third Street, Lake Oswego. (503) 636-5876. Website.

Check back next week for more reasons why you can finish your holiday shopping in Lake Oswego! Better yet, subscribe to my blog by clicking the “Sign me up” button in the top right hand column and I’ll send it to you. 

While I am focusing on gift shops here, I’d love to hear where you like to do your holiday shopping in town. Put in a good word for your favorite business by leaving a comment.