Local gifts abound in area just in the nick of time for holidays

Shopping locally for the holidays not only gives a personal touch to gifting, it fattens your neighbors' pockets, boosts the local economy and saves a sometimes harrowing trip to the city.

There are plenty of gifts to be found within walking distance in Libby - and Troy - rivaling big city merchandise in both quality and design.

Down Mineral Avenue in Libby is Cabinet Mountain Furniture, which features much more than owner Don Ellwood's elegant handcrafted furniture he makes locally - from desks to beds to kitchens.

Ellwood also sells elegant jewelry made by Libby residents Candy Steele and Linda Pellegrini, as well as handmade baskets from Janette Turk, woven with naturally found objects such as antlers.

"She finds the reeds. She hand-dyes the reeds. She's amazing," said owner Christi Ellwood.

Christi also offers up her whimsical pottery, which has mostly animal themes - as well as Santa mugs for the holidays - and are made of lead-free stoneware that is dishwasher and microwave-safe.

For more sophisticated porcelain dinnerware, Christi is quick to point out Polson ceramicist Mimi Werner's work.

Rolf Zillmer, a painter who has lived in Libby since 1999, is her most prominent artist.

Zillmer's work is shown throughout the United States, with some paintings, including "Loon Lake" and "Big Horn Terrace," featuring the area.

"I've sold 13 of his paintings," said Ellwood. "A lot are local scenes. They're a great investment."

If it's candles shoppers crave, Naturally Good Things, off California Avenue carries McLaury Apiaries beeswax candles in an assortment of holiday designs such as pinecones, Christmas trees and angels - even nativity scenes and ornaments.

Besides a variety of organic and gluten-free goods, the store also carries locally made Huckleberry products, including a favorite of the owner Georgine Power's, Bear Patch Kitchen Huckleberry syrup, made and served at the Libby Cafe around the corner, in case shoppers would like to sample it on some pancakes.

A few blocks over on Montana Avenue is Log Cabin Gifts, which Linda Edwards' husband built four years ago to house his handcrafted wooden spoons he makes and sells.

The shop has evolved into a family business, from her sister's handpainted Nordic Angel ornaments, to Edward's crocheted blankets, dish towels and coasters, to her granddaughters' magnets and piggy banks.

"It's a family affair," Edwards said, adding that although her husband's spoons keep him constantly busy from mostly Web site orders (www.handcraftedwoodenspoons.com), "Smelly Jellys" are the shop's biggest seller, an air freshner she makes in a glass jar that lasts more than a year.

"I put these in the store and people quit buying the candles," she said.

Jump in the car and head east off U.S. Highway 2 to another favorite Libby shop featuring local art is Mountain Meadows Country Gift & Espresso Shop.

Owner Carol Cady noted one extremely popular and reasonably priced gift idea - original watercolor paintings and prints from Todd Hileman, born and raised in Libby. His subjects range from birds to flowers to Christmas.

Another much sought-after item in her store is a poem about Libby written by local Tom Bellacosa for $1.50.

"I sell a lot of them," said Cady. "It's kind of a neat little Libby thing."

Cady also has a selection of jewelry made by John Derry, a Libby resident, which includes rings, money clips and earrings made from sterling silver, buffalo nickels, and mercury dimes - and even a 50 cent piece bracelet.

Further down U.S. Hwy 2 in Troy's mini-mall is Booze-n-Bait, which offers plenty of outdoor activity equipment such as skateboarding along with liquor.

Right next door is True Blue Boutique and Nails, which carries earring and necklace sets along with pedicures and manicures - their most popular stocking stuffers.

"Husbands come and say, 'Uhhh, I'm supposed to get a gift certificate," said owner Carene Cratty.

And up the road on U.S. Hwy 2, Montana Gifts is always open to consigners with ideas, according to manager Teela Stanton, and features many of their handmade gifts.

She said she sells out of local artist Sherry Hingley's signed and numbered prints of Cutthroat, Rainbow and Brook trout all the time due to her colorful design and reasonable prices. Hingley is currently working on a salmon series.

The store also contains locally made jewelry, dream catchers and knives.

Stanton said the Christmas shopping season is starting to compare with their busiest time: tourist season.

"A lot of people have started their Christmas shopping," she said, adding that most come from Libby and Troy and has grown over the years.

"As people find out we're here, they bring in other people," she said. "Our clientele grows as people notice us."