6 ideas for that special gift made in Spokane

Summer Hightower’s passion for jewelry-making began when she was a young girl growing up in Hawaii. She sourced stones, shells and other materials she found on the beach for her creations.

As the owner of Veda Lux – a vintage boutique in its 10th year in the South Perry neighborhood – Hightower sells her handcrafted, one-of-a-kind statement jewelry alongside vintage threads.

“We tend to be more maximalist in the design department,” Hightower said. “I do a lot of asymmetrical work. I use some old, salvaged components mixed with new components. It’s an eclectic assortment of vintage meets modern.”

For those holiday shopping down to the wire, Hightower’s jewelry is a great example of an option for thoughtful gift-giving, and Spokane has an abundance of shops carrying handmade and local goods.

Last-minute gift-givers are not only welcome, but expected in Hightower’s shop. Like clockwork, they seek her gift-matching expertise.

“I have husbands that specifically come in to see me every season,” Hightower said. “It’s usually the week of Christmas, and I tailor the gift package to exactly who their wives are. We’re not there to just sell a piece of jewelry, and we really want it to be right.”

At Veda Lux, shoulder-sweepers – gold fringe earrings so long the ends brush the nape of the wearer’s neck – have been especially popular. Also popular is her jewelry that incorporates elements similar to antique chandeliers. If big and bold is not the customer’s style, Hightower said she has minimalist options as well.

“I design for everyone,” Hightower said. “We’ll make some simple things. My heart is really into the bigger, more design-forward, architectural pieces.”

Bitters sweet

For the discerning cocktail enthusiast, Skidmore Alchemy has bitters to elevate holiday cheer. The company is co-owned by the couple who recently opened Bijou, a pint-sized Browne’s Addition coffee shop that transforms into a cocktail bar come evening.

Co-owner Shelayna Skidmore said her bitters production started while she was working at Casper Fry, playing with the flavors in her own drinks. Friends began requesting that she share, and word got out about Skidmore’s concoctions. From there, Orlison Brewing – which formerly had a taproom in downtown Spokane – requested she make ingredients for an old-fashioned flavored beer.

Unsurprisingly, the bitters have made their way onto the Bijou menu. Skidmore said the most popular cocktail is Two Week Notice, which features the aromatic, cherry and chocolate bitters.

“The chocolate really brings out flavors in the mescal, and the cherry is a little bit anise-y,” Skidmore said.

For a gift, Skidmore suggests the three-pack sampler, catered to the recipient’s alcohol preferences.

“OK, this person likes gin, so I’m going to get them bitters that match with the gin flavors,” Skidmore said. “Bitters help flavors of alcohol come out a little bit more.”

Not today Satan

For the friend who likes cheeky clothing or could use a print to brighten their walls, Lightning Deluxe has them covered. Jon Deviny’s merchandise – including patches that read “Not today Satan” – can be found in downtown Indaba Coffee locations and at Lucky Vintage, as well as on his website.

Deviny worked most of his career in design and photography, and through this he got into illustration. But as his career shifted him more into design, he had less opportunity to work with illustration.

“I decided I was going to start working on my illustration skills and used Instagram as kind of a platform to just challenge myself to get myself out there,” Deviny said. “Whether it was good or not, I just challenged myself to try to post something every day.”

People started requesting T-shirts and prints, and from there Lightning Deluxe was born. When it came to the clothing, Deviny decided he wanted something more personal than digital printing, and so he pushed himself to learn a new skill: screen printing. The operation began with rudimentary tools he MacGyvered from materials bought at the hardware store, with the internet as his teacher.

“I really wanted to make these tangible, physical, analog goods that had soul,” Deviny said. “It’s kind of like the difference of listening to an MP3 or listening to a record. There’s something special about the vinyl. The scratches and imperfections have a certain beauty.”

Deviny still has his day job as the creative director at Northern Quest Casino, and he’d like to keep it that way.

“I started this all as a fun escape from a day job,” Deviny said. “Part of me is scared to ruin what I love so much by making it the main thing.”

Deviny said popular items this season have been his art prints, and his patches and pins make great stocking stuffers.

Licensed to Zag

For the loved one who can’t get enough of those Bulldogs, Staggs & Staggs Sign Co. has you covered with its handmade metal signs.

Alycia Staggs did not foresee these signs when she and her husband opened their jewelry business, lexi lou jewels. Staggs said she became interested in printing photos on metal for her jewelry business.

“We made – like we still do – photo bracelets and photo necklaces with the images on them,” Staggs said. “Then, it just progressed. We wanted to go bigger and bigger.

One of her biggest wins, she said, was receiving licensing through Gonzaga University.

Staggs’ signs are available at From Here in River Park Square or online, and she said her Gonzaga signage has been extremely popular this year.

Honeypots and tiki tumblers

Goblin Pottery offers a variety of wares – everything from mugs to the honeypots that accompany them.

Autumn Bunton began her artistic career as an oil painter. When she had kids, she decided to try pottery, and she never looked back. She describes her aesthetic as whimsical vintage with a floral theme.

Bunton’s pottery can be found at Atticus Coffee and Gifts, From Here, Pottery Place Plus and her Etsy store. This holiday, she recommends her tiki tumblers and her new line of elderberry floral print porcelain wares.

Slopes and knits

For the friend who loves winter sports (or just likes appearing as if they do), the goods from Local Knits will not disappoint.

The company – which was literally on the road in an RV for more than six months before settling in the Steam Plant – started for Ethan Rollins as a crocheting project.

“I got a handmade beanie quite a long time ago, and I loved that beanie to death,” Rollins said. “I tried to find another one to replace it, and just couldn’t.”

Rollins, who co-owns the company with his wife Heather Hart, had wanted his own line since high school. A free-spirited graphic design teacher inspired him, and taught him how to silkscreen. For college, he was accepted at the Fashion Institute in San Francisco and Sierra Nevada College, and chose the latter.

“That was the fork in the road at the very beginning of this whole journey, where I’d like to go into the city and pursue an actual fashion design degree and kind of go that route, or chase my friends into the mountains and do the whole ski bum thing,” Rollins said. “And that’s the introduction to the beanie thing.

Once Rollins realized he could make a living from his line, he started putting more effort into promoting his business. He found that appearing at competitions and concerts – particularly at Gorge Amphitheatre – has gone a long way to increase the visibility and legitimacy of his brand.

Of course, Rollins recommends his beanies, which are all hand-knit to this day. He also recommends his “ninja hoodies,” which have a built-in face mask.