It’s time for the yearly 10 most unique, thoughtful gift list! I love this time of the year and figuring out what challenging limits I can place on this list. Just when I think I’m really going to be stumped - I get WAY too many finds to trim to just 10. (Note to self: Top 25 in 2025!) If you want to see my list challenges from previous years, these businesses are still thriving! (So combined, that would be 25 gift ideas!) 2022 List and 2023 List.

This year’s challenges are:

• Must be incredibly unique.

• Must be able to be treasured for years to come.

• Must support a local (PA/Pittsburgh), small business.

• Must be responsible and respectable to the environment and each other.

As I mentioned, this list is not exhaustive - there are SO many special, incredibly talented businesses in the Pittsburgh region. I encourage you to search local, small businesses while internet browsing, or visit some of the venues that sell multiple artists’ works.

Some vendors offer products and experiences - because the memories made from experiences are also a gift that keeps on giving! Bonus: experience gifts don’t need wrapped ;)

I promise this will be a pleasurable shopping experience - where you feel good about who are you buying from, the super cool gift you are buying and who you are buying it for. Spreading holiday love and cheer is what it’s all about.

(In no particular order)

1. VETERANS AND ACTIVE DUTY FAMILY Military Apparel Company
   This company gives a second life to military uniforms. They transform your loved one’s military uniform into a custom, beautiful, meaningful bag or accessory, becoming a tangible display of pride for loved ones that just served, are presently serving or who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom. Do you ever feel guilty about a uniform just hanging in the closet or packed in a box? This is a loving, respectable way to cherish and honor it and the person who bravely wore it.

2. FOODIES Private Food Experiences
   Frank Tokach and Chef Jae & Co offer private chef experiences. Who wouldn’t love a gourmet meal served in their own home, prepared right before their eyes? And no clean-up! (just maybe invite the giver, hint, hint!)
   The Cheese Queen is not a private chef, but offers high-class, high-quality charcuterie boards for brunch, fruit, crudites, meat & cheeses, you name it, they create it. It tastes as marvelous as it looks. Feeling jealous at their talent? Well, they offer charcuterie classes too! A little side story on how I came upon this place - I was standing in very long line at the bank when I witnessed a Cheese Queen employee go out of her way to help out another bank customer. She didn’t have to, but she did. The woman she helped asked where she worked. I looked it up, and here they are!

3. DOG LOVERS Doggone Candles
   You don’t actually have to be a dog lover - but maybe a candle lover though! These Beaver, PA-made candles smell fantastic AND you are helping out animals in need with your purchase (over 14k donated!). They offer more than just candles, they have room sprays and balms - all of their products are safe, natural, earth- (and, of course, pet-) friendly and toxin-free. Just an all-around feel good, smell good gift.

4. THE HARD-TO-SHOP FORS Love, Pittsburgh Shop and Steel Goat Marketplace
   Love, Pittsburgh: A locally curated gift shop selling over 100+ Pittsburgh artists and makers wares. The women-owned business has grown to 3 locations; Mt. Washington, Cultural District and the Strip District each location touting the Gold certification or designation from Sustainable Pittsburgh at each of the stores. Inside the stores you will find candles, cards, t-shirts, mugs, notebooks, jewelry, coasters, art, ceramics, personal care items - all supporting the artists who created them. Can’t make it to a store? They will ship as a gift. Short on time? They also offer in-store pick-up. No excuses for patronizing this Pittsburgh store and all the artists they help support.
   Steel Goat Marketplace: It started with steel goats in the owners, Jayme’s front yard and ended up a brick-and-mortar marketplace for local vendors and artisans to sell their goods. They always have events and workshops to attend on their calendar, be sure to follow them. And if you don’t make it out to Plum very often, they also have an online marketplace.

5. ENTERTAINERS Emmanuelle Ceramics
   Some of the most beautiful ceramics I’ve ever seen. I want them all! You can’t help but be in awe of Emmanuelle’s mind-blowing talent and vision. Lucky for us, she’s local in Pittsburgh and offers sales and events and custom orders! Just look, I promise your jaw will drop.

6. PAMPERED PEOPLE (I’m not talking to just you ladies ;) Lovett Sundries and Plants for Skin
   Lovett Sundries: Lovett Sundries is a family company working out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania offering a line of handcrafted soaps, grooming, and cleaning products that are carefully measured, mixed, and packaged by their own hands. All their products are small-batch, all-natural. They are proudly and, impressively, zero-waste in their design, production and fulfillment processes. Even their packaging is plastic-free. Feeling good in your heart, on your skin and for the earth - right here.

   Plants for Skin: Small-batched, cruelty-free, plant-based, all-natural skin care products. Everything you (and mother nature) would want to treat your skin to. Monae, the owner, has an inspiring story behind her successful beauty product line and she just opened a shop on Butler Street!

7. GARDEN LOVERS Eleven Mile Farm
   A small, family farm just outside of Pittsburgh - specializing in the use of regenerative practices to grow unique varieties of seasonal cut flowers, perennials, and woodies. Amazing bouquets, arrangements of any kind, but the wreaths? OMG. I would be ecstatic receiving one of these!! Maybe you feel you don’t have the proper door or wall for such works-of-art…the farm offers workshops so you can make your own perfect fit!

8. ART APPRECIATORS Wicked Pittsburgh
   Wicked Pgh is just wicked cool. I can’t believe I never heard of this community doing such good. Which is why I’m doing my little part here. Paintings, sketches, photography, and wood & metal mediums. Holiday gift giving or anytime giving - check this place out with the most unique and local art, which supporting charities. That’s, like triple giving…I lost count…

9. BOOK LOVERS PittsburghPaperGirl
   I stumbled upon this one when I was Googling a ‘book’ artist that I visited at a craft fair. Well, admittedly, The Pittsburgh Paper Girl was not who I was trying to track down, but I’m glad I found her! I cannot even describe the breadth of her creations - you have to look for yourself on her Etsy store. Like, you-can-do-that-with-books? creations! Your gift recipient have a favorite book? She does custom!!!

10. THE STORYTELLERS Via Muse Videos (yep, shameless plug here)
    Not only for the storytellers, but the adventurists, the lovers, the graduates…there is a personalized film for any member of your family. There are SO many wonderful, yet fleeting moments that happen in our life - the graduating, the wedding, the preparing for a family, the milestone anniversary - and with all of these events we may take pictures, however these events are more than just a day of photos. These documentary-style videos capture the stories and emotions throughout the entire journey - before, during and after. (Because we have different perspectives at different times.) And oooh, all the pictures to go with it. A film. Just of you. To relive. And share. And treasure. Like your own mini-documentary.