It’s Black Friday, and it seems like everyone in America is at the mall or a department store. While I don’t begrudge anyone a bargain, I participated in that madness once a decade or so ago and haven’t done it since. I’d much rather visit one of our cozy, inviting local shops and find one-of-a-kind, handmade gifts. One of my favorite places to find something really special is Grove Gallery & Studios in East Lansing.

What kid wouldn’t love getting one of these sweet stuffed toys or hand-painted gifts?

It can be a challenge to find something for the people in your life who seem to have everything, but Grove has so many beautiful solutions to this problem. Some of my favorite gifts I’ve given have come from Grove: stunning scarves that are truly works of art, huggable stuffed toys for babies, deliciously-scented beeswax candles, and the most adorable little ceramic hedgehog. Everything in the gallery is high quality and made by a local artist. With works by 25 guest artists, you’ll find creations made of pottery, glass, fibers, and metal; an assortment of wearable art including jewelry and scarves; paintings and photography; home decor; holiday decoration — the list goes on and the stock is always changing.

If you’re in the market for fine art, Grove has a very attractive collection in a variety of media. While I don’t want to make disparaging comments about some artists’ co-ops, this gallery is the real deal. Watch the calendar for upcoming show openings to check it out for yourself.

Gorgeous one-of-a-kind neck wear.

Grove recently began offering classes and workshops and I am hooked. I recently spent a fun Sunday afternoon making a knockout centerpiece under the guidance of the charming Deb Cholewicki. She offered an extensive collection of bits and bobs we could choose from including organic items like pine cones and acorns, bright fabric, feathers, and moss, and let us pick out the pieces and colors that spoke to us. Half of the fun was seeing how each of our own interpretations turned out — while the base of each piece was similar, each was unique and dramatic. (And I had no idea it was so much fun to play with wool roving.)

A few of us convinced Deb to offer another class on Sunday, December 7, to make a winter centerpiece. You can sign up here. You can also drop in that same day to make delightful Christmas ornaments, or sign up for an upcoming workshop.

Grove Gallery offers classes to make your own special gift.

My centerpiece made a great Thanksgiving hostess gift.