Shop local this holiday season and give Athens gifts as part of a Georgia Made Georgia Grown holiday! Athens is home to a long list of locally-owned businesses that offer a variety of unique and locally-made items and experiences. Even Expedia named Athens as one of the Best American towns for Holiday Shopping!   

Take a look at these Athens vendors to find holiday gifts for friends, family, and everyone in between! While you're in Athens this holiday season, be sure to visit these wonderful artists, shop small, and take home a piece of Athens for the special people in your life!

Stocking Stuffers ($0-15)

Athens & Georgia Ornaments 

Price: $20

Maker: The Pickled Lemon

These cute UGA Christmas ornaments are the ideal stocking stuffer for the Dawg fan on your list. The Pickled Lemon was born out of owner Kelley Berry's love for the dawgs and cute boutique goods, but without the boutique prices. Visit @thepickledlemon on Instagram or in person at Junk in the Trunk.

Snowy Owl or Owlet

Price: $9

Maker: Ecoleeko

This cute little snowy owl or owlet will fly around your heart! Made with organic cotton sherpa and bamboo felt as well as organic cotton yarn for embroidered faces, you can't beat this adorable stocking stuffer. Ecoleeko is a one-woman-owned business selling earth-friendly toddler toys, organic infant toys, organic baby rattles and more using only natural and sustainable materials. The business recently relocated from its small home studio in upstate New York to sunny Athens, Georgia!

Print Bookmarks & Coloring Pages

Price: See vendor for details 

Maker: Lexington Vintage located at 1743 Lexington Rd, Athens, GA 30605

Lexington Vintage is home to all things Handmade, Vintage and Antiques! Come out to the store and browse this multi-vendor marketplace with an artistic twist. Prints and bookmarks like the ones shown above can be found and gifted as a nice present for your loved ones. 

Rosemary Hydrosol

Price: $12

Maker: R&R Secret Flowers

A 2 oz spritz bottle filled with delightfully refreshing and nourishing hydrosol made from fragrant organic rosemary. Great to use as a facial toner for all skin types or as a hair mist to uplift the skin & spirit. These hydrosols are crafted in a high quality copper still using small batches of farm-grown & handpicked, organically grown ingredients using water-steam distillation. These pure botanical extracts are suitable for all cosmetic uses. R&R Secret Flowers is a flower farm & floral design studio manifesting joy and magic with flowers for all meaningful moments. From market-style bouquets to thoughtfully designed arrangements for weddings & life's special events, they offer a wide range of floral options to brighten your day.

"Happy Note" Notepads

Price: $15

Maker: Homeward Studio

On this lovely notepad, the heart of the florals lies the brilliant poppy, a symbol of admiration and remembrance. Each delicate petal, like cherished friendships, is a testament to human connections' profound beauty and significance. This notepad can be personalized or purchased as shown.  Homeward Studio is a small business that creates beautiful artwork and gifts. Their artwork was created by Allison "Allie" Ward. Allie prefers to work from real life. You might see her on a street corner drawing a landmark or in a garden sketching a flower or two. Check out the beautiful prints and gifts from the Homeward Studio shop at Homewardstudio.com.

6 oz. Longleaf Pine Candle

Price: $12

Maker: Little Light Co. | Southern Soy Candles

Gift a 6 oz. hand-poured Longleaf Pine organic soy candle this holiday season! CEO Beth Hughes creates distinctive scents, soaks and sprays in her Athens studio in her backyard, inspired by the natural surroundings of the South. Find her products at a wide range of retail locations around Athens including Terrapin Beer Company, Athens Interior Market, Entourage Clothing and so many more! Discover more retail locations at littlelightco.com/retail/.

Holiday Teas

Price: $7

Maker: MEplusTEA

Check out meplustea.com or the Athens Farmers Market on Saturday mornings at Bishop Park for holiday teas! Winter Bliss, loaded with flavorful orange and cinnamon, is Christmas in a cup and a tea lover's dream! Mint To Be hand blends locally grown peppermint, black tea and crushed peppermint candy to make the perfect holiday blend. MEplusTEA's blends are formulated to simply enjoy a cup of hot tea or explore the world of herbal home remedies!

Postage Pack

Price: $14

Maker: Calor Creative

7 Postage Stamp inspired sticker designs to share our love of Athens, GA! Stickers include Tulip, Rainbow Sun, Fire Hydrant, Local Beer, Coffee Cup, Twilight Ride, and Bulldog. Locally embroidered. Calor Creative is a local design studio specializing in brand identity and website design. In Spanish, “calor” means heat. It can be used to describe how it feels outside on a sunny day, or to describe someone’s enthusiasm for a subject. Calor Creative combines both: bright, warm designs with an enthusiasm for learning about other people and helping them tell their stories to the world. You can find some of Calor Creative's products at REI, MotherLode, online at calorcreative.design, and at select markets!

Stickers

Price: $4 each or 4 for $15

Maker: Anna Forrester - Illustration + Design

These nature-focused stickers include Georgia State Tree, Longleaf Pines, Geo Georgia, Georgia Regions and Beloved Appalachia. Find Anna Forrester's designs on her website and order via email at annacarletonforrester3@gmail.com. Working primarily in digital illustration, Anna's prints revolve around outdoorscapes, local and regional illustrations, place portraits and mapmaking.

Soothing Skin Drops

Price: $5

Maker: Healing Ways

Soothing Skin Drops are all-natural mini lotion bars. With just four natural ingredients, Soothing Skin Drops can be used in a variety of ways and are great for the whole family! This resealable package contains three Soothing Skin Drops. Healing Ways Skin Care is a 100% natural skincare line that delivers healing benefits.

$0-25 Gifts 

Earrings

Price: $20

Maker: The Pickled Lemon

These lightweight earrings are perfect for the big game! The Pickled Lemon was born out of owner Kelley Berry's love for the dawgs and cute boutique goods, but without the boutique prices. Visit @thepickledlemon on Instagram or in person at Junk in the Trunk.

 

Handmade Jewelry

Price: See vendor for details 

Maker: Lexington Vintage located at 1743 Lexington Rd, Athens, GA 30605

Lexington Vintage is home to all things Handmade, Vintage and Antiques! Come by the store this season and check out its beautiful handmade jewelry. These one-of-a-kind earrings make the perfect gift for a special person in your life!

Dried Flower Ornament

Price: $12

Maker: R&R Secret Flowers

R&R dried flower ornaments are so sweet! All of the flowers were grown on the farm this season and dried and placed into a glass ornament. They will keep their colors as long as they are kept out of direct sunlight for long periods of time. Great for the holidays or for keeping up year-round. R&R Secret Flowers is a flower farm & floral design studio manifesting joy and magic with flowers for all meaningful moments. From market-style bouquets to thoughtfully designed arrangements for weddings & life's special events, they offer a wide range of floral options to brighten your day.

Georgia Bulldog Holiday Cards

Price: $20

Maker: Homeward Studio

Celebrate the holiday season by sharing your love for the Georgia Bulldogs with friends and family. Artist Allison Ward beautifully designed these cards featuring Uga, the celebrated mascot for the University of Georgia. Homeward Studio is a small business that creates beautiful artwork and gifts. Their artwork was created by Allison "Allie" Ward. Allie prefers to work from real life. You might see her on a street corner drawing a landmark or in a garden sketching a flower or two. Check out the beautiful prints and gifts from the Homeward Studio shop at Homewardstudio.com.

10 oz. Longleaf Pine Candle

Price: See vendor for details 

Maker: Little Light Co. | Southern Soy Candles

This 10 oz. Longleaf Pine organic soy candle is the scent of the season! Established in Athens, Georgia, Little Light Co. is an all-natural, hand-poured candle & apothecary company that designs sophisticated scents and products. CEO Beth Hughes creates distinctive scents, soaks and sprays in her Athens studio In her backyard, inspired by the natural surroundings of the South. Find her products at a wide range of retail locations around Athens including Terrapin Beer CompanyAthens Interior Market, Entourage Clothing and so many more! Discover more retail locations at littlelightco.com/retail/.

Peace & Love Tea Gift Set

Price: $15

Maker: MEplusTEA

Check out meplustea.com or the Athens Farmers Market on Saturday mornings at Bishop Park for the Peace and Love Tea Gift Set! Tea.pothecary Gift Sets are individual tea bags of MEplusTEA's herbal home remedy line. Each gift set contains five individually wrapped tea bags. MEplusTEA's blends are formulated to simply enjoy a cup of hot tea or explore the world of herbal home remedies!

GOAT Hat

Price: $25

Maker: Calor Creative

The GOAT Hat is an ode to the mascot before the bulldog, and a nod to the Greatest Of All Time. Black pigment dyed baseball cap with brass metal snap. Locally embroidered. Calor Creative is a local design studio specializing in brand identity and website design. In Spanish, “calor” means heat. It can be used to describe how it feels outside on a sunny day, or to describe someone’s enthusiasm for a subject. Calor Creative combines both: bright, warm designs with an enthusiasm for learning about other people and helping them tell their stories to the world. You can find some of Calor Creative's products at REI, MotherLode, online at calorcreative.design, and at select markets!

Small Prints (8.5 x 11)

Price: $20

Maker: Anna Forrester - Illustration + Design

These Athens-inspired nature prints make the perfect gift for outdoorsy loved ones. Visit Anna Forrester's website to explore her various print designs, from the North Oconee River Greenway to the he Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia. Place print orders via email at annacarletonforrester3@gmail.com. Prints can be 8.5" x 11" or 16" x 20". Working primarily in digital illustration, Anna's prints revolve around outdoorscapes, local and regional illustrations, place portraits and mapmaking.

Emotional Support Chicken Pin Cushions 

Price: $8.75

Maker: Geek in Stitches

These Emotional Support Chicken are little cuties that work great as pin cushions or as decor! They would make perfect gifts for the sewer or crafter on your list. Geek in Stitches is a local creator that makes machine sewn practical fabric items (trivets, zipper bags, coasters, bowl holders, bookmarks, key fobs, etc.), along with both custom framed quilted fabric artwork, quilted acrylic canvas and mixed media artwork that include both Georgia and LGBTQIA+ themes. Geek in Stitches can be found at craft events throughout the year. Check out their schedule here

 

Owie Cream

Price: $15

Maker: Healing Ways

Owie Cream is an all-natural, all-purpose moisturizing cream. With just four natural ingredients, Owie Cream can be used in a variety of ways and is great for the whole family! This cream comes in a beautiful 2 oz. cobalt blue glass jar. Healing Ways Skin Care is a 100% natural skincare line that delivers healing benefits.

Sheer Floral Stockings

Price: $22

Maker: Grail Bra Specialists at 1055 Gaines School Rd Suite 110, Athens, GA 30605

These woven-design sheer floral stockings are perfect for the holidays. Available in sizes Medium through 2XL. Grail Bra Specialists is an independent, woman-owned bra fitting specialty boutique serving Athens and the surrounding community since 2019. Grail embraces total body inclusivity, with over 260 sizes stocked in-store. Its expert bra fitters are here to offer each client a knowledgeable and judgment-free fitting experience.

 

$26-50 Gifts

Georgia Nutcrackers

Price: $49

Maker: The Pickled Lemon

These Georgia Nutcrackers are the best holiday decor for the Dawgs fan you want to delight this year. The Pickled Lemon was born out of owner Kelley Berry's love for the dawgs and cute boutique goods, but without the boutique prices. Visit @thepickledlemon on Instagram or in person at Junk in the Trunk.

Nature Ducky

Price: $39

Maker: Ecoleeko

Nature Ducky is a sweet & soft companion for your child's adventures! Ducky's body is made with soft fluffy unbleached organic cotton sherpa and soft velour wings, beak and legs. All dolls have organic cotton embroidered eyes and are filled with fluffy organic cotton fiber and ground walnut shells for beanbag weight in the legs. Ecoleeko is a one-woman-owned business selling earth-friendly toddler toys, organic infant toys, organic baby rattles and more using only natural and sustainable materials. The business recently relocated from its small home studio in upstate New York to sunny Athens, Georgia!

Handmade Leather Jewelry & Keychains

Price: See vendor for details 

Maker: Lexington Vintage located at 1743 Lexington Rd, Athens, GA 30605

Lexington Vintage is home to all things Handmade, Vintage and Antiques! Tap into the Athens art scene this holiday season and check out Lexington Vintage's beautiful handmade leather jewelry and keychains.

Dried Flower Wreath

Price: $39-50

Maker: R&R Secret Flowers

Gift a one of a kind wreath decorated with dried flowers & foliage from the R&R Secret Flowers farm. Dried wreaths will last for many many years if kept indoors, away from direct sunlight, and away from moisture. R&R Secret Flowers is a flower farm & floral design studio manifesting joy and magic with flowers for all meaningful moments. From market-style bouquets to thoughtfully designed arrangements for weddings & life's special events, they offer a wide range of floral options to brighten your day.

Wine Satin & Lace Robe

Price: $32

Maker: Grail Bra Specialists at 1055 Gaines School Rd Suite 110, Athens, GA 30605

This luxe satin robe is thigh-length and has delicate embroidered lace detailing on the sleeve cuffs. Also available in curvy sizes. Grail Bra Specialists is an independent, woman-owned bra fitting specialty boutique serving Athens and the surrounding community since 2019. Grail embraces total body inclusivity, with over 260 sizes stocked in-store. Its expert bra fitters are here to offer each client a knowledgeable and judgment-free fitting experience.

Pretty Posies Travel Mug

Price: $32

Maker: Homeward Studio

A classic handled mug with a travel lid in stainless steel! Easy to hold and convenient to carry from home to office. Keeps beverages warm or chilled. This mug sports the beauty of a flower bouquet with poppies. This mug makes your morning coffee beautiful. 
 Homeward Studio is a small business that creates beautiful artwork and gifts. Their artwork was created by Allison "Allie" Ward. Allie prefers to work from real life. You might see her on a street corner drawing a landmark or in a garden sketching a flower or two. Check out the beautiful prints and gifts from the Homeward Studio shop at Homewardstudio.com.

MiaLa Nordic Kindness Elf 

Price: $46

Maker: MiaLa 

The MiaLa Nordic Kindness Elf is a one-of-a-kind 12” fabric art doll. MiaLa began around 12 years ago in Athens, GA. They make an assortment of clothing and bags, but their main products are the unique Nordic kindness elves. Each elf is one of a kind and made with special materials like vintage laces and woven folk ribbon from Sweden. They hand make 50-100 elves a year and can be found at local holiday markets as well as MiaLa.Etsy.com.

Moon Cycle Tea Gift Set

Price: $45

Maker: MEplusTEA

Ladies favorite! Moon Cycle Gift Set is formulated to help decrease PMS and menstrual pain naturally. Check out meplustea.com or the Athens Farmers Market on Saturday mornings at Bishop Park to purchase! The gift set includes five individual tea bags of Sacred Womb, five individual tea bags of Herbal Pain Relief, one 3 oz. bottle of Moon Cycle Oil and a signature logo tote. MEplusTEA's blends are formulated to simply enjoy a cup of hot tea or explore the world of herbal home remedies!

Athens Nalgene and Trail Markers 

Price: $35

Maker: Calor Creative

The Athens Nalgene is the perfect bottle to take on your next hike. We always cover our own water bottles in stickers, so we designed a pack of Trail Markers to match. Each Trail Marker pack contains stickers for 8 trails in Athens, GA. You can reward yourself by adding a sticker to your bottle each time you finish a local trail!

Calor Creative is a local design studio specializing in brand identity and website design. In Spanish, “calor” means heat. It can be used to describe how it feels outside on a sunny day, or to describe someone’s enthusiasm for a subject. Calor Creative combines both: bright, warm designs with an enthusiasm for learning about other people and helping them tell their stories to the world. You can find some of Calor Creative's products at REI, MotherLode, online at calorcreative.design, and at select markets!

 

Healing Ways Big Gift Bucket

Price: $50

Maker: Healing Ways

The Big Gift Bucket contains: 1 oz. Owie Cream, 2 oz. Owie Cream, Large Body Butter Bar, Large Bag of Soothing Skin Drops, and Small Bag of Soothing Skin Drops. Soothing Skin Drops and Body Butter Bars are all-natural lotion bars. Owie Cream is an all-natural, all-purpose moisturizing cream. This cream comes in a beautiful cobalt blue glass jar. Also see the Very Big Bucket and Extra Big Bucket for even more gift bundles! Healing Ways Skin Care is a 100% natural skincare line that delivers healing benefits.

 

Collaged Fabric Sea Turtle on Acrylic Canvas 

Price: $50

Maker: Geek in Stitches

These fun and colorful fabric sea turtles on acrylic canvas would make awesome gifts for the beach lover in your life.  Geek in Stitches is a local creator that makes machine sewn practical fabric items (trivets, zipper bags, coasters, bowl holders, bookmarks, key fobs, etc.), along with both custom framed quilted fabric artwork, quilted acrylic canvas and mixed media artwork that include both Georgia and LGBTQIA+ themes. Geek in Stitches can be found at craft events throughout the year. Check out their schedule here

$51-100 Gifts 

Christmas Sweaters

Price: $57

Maker: The Pickled Lemon 

This Merry Everything Sweater is the ideal gift for the holiday elf in on your shopping list!  The Pickled Lemon was born out of owner Kelley Berry's love for the dawgs and cute boutique goods, but without the boutique prices. Visit @thepickledlemon on Instagram or in person at Junk in the Trunk.

Seasonal Flower Arrangement

Price: $50-100

Maker: R&R Secret Flowers

These Seasonal Flower Arrangements are a great way to let someone know you are thinking about them! Mix of fresh seasonal flowers and foliage artfully arranged in a vase. Each arrangement is unique, lush, fresh & beautiful! R&R Secret Flowers is a flower farm & floral design studio manifesting joy and magic with flowers for all meaningful moments. From market-style bouquets to thoughtfully designed arrangements for weddings & life's special events, they offer a wide range of floral options to brighten your day.

Open Magnolia on Navy Print

Price: $31- 77 (varies with size)

Maker: Homeward Studio

A true symbol of the South is the gorgeous magnolia. The magnolia means perfection and can be seen as a sign of welcome. "Open Magnolia on Navy" is an original hand drawn digital illustration. The print is in full color and printed on fine art paper using the giclee process. Homeward Studio is a small business that creates beautiful artwork and gifts. Their artwork was created by Allison "Allie" Ward. Allie prefers to work from real life. You might see her on a street corner drawing a landmark or in a garden sketching a flower or two. Check out the beautiful prints and gifts from the Homeward Studio shop at Homewardstudio.com.

The Saturday Collection

Price: $80

Maker: Calor Creative

Inspired by gamedays in Athens, The Saturday Collection has everything you need to complete your gameday experience! Save 15% by purchasing the whole bundle! Calor Creative is a local design studio specializing in brand identity and website design. In Spanish, “calor” means heat. It can be used to describe how it feels outside on a sunny day, or to describe someone’s enthusiasm for a subject. Calor Creative combines both: bright, warm designs with an enthusiasm for learning about other people and helping them tell their stories to the world. You can find some of Calor Creative's products at REI, MotherLode, online at calorcreative.design, and at select markets!

Framed Large Prints (16 x 20)

Price: $70

Maker: Anna Forrester - Illustration + Design

Gift a framed Athens-inspired nature print by local artist Anna Forrester! Visit Anna's website to explore her various print designs like the Georgia State Flower. Place print orders via email at annacarletonforrester3@gmail.com. Working primarily in digital illustration, Anna's prints revolve around outdoorscapes, local and regional illustrations, place portraits and mapmaking.

 

$101+ Gifts 

Personalized Holiday Inn Sign

Price: $35- 164 (varies with size)

Maker: Homeward Studio

Homeward Studio loves neon signs and enjoys personalizing them as gifts. The iconic Holiday Inn sign is a popular gift. Check out all the prints that can be personalized: Holiday Inn, The Georgia Theater, Atlanta's Coca-Cola sign, and The Clermont Hotel. Homeward Studio is a small business that creates beautiful artwork and gifts. Their artwork was created by Allison "Allie" Ward. Allie prefers to work from real life. You might see her on a street corner drawing a landmark or in a garden sketching a flower or two. Check out the beautiful prints and gifts from the Homeward Studio shop at Homewardstudio.com.

Large Fabric Decorative Landscapes

Price: See vendor for more details

Maker: Geek in Stitches

These large fabric landscapes are visual centerpieces that could pull together any space.  Geek in Stitches is a local creator that makes machine sewn practical fabric items (trivets, zipper bags, coasters, bowl holders, bookmarks, key fobs, etc.), along with both custom framed quilted fabric artwork, quilted acrylic canvas and mixed media artwork that include both Georgia and LGBTQIA+ themes. Geek in Stitches can be found at craft events throughout the year. Check out their schedule here

Blue Flower Necklace
 

Price: $300

Maker: Studio Mod Glass

This stylish Blue Flower adds a modern contemporary flair to your look. Featuring a unique hand-forged swirl of silver, it's a fun and fashionable way to express yourself. Studio Mod Glass produces hand-fabricated fused glass art which includes glass jewelry, sparkly glass ornaments and glass magnets.

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As you can see, Athens truly has something for every single person on your list this season. Look no further than the local shops and artisans that Athens has to offer for the perfect gift this holiday season that will keep your friends and family wanting to come to the Classic City for years to come. 

 

Need more ideas? Check out our holiday market roundup!