Holiday Gifts Of A More Personal Nature Can Be Found In Many Small Ballston Spa Shops

By Rachel Phillips

It’s that time of year again. Amidst all the joy and happiness that comes with the holiday season, it’s also a hectic time for many people. Finding the perfect gift for everyone can be stressful.

Big chain stores offer a seemingly endless selection of pre-packaged gift sets and generic knickknacks. For those seeking a more personal touch, however, these gifts may fall short.

Fortunately, Saratoga County is home to an array of local businesses selling items that make for a personalized gift-giving experience. Ballston Spa is home to many of those kinds of shops.

Those shopping for antique lovers have a few options in the area.

In Ballston Spa, 91 Milton Ave., is the Two If By Sea Gallery, owned and operated by Gregory Tkal. The gallery is a showroom of antique lighting fixtures, as well as vintage art, prints, ornaments and stained-glass panels. The light fixtures, which include chandeliers, table lamps and more, have each been fully restored, rewired and cleaned, and are “ready to be used for another 100 years,” said Tkal. “The pieces I carry are very unique. Each light fixture is an older piece, and you just can’t get the quality of workmanship in a modern fixture.”

Tkal’s wares are also displayed on an online gallery, at twoifbyseagallery.com, and on his Etsy shop by the same name.

Another option for antique lovers is Doubleday House Antiques, 28 Washington St., Ballston Spa. It is full of charming antiques that can be suited to rustic-style rooms. Owner Mary Jane Breedlove has a selection including folk art, 18th and 19th century furniture, porcelain pieces, silver and glassware. Along with real quilts, country kitchen pieces, and cast iron doorstops, there is an assortment of real vintage Christmas ornaments and decorations, which can add character to a holiday display.

Breedlove’s website is doubledayhouse.com.

The Beal Company, 52 Front St., Ballston Spa, is home to another assortment of rustic, traditional crafts, such as tapestries, Adirondack-themed blankets, pillows, and placemats; cushions, totes, and table accessories.

Customers can even order individually crafted monogram art pieces, either from thebealcompany.com, or in store. The Beal Company has a variety of colors, designs, and fonts for people to choose from, allowing them to unleash their creative side to create a personal piece of decor.

Sacred Journey Ceramics, 20 Washington St., Ballston Spa, has personalized crafts, but with a more hands-on experience. Owner James Best has homemade ceramic items for sale, such as mugs, bowls, goblets and decorative wall art, but what might be of particular interest to shoppers are his classes.

The classes can be purchased as gift certificates. In Best’s opinion, the opportunity for a shared experience of creating something new with a loved one is what makes this an excellent gift.

“One of the things a lot of people say when they’re looking at what I do, is: ‘I’ve got so many mugs, I don’t need another.’ But with the classes, people are exploring their creativity. You can take the class with someone, and enjoy the activity together, and you get the positive feeling of actually creating your own piece. Whatever it is, you make it your own.”

The business website is sacredjourneyceramics.com.

Candles are a common go-to gift for many people to add a homey touch during the winter months. The Candle Collective, 20 Prospect St. in Ballston Spa offers a fun, creative alternative. Instead of going to the store to buy a candle, at the Candle Collective, people can make their own.

After choosing a specific mold, people can pick from a range of colors and scents before they’re guided through the process.

“It’s very accessible,” owner Catherine Spaneas said of the process. “It’s a fun place to come make your own gift for the holiday.”

The studio is also offering holiday-themed scents, colors and molds.

Spaneas, who opened the create-your-own candle studio in July, has a Facebook page with plenty of examples of candles customers have created. Her website is candle-collective.com.

The area’s small businesses don’t just offer custom and unique décor for the home. Glint/Glassworks Studio, 10 Washington St., Ballston Spa, offers people the opportunity to make their own jewelry, glass beads, sculptures and more.

The studio, run by Heather Leyh Longacker, has classes for both beginners and those more seasoned in flameworking. Her business is an opportunity for anyone who wants to give a personalized gift.

The designs of the gifts are only limited by the maker’s imagination. Longacker guides her students through the process of flameworking by first teaching them about basic safety, and then slowly introducing them to the process of working molten glass into shapes in order to make custom beads.

Participants will be able to easily follow along, while still allowing room for making a special and unique piece. Gift certificates are available for the classes, and pictures of the beads and ornaments made at the studio can be found on the business’ Facebook page.

Another local business specializing in jewelry is A Bead Just So, 114 Milton Ave., in Ballston Spa.

Owned and operated by Kate Fryer, it is a full-service bead store, where people can make their own jewelry regardless of their level of experience. Along with jewelry-making, Fryer also repairs jewelry, and teaches classes on the subject.

“You can also make hand-beaded Christmas ornaments, which make great hostess gifts for any Christmas parties you attend,” said Fryer.

The shop is also selling hand-crafted essential oil diffuser bracelets.

Her website is abeadjustso.com.

“Ballston Spa is full of unique little shops,” says Fryer. “It’s a great place to come do some holiday shopping.”