Homegrown Happy Valley

Sugar on Top brings the cupcake craze to State College in a shop that’s just as flavorful as its cupcakes.

The furniture, including a recliner that used to belong to an area hospital, comes from Craig’s List and the Penn State surplus store, while the walls of the 1,700 square foot space are painted pink and robin’s egg blue. The shop is the creation of Shaunda Lohse, a self-proclaimed “bohemian” who wears chipped nailed polish and red cheetah pants—and pulls it off.

Pig Goes to Market Bag $39

This Little Piggy Went to the Market

Tote your local farmer’s market items in style with this adorable bag, handmade in Pennsylvania and available at the Steel Fork, a Web site operated by a Pa. couple who combined their passion for farming, artistry and entrepreneurship. The bag features a front pocket—the perfect size for stashing a whoopie pie.

A Local Holiday Feast

One of my favorite things about living local is the food. Treat someone special on your list to a local dinner or some homegrown treats. Here are a few ideas (feel free to leave your own suggestions below).

• Drinks: Otto’s or Elk Creek brew, local wine, Tait Farm Shrub with sparkling water
  

  Give the gift of local brew this holiday season

• Appetizer: Salmon spread from a local farmer’s market served with crackers; cream cheese with Tait Farm Chutney spread on crackers, served with local apples

Holiday Tree Trio; $16

O Christmas Tree

Stained glass isn’t just for church.  Add a little light to someone’s home with Heidi Urbanski’s stained glass art. Her Tannenbaum trio will add some shine to the Christmas tree, while catching any rays that manage to sneak through our windows this winter.

Heidi’s work can be found locally at Spela Children’s Store and Cafe and at Nature’s Hue off Main Street in Boalsburg.

Functional, Funky, Fun

Lip Balm Pouch with Clip; $6

Stefanie Canich of Hollyberry Designs makes bags, purses and pouches that would please any lady this holiday.  But this year the smaller accessories top my list.  The Hollyberry Lip Balm Pouch (made with a clip, so it’s handy whenever your lips need some TLC) and Checkbook Holder are designed with funky fabrics and make perfect stocking stuffers.  You can find Hollyberry items locally at Gift Adventures in downtown State College (137 East Beaver Avenue) or The Black Cat in downtown Bellefonte.

Checkbook Holder; $7.50

From now until Christmas, we’ll feature locally produced items to impress everyone on your list.

Visions of Pearls Danced in Their Heads

Local jeweler Staci Egan created this striking pendant by wrapping and weaving freshwater pearls and small coral beads with sterling wire. It’ll dress up a New Year’s Eve outfit or inject some beauty into a dreary winter evening.

Carli Necklace; $86; http://contempojewelry.net/

Kick off your holiday shopping by going local. The talented ladies at the Surface Artist Cooperative have added the following special dates to their calendar:

Local supporting local, November 19

Surface is holding its first fundraiser on Thursday, November 19 from 9 a.m. - 6p.m. Fifteen percent of total sales that day will benefit the Corl Street Elemetary PTO.

Add Surface to your holiday shopping route, November 27 and 28

Surface will be open on Friday, November 27 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. In addition, other local artists will share the space and sell their goods on Saturday, November 28. The following artists have been invited to join them:

Check out our Flickr slide show of the Central PA Festival of the Arts and People’s Choice Festival for 2009. If you have more photos of either festival (especially the musicians), upload them to our Flickr group.

Make room in your produce bag for next week’s Boalsburg Farmers’ Market. Tuesday, June 23rd marks the second annual Art at the Market, which means you’ll be ogling more than food.

What could be better than browsing for fresh food, while admiring–and maybe even buying–paintings, jewelry, photography and fine crafts by fellow locals? The artists will be there to discuss and demonstrate their work and some will even be painting scenes from the market.