The Localist: Gifts For Kids

The holiday season is about to kick into high gear, and brings with it a whole series of questions: What to buy? What to wear? Where to celebrate? Though you may be sorely tempted to visit a big box store or a mall for the convenience factor, we implore you to keep your dollars and holiday spirit local.

Portland's proud DIY culture has sprouted a wealth of creative retail endeavors—from clothing to art to food to accessories to home furnishings and much, much more. Whatever you seek, locally inspired, locally crafted treasures (and necessities!) can be found in neighborhood shops in all six quadrants.

It makes sense to buy local on so many levels. This sensibility promotes sustainable spending practices creating a positive ripple effect. We vote with our dollar, so when we support our local artisans and the locally owned neighborhood shops that choose to carry them, we are supporting our local industries and suppliers—which in turn boosts our local economy and adds to better options, varied choices, more possibilities. When we think and act (hyper)locally, we can all truly thrive.

You should know that buying homegrown does not mean resigning yourself to gifting misshapen crochet pot holders to all of your friends and loved ones. Portland's talent is exceptional, as are the shop owners who curate their local inventory based on craftsmanship and quality.

To assist you on your quest to shop local, Neighborhood Notes has created a series of holiday gift lists that exclusively features locally made goods available at locally owned retailers. We call them Localists.

Everything you're looking for is right here, neighbors.

LOCALIST: GIFTS FOR KIDS

Of all the lucky recipients on your list, it’s the young ones who may get the most out of local presents this holiday season. Sure, you won’t have to worry about lead scares, and Portland’s children’s shops, mamapreneurs and crafters definitely deserve the support. But it’s the kiddies who will end up having all the fun with the imaginative toys and adorable duds that encourage their creativity, their style, and their PDX love—basically, you’re not just giving a gift, you’re ensuring they grow up to be incredibly cool Portlanders. Here’s a dozen local goodies for the kiddies.

COLOR ME ROCKET
What kid doesn’t dream of blasting off into space? Now they can—in their own custom-designed rocket. The 100% recyclable cardboard spaceship is a blank canvas for their creativity. Parents will love that you don’t have to be rocket scientist to fold it flat for easy storage. $50 at Child’s Play (Northwest District, 2305 N.W. Kearney St.), one of Portland’s oldest toy stores (since 1979!), now with off-street parking that will come in very handy on NW 23rd Ave this shopping season.

MS. WOOD’S BABY & TOT KIMONOS
They’ve already got a sense of whimsy and a flair for the dramatic—why not encourage them both with a unique kimono wrap? The soft cotton robes are a much more striking alternative to footie pajamas! Available in traditional floral patterns as well as simple one-color and modern patterns, designed and sewn by local mama Alicia Wood, in sizes from six months to Youth 6/7. $24-$35 online at Ms. Wood’s Kimono Shop.

SOFT AND CUDDLY FRUITS & VEGGIES
Grown-ups might not always love it, but there’s nothing like a little pretend cooking to get the kidlets excited. We’re currently loving these cheeky handmade versions of our favorite foods from Pickle Things and Monita Bonita. Pickle Things transforms reused felt into sandwiches and pizza, but also exotic options like falafel pockets and sushi rolls. There are even tea bags! And of course, fruits and veggies to start those healthy habits young. $10-$30 at Black Wagon (Boise, 3964 N. Mississippi Ave.) and online. Meanwhile, Lysa Stiffler crochets all sorts of goodies—from strawberries and bananas to eggplants, carrots, and radishes—that are soft and squishy and all-around pretty lovable for plants. Of course, maybe we’re biased by the her cupcakes and ice cream cones. $6-$8 each at Milagros Boutique* (Concordia, 5433 N.E. 30th Ave.) and online.

WILDE FIG CRAYON ROLLS
It would take two busy moms to think of these, and we’re so glad they did. Instead of scrounging through your purse for a dried out pen and scrap of receipt to keep your child occupied for hours—okay, more like minutes, but every one counts!—carry along an assortment of crayons in these roll-up holders so your budding Van Gogh can go to town. $10 at Milagros Boutique* (Concordia, 5433 N.E. 30th Ave.).

FLIPSIDE HATS
These toppers are super cute in that make-a-kid-look-like-a-hip-grown-up kind of way—which I personally can’t get enough of. The reversible brimmed caps are made from mostly salvaged materials, which is, of course, incredibly cool. Plus, the different patterns let the little ones get creative with their look. They’ll love you for all the attention they’ll get. $34 at Milagros (Concordia, 5433 N.E. 30th Ave.), Plue (Woodstock, 4411 S.E. Woodstock Blvd.), Bella Stella (Grant Park, 2751 N.E. Broadway), and Polliwog (Sunnyside, 2900 S.E. Belmont St.).

WOOD TOY SHOP GADGETS AND GIZMOS AND ROBOTS
They grow up so fast, it can’t hurt to slow it down a little with some old-fashioned, hand-crafted wooden toys from a local craftsman. There are, of course, blocks and puzzles, trains and trucks, but also rubber band-powered race cars and boats, catapults and tops, even robots and pretend iPhones if you just can’t stay away from tech. Prices range from $3 for a small top to $160 for a train set, but most hover around $12-$30, at Black Wagon (Boise, 3964 N. Mississippi Ave.) and Milagros (Concordia, 5433 N.E. 30th Ave.).

QUEEN BEE’S CHICKPEA BABY BAGS
Welcome a new mama and papa to the Portland Parents Club with a local classic—a baby bag from Queen Bee. These leather-free, PVC bags, featuring vibrant colors and simple flora designs, are so PDX they’re practically a rite of passage. Start ‘em off right. $160-$178 at Milagros (Concordia, 5433 N.E.30th Ave.), Bella Stella (Grant Park, 2751 N.E. Broadway), and Haggis McBaggis (Sellwood-Moreland, 6802 S.E. Milwaukie Ave.).

MISTER JUDY VINTAGE-INSPIRED DUDS & APRONS
Started by two sisters and named after their grandmother’s beloved dog, these locally-made blouses, skirts, button-ups, and aprons recall a simpler bygone era—and isn’t that what childhood is all about? Sweet skirt aprons, puff sleeves, a faux-fur cardigan for the girls; hip bowling and Havana-style shirts for the boys, in sizes twelve months to Toddler 5. Aprons $20, call for current clothing prices, at Grasshopper (Vernon, 1816 N.E. Alberta St.), Polliwog (Sunnyside, 2900 S.E. Belmont St.), and SpielWerk Toys (Boise, 3808 N. Williams Ave. & Sellwood-Moreland, 7956 S.E. 13th Ave.).

BABY DEAR VELCRO DRESS-UP DOLLS
Paper tears and rips, and the clothes never stay on with those dinky little tabs anyway. Thankfully, Baby Dear decided to fix the flawed paper doll concept by making themout of natural cotton—in a variety of skin and hair colors, including boys—with clothes that attach with velcro. Voila! Endless dress-up possibilities. Sets include six mix-and-match outfits, two shoes, and a carrying bag. $33 at Mississippi Treehouse (Boise, 3752 N. Mississippi Ave.), the newest kids’ shop to hit the Mississippi block!

MINNIE + LOLA BLANKETS & HAIRCLIPS
All the retro mod essentials you’ll need to hit the town with baby—polka dot blankets, striped bibs, damask burp cloths and reusable wipes (changing a diaper never looked this good), even hair clips to get pretty after getting cleaned up. Right now, the zebra print/hot pink blankie has me wanting to regress bad. Blankets $32-$48, bibs $15, burp cloths $11, wipes $12, and hair clips $4-$6 each, at Milagros (Concordia, 5433 N.E. 30th Ave.) and Mississippi Treehouse (Boise, 3752 N. Mississippi Ave.).

MAMA RUNS WITH SCISSORS KOOL KID LEGS & TUTUS
Some little girls refuse to wear pants, but what to do when the Portland winter hits? Tights are a big pain during potty runs. And that’s where Kool Kid Legs step in, full-size leg warmer in kick-ass patterns like rainbow stripes, bikes, and lightning bolts. (They can also be worn on the arms—try the tattoo pattern to shock the in-laws). And of course, for that girly girl who will have nothing to do with jeans, there are awesome tulle tutus that she’ll never take off (especially if she designs her own combo). Legs $6-$10, tutus $27 at Milagros (Concordia, 5433 N.E. 30th Ave.) and online.

PIRATES AND NINJAS ON T-SHIRTS, OH MY!
Have you noticed how much we love Milagros? They’re simply the old-school (since waaaaay back in 2004) experts when it comes to local, sustainable pregnancy, baby, and children’s products and resources. And they have a great sense of humor. Pick up one of their house “P is for Pirate” or “N is for Ninja” or “C is for Che” t-shirts before they’re snapped up for the holidays. Sizes three months to Youth 8. $20 at Milagros (Concordia, 5433 N.E. 30th Ave.).

Don’t miss the Milagros Holiday Bazaar next Saturday, December 5 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. You’ll be able to meet the crafty folks behind many of the products featured here, and even better, take them home knowing 10% of the sales will go to Mercy Corps.

Intro by Eve Connell.