Santa Cruz Works 2023 Holiday Gift Guide
While we love gifting experiences, some folks enjoy giving gifts to loved ones, neighbors, employees, and coworkers. It can be a struggle to find one that’s just right. If you’re looking for a locally-made gift for your loved ones, look no further! Featuring gifts we’ve hand-selected and submissions from small businesses, our curated gift guide is here to give you some ideas and hopefully make picking a gift a breeze. Whether it's a mom, dad, sister, friend, colleague, or white elephant, we've got you covered with a wide range of unique gift ideas of various price ranges. Take a look at treat them, or treat yourself…we won’t tell!
For the adventurer…
Hideaway Sleeping Platform
The Hideaway sleeping platform is the easiest way to turn your daily driver into the camping rig of your dreams. It fits almost any SUV, wagon, or pickup and sets up in minutes to create an elevated, level sleeping surface in the back of your vehicle. Adjust the height so you can stash your gear underneath while you enjoy a safe, dry, and quiet night’s sleep. Made right here in Santa Cruz from US-sourced materials. Shipping in January ’24..
For the musician….
Ventana Wave Pocket Amp ($99)
The Ventana Wave is a portable amplifier designed for musicians on the go🎵! It's perfect for amplifying sound anytime, anywhere. Ideal for guitarists, singers, ukulele players, harmonica virtuosos, violinists, banjo players, and accordion shredders.
Free engraving makes it the perfect gift 🎁!
For the stylish one…
Marcel Sterling Silver Block Bar Necklace ($135)
NYXA presents the Marcel Sterling Silver Block Bar Necklace. This piece pays homage to Marcel Breuer's brutalist legacy. Surprise your loved one with a unique blend of brutalist design and cutting-edge technology. NYXA’s creator lives in Santa Cruz and NYXA's jewelry is currently on display at the Cabrillo College gallery. NYXA is a contemporary jewelry brand crafting genderless, size-inclusive pieces ranging from $35+ that seamlessly merge innovative design, sustainability, and ethical craftsmanship.
Get 10% off using SCW2023 (offer can't be combined with other promos or discounts.)
The Dash Hemp Sashmill Shirt Jacket ($89)
Know someone who appreciate elevated basics, made ethically with sustainable materials that will last beyond the next fashion trend life cycle? Since 1997 Dash Hemp has designed and manufactured upscale hemp clothes for thousands of happy (and repeat) customers using high quality materials. This 100% hemp shirt jacket comes in colors like wheat, white, denim, olive, sienna, and teal. Shop at their Santa Cruz Sash Mill outlet for special discounts!
Mabel Bag ($185)
This hand-crafted custom tote bag is made from oil-tanned leather with the perfect amount of natural distressing, Pendleton wool remnant pocket on front and back, and upholstery canvas base; tote is lined with the sweetest of vintage quilts found at a local antique shop and repurposed exclusively for this bag. Interior features a set in zipper stash pocket and magnetic snap closure. This is the perfect everyday bag that can be dressed up or down depending your mood. Created by Sereia Design, a collective of services, products and offerings dedicated to reminding our community to embrace their uniqueness. Nestled in a little studio by the river and beach in Capitola, our goal is to make product and dreams come alive. Check out their full range of products including tees, tanks, sweatshirts, wristlets, and bags of all sizes.
For the one who always has cold feet…
Wool slippers and booties with leather or rubber bottoms ($74)
Baabushka is a woman-owned business in Santa Cruz offerring fair-trade, hand-made, cozy wool slippers and booties that are super comfortable, breathable, and sustainably made. The indoor versions of booties and slippers mimic being barefoot. The outdoor selections, with sturdy rubber soles, offer built-in arch support and can be worn out and about. The breathable, natural properties of wool keep feet at the perfect temperature no matter the season. Every slipper features a personal signature stitch letting you know who made it. Baabushka donates a percentage of sales to Global Citizen (a non-profit working worldwide to end extreme poverty). Get 15% off with code SCW
Merge4 Socks (~$11.11)
Merge4 socks are not just your average pair of socks; they're vibrant works of art that will make a statement wherever you go. With eye-catching designs from renowned artists, your feet will become the canvas for self-expression. Whether you're rocking colorful patterns, unique illustrations, or captivating messages, your feet will be turning heads and sparking conversations. Get your loved ones a pair at Merge4.com
For the smoothie lover….
BlenderCap Cordless Blender ($129)
BlenderCap is the most premium blender imaginable. It’s made by ex-Apple engineers in Scotts Valley from metal, not plastic and can make blended smoothies, shakes, and frozen drinks at home or away. Just twist BlenderCap onto the included Cruz bottle (or a Hyroflask) to keep your drinks cold. BlenderCap also fits bottles you already own to instantly transform them into a high-powered blender. Double click to blend until smooth, remove BlenderCap, and enjoy - it’s that simple. Learn More.
For the sweet one…
Surf City Santa Cookie Gift Tower ($21.95)
Give a local favorite this holiday season. One dozen of Pacific Cookie Company's hand-scooped gourmet cookies arrive inside this iconic beach town tower.
Santa Claus is comin' to Santa Cruz! Our iconic beach town tower is back this year with a holiday touch. Includes one dozen scrumptious cookies! Ships anywhere in the U.S.
For the Surfer…
Balance Board (w/cork Roller) ($140)
Timber Surf Co is an environmentally conscious surf and surf accessory company, specializing in Santa Cruz Redwood and cork material sets. Crafted with off-cuts from our board-building process, this balance board offers a fun and simple way to enhance your surfing skills while also keeping you entertained. We make everything from skateboards to surfboards, and each of them graced with materials from fallen trees, right here in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Learn more.
Low Profile Surf Helmet ($59)
Want to keep your skull safe, but also look cool? Surfskull designed a bump cap to look like a normal hat instead of a bulky helmet. With its sleek, low-profile design, you can hit the waves in style without sacrificing safety. Designed to stay on your head in even the heaviest pounding waves, but with the casual safety-conscious surfer in mind. With a layer of hard plastic and shock-absorbing EVA, you can rest assured that your head is protected from flying fins, and late drops.
For the one who loves a challenge…
Westcliff Puzzle ($32.00)
Looking for a fun way to spend some quality time with your loved ones? Check out this puzzle by Doug Ross which has 504 pieces all culminating into a beautiful view of Westcliff.
For the book worms…
Mother-Daughter Murder Night ($14.99 kindle/$21 hardcover)
Mother-Daughter Murder Night is a big-hearted mystery about a trio of amateur sleuths--a grandma, single mom, and teenage girl--who come together to solve a murder in their coastal California town. Written by Nina Simon, slam poet, NASA engineer, game designer, museum director, keynote speaker, Executive Director of the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, and mother. This big-hearted whodunnit was a Reese's Book Club pick, an IndieNext pick, and a Barnes & Noble best of 2023 pick.
Bay of Life ($60)
Renowned National Geographic photographer-writer team Frans Lanting and Chris Eckstrom have documented far corners of our living planet for decades. But the place they know best is California’s Monterey Bay, where they have lived for more than 30 years. In addition to the exquisite images and lyrical stories by Frans Lanting and Chris Eckstrom, Bay of Life includes an amazing gallery of deep-sea photographs captured by researchers at MBARI along with an original map of both marine and terrestrial protected areas in the Monterey Bay region. This book is a centerpiece of the Bay of Life Project, which connects land and sea and people with nature to present a unified view of the Monterey Bay region for the purpose of contributing to a sustainable future for the Bay of Life as a whole.
Could find what you were looking for?
Head Downtown and shop between November 25 and December 2 and you'll be eligible to win one of 400 Golden Envelopes at participating Downtown businesses.
Other Resources:
Google’s Holiday 100 Gift Guide