Here’s the thing: There’s only a couple of weeks left before doing your holiday shopping is going to stop being fun. Right now there are friendly makers and retailers proffering alcoholic beverages and discounts, and probably back rubs, too, but if you wait too long you’ll just be making poor financial and taste decisions under duress. YOUR CHOICE.
• This year, instead of just envying the crafty types who make their own holiday gifts, be one of them. Schoolhouse Electric is hosting a whole series of workshops, A Handmade Holiday, that will guide you through. Schoolhouse Electric, 2181 NW Nicolai, through Sat Dec 13, various times and prices, schoolhouseelectric.com for details
• The second annual Essential Wellness Holiday Bazaar gathers vendors like RAW textiles, Melissa Mendoza handmade soaps, and Tied Up & Tousled jewelry. Organizer Aisha Harley is an advocate and instructor in such fields as yoga and the proper assignment of essential oils, so if you have any wellness yogis on your holiday list, this could be just the ticket. Crowne Plaza Portland, 1441 NE 2nd, Wed Dec 10, 6-9 pm
• The organizers of the Portland Fashion & Style Awards bring you Baby, It’s Cold Outside!, an evening of networking, shopping (with brands such as Bee Sam jewelry), and—obvi—drinking and snacking! Venus Allure Salon and Spa, Wed Dec 10, 5:30-8:30 pm
• Curiosity Club invites speakers from a huge range of interests and activities to talk about their paths and processes, and this week they’re hosting an alumni party at the program’s home, Hand-Eye Supply. All are invited to enjoy interesting conversations with interesting people over food and drinks, plus 15 percent off everything in the shop. Hand-Eye Supply, 427 NW Broadway, Fri Dec 12, 6-9 pm
• NE Alberta’s Amelia is closing in on the two-year mark in business, and they’re throwing a holiday party to celebrate the support that got them there. Come by for drinks, snacks, “fuzzy feelings,” and the chance to see their shop dog wearing a party dress. Amelia, 2230 NE Alberta, Fri Dec 12, 5-8 pm
• 220 Salon is getting into the pop-up game with a one-night-only sale and party called Sparkle + Shine to benefit Alaffia, Coffee4kids, and Mi Casa. Vendors include Oregon Alpaca Farms, Dandy Handmade, and Saint Olio, plus there’ll be raffles and prosecco a’flowing. 220 Salon, 213 SW Ash #211, Fri Dec 12, 5-9 pm
• If you care to take a different tack on the consumer/gift-buying front, consider a print from Kate Bingaman-Burt’s More! More! More! closing party. The show, which opened during this year’s design week, centered around the artist’s documentation of everything she consumed. Also for sale are giant receipts made of wood, plus there’ll be drawings, food, and drank. Liquid Agency, 910 NW Hoyt, Fri Dec 12, 3-8 pm
• ADX reprises its annual Gifted, a bonanza of diverse vendors (Red Duck Foods, Sacha Knives) you won’t find at all the other big holiday sales. Running well into the evening, expect festive adult beverages, a photo booth, gift-wrapping, and live music, too. ADX, 417 SE 11th, Sat Dec 13, noon-9 pm
• The Makery is gearing up for their second annual Winter Market, featuring a glittering roster of vendors, including Caravan Pacific, Pigeon Toe Ceramics, Demimonde, Reif, and Better Late Than Never. Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, Sat Dec 13, noon-7 pm
- Reif
- A timely message from Reif
• It might not be the first place you think of, but the Museum of Contemporary Craft‘s Gallery Store is a wonderful place to find unique and exceptionally well-made gifts from regional makers, as well as an excellent way to support the fine work of the institution. They’re getting a little help from their friends this week, too: When you shop at Pendleton Home Store on Saturday, a portion of the proceeds will go to the museum. Meanwhile, in the museum shop itself they’re hosting a trunk show for Kiriko, one of a handful of local companies producing beautiful apparel and housewares using vintage Japanese fabrics. Museum of Contemporary Craft, 724 NW Davis, Sat Dec 13, noon-4 pm; Pendleton Home Store, 220 NW Broadway, Sat Dec 13, 10 am-5:30 pm
• The studio home of small local companies New Refined Basics, Spacecraft, VINCAdesign, and Hew are opening up for an “open studio shindy.” Head over for the requisite food and drinks, Christmas music, and yet another chance to find that perfect, handmade gift! 534 NE 18th, Sat Dec 13, 3-8 pm
• Mink is celebrating with a daylong holiday party, wherein you’ll find free gifts with purchases, bubbles ‘n’ treats, 15 percent off sweaters, and a Raw Earth Wild Sky trunk show (running through the 20th). Mink, 3418 SE Hawthorne, Sat Dec 13, 10 am-7 pm
• It’s a grand local tradition: The Crafty Wonderland Super Colossal Holiday Sale gathers a mind-boggling number of regional makers and crafters for a one-stop shopping destination unlike anything else. Oregon Convention Center, Exhibit Hall D, 777 NE MLK, Sat Dec 13 & Sun Dec 14, 11 am-6 pm
• WARES is rounding up local purveyors of vintage and handmade apparel, accessories, plants, crystals, and more for a truly Portland-y shopping experience, with bonus points for the comforting proximity of a full bar. The Waypost, 3120 N Williams, Sat Dec 13 & Sun Dec 14, 10 am-5 pm
• Give Good Gift is in its fourth year now, featuring another batch of over 20 fantastic vendors (Another Feather, Branch Birdie, Olympic Provisions, Bridge + Burn) as well as being an art-supply donation drop-off site for p:ear; a place to get your picture done with Santa; a food truck destination, and a bit of a party, with “hot spiked winter cheer!” Union/Pine, 525 SE Pine, Sun Dec 14, 10 am-8 pm
• Palace is hosting their biggest sale of the year, with sale merch marked up to 75 percent off (and everything else at 20 percent off), snacks from Sweedeedee, a special selection of jewelry from Better Late Than Never, Alima Pure makeup demos, and DJ KM Fizzy. Palace, 2205 E Burnside, Sun Dec 14
• THIS IS NOT A SALE: There’s a new club in town for style-conscious bookworms, and the first meeting is tonight! Open to all, the Fashion Noteworthy Book Club aims to host monthly event wherein attendees will “dive into books entirely related to fashion.” First up: The Master of Us All: Balenciaga, His Workrooms, His World. Better get reading! House of Lolo, 221 NW 11th Tues, Dec 16, 7-9 pm