{"id":31571,"date":"2017-12-06T16:11:40","date_gmt":"2017-12-06T21:11:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saratoga.com\/saratogabusinessjournal\/?p=31571"},"modified":"2017-12-07T16:59:12","modified_gmt":"2017-12-07T21:59:12","slug":"holiday-gifts-personal-nature-can-found-many-small-ballston-spa-shops","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saratoga.com\/saratogabusinessjournal\/2017\/12\/holiday-gifts-personal-nature-can-found-many-small-ballston-spa-shops\/","title":{"rendered":"Holiday Gifts Of A More Personal Nature Can Be Found In Many Small Ballston Spa Shops"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Downtown Ballston Spa is decorated to welcome shoppers for the holidays. There are many shops in the downtown area where people can find out-of-the-ordinary gift options.
\u00a92017 Saratoga Photographer.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Rachel Phillips<\/p>\n

It\u2019s that time of year again. Amidst all the joy and happiness that comes with the holiday season, it\u2019s also a hectic time for many people. Finding the perfect gift for everyone can be stressful.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Those shopping for antique lovers have a few options in the area.<\/p>\n

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 \u201cready to be used for another 100 years,\u201d said Tkal. \u201cThe pieces I carry are very unique. Each light fixture is an older piece, and you just can\u2019t get the quality of workmanship in a modern fixture.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tkal\u2019s wares are also displayed on an online gallery, at twoifbyseagallery.com, and on his Etsy shop by the same name.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Kate Fryer, owner of A Bead Just So, 114 Milton Ave., in Ballston Spa, operates a business where people can make their own jewelry regardless of their level of experience.
\u00a92017 Saratoga Photographer.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Breedlove\u2019s website is doubledayhouse.com.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The classes can be purchased as gift certificates. In Best\u2019s opinion, the opportunity for a shared experience of creating something new with a loved one is what makes this an excellent gift.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the things a lot of people say when they\u2019re looking at what I do, is: \u2018I\u2019ve got so many mugs, I don\u2019t need another.\u2019 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

The business website is sacredjourneyceramics.com.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

After choosing a specific mold, people can pick from a range of colors and scents before they\u2019re guided through the process.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very accessible,\u201d owner Catherine Spaneas said of the process. \u201cIt\u2019s a fun place to come make your own gift for the holiday.\u201d<\/p>\n

The studio is also offering holiday-themed scents, colors and molds.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The area\u2019s small businesses don\u2019t just offer custom and unique d\u00e9cor 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The designs of the gifts are only limited by the maker\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Gregory Tkal, owner of Two If By Sea Gallery, 91 Milton Ave., Ballston Spa, specializes in antique lighting fixtures, as well as vintage art, prints, ornaments and stained-glass panels.
\u00a92017 Saratoga Photographer.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\u2019 Facebook page.<\/p>\n

Another local business specializing in jewelry is A Bead Just So, 114 Milton Ave., in Ballston Spa.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can also make hand-beaded Christmas ornaments, which make great hostess gifts for any Christmas parties you attend,\u201d said Fryer.<\/p>\n

The shop is also selling hand-crafted essential oil diffuser bracelets.<\/p>\n

Her website is abeadjustso.com.<\/p>\n

\u201cBallston Spa is full of unique little shops,\u201d says Fryer. \u201cIt\u2019s a great place to come do some holiday shopping.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Rachel Phillips It\u2019s that time of year again. Amidst all the joy and happiness that comes with the holiday season, it\u2019s 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":196,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[139,137],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31571","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-holiday-guide","category-holiday-shopping"],"yoast_head":"\r\nHoliday Gifts Of A More Personal Nature Can Be Found In Many Small Ballston Spa Shops - Saratoga Business Journal<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.saratoga.com\/saratogabusinessjournal\/2017\/12\/holiday-gifts-personal-nature-can-found-many-small-ballston-spa-shops\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Holiday Gifts Of A More Personal Nature Can Be Found In Many Small Ballston Spa Shops - Saratoga Business Journal\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Rachel Phillips It\u2019s that time of year again. 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