Your Favorite Island Xmas Gift

How about a case of Cruzan?

Novanut,

Thanks for the response. I've already sent Cruzan rum to those on the list who would enjoy it. Now I'm working on the harder to buy for folks, those who are more artistic-natured who appreciate more creative gifts.

I always find goodies when I'm not looking for gifts; if I buy them during the year I misplace them by November but if I wait until November to shop I forget what I saw and where I saw it. When I lived stateside I was very organized and had a huge cupboard where I kept gifts, wrapping paper, boxes etc. but I don't have the space (or the inclination to be that organized) here.

Caribbean Hook bracelets are nice to give. Kiddos like rum balls.

There is an artisan on St John who makes soap and beautiful soap dishes with petroglyph designs in them. I buy the soap and a dish and print out some information on the petroglyohs and include that in the present. Very nice and islandy, but also useful.

BTW, this is a great thread!

We've come to the islands right before xmas and so do some of our xmas shopping down there.

We go for the small bottles of cruzan, very affordable and brightly colored cover-ups for beachcombing ladies, soaps & scents & spices made on the islands, hot sauces, island cookbooks, fun island ornaments for the tree, watercolor paintings of the islands for those who appreciate them as much as we do, etc, etc...

Hi Onika,

What's the contact info on this artisan? And how much it costs? Thanks.

What about the hand blown glasses that they use at the Sun Dog cafe? I bought my mother 4 of them and she absolutely loves them for frozen drinks back at home.

Also, the Arts and Crafts show at Tillett Gardens, which is, I believe, the weekend after Thanksgiving?? Jason Budsan,the candle maker, and other local artisans who make all sorts of items. I bought local honey one year, but it seems to be hard to find again.

Last Xmas my relatives received Tesoro decor. Not much else to buy on STX when holiday shopping time arrives.

Hate to disagree with Alexandra's remark about not much to buy for holiday shopping. I own a boutique in F'sted and I offer fashions with a tropical flair as well as great handbags and shoes. I welcome everyone to come to F'sted, see what's there and stop in to Tropical Girl and say hi. Happy Holidays!

hello to everyone

If you are looking for a great, unique, locally made holiday gift, head on down to Whim Museum in Frederiksted, St. Croix on Sunday November 27. They are having their annual holiday Starving Artists Day—there will be around 100 vendors, selling everything from jewelry to pottery to paintings to furniture and more. The event runs from 10-5 pm. Admission is $5 and children are free. Its a great event and you will be sure to find a unique gift for everyone on your gift list!

patstx... I didn't mean to cast any aspersions on your wares! My relatives all live in cold northlands, so buying them tropical clothing for Xmas wouldn't be much use to them... not to mention it being difficult to get sizes right for people 4000 miles away. Shoes are even harder to buy for someone else. I've been hearing your radio ads lately and you are actually on my "to do" list for today, as I leave tomorrow to take my sons on a cruise for Thanksgiving. I'm eager to see what you have in your store. I live at Whim, so if you have clothes that work for me, I expect to be in again and again.

Shopping is pretty limited on STX. Shopping at Kmart for the family for Xmas just doesn't offer anything they couldn't get for themselves, in better quality at a better price, close to home. The Tesoro decor items were happily received last Xmas as being something they could not get for themselves and it brought a small piece of the island into their homes to remind them of where my sons and I were living. This year, I will probably buy my sisters Crucian bracelets. I'm still looking for inspired choices for a few other people.

Island themed Christmas ornaments are nice - saw some cute ones at Gallows Bay Hardware Store.

Hello,

St. Croix Leap makes wonderful cheese (and cutting) boards from mahogany - they are relatively inexpensive (all different sizes) and the guys there will carve loved ones' names (and little fish, stars, etc) into an end of the board, making it truly personal and unique. One year we bought a board for every couple we exchanged gifts with and each board's carvings were different (for newlyweds, they carves "kissing fishes" and the couple's names), but each was personalized with the couple's names. Everyone loved them and when we visit them now, we see that each of these boards has been well used and enjoyed (they are very low maintenance when used for parties and they never break).

Enjoy.

Jerk Everything--

Don't recall exact name, but the store where I buy is on St. John. When you come off the passenger ferry and turn right you will pass Verace and it is a little shack shop next door. It is across from Wharfside Village. Lots of different soap dishes and soaps. The shop smells divine!

If you can't find it, email me and I can look for receipts or something.

Hello Onika & Jerk Everything,

We carry a selection of soaps that are locally made on St. Thomas, also a few soap baskets. Scents include: Jasmine, Frangipani, Caribbean Rose, Tangerine-Pineapple, Bay Rum... among others. You can view them under Bath & Body at http://www.vitraders.com.

There are also some islandy Christmas Ornaments, Calendars, Rum Cakes, Rum Balls, some artwork, cookbooks, music, hot sauces, jerk seasoning and other seasoning... 😉

Happy Shopping (tu)

--Islander

For st croix shoppers, there is a great soaps and scents store on Queen cross Street in christiansted opposite Paradise Cafe. Great price range - super quality and delicious scents - gift wrapping too.

Yes, the store you're talking about on Queen Cross Street is actually called Soaps and Scents and is run by a very nice lady who makes all those wonderful things that smell so good! We bought our daughter some soaps and bubble bath and the lady mailed it to her address back in Texas, saving us the hassle of carrying it on the plane. She makes her soap in loaves and slices them for you, wrapping them individually. I bought a couple of sliced loaves, gave them out to friends and kept some to put in my lingerie drawer. Two years later they smell as good as the day she wrapped them.

How about airline tix for them to come visit?

The Pirate's Chest at Paradise Point on STT has lots of great gifts for X-mas. For the kids they have piratey-type things, like shark tooth necklaces, pirate coins, T-shirts, etc. And they have the cutest little onesie (sp?) for babies, that says "L'il Pirate" on the front and "Poop Deck" on the back with an arrow. Very cute. For her, things like sarongs, hats, candles, Caribbean Hook bracelets, coins, ear-rings, rings, etc. For him, lots of actual pirate treasure. Coins from shipwrecks ($30 - $6,000), bottles, plates, pistols, cannonballs, swords, etc. Cool store. Check it out.

Just bumping this up for everyone on STX who might not know about the Holiday Starving Artists event. All your holiday shopping in one place—locally made arts and crafts, plants, etc. etc. there is something for everyone on your gift list. Plus great local food, in an historic setting (Whim Greathouse in Frederiksted) You can't beat it!