Unique, Texas-made gifts available locally

  • Rustler’s Junction Store Manager Jennifer Chancey, left, and co-owner Carol Chancey pose by a couch upholstered in Texas and a table made in Lampasas County. MADELEINE MILLER | DISPATCH RECORD
    Rustler’s Junction Store Manager Jennifer Chancey, left, and co-owner Carol Chancey pose by a couch upholstered in Texas and a table made in Lampasas County. MADELEINE MILLER | DISPATCH RECORD
  • Lampasas County-made 4J Crosses decorations can be found at Coming Home Furniture & Gifts. MADELEINE MILLER | DISPATCH RECORD
    Lampasas County-made 4J Crosses decorations can be found at Coming Home Furniture & Gifts. MADELEINE MILLER | DISPATCH RECORD
  • Fiesta Winery’s seasonal Sweet Dreams and Christmas Cheer wines are offered at several local outlets. COURTESY PHOTO
    Fiesta Winery’s seasonal Sweet Dreams and Christmas Cheer wines are offered at several local outlets. COURTESY PHOTO
  • Custom-made Texas and bluebonnet pendants are crafted and sold at Bluestar Jewelers. MADELEINE MILLER | DISPATCH RECORD
    Custom-made Texas and bluebonnet pendants are crafted and sold at Bluestar Jewelers. MADELEINE MILLER | DISPATCH RECORD
  • These glittery wine glasses are made in-house at the Jessie Dallas Boutique in Kempner. MADELEINE MILLER | DISPATCH RECORD
    These glittery wine glasses are made in-house at the Jessie Dallas Boutique in Kempner. MADELEINE MILLER | DISPATCH RECORD

Residents are urged to shop for holiday gifts locally. That is one way to support the local economy and Texas as the state recovers from the COVID-19 recession.

From foods to garments, local retailers sell a variety of Texas-made and Lampasas County-made products that appeal to diverse tastes.

Holiday Farms has made candy in the county since 1988, and sells divinity, 15 flavors of fudge, chewy pecans, peanut patties and more. Assortments of candy can be packaged in gift boxes and ordered online through the Holiday Farms website, or at Etsy and Amazon.

Moonie’s Hemporium on the downtown square also sells Holiday Farms candies.

Fiesta Winery releases two holiday wines each November: Sweet Dreams and Christmas Cheer. Both are available at the winery in Bend, and in Lampasas at Stoney’s Liquor, H-E-B and The Bottle Shop.

For an energizing beverage, try an Alamo Coffee blend. Alamo Coffee roasts its beans in Lampasas and sells six blends online at alamocoffee.com. General Manager Jacob Flore recommends the Brazos Breakfast Blend for gift giving. It’s a mix of light and dark roast, suitable to almost every palette, he said.

Lampasas-based Tx Hill Country Foods recently opened and sells preserves, sauces, pickles and jams made from fresh produce in small batches. The company also offers five types of freshly baked bread, including jalapeño-cheddar, apple and pumpkin spice.

Tx Hill Country Foods products are available in gift boxes and include free delivery within 15 miles of Lampasas. To place an order, call Bob at 214-970-7556 or Beverly at 903-654-0116.

Many of Lampasas’ signature shops sell an assortment of Lampasas County- and regional-made items, too.

Bluestar Jewelers owner Tine Te creates hallmark bluebonnet and Texasshaped pendants at his downtown shop. The pendants are made from sterling silver, blue sapphire and accent gems, and they come in customizable styles.

In Kempner, Jessie Dallas Boutique sells pillows and glittery wine glasses made in-house, and multi-color tumblers made elsewhere in Lampasas County.

Merk & Tilley’s as well as Moonie’s Hemporium sell many Texas-made food, household and clothing items.

Merk & Tilley’s offers about a half-dozen Texasdesigned clothing lines and Texas-made sauces, jellies and dip mixes. River Bees Honey products, made in Lampasas County, are available at the downtown Merk & Tilley’s store.

At Moonie’s Hemporium, shoppers can find soaps, marinades, seasonings, jewelry and lavender products made in Texas. It also sells shirts designed in Lampasas.

Artist Sandra Langston, owner of the Langston Art Gallery adjoining Moonie’s Hemporium, paints many of her pieces in Lampasas. Some depict scenes in Lampasas County and surrounding areas.

Coming Home Furniture & Gifts offers Texas-made furniture and a number of gift items made by Texas entrepreneurs, including candles, salsa, goat-milk skincare products, coffee, preserves, pecans and chocolates.

Coming Home also sells 4J Crosses cedar crosses and wooden decorations made in Lampasas County. The line currently includes Christmas-themed pieces.

Rustler’s Junction owners say they strive to source Texas-made products, and their line-up includes statues, candlesticks, grills and grilling accessories, artwork, pottery and other household accessories. The business sells cedar rocking chairs made in Texas, and many of its furniture pieces also are made in Texas.

Rustler’s Junction offers a few one-of-a-kind furniture pieces made from mesquite by a local craftsman, including a table embedded with turquoise and shell casings, a lazy susan and a cutting board.

Baby J’s Children’s Boutique sells Texas-made onesies, toys, teethers and other children’s products. The boutique also sells custom Badger wear and screen-printed garments made by local mothers.

In addition, Baby J’s offers invitations and other specialty printed items made by Udderly Creative, a digitalmarketing and printing company located near Lampasas’ historic downtown square area.