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In my view, creating a well-composed stuffed stocking is a special art. Sure, you could always grab a handful of leftover Halloween candy, some spare tea light candles, a not-quite-used-up Amazon gift card -- but, where you do go to create a badass stocking? A stocking that says, "hey man, this assortment of tiny presents is NO JOKE"? These places.
You can certainly get your Day of the Dead on at this Mexican/South American gifts and whimsy shop, but don't overlook the nice selection of Asian and Indian crafts, too.
Austin's most beloved toy company -- one frequented by Quentin Tarantino when he's in town -- is lined with whole baskets of action figures both contemporary and nostalgic, and is positively bursting with Hello Kitty paraphernalia.
Crafty, irreverent, locally-designed jewelry abounds at this SoCo favorite. Ask for their Poppy and Fern embroidered necklaces, which feature stitched locket-sized portraits of cute animals.
Austin's first fair trade store, Ten Thousand Villages is packed with African musical instruments, Middle Eastern jewelry, South American embroidered pouches, and enough ethnic odds and ends to delight any world traveler.
An elegant, sophisticated art and gifts shop that caters to the more tony Austin buyer, as well as to kitchen gadget geeks. On that (foodie) note, take a turn through their unique tea selection to find a stocking-sized box, or ogle at their handmade chocolate truffle-filled display case.
Unusual, hip, and incredibly high quality, being inside Spartan is like being inside a home featured on Apartment Therapy. Gifts are pricier here, but utterly unique: Think unglazed, rough ceramics, burlap everything, heavy woods, cheeky taxidermy.
Handmade cards, playful baubles, artsy magnets and screen-printed tees: ATown is a small mecca of crafty local Austin fun, with the majority of their wares created by local artists. Another plus? It's all pretty reasonably-priced.
Next door to Blue Dahlia Bistro and just across the street from East Side Yoga lies this airy, quirky gift shop, one in which I imagine Wes Anderson having a total field day. Replete with tiny Japanese delights, vintage calendars, and gift cards so utterly well-designed they could be framed and displayed all by themselves, gifts here appeal to those with a modern aesthetic and childlike sensibilities.
