Made in West Des Moines: Your Hyperlocal Holiday Gift Guide

In this brave new world where "Made in China" is stamped on almost everything but our American foreheads, it's rare when you find a product not just made in the USA, but "Made in Your Town."

Since the second Small Business Saturday is just around the corner, Patch thought it would be a good time to remind our readers of a few of the many products made right here in West Des Moines.

In our round-up we've featured gifts that are uniquely local - made with local ingredients, by local hands or sold in local stores. This Christmas and Hanukkah when you give that treasured gift you're giving a taste of home, not to mention supporting your neighbor's livliehood.

So enjoy our little list of gifts and feel free to submit your own because we know this is only a smattering of the good stuff out there: 

• Your first stop for a homemade Christmas is Heart of Iowa Market Place, where if it's not about Iowa, it's not there. 
• While you're in Historic Valley Junction, stroll up and down Fifth Street and along the side streets. Teeming with charm, the dozens of specialty shops in the historic district are destinations for anyone serious about supporting home-grown West Des Moines businesses. 
• If jewelry is on your list, Valley Junction has a shop for that, too. You can make your own creations at Eyebeads & Gemstones. 
• At 2 Au Ltd., owner Ann Au invites customers to come in and work with artists to design their own unique jewelry, and also offers pre-made creations from local jewelry designers.
• Family owned Light the Earth has handcrafted stone jewelry and one-of-a-kind oil lamps cut from the Earth's stones; stone artist John Novotny often is asked to cut rocks taken from family farms, for example, and transform them into functional art.
• In the specialty treat category, stop by  Nan's Nummies before you leave the Junction. 
• Elsewhere, Chocolate Storybook or Choclaterie Stam are both divine choices.
• Speaking of sweet, don't forget Grover Cleveland, your incredibly hulking big Newfoundland dog – or your small purse-sized Chihuahua for that matter. Head over to West Glen Town Center and grab some gourmet dog treats from Three Dog Bakery.

So now it's your turn. Where are you shopping locally? Add your links in the comments and submit your photos. Come back to West Des Moines Patch's Holiday Guide 2012 for more holiday shopping ideas.