Midwest Living Holiday Gift Guide 2016

By Producers: Tara Okerstrom-Bauer and Angela Ufheil; Photographers Marty Baldwin and Jacob Fox
October 11, 2016
From a Chicago-made gramophone to an Ohio black walnut liqueur, find Midwest gifts that rock.
Start Slideshow

1 of 13

Gramovox gramophone

Sculptural vintage design goes modern in this Chicago-made Bluetooth speaker. It's 20 inches high with a solid walnut base. Just when you think Adele can't sound any smoother, listen to her through something this stylish. $299.99 (gramovox.com).

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 13

Heritage Bicycles bike and Whirly Board

Tykes can skip training wheels (really!) by starting with a pint-size, pedal-free balance bike. The Bennett from Chicago's Heritage Bicycles and Loll designs in Minnesota is made of recycled milk jugs. $270 (heritagebicycles.com).Aspiring X Games skateboarders perfect rotations (and klutzes practice their balance) on this sleek wooden agility trainer developed in Lake Mills, Wisconsin. $119; for 10% off, use code MWL10(whirly-board.com). 

3 of 13

Uncle Goose blocks

Raise a guitar star-or become one yourself-with basswood chord diagram cubes from Michigan. $25; for 10% off, use code MWL10 (unclegoose.com).

Advertisement

4 of 13

Magnolia Place Woodworks cutting board

A Minnesota father-son team uses a seven-step sanding process to achieve a crazy-smooth finish on this black walnut board. From $195; for free shipping, use code MWLFS (magnoliaplacewoodworks.com).

5 of 13

Artifact Bag Company apron

Forget frills. These unisex aprons from Omaha are built for style and function with sturdy fabric and generous pockets for tools of any trade. From $52 (artifactbags.com). 

6 of 13

Ginny Sims Ceramics mug

A Minneapolis-based ceramic artist crafts the prettiest pottery vessels for our caffeine obsession. $36 (powderhornkitchen.com).

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 13

Faribault Woolen Mill Company log carrier

Gather fuel for your holiday hearth in one easy trip with this Minnesota-made, wool-accented firewood carrier. $95 www.faribaultmill.com

8 of 13

Happy Habitat blanket

Karrie Kaneda of Kansas City turns recycled cotton into eye-catching (and übersnuggly) blankets. $160; for 10% off, use code MWL10 (happyhabitat.net).

9 of 13

Watershed Distillery Nocino

Made from raw Ohio black walnuts, this limited-availability Italian-style liqueur is delicious drizzled over vanilla ice cream or stirred into coffee. Who knew something so luxe could come from those green orbs littering our lawns? $29.99 (watersheddistillery.com). 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 13

Sartori Cheese gift basket

Share the Dairyland love with five 4-ounce wedges of Bellavitano cheese, packed in a perfectly giftable crate. Flavors include balsamic, black pepper, Merlot, Raspberry Tart Ale and our favorite, espresso. $65.99; for 20% off, use code MWL20 (sartoricheese.com).

11 of 13

Lake and Loft planner

Nothing says New Year like a refreshingly blank calendar. This Michigan-designed, spread-across-the-desk version includes plenty of room to doodle and dream. $49; for 15% off, use code MWL15 (lakeandloft.com).

12 of 13

Beeropoly game

A college drinking game gets a handcrafted upgrade thanks to a husband-and-wife team in Nebraska. The game comes with six bottle cap player pieces, but we added our own to get more people in on the fun. $35 uncommongoods.com

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 13

Rawlings duffel bag

The Premium Heart of the Hide Leather Duffel Bag from the St. Louis-based company is the grown-up version of a sandlot kid's beloved baseball mitt. $549.99 (rawlings.com).

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next

By Producers: Tara Okerstrom-Bauer and Angela Ufheil; Photographers Marty Baldwin and Jacob Fox