Here comes Santa Claus! Here comes Santa Claus! Right down Santa Claus Lane!

He’s got a bag that’s filled with goodies from the state of Maine

Hear those sleigh bells jingle jangle, what a beautiful sight

When you give presents from Down East they’re certain to delight.

Santa’s helpers (some of whom you may recognize as Bangor Daily News reporters) have been busy combing the state for great holiday gifts with a Maine flavor. What we’ve come up with is a sleigh-load of interesting ideas, from delicious jams and jellies to one-of-a-kind pottery and sculpture.

Whether you’re shopping for your sister in Calais or your uncle in Rhode Island, a locally made present is sure to please. And if your loved ones can’t come home for Christmas, you can send a little bit of home to them.

Fir sure

You know how great the house smells when you first get your Christmas tree? Well, you can make the scent last year-round with Maine Balsam Fir Products’ balsam pillows. They come in various sizes and prints, including the tasteful pine-and-berries design shown here. The smell is heavenly, and you don’t need to worry about your cat knocking the ornaments off these. For a list of where to buy, visit www.mainebalsam.com.

Kristen Andresen

Seconds, anyone?

Monson-based Moosehead Manufacturing is renowned for its quality furniture, and factory seconds can be found at a significant discount at Robinson Mattress & Appliance in Dover-Foxcroft. You may not be itching to put a dining-room set under the tree, but Moosehead’s solid pine cutting boards make a practical, inexpensive gift (plus, they’re stamped with the company logo – very prestigious). They can be found at Robinson for $5.95 apiece.

Kristen Andresen

Not a grind

Some pepper mills can be, well, a grind. No matter how elegant in appearance, many mills contain cheaply made grinding mechanisms that are prone to binding up. Not Vic Firth pepper mills fabricated by the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s former timpanist in Newport. Vic Firth produces the mills, which boast a stainless steel mechanism as well as settings that lock into place. Vic Firth, Inc. can be reached at 800-894-5970 or www.vicfirthgourmet.com.

Letitia Baldwin

Pot luck

You won’t find moose and lobster on Mark Bell’s exquisite ceramic vases and bowls. What you will find are glazes that subtly echo the landscape and colors of Maine’s coast. His delicate, thin pieces are available in many shapes and sizes, but my favorites are the tiny vases and pots that come wrapped in beautiful paper boxes handmade by Stonington book artist Mary Howe. They cost between $50 and $100 apiece and are available at Bell’s Blue Hill studio on Route 15. For information or directions, call 374-5881.

Kristen Andresen

Fleece-lined

Indulge your dog’s fashion sense (or your chafed hands) with Planet Dog’s fleece-lined collar and leash. The Portland-based company sells myriad products. Call 800-381-1516 or visit PlanetDog.com.

The Washington Post

What’s cooking?

There are the cookbooks that look good and cookbooks that cook good. “Favorite Recipes of the Friends of Edith Patch” is definitely the latter. The cookbook was published as a fund-raiser to restore the former home of Patch, a University of Maine entomologist who was a pioneer for women in higher education. And though Patch never cooked – she was too busy shattering the glass ceiling – her friends sure can. It includes more than 1,000 recipes (huge by community cookbook standards) including Stephen King’s favorite bread.

It costs $16.95 and is available at Bangor Wine & Cheese Co., Dr. David Kimler’s office and Picture This in Bangor; Viking Sewing Center and A Touch of the Past in Brewer; BookStacks in Bucksport; The Sow’s Ear in Machias; Kalico Kitchen in Milford; The Map Store and Maine River Junction in Old Town; Boysenberries, Flowers, Jane’s Gifts, Page Farm and Home Museum, The Pretty Woman, The Store-Ampersand, Orono Pharmacy and the University of Maine Bookstore in Orono; and Abigail and Elizabeth in Veazie. For more information, call Jo Carol Alford at 866-7517.

Kristen Andresen

A good read

We all know a guy or gal who moved away from Maine 15 years ago and still keeps up on the local news. Make it a little easier by sending a gift subscription to their hometown newspaper or magazine. For the former County dweller, try the Caribou-based Echoes magazine. A one-year, four-issue subscription costs $17.50, or it costs $29.50 for two years. Call 498-8564 for information. Down East magazine is always a favorite. It costs $24 for a one-year, 12-issue subscription. Call 594-9544 or visit www.downeast.com for information. I admit, I’m biased, but I always like to give the Bangor Daily News. Prices vary depending on length and method of delivery. Call (800) 432-7964 or 990-8000 for details, or visit www.bangornews.com.

Kristen Andresen

Savory spread

There’s something sumptuous about spreading raspberry peach champagne jam or fig and walnut butter on a piece of morning toast. That’s why Stonewall Kitchen’s award-winning line of preserves and condiments is a great source for holiday gifts. For a flavor of Maine, the York-based company’s Wild Blueberry Jam or Apple Cranberry Chutney is a good choice. For a decadent indulgence, give the Mango Rum Butter or the Artichoke & Caper Relish. Stonewall’s products are available in many Maine stores and by calling 1-800-207-JAMS or visiting www.stonewallkitchen.com.

Letitia Baldwin

Return to your roots

When I first saw Old Bar Harbor Root Beer Syrup, I thought it was the coolest thing going. The bottle is adorable, it’s simple to make (add 1 part syrup to 5 parts seltzer), and the idea of homemade root beer has a definite old-school appeal. I picked one up for my grandmother at Bangor Wine & Cheese Co. in Bangor. The syrup costs $6.99 a bottle and is available at specialty stores or online at www.barharborbrewing.com.

Kristen Andresen

Fruit of the vine

There aren’t too many grapes grown in these parts, but Maine vintners make up for it by producing wonderful fruit wines. Even people who say they don’t like fruit wine change their tune when they try selections from Bartlett Estate Winery in Gouldsboro and Winterport Winery in Winterport (hint: if you like cabernet, try their dry blueberry – scrumptious). Winterport wines are available in stores throughout Greater Bangor or at the winery (check www.winterportwinery.com or call 223-4500 for shops) and Bartlett wines are available throughout the state and at the winery (call 546-2408 for details).

Kristen Andresen

A touch of green

This Christmas, why not send someone a little bit of the Pine Tree State, literally. A rich symbol of the holiday season and nice smelling to boot, a wreath of pine or fir is a great way to say “Season’s Greetings” to family, friends or business associates.

Thankfully, Maine has an abundance of quality wreath companies that will ship virtually anywhere. A short trip through the yellow pages or a casual Internet search will yield the names of dozens of independently owned and operated businesses located throughout the state.

Based in Milbridge, WinterGreens is a coastal favorite. The company not only creates beautiful, fresh and fragrant wreaths, but also centerpieces and balsam pillows, both perfect decorations for holiday dinners or parties.

For more information, call 546-2038 or write to: WinterGreens P.O. Box 187, Milbridge 40658.

George Bragdon

For the goddess

For an unusual holiday gift in a Classical mode, take a look at the plasticine sculptures of the Greek goddess Hera, wife of Zeus, made by artist Paul Spaulding of Hampden. Each piece is signed and available at Molly’s in Winterport for $40.

Ardeana Hamlin

Cool condiments

Jazz up your holiday table with Maine Chefs’ specialty sauces. The all-natural gourmet condiments are made in Camden and they include Keylime Garlic Tartar Sauce, Tsunami Tropical Relish, and Wasabe Cocktail Blaze. They’re available locally at The Grasshopper Shop in Ellsworth, Molly’s in Winterport, and The Market Basket in Rockport, to name a few. For a full listing of retailers, visit www.mainechefs.com or call 236-2100.

Kristen Andresen