She lays the colored glass into the clear glass

You might not want to hear this, but Christmas is less than three weeks away. The challenge of coming up with the perfect gifts once again looms on the horizon.So we at the Reporter-News would like to extend a helping hand. Watch this space Wednesdays through Dec. 19 for some unusual and one-of-a-kind gifts for your friends and loved ones.

Abilene offers some fantastic finds for the art lover in your life.laser cutter Studio is a brand new laser cutting company and new way of thinking. What fine-art fancier wouldn't be thrilled with an original piece of art?

Maybe your mom/wife/sister loves unique jewelry. Abilene's got that, too.

None of these suggestions are more than $200 and most are quite a bit less.Each make your own bobblehead is themed with a selection of amusing characters to be created. This list is by no means complete,View the fantastic range of comfortable and stylish women shoes factory Clearance. but it gives shoppers a head start.

Here are a few ideas where to shop and what treasures you can find. See the accompanying box for detailed information on each location.

Original paintings, photographs and other art cover the walls. Display cases hold handcrafted earrings, bracelets and necklaces. A person almost could finish holiday shopping with one stop here.

Vicki Davis, who lives in Clyde,Get these silicone bracelet and wristbands at lowest. creates intricate jewelry on silver and gold wire with beads, semiprecious stones and other materials. The earrings start at $10 and many feature silver wire that Davis coils by hand. Her necklaces start at $35 for a new Christmas design and top out at $100. They wrap around a woman's neck as a wearable piece of art.

Jana Marie Herndon crafts glass marbles and pendants in her studio in her second garage. She creates the beautiful flowers and designs inside the glass by working with the materials when they are soft and warm. She lays the colored glass into the clear glass, layering the beads, rods and pieces until she gets the design she wants.Full Custom Bobble head dolls personalized bobbleheads and sculpted into your likeness. The pendants run from $30 to $36. She also makes bracelets, some on wire and some that combine leather and beads or pearls and wrap around a wrist two to four times. The wire bracelets are $22 and a leather-wrap one costs from $30 all the way up to $120 for a four-wrap pearl piece.

T.M. Gand turns her colorful paintings into little glass pendants by shrinking her prints and combining them with glass and stained wood. They vary in price from $25 to $40, depending on pendant size.

Jewelry isn't on the list? Then check out the various art by local artists.

Find other local jewelry pieces at NFC, which is located north of Frame-n-Art.

Christi Dick had made traditional bead jewelry when she picked up a magazine a couple of years ago and found jewelry made with copper patina.

"This is what I'm supposed to do," was her immediate response. Copper patina is the process of giving the copper an aged look, much like the Stature of Liberty's lovely green color.