I Need Original Gifts
Posted: December 2, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized 1 Comment 
Oh no, it’s December already and I am way behind on my Christmas shopping. I hate shopping. Every store all over the country has the same stuff, and I hate stuff. What I wish for in all my gift giving is to come up with something original that totally delights the receiver. Well that is a life’s work to come up with.
Art makes the best gift, but since my mother is an artist that cuts out my giving art to anyone in my family because we all have houses full of Jane Carter originals. Recently my mother brought a bunch of paintings to her gallery in downtown Durham, the Alizarin gallery owned by Cathy Crumpton. As I looked through the small paintings she had dropped off I was thinking, damn, these make great gifts, too bad I can’t give them to my sisters.
This means I am still in search for the perfect gifts, but unless your mother is an artist, you could find just what Santa was looking for at the Alizarin. It is a wonderful place to shop for art. Go visit the second floor gallery at 119 West Main Street Thursday’s through Saturdays. When you go make sure to look at all the Jane Carter’s. Now, where can I shop? Time is running out.
Less Dana, More Good 
Dana: I agree with you on the originality of gifts. It is very hard to find something special in a department store. One thing you may consider — for next year — is to make some needlework handicrafts for your friends. I am sure anything you create would be greatly appreciated. Another thought — and this is the easy thing to do — is order delicious food. I think the pears from Harry and David’s are very good. Lastly, I just wanted to mention I went online to the Alizarin website, and I think your mother’s paintings and watercolors are absolutely beautiful. I, personally, am at the point where I mostly just mail Christmas cards over the holidays.