815 Stocking Stuffer Guide | Shop small for last-minute gifts in the Rockford region

By Helen Karakoudas
Special to the Rock River Current
Get our mobile app

ROCKFORD — The countdown of days until Christmas is now in single digits. To help take the stress out of finding last-minute gifts — and raise awareness of Shop Small options at our region’s brick-and-mortar stores — we’ve compiled the 815 Stocking Stuffer Guide.

Suggestions in this guide are mini-sized, going with the thought that you’re wrapping up your shopping season and at the stage of filling stockings.

But even if you haven’t started, read on. The intro to every suggestion gives you an idea of what else to expect at each shop. We also give holiday hours up to Christmas Eve.

Of the 25 businesses highlighted, five are new since our 2023 holiday guide. There are 26 suggestions overall; the last is a nonprofit promotion for foodies.

As we’ve done with previous gift guides, here too we’ve dropped numbers next to each suggestion so that as something catches your eye, you can easily reference it when sharing the info with family and friends.

For each suggestion, in case you need to refuel while shopping or relax with a nice meal afterward, there’s also listing of nearby options for independently owned restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries and bars.

So, get ready, set, Shop Small!

For everyone pulling through tough times

1) Check out “Through the Fire” tumblers and coffee-scented candles at Wired Cafe in downtown Rockford. They celebrate how the Wired crew met the challenge of reopening after someone had broken into the shop one morning this fall and lit a fire. There was extensive smoke damage. All the inventory was lost. Just over a month later, Wired was able to reopen.

Where: Wired Cafe, 414 E. State St., Rockford

How much: Candle, $25; tumbler, $25

Holiday hours: 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday; 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 23; closed Christmas Eve

Gift cards: Yes

For teachers and other pencil loves

2) Check out glass, inkwell-style pencil sharpeners made in Germany and rainbow pencils made in Japan (one pencil draws seven colors) at a corner shop in downtown Rockford that specializes in stationery goods, letterpress art, and textiles block-printed by the shop owner herself.

Where: SRM Prints Studio + Gift Shop, 330 E. State St., Rockford

How much: $10, pencil sharpener; $3, rainbow pencil; $2.50, basic pencil (also shown above)

Holiday hours: Sarah Reed-McNamara, owner and mom of two, recommends checking updates on the store’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

Gift cards: No.

Food/drink nearby: Inzombia Coffee, CJ’s Public House, Carlyle Brewing Co., Woodfire Pizza, Wired Café,  Crust & Crumbles, Quixotic Bakery, Bop Bop Korean BBQ & Rice Bowl, Omakase, LimaMar, Disco Chicken, The Music Box, Sisters Thai Cafe, The Office Niteclub and Show Lounge, Social Charcuterie Bar & Cocktails, Abreo, Union Lounge

For co-workers

3) Check out sweet and salty messages on desk signs and on Swedish dishcloths at Culture Shock, the vinyl and fun-gift emporium on Charles Street in Rockford.

The dishcloths, made of sustainably harvested wood cellulose and scrap cotton, are compostable. The ones shown would be on Santa’s nice list. There are others; naughty options too for desk signs.

Where: Culture Shock, 2239 Charles St., Rockford; 815–229-2997

How much: Desk sign, $9; Swedish dishcloth, $6

Holiday hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Christmas Eve

Gift cards: Yes

Food/drink nearby: Stockholm Inn, Sam’s Pizza, Hai Quynh Vietnamese Restaurant, Tien Tea House, La Michoacana Denisse, Katie’s Cup, Ernie’s Midtown Pub

For someone who deserves royal treatment

4) Check out crowns for dogs at Bark On Mulford, the pet boutique on Rockford’s southeast side where owner Kaye Busse-Kleber says these accessories are sought out for gotcha days, birthdays, and any day with a beloved pup.

Where: Bark On Mulford, 2002 S. Mulford Road, Rockford; 815–558-2275

How much: Small crown, $16; large crown, $20

Holiday hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; 12 to 3 p.m. Sunday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 23; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Christmas Eve

Gift cards: Yes. E-gift cards also available HERE.

Food/drink nearby: Sweet Basil Café, El Vallarta Sports Bar and Grill, Bento & Bowl, Marrufo’s Tacos

5) Check out one-of-a-kind, hand-made crowns for humans at Infinite Soul Vibrations, a full-service metaphysical shop in downtown Rockford. Owner Tamika Brown stocks crystals and tumbled stones that she can make into bracelets, necklaces and crowns. She also carries crowns from other artists. The crown pictured was made by another artist. It features amethyst crystals, copper, and denim accents.

Where: Infinite Soul Vibrations, 333 E. State St., Rockford; 815-668-2301

How much: Amethyst crown shown, $444; custom crowns start at $111; raw diamond chip necklace with raw diamond pendant $222

Holiday hours: 12 to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday; 12 to 4 p.m. Christmas Eve

Gift cards: Yes

Food/drink nearby: Inzombia Coffee, CJ’s Public House, Carlyle Brewing Co., Woodfire Pizza, Wired Café,  Crust & Crumbles, Quixotic Bakery, Bop Bop Korean BBQ & Rice Bowl, Omakase, LimaMar, Disco Chicken, The Music Box, Sisters Thai Cafe, The Office Niteclub and Show Lounge, Social Charcuterie Bar & Cocktails, Abreo, Union Lounge

6) Check out intricate, limited-edition necklaces and earrings at Eurostyle+, a women’s clothing and accessories boutique at Edgebrook shopping village where you’ll see items chosen by the owner during her travels overseas. The jewelry shown here is by an Israeli artist of Afghani descent who uses Swarovski crystals, glass beads, and stones and fabric she sources from around the world.

Where: Eurostyle+, 1649 N. Alpine Road, Rockford; 815–222-7384

How much: Necklace on the left, $225; necklace on the right, $426; earrings, $86

Holiday hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 23; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Christmas Eve

Gift cards: Yes

Food/drink nearby: Baker Street Burgers, Sonny’s Place, Van Laar’s Farm Market & Bake Shop, Lucha Cantina

For Midwesterners braving the cold

7) Check out mittens locally made from second-hand and vintage sweaters. Each pair is lined with fleece; no two pairs are the same. These are at Winnie Nutter, a year-old boutique in the back of the Engine Studio building, near The Norwegian restaurant in Rockford’s North End.

The stylish women’s and men’s apparel here, vintage and curated second-hand, is hand-picked by Holli Connell, the owner, a thrift enthusiast whose fashion sense was honed years ago when she merchandised displays at local department stores.

Where: Winnie Nutter, 1410 N. Main St., Rockford

How much: $20 a pair

Holiday hours: 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 23; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Christmas Eve

Gift cards: Yes

Food/drink nearby: The Norwegian, The GOAT Pub and Grill, Plume

8) Check out boot cuffs handknit by the shop owner’s mom. These are at Proper on State, the shop that until November 2023 had been Primitive ’n Proper in Machesney Park. Owner Stephen King still has a curated array of casual chic clothing, old and new furnishings, and home and personal accessories, but now on East State Street in Rockford. Cindy King, Stephen’s mother, contributes handknit goods.

Where: Proper on State, 109 N. Show Place Dr., Rockford; (815) 601-9493

(Despite the address, this shop is on East State. It’s in the strip across from AMC Rockford 16, just after the first light east of Hard Rock Casino Rockford.)

How much: $18 a pair.

Holiday hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sunday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday, Dec. 23 and Christmas Eve

Gift cards: Yes.

Food/drink nearby: Sticky Rice Bites, Vanakkam India

9) Check out fleece-lined touchscreen gloves and gloves that light up (eight lights, three modes) at Roxy Carmichael, a boutique at Edgebrook shopping village that stocks women’s casual separates and accessories.

Where: Roxy Carmichael, 1617A N. Alpine Road, Rockford; 815-316-7396

How much: $25, fleece-lined gloves; $28, light-up gloves.

Holiday hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday; closed Christmas Eve.

Gift cards: Yes. (Every $50 gift card purchase earns a $10 gift card.)

Food/drink nearby: Baker Street Burgers, Sonny’s Place, Van Laar’s Farm Market & Bake Shop, Lucha Cantina

For proud Rockfordians

10) Check out traditional and 815-clad sock monkeys — cuddly tributes to the red-heeled socks symbolizing Rockford’s industrial greatness — at Rockford Art Deli, the decade-old custom-print T-shirt and apparel shop in downtown Rockford lovingly known as RAD. Also stuffable into a stocking are magnets with iconic Rockford images and glassware with Rockford branding.

Where: Rockford Art Deli, 402 E. State St., Rockford; 312–725-4723

How much: $25, traditional and 815 sock monkey; $4.50, magnet; glasses, $12-15

Holiday hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday; 12 to 4 p.m. Sunday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Christmas Eve

Gift cards: Yes

Food/drink nearby: Inzombia Coffee, CJ’s Public House, Carlyle Brewing Co., Woodfire Pizza, Wired Café,  Crust & Crumbles, Quixotic Bakery, Bop Bop Korean BBQ & Rice Bowl, Omakase, LimaMar, Disco Chicken, The Music Box, Sisters Thai Cafe, The Office Niteclub and Show Lounge, Social Charcuterie Bar & Cocktails, Abreo, Union Lounge

11) Check out coasters with black-and-white photos of Rockford landmarks at Porch, a store in northeast Rockford that has aisle after aisle of home décor, women’s clothing, baby clothes and toys, and jewelry.

Where: Porch, 3065 N. Perryville Road, Rockford; 815–282-8881

How much: $19 each; $69, set of four

Holiday hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday; 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Christmas Eve

Gift cards: Yes

Food/drink nearby: Poke Green, Mary’s Market Café and Bakery, Franchesco’s, Salt, JMK Nippon, RBI Brunch Bar and Dinner, GreenFire, Alchemy at Aldeen

12) Check out palm-size, limited-edition glass sculptures by world-renowned Swedish artist Bertil Vallien, whose weeklong 2007 visit to Rockford for a Rockford Art Museum exhibit of his and his late wife’s work celebrated the city’s Swedish heritage — and put Rockford on the map for art enthusiasts across the United States. The series, intended to evoke ideas blossoming from the mind, is called Brains.

Where: J.R. Kortman Center for Design, 107 N. Main St., Rockford; 815-968-0123

How much: $75 each, LOVE, HOPE and YES sculptures; $250, purple sculpture

Holiday hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Christmas Eve

Gift cards: Yes

Food/drink nearby: 27 Aluna, Tortilla Express, Sheila’s Daiquiri Lounge, District Bar and Grill,  Cantina Taco, Mo’s Coffee and Cafe, Minnihan’s, Ambiance Cuisine Cocktails & Catering, Wood & Brick Tavern

For connoisseurs of sweets and spirits

13) Check out housemade nostalgic candy at Sugar Britches in downtown Rockton, a tiny shop that shares an entrance with a law office. As an owner told us for our 815 Valentine’s Day Gift Guide, they’ve got everything you’d find at Grandma’s house to the latest and greatest on TikTok. In addition to what’s made by the owners, there are dozens of jars of bulk candy (including one for gummy flamingos), boxes of handmade candy from around the world, and fun gag items like Reindeer Snot (sour green apple candy slime, which comes with a spoon).

Where: Sugar Britches, 115 W. Main St., Rockton; 815-957-0515

How much: $3.50 a bag, Santa’s Coal (black licorice); $3.50 a bag, specialty marshmallows; (not pictured, Reindeer Snot, $4)

Holiday hours: 12 to 7 p.m. Wednesday-Friday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday; 12 to 4 p.m. Sunday; 12 to 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 23 and Christmas Eve

Gift cards: Yes

Food/drink nearby: DeeDee’s Main Street Coffee, Fibs, Rookie’s Pub and Grill, Ray’s Family Restaurant, La Croûte Bakery Café, Sam’s Pizza, Rockton Inn, The Mix, Dairyhäus

14) Check out mini bottles of small-batch whiskey at Artale & Co., a family-owned wine, beer and spirits store in Rockford. A shelf below these, find just as tiny bottles of liqueurs, simple syrups, and other cocktails ingredients like bitters and cherries.

Where: Artale & Co., 6876 Spring Creek Road, Rockford. 815–877–9463

How much: $8-10 each for the three brands shown

Holiday hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday and Monday, Dec. 23; check Instagram and Facebook for Christmas Eve

Gift cards: Yes

Food/drink nearby: Salt, The Canna Cafe, Alchemy at Aldeen

For baby’s first stocking

15) Check out teething rings, a teething rattle and a board book about brushing at a children’s boutique in downtown Rockton where the owner ardently sources the highest quality items. The teething rings are made in the USA of a soft silicone and beechwood. The teething rattle is made of recycled fibers by a company based in London.

Where: Taylor + Max, 100 W. Main St., Rockton; 815–957–0290

How much: Teething rings, $23-$27 each; teething rattle, $18; book, $10

Holiday hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; 12 to 4 p.m. Sunday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 23; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Christmas Eve

Gift cards: Yes. E-gift cards available HERE.

Food/drink nearby: DeeDee’s Main Street Coffee, Fibs, Rookie’s Pub and Grill, Ray’s Family Restaurant, La Croûte Bakery Café, Sam’s Pizza, Rockton Inn, The Mix, Dairyhäus

For book lovers

16) Check out a pocket-size collection of poetry, essays and illustrations exploring post-pandemic isolation. “Cold Comfort” is the third book by Rockford author Dave Pedersen, and the first book from the publishing arm of Maze Books, his independent bookstore in downtown Rockford. For something even tinier, check out matchbooks made by shop employee Haley Noelle with cover art of classic novels.

Where: Maze Books, 406 E. State St., Rockford; (779) 970-5912

How much: Book, $12; matchbooks, $2 each

Holiday hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 12 to 4 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday;11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Christmas Eve

Gift cards: Yes. (Gift certificates on library cards.)

Food/drink nearby: Inzombia Coffee, CJ’s Public House, Carlyle Brewing Co., Woodfire Pizza, Wired Café,  Crust & Crumbles, Quixotic Bakery, Bop Bop Korean BBQ & Rice Bowl, Omakase, LimaMar, Disco Chicken, The Music Box, Sisters Thai Cafe, The Office Niteclub and Show Lounge, Social Charcuterie Bar & Cocktails, Abreo, Union Lounge

For someone who loves fun accessories

17) Check out playful designs on zip-around wallets and coin/key fobs, all made of synthetic leather, at Shine, a store in the strip center next to Choices market that’s filled to the brim with colorful personal and home accessories. The largest collection here is of Polish pottery, #8 in the 815 Holiday Gift Guide published in 2023.

Where: Shine, 6730 Broadcast Pkwy., Loves Park; 815-977-4332

How much: $37, wallet; $18, coin/key fob

Holiday hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Christmas Eve

Gift cards: Yes.

Food/drink nearby: Maciano’s Pizza and Pastaria, Poke Green, Mary’s Market Café and Bakery, Franchesco’s, Salt, JMK Nippon, RBI Brunch Bar and Dinner, GreenFire

18) Check out some of the tinier finds from a boutique in the North End where nearly everything on its tables and shelves could be a stocking stuffer. The journal, patch, pin, cat key fob, and fragrance set are easy enough to recognize. The red and blue itty bitty bags in the photo are actually bag charms from one of the brands Rooted stocks: Baggu. Yes, what’s in the photo is the tiniest version of the viral Baggu crescent bag. Its larger siblings are here, too.

If you’re short of stockings themselves, Rooted has them, but not in traditional holiday colors. That’s because they’re from a company that puts to use yarns of varying colors which were overproduced for their intended use and might otherwise have gone to a landfill.

Where: Rooted, 1408 N. Main St., Rockford; 815–494-3649

How much: Martini patch, $8; pin, $3; bag charms, $22 each; key fob, $10; fragrance set, $32; self-care journal, $12; stocking, $50

Holiday hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 23 and Christmas Eve

Gift cards: Yes

Food/drink nearby: The Norwegian, The GOAT Pub and Grill, Plume

For everyone who wants laundry to be fun

19) Check out whimsical faces on wool dryer balls, one of the many environmentally respectful items at One Love in northeast Rockford, a shop featured in our 815 Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for the wide range of personal and home care products the owner and her husband make. The dryer balls are among the few lines brought in. These dryer sheet replacements are handmade, fair trade, compostable and carried in nearly a dozen designs.

Where: One Love, 3863 N. Perryville Road, Rockford; 779-774-4200

How much: $6 each

Holiday hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sunday; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 23; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Christmas Eve

Gift cards: Yes

Food/drink nearby: Meg’s Daily Grind, Crave, RBI Brunch and Dinner

For home decor enthusiasts

20) Check out vases on The Wall of Smalls at Nostalgic Dwelling, a shop that opened this year in Rockford featuring a mix of mid-century and post-modern furniture and furnishings. Most of the items in this shop couldn’t be stuffed into a car. But the handcrafted vases shown here would fit into a stocking; the largest two are about 4 by 8 inches. They come from California, Italy, Japan, India and Mexico. They’re curated by co-owner Stephanie Towell, an artist who worked in the film industry and has decorated sets.

Where: Nostalgic Dwelling, 4230 Charles St., Rockford; 779-970-7757

How much: $15-$200

Holiday hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Sunday and by appointment; closed Christmas Eve.

Gift cards: Yes

Food/drink nearby: Mexico Clasico, 8th Ward Pub

21) Check out signature mugs and other locally made pottery at Elora Home Interiors, a boutique in downtown Rockford featuring modern décor and furnishings. The mugs are designed by owner Amie McDonald and handmade in Rockford at Dawn Wulf Studios. They’re part of a collection that celebrated Elora’s first anniversary this year.

Where: Elora Home Interiors, 214 E. State St., Rockford

How much: $48 for the mug shown ($16 for an ornament version of the mug, not pictured)

Holiday hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday; 12 to 3 p.m. Sunday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Christmas Eve

Gift cards: Yes

Food/drink nearby: Disco Chicken, The Music Box, LimaMar, Omakase, Carlyle Brewing Co., Crust & Crumbles, Quixotic Bakery, Bop Bop Korean BBQ & Rice Bowl, Inzombia Coffee, CJ’s Public House, Woodfire Pizza, Wired Café,  Sisters Thai Cafe, The Office Niteclub and Show Lounge, Social Charcuterie Bar & Cocktails, Abreo, Union Lounge

For needlework enthusiasts

22) Check out jars for holding threads and magnetized trays for holding needles, scissors and thread pickers. These accessories for keeping needleworkers tidy, along with floss keepers in the shape of mittens and a Taylor Swift-inspired sticker, are at Bee Youtiful Sip and Stitchery, a cross-stitch shop that opened in Roscoe this spring. The jars and trays are exclusive to the shop, made by a local resin artist. The shop is owned by a local chiropractor, who has taught her husband to stitch. The gnome samplers in the background were stitched by the couple. His work is on the right.

Where: Bee Youtiful Sip and Stitchery, 11447 Second St., Roscoe (Next to MeMe’s Upscale Consignment Boutique; just north of VFW Post 2955)

How much: Tray, $34; jar, $35; scissors shown, $12; beaded thread pickers, $8 each; pack of 24 floss keepers, $12; Era sticker, $4; chart for the gnome sampler, $10

Holiday hours: 1 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Friday; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 23; 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Christmas Eve

Gift cards: Yes. E-gift cards available HERE.

Food/drink nearby: Louie’s Tap House, Poison Ivy Pub, Pietro’s Pizzeria, Whiskey Hotel Barbecue, Velvet Robot, Sophia’s Restaurant, Hidden Creek Estates

For Swifties

24) Check out Taylor Swift bracelets, with glass beads and semiprecious stones, at luxury-brand retailer B Jones in Rockford’s Edgebrook shopping village.

Where: B Jones, 1655 N. Alpine Road, Rockford; 815–397-8135

How much: $25, bracelet; $12, candle

Holiday hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 23; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Christmas Eve

Gift cards: Yes

Food/drink nearby: Baker Street Burgers, Sonny’s Place, Van Laar’s Farm Market & Bake Shop, Lucha Cantina

For anglers

25) Check out how the resale boutique that came into former Finials Scandinavian gift shop building on Rockford’s Miracle Mile is true to its slogan: M’s Gems: Formal Wear to Fishing Gear.

Walk past the gowns, jewelry and collectible figurines to find a room with tackle boxes, fishing poles, plastic baits, vintage lures and reels. The reels shown here are used and have been cleaned and checked. Also available are old reels, still new and in their boxes.

Where: M’s Gems, 4626 E. State St., Rockford

How much: $4-60

Holiday hours: 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 12 to 4 p.m. Sunday; 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 23; closed Christmas Eve

Gift cards: No

Food/drink nearby: Mary’s Market Cafe, Uncle Nick’s, Lino’s, Johnny Pamcakes

For foodies

26) Check out the 2025 edition of Rockford City Tins, a Golden Apple Foundation fundraiser that packs coaster coupons for 23 local restaurants and two Rockford boutiques.

Each tin contains $5 coasters for carryout and $10 coasters for dining in on orders of $30 or more at 23 local restaurants. They’re also good for $10 off purchases of at least $30 at Porch and Roxy Carmichael (suggestions for both above).

How much: $30

Where: In addition to the two Rockford shops featured in the promotion (addresses given again below for handy reference), this tin is available at one shop in downtown Rockton: Taylor + Max, 100 W. Main St., Rockton; Porch, 3065 N. Perryville Road, Rockford; Roxy Carmichael, 1617A N. Alpine Road, Rockford; Elora Home Interiors, 214 W. State St.; Embassy Suites, 416 S. Main St.; Urban Farmgirl, 716 N. Madison St.; Anderson Japanese Gardens, 318 Spring Creek Road; and at the Golden Apple Foundation office, 5301 E. State St., suite 114, and on its website.

---

This article is by freelance journalist Helen Karakoudas. Email feedback to news@rockrivercurrent.com.