EAST COUNTY ORNAMENTS FOR YOUR HOLIDAY TREE

By Miriam Raftery

December 18, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – Where can you find Christmas tree ornaments that are unique and reflective of life in the eastern areas of Sa Diego County? Here are a few of my favorite finds, from hand-blown glass to Native American handicrafts to critters crafted from corks at a local winery.

ANTIQUES BY FUTURA, 8665 Mission Gorge Road in Santee – Add sparkle and shimmer to your tree with hand-blown glass spires custom crafted by the owner using old-world glass making techiniques. http://www.antiquesbyfutura.com/.

ORFILA VINEYARDS, 13455 San Pasqual Road, Escondido - Whimsical animals, all made out of wine corks, adorn Orfila’s holiday tree. Situated close to the San Diego Wild Animal Park, Orfila’s tasting room has a tree displaying a menagerie of lions, elephants, sheep, and other cork critters, each just $7.99. http://www.orfila.com/index.php

A TRADING POST, 12473 Woodside Ave., Lakeside – Hand-crafted NativeAmerican options include leather ornaments, miniature dream catchers, tiny hand-painted horses, and stained glass hummingbirds--all at very affordable prices. Love it all? You can buy the whole store, a 15-year tradition in Lakeside now for sale by the owners.

APPLE CRATE COUNTRY STORE, 13277 Highway 8 Business, El Cajon - This charming shop has a wide variety of hand-crafted ornaments made by East County artisans and craftsmen.

POW-WOWS:  This hand-painted ornament depicting Native American images was purchased in late summer at the Barona Pow-Wow in Lakeside.  Large pow-wows in East County attract Native American vendors from across the U.S.  Watch our calendar of events for pow-wows in our region next year.