Skip the mall: DIY husband-and-wife duo Derek Fagerstrom and Lauren Smith share tips on making your own holiday gifts. Photo by Thayer Allyson Gowdy

Experts: Derek Fagerstrom and Lauren Smith, owners of the quirky-cool Curiosity Shoppe (closed Mon; 855 Valencia St., San Francisco; 415/671-5384)

Field of study: Handmade holiday presents

Go-to craft stores: Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles (closed Sun; 2982 Adeline St., Berkeley; 510/843-7290) is part museum, part retail store, with amazing books, supplies, and equipment for needlework, costumery, and lace making. SCRAP (closed Sun–Mon; 801 Toland St., San Francisco; entrance on Newcomb Ave.; 415/647-1746) is an endless maze of bins and barrels bursting with old catalogs, colored paper, carpet samples, and art supplies just begging to be reused.

Easy DIY ideas: Last year, we made marshmallows (see sunset.com/marshmallow for a video recipe) and packaged them with jam jars filled with hot chocolate from Ashland-based Dagoba Organic Chocolate (866/237-0152). This year, everyone is getting honey from our backyard beehive.

Inspirational craft groups: San Francisco’s Craft Gym (various locations; 415/702-5700) offers lessons in everything from metalworking to candle making. Stitchlounge.com is the site for aspiring knitters. 

Quick escapes for creative types: The Madonna Inn (100 Madonna Rd., San Luis Obispo; 805/543-3000): Each room is different, like “Rock Bottom,” with faux rock walls and ceiling. The gigantic blue cocktails at the Fairmont San Francisco’s Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar (950 Mason St.; 415/772-5278).

The Rock Bottom room at the Madonna Inn. Photo courtesy of the Madonna Inn