Vineyard Gifts Take Shape

Finding something unique and Island-esque for discerning shoppers to give as a gift to friends and family may seem a tall order.

Or, maybe not. What could be more signature Martha’s Vineyard than jewelry and art shaped like the Island, or specialty items boasting Island-shaped logos?

A tour of a number of Island stores and Web sites yielded the following Vineyard-themed gift ideas:

Moonstone Jewelers on Main street in Vineyard Haven offers a wide choice of Island-shaped charms and pendants, including a cookie-cut-out shape of the Island with a dangling bunch of grapes, a seashell, or lighthouse in a choice of sterling silver or 14K gold.

Prices of most Island charms range from $15 to $45 for silver, and $25 to $300 for gold. Moonstone’s Sherryl Schrader points out prices may vary because the price of gold has doubled since 2004 and continues to fluctuate.

A stunning and unique piece outside of that range, by artist Brian Quigley, has an Island-shaped charm delicately hanging inside a heart of criss-cross gold strands, priced at $785.

CB Stark Jewelers’ wonderfully simple Island Ties bracelets and pendants feature an Island-shaped hole in a sterling silver or gold disk, with a nylon cord band in a choice of colors.

You’ll also find Island Outline and Island with Grapes charms, and the MV Island Disk — a solid gold or sterling silver island enclosed in a flat wide-band circle engraved with the words Martha’s Vineyard. Prices range from $35 to the highest quality items (gold, with diamonds) of up to $2,500. Available at either location — on Main street in Vineyard Haven or North Water street in Edgartown — or online at cbstark.com.

The people at Beadniks on Church street in Vineyard Haven know that nothing speaks to the heart more than a gift you’ve made yourself. There, you can create a unique Island bracelet or necklace with a pewter Island-shaped charm. (At 20 cents per gram, a single charm costs about 60 cents.) Add wampum beads for a truly appropriate Vineyard gift. For a small fee, you can create your gift on location at the Beadniks worktable, complete with every conceivable jewelry-making instrument, and staff on hand if you need guidance on technique.

Lucinda Enamels, on Vineyard avenue in the Arts District of Oak Bluffs, has a new Island-shaped toggle-clasp (with a tiny fish as the slide-through clasp) that can be purchased by itself, or strung on a necklace or bracelet. Match it with one of the shop’s original cloisonne or champleve enameled sea-theme charms — starfish, mermaid with pearl, or seashell. Call 508-696-7863 or visit lucindasheldon.com.

At Secret Garden on Circuit avenue in Oak Bluffs, amidst a cornucopia of small gift and stocking-stuffer novelties, you can find an Island-shaped charm bracelet, Island image coaster sets, and a Martha’s Vineyard Island mouse pad.

Craftworks, on Circuit avenue in Oak Bluffs, is a contemporary American craft store that features work by juried artists from all over the country. I found here a lovely copper Island-shaped Harmony Hollow wind chime, $45. For more information, visit craftworksgallery.com.

At Tuck & Holand Metal Sculptors, pull out all the stops and thrill a friend or family member with one of Travis Tuck’s original design hand-cut bronze island shaped Martha’s Vineyard Wall Maps, $600 to $1,200. Visit the workshop at 275 State Road, Vineyard Haven; call 508-693-3914; or e-mail

The Lazy Frog in Edgartown is a delightful gift store whose motto is Dedicated to Leisure. (Co-owner Sarah Gifford is a Gazette employee.) All products feature a Martha’s Vineyard Island-shaped frog. Merchandise includes clothing (with a tadpoles category for infants), hats, coffee mugs, playing cards and key chains. Prices range from $3.64 for the Lazy Frog Koozie (beverage holder), to $36 for a Lazy Frog straw golf hat to $48.29 for a boat flag. Visit the store on South Water street in Edgartown or order online at mvthelazyfrog.com.

At Bowl & Board on Main street in Vineyard Haven, give the gift of light. The store offers tin can candles ($17) with a map-image of the Vineyard designed by Maria Metters, co-owner with husband Garry of this home goods store. Also exclusive to Bowl & Board are the Screencraft Puzzleworks Map-of-Martha’s Vineyard puzzle in a plastic keepbox for $29 (recommended for kids ages 8 to 108) and an Island-Map coaster set (of 4) for $42.

Rainy Day on Main street in Vineyard Haven, an eclectic store of artisan wares and crafts, offers a custom-made terra cotta bread warmer with a stamped image of the Island, for $14.95. Also, Island-image stoneware magnets for $6.95. And beautiful handmade pot holders, night lights, and lamp shades with a punched-stencil image of the Island by artist Ayn Chase: $15, $40, and $150 respectively.

At Jaba’s, the picture framing and novelty store on Main street, Vineyard Haven, find various choices of both geographically correct, and art-design maps of the Vineyard. The top-selling map is the 1913 copyright by G.W. Eldridge, which starts at $22 unframed, and may be up to $150 framed. Other Island gifts include charming oh-so-Vineyard glass jar lamps filled with sea glass ($65 to $95) plus many small stocking stuffers like Vineyard magnets and key chains.

And Sherlock & Bare, on Winter street in Edgartown, exclusively offers Tervis Tumbler sets with a fun bright green artwork-image of the Island on each glass and ice bucket (a 12-ounce set of four for $48, with an ice bucket for $62.)

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