FAIRMOUNT — A wine tasting paired with a shopping extravaganza and a tour of seven unique local shops should help make spirits bright at the start of the holiday shopping season.

Sleepy Creek Vineyards, located near Fairmount, has joined with local shop owners and home-based business owners for two separate events geared toward those looking for unique gifts.

The first of these events, “A Holiday Gathering,” returns Thursday to Sleepy Creek for the second year.

“At this time of year, people don’t have time to go to a shopping party at someone’s home,” Dawn Taylor said. She and her husband, Joe, own Sleepy Creek Vineyards.

“People feel obligated to buy at those parties,” she said. “We have multiple vendors setting up at the gathering, so there’s no pressure. This is also a chance to see more than one line at a time.”

Participants in the Thursday event include both the familiar and the new: The Body Shop at Home, Scentsy, Buttons & Rainbows, Longaberger Baskets, Tupperware, Pampered Chef, Knit 4 Ewe, Tastefully Simple, Stampin’ Up and Julia’s Gems.

The vineyard will have a selection of giftware available in addition to the wines, which guests are welcome to taste at no charge.

Jewelry

Julia Wilson, owner and designer of Julia’s Gems, has been creating unique jewelry since 2004.

The Catlin woman usually sells her one-of-a-kind pieces at trunk shows in customers’ homes. That type of setting was where she found the inspiration for her business.

“I was at a family reunion,” Wilson said, “and my cousin was making this type of jewelry. I was enamored. I knew there was nowhere around here to buy anything like it.”

That’s when Wilson began seeking vintage beads at garage sales, online, and even as gifts. She also incorporates gemstones and Swarovski crystals into her designs. Prices range from $10 for earrings to $50 and up for larger pieces including bracelets and pendants.

“Each piece is one of a kind,” she said.

Gourmet food

Even a humble loaf of bread can be transformed into a delicacy with the addition of a single ingredient, according to Anna McKinney of Tastefully Simple.

This home-based business offers a variety of unique additions to common ingredients.

McKinney used the company’s signature bread as an example.

“It comes in white or wheat, and you bake it yourself,” she said. “You add a can of beer to it for a really unique flavor.

“If you don’t want to use anything alcoholic, you can substitute a can of any type of pop for the beer.”

McKinney said, “Once people try this recipe, they’re hooked. We offer a lot of unique items.”

Included among those are gourmet spices and dips as well as cheese ball flavors such as key lime and butterscotch brickle.

“With almost all our products, all you add are one or two ingredients. The cheese balls take an 8-ounce package of cream cheese,” she said.

Country tour

A second event Saturday and Nov. 16 offers a chance to win prizes to those who visit all seven of the shops participating in the Little Country Tour. Individual shops will offer other prizes of their own.

When the tour began three years ago, only three shops participated. That number has grown to seven: Sleepy Creek Vineyards; Pauline’s Attic, Catlin; Somewhere in Time, Oakwood; and Country Chics, Stone House Antiques, Cassidy’s Woodcrafts and The Crow’s Nest, all in Fithian.

“We think the Little Country Tour promotes awareness of unique, locally owned shops that offer some great items,” Taylor said. “In fact, you will be hard pressed to find some of these fine gifts at these prices, all the while fighting traffic and paying for parking in the bigger cities.”

Those who register at all seven destinations have a chance to win gift certificates valued at more than $175.

Sleepy Creek

More than just a vineyard, Sleepy Creek hopes to serve many purposes for those who live in the area bounded by Danville and Champaign-Urbana. Although grapes and wine are the primary focus of the growing business, it also serves as an art gallery and concert hall at different times.

“We hope these events encourage people to come to the winery, especially if they have never been here before,” Dawn Taylor said. “Some people don’t drink wine and the shopping gives them a different reason to come.

“Once people come here, they see Sleepy Creek offers more than just wine. People see the beautiful setting, get a tour of the winery, browse our gift shop, learn a little about alternative agriculture and hear about our art and music events.”

IF YOU GO

A Holiday Gathering will be 3-8 p.m. Thursday at Sleepy Creek Vineyards, Fairmount. The event includes a tasting of the vineyard’s wines and the opportunity to shop with a dozen vendors. Cash and carry items will be available and orders will be taken. Door prizes will be given every half hour.

A Little Country Tour takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon-4 p.m. Nov. 16 at several shops in the communities around the vineyard. Those who visit all seven participating stores will be eligible to win gift certificates valued at more than $175. Some individual stores will offer their own prizes.

For more information, call 733-0330.