There's something uniquely lovely about a gift that someone has created with their own hands and skill and time. Especially since we live in such a busy age.
Christmas shopping with local East Texas businesses and craftspeople while perusing home- and handmade items sounds delightfully holiday-spirit inducing.
Shop local if you can. But, if you do shop with say, Amazon, for example, it's a good idea to get a few pro-tips from those who have studied these things.
Amazon Homemade is a magical place to peruse for unique gifts without leaving the house and the current list of most wished for items is a true treasure trove. I actually crossed a couple of people off my holiday gift list while pulling this post together so I guess the early bird really does get the worm! The early bird also avoids anxiety attacks and expedited shipping costs if he's proactive enough.