Photo courtesy The Beachcomber Studio

Etsy merchant The Beachcomber Studio, based in Homer, offers this "pug shrug" for stylish canines.

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'Tis the season to start scrambling for last-minute gifts. Sure, you could join the throng of frantic Christmas Eve shoppers at Best Buy, frantically scrabbling over one another in a desperate race for whatever Wii game happens to be left on the shelf. Some people dig the rush of combat shopping. Personally, though, I'd rather spend my holiday at home -- and if I can support local artists at the same time, that's even better.

Et voila -- Etsy's "shop local" feature to the rescue. There are hundreds of Alaskans making interesting, useful and beautiful things and selling them via the Internet's handmade marketplace. You can be a statewide patron of the arts from the comfort of your own couch -- without even having to put down your cocoa.

-- Juneau's TP Alaska features chunky crocheted baby booties, chic ice cream pint cozies, and quilted reversible coffee cup holders -- which I bet will insulate just as well whether the cup is from Kaladi Bros. or College Coffeehouse instead of Heritage or the Silverbow.

-- Wasilla-based Baruch's Lullaby has cozy handknits for little ones, including super-adorable baby earflap hats and seamless arm- and legwarmers. So cute you'll beg your sister to have another baby.

-- Homer's Beachcomber Studio has some unusual handcrafted accessories, including vine-adorned felted neck wraps, book bags made from recycled T-shirts, and "pug shrugs" -- which, as the name suggests, are little sweaters for little dogs.

-- Truda Laking Glatz features Ester-made ceramics, including a stoneware serving bowl adorned with bolts, and lithographed and translucent porcelain tumblers.