A burgeoning movement wants you to shop local first.

By Deborah Giattina

RECENTLY, THERE'S been a groundswell of local businesses moving us one step closer to getting everything from the food on our tables to the clothes on our backs locally made. BALLE (Business Alliance for Local Living Economies), SFLOMA (San Francisco Locally Owned Merchants Alliance), and the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center have teamed up with the Small Business Commission (SBC) to put on this year's Shop Local First Week. The kickoff event takes place Saturday, Dec. 10, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., in Union Square, with about 30 local artisans selling handmade wares in the shadow of Macy's. These vendors, all of whom produce their goods in the Bay Area, have the environment in mind and holiday humor to spare. And remember, shopping at locally owned businesses means you'll keep your bucks circulating in the community.

Holiday well-wishing

After setting up her own R. Morgan's Nutcracker Brigade greeting card line, Richelle Jones launched March 4th Productions (415-601-5886, rmorganjones@march4thproductions.com) to represent other designers. Among her clients is Daniel Gelfand's fifth-grade class at John Swett's Alternative Elementary School, a public visual and performing arts school near Morgan's home studio, in the Civic Center area. The students' holiday-themed drawings feature a slumbering child's gift-fulfillment dream, penguins at the North Pole, and lots of snowmen. Morgan gets her cards printed on recycled paper with silky-smooth finishes. Phillip Sustaita, a local graphics specialist, donated time and services. Money made from sales of the student designs will go toward art college scholarship funds. Cards come in sets of 22 for $15. You can also purchase them at the school or online.

Landfill shrinkage

Enamored of the beatnik ethos, in which artists, poets, and dreamers rebelled against the '50s squaresville mentality, Louise Bartlett started Beatnik Bags (1-888-537-8740, info@beatnikbags.com, www.beatnikbags.com) to express her individuality. Reusing fabrics she hunts down from upholsters' waste piles and beads she dismantles from thrift store jewelry, she creates one-of-a-kind totes and yoga bags. This season's bags feature soft felt flowers left over from a fellow artisan's last production cycle. Even the bags' handles are made from reused material: They come from a shoe manufacturer's unused sandal straps. Coin purses go for $12; yoga bags and backpacks are $58. Most items are also available at local yoga schools, online, and by appointment.

Peace of mind

It's not cheery to think about, but 6,100 violent crimes were reported last year in San Francisco. For this reason, Amanda Knox and Sara Shaughnessy of Red Start Design (415-822-4733, info@redstartdesign.com, www.redstartdesign.com) have created the Safety Design Defensive Ring, a silver square that unfurls into a ninjalike three-knuckle device. It's fiercely stylish and was selected for the New York MOMA "Safe: Design Takes a Risk" exhibition. The rings are also selling at SFMOMA and online.

Good times

Seems like everything Adam Sandler touched in that memorable Saturday Night Live skit was something he could put his weed in. Add belt buckles to his list. The "You Can Put Your ____ in It" buckles Kyra Brown creates in her SoMa studio for her Booty Boutique business (415-515-7720, kyra@bootyboutique.com, www.bootyboutique.com) are actually metal cigarette cases. You can put your ID and cash in there too. Other fastenings are vibrantly, uh, stoned with agates, geodes, or jaspers, and all are booty-ful. Buckles sell for $35 to $95, and straps cost $20 to $45. Buy her stuff online, at Fabuloid, in Hayes Valley, and by appointment.

Lower energy bills

Staying warm in handmade knits and woven garments is one way to keep the thermostat low. Jennifer Armstrong of Jak Designs (415-826-1113, jakdesigns@yahoo.com, www.jakdesigns.com) uses natural wood-fiber yarns and luxurious microfibers to make her arm warmers and scarves. This season's highlight, the Lariat Scarf, is a long, flowing sash that doubles as a belt and triples as a headband. Find her wares at Collage Gallery, in Potrero Hill, and at Artist-Xchange, in the Mission District. Meanwhile, Wendy Allen of Miss Fitt and Co. uses very soft merino wool in a wet felting process to make the perfect San Francisco coat: three-quarter length and as cozy as can be. Her felted hats, scarves, and fingerless gloves range in price from $30 to $200. You can check them out at Manifesto, in Hayes Valley; Alternative Design Studio, on Valencia Street; and by appointment. Visit the SBC Web site (www.sfgov.org/site/sbc_index.asp) for additional participating vendors at Shop Local First Day and other Shop Local First Week events.