It's that time of year again. Everywhere you go there are trees tangled in mini-lights, ear-piercing holiday muzak and crowds of people hauling over-stuffed shopping bags to remind you that the gift giving season is upon us.

If you haven't finished or even started your shopping yet, there's a reprieve from the mayhem of the malls and box stores: galleries, craft fairs and the holiday auction circuit!

December is the perfect time to find terrific deals on original art, campy multiples, handmade accessories, jewelry, small works by popular artists and more.

Take back your holiday shopping season! Support local artists and think one-of-a-kind art works instead of gift certificates and booze. Below is a list of holiday events and exhibitions to get you started or finish off your gift giving list.

Feel free to add events and sales to the comments section.

Art Metropole, Gifts By Artists, New Multiples for the Holidays

Dec 8 - Jan 5, 788 King W.

Gifts by Artists features a large selection of zany artists' multiples, books, music, videos and photographs. $5-$2,500.

A Space Gallery, Gifts that Fit: body, mind & spirit: 11th Annual Fundraising Show & Sale .

Opening party Dec 6, 6-8pm

Hours: Dec 6 & 7 11am-8pm, Dec 8& 9 11am-5pm.

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, WHO'S YOUR SANTA Auction

One Night Only, Sat Dec 8, Preview 6pm, live auction 7pm, 11 Alexander St.

$20 (Includes Admission, 2 Silent Auction tickets & Door Prize Tickets)

Bid on santa showcases...photography, Northbound Leather, sensual travel packages and more.

Burrow Art Centre, Art-A-Palooza

Dec 6-8, 10am-8pm, 585 Markham St.

Art and crafts for sale.

C1 art space, Shelf Project 2007

Nov 30 - Dec 31., 44 Ossington Avenue Toronto

An exhibition of more than 50 Canadian artists showcasing unique fine crafts and art
including mixed media, paintings, ceramics, textile, jewellery and more.

Cameron House, Metal: Sam Ferrara

Dec 6-31. 408 Queen W.

Cool assemblages, mobiles and wall sconces of everyday metal objects and tools. (Sam's studio burned to the ground last year, show him some holiday love and shop at the Cameron!)

2nd Annual Small Hands for the Holidays! Presented by: The Nook Children's Program

Dec 14, 11am - 4pm Christie Ossington Neighbourhood Centre, 854 Bloor St West

Holiday show and sale of small works by highneeds children plus a Latin American lunch by local youth.

Creative Spirit Art Centre, Deck the Walls

Nov 29 - Dec 22, 2007, Creative Spirit Art Centre, 999 Dovercourt Road

A Holiday Gift and Affordable Art Sale

Darling Building Kickout Tour + Art Sale

Dec 8, 11am-6pm & Dec 9, 12 noon - 6pm, 96 Spadina Ave.

Meet artists of the Darling Building presenting their work in the context of the studios from which they will soon move out

Performance by Claudia Wittmann Dec 8th, 5pm-5am.

401 Richmond Building, Holiday Marketplace

Dec 6-9, 401 Richmond St. W.

Four floors of alternative holiday shopping and browsing.

Fran Hill Gallery Christmas Group Show: Small Works by Gallery Artists

Dec 22 -23, 11am-8pm, Fran Hill Gallery Show Room, 285 Rushton Rd.

A selection of affordable original artworks to suit all tastes.

Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography, Wall to Wall

Dec 6-9, Opening reception: Thursday, Dec 6: 6-8pm, 401 Richmond St. W., Suite 120

Contemporary photographic artwork and objects by Toronto artists. Over 100 artworks available from their walls to yours.

Gladstone Hotel, SpeakEasy Holiday Sale

Dec 7, 8pm to midnight, Admission $4
Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen West

The annual SpeakEasy Holiday Sale is an evening of arts, crafts and seasonal fun: fuzzy hats, X-mas cards, quirky ceramics, fine art, cocktails and more....

Woodlawn Pottery Studio, 2007 Show & Sale

Dec 8 - 10, Opening Reception: Dec 8, 5 - 10pm, The Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St W.

Functional and decorative clay works to round out your holiday shopping.

Mercer Union, Love/More Love, The Annual Mercer Union Members Exhibition and Sale.

Dec 13-20. 37 Lisgar.

New Gallery, Editions group show

Dec 12-23. 906 Queen W.

First juried show and sale of multiples of works of art. Innovative thinking for limited editions of 5 to 25.

Ontario College of Art and Design, MAAD Christmas Sale

Dec 5 - 7, 11am - 5pm, 100 McCaul St., front lobby

The Material Art and Design department at OCAD is having a Christmas sale of fine craft work made by its ceramics, jewelry and
textiles students.

Open Studio, Annual Artist Proof Sale and Open House

Nov 29 - Dec 22, Open Studio, 401 Richmond St. W., Suite 104

Original artists' proof screenprints, etchings, lithographs and relief prints. $50 - $300

Paul Petro Contemporary Art, 11th Annual Christmas Spice Group Show

Dec 6 - 22, Opens Dec 6, 7 - 11pm, 980 Queen St West

20 gallery and invited artists contribute to the show. $5 - $200.
Additional works in the Multiples and Small Works room at the same location.

PraxisGallery , Affordable Art

Dec 14-27. 1614 Queen Street W.

PHOTORAMA 2007, 21st Annual Holiday Exhibition and

Nov 30 - Dec 8, 2007 Gallery TPW, 56 Ossington Avenue

PHOTORAMA makes it easy to expand your art collection, or just let yourself go for that impulse buy!

Scarborough Arts Council, Holiday Dreams: Revel!

Nov 29 - Jan 8, Bluffs Gallery, 1859 Kingston Rd.,Scarborough

Holiday Dreams: Revel! will feature works on display and available for purchase.

Sculptors Society of Canada, Joy!

Nov 13 - Dec 7, Canadian Sculpture Centre, 64 Merton St.

A show and sale of affordable unique gifts for the holiday season.

Victory Cafe, Sassy Little Craft Show

Dec 8-9.

Saturday December 8th, 7pm-12:30am (for those of you who like to shop while rockin' out) Sunday December 9th, 12pm - 5:30pm (for those of you who like to shop while brunchin' out) At the Victory Cafe (Upstairs) 581 Markham Street

"This ain't your granny's church basement!".

Whippersnapper Gallery, The Too-Explicit Injustice of Kind Population! Photobloggers group show, Dec 6-21.

& The Other Kind Craft Sale & Music show, Dec 22 ($5-$10)

Whippersnapper Gallery, 587A College.

Photography by some of Toronto's savviest photobloggers and crafty creations by young and emerging artists.

Winter Craft Fair

Dec 16, 11am - 4pm, Dufferin Grove Park

Hand-made goods including knitwear, glass, dolls & puppets and re-cycled 100% cashmere scarves. Hot drinks and food will be available from the Dufferin Grove kitchen, as well as Yasi's Place, ChocoSol and Tim's crepes! The ice rink will be open too, so don't forget your skates!

Merry Christmas by blogTO Flickr pooler vasta.