It can’t be true, clearly. Shopping Siren is far too lithe and limber to have a nephew old enough to graduate from high school.

But, there it is. He’ll march to “Pomp and Circumstance” this June, 18 years old and ready to conquer the world. SS still remembers when he was just 11 and ready to conquer Little League.

Between friends and family, Bag Lady has a handful of commencements and flat butts on the horizon. (Er. Flat butts courtesy of lengthy ceremonies and age.)

So this week we took on gifts for high school and college grads. Not just any gifts, though: personalized gifts. And not just any personalized gifts (engraved pen sets being so 1985), but only those from Maine entrepreneurs.

Celebrate them, celebrate you and launch that cap into the air! Let’s e-shop!

* Personalized graduation ornaments, Christmas Spirit, $12.95-$20.95, plus shipping

Clay grads in caps and gowns with room for your grad’s name on a tiny diploma. You even choose the little clay guy/gal’s hair color!*

(* Options are mostly brown or blond.)

* Church Hill engravable desk set, University of Maine Bookstore, $65.99, plus shipping and engraving

This cherry-finished set comes with a brass pen and holder, a brass business card holder and a medallion of the Dirigo seal. Includes a brass plate that you can send off to be engraved for $4.95. Perfect for any brassy UMaine grad.

Consider pairing with:

* Horseshoe set, L.L. Bean, $69 plus $8 for monogramming

Two bright, silver-toned shoes; two bright, brass-toned; one monogrammed bag; three words: It’s so Maine! Your grad will forever be King of the Backyard BBQ with this sweet set.

* Custom bean bags, Heavenly Bean Bags, $65 and up, plus shipping

In small, medium and large, in recliner style, love seat style or ottoman, in more colors, prints and fabrics than we can name. Bags can be monogrammed and customized, up to and including using your own fabric. (We’re picturing a bag made from your son’s beloved old Boy Scout tent or your daughter’s princess prom dress.) Grad gift coolness factor: 10. Dorm coolness factor: 12.

* Personalized chocolate coins, Wilbur’s of Maine, $75 setup fee and 20 cents to 35 cents per coin, plus shipping

Gold coins are dark chocolate; silver coins milk chocolate. Frankly, any color is delicious. The very definition of sweet success.

Best find: Handblown glass word balloon, David Jacobson Glass, $60, plus shipping

This ingenious cartoon word balloon is handmade from white, opaque glass and measures about 6½ inches in diameter and is about 2 inches deep. A small nail hole on the back allows it to be hung on the wall like a picture. The Montville artist’s Etsy site offers “Dream Big” and “Create” as possible grad-friendly options, but you can also email him your own words for a custom design. We suggest, “I got a job!”

Think twice: Engraved brick, Moonbeam Laser Engraving, $37.50 and up, plus shipping

A 4- by 8-inch brick, or an 8- by 8-inch brick for $20 more, laser engraved with names, dates, sayings — whatever you want. Lovely for a garden. But unless you have a family large enough to fill a whole pathway with bricks, it’s going to look a little odd, and possibly vandal-tastic. Moonbeam also offers an engraved and personalized deer antler plaque ($67.50, antlers not included). Ideal for your young buck? Mm. Maybe not.

Bag Lady and Shopping Siren’s true identities are protected by a pair of stylish, sweater-wearing Doberman pinschers (who want a personalized dog bone for graduating from obedience school) and the Customer Service counter at the Sun Journal. You can reach them at baglady@sunjournal.com and shoppingsiren@sunjournal.com.

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