Lately, I've been attending craft festivals--from Renegade to West Coast Craft--to check out Etsy finds and artists in-person, and to inspire my gift-giving this holiday season. On a crafty quest, I stumbled on a few unexpected items, one of which was Jennifer Kindell's vegetables prints. Perfect for the foodie in your life, Jen's hand-printed screen prints are inspired by the abundance and diversity of California produce. Reasonable and unique, these prints showcase nature's jewels in an unexpected way.
I'm not a huge fan of the subscription model, where you're forced to spend money on things you might not want on a monthly basis. But, I do think that companies that offer subscription services are great curators. Companies like OliveBox and Imperial Tea Court offer one-off purchases, so that you can gift the stationary or tea aficionado with a grab-bag assortment of goodies. Or, if you want your gift to last a little longer, some companies like Zingerman's offer short subscription options so your recipient can enjoy artisan vinegar for half a year or sample cheese on a quarterly basis.
In less than a month, I'll be packing my belongings and moving from Los Angeles to San Francisco for a new job and a new path. It's a move that's been in my heart for more than two years, and I'm filled with absolute excitement to explore and find my new spots--from the neighborhood coffee shop to the hole-in-the-wall restaurant to my new yoga studio. But, I think it's important that I never forget my roots that have shaped and defined me. The Map Necklace, the signature piece from jewelery maker Three Jane, is my chic and bling solution. The necklace is made-to-order, with a diamond marking the special location that will always be close to the heart. Los Angeles, you won't be forgotten.
Good luck charms can't always be there in times of need, especially if they are animate objects. Hailing from the UK, MsSpanner transforms the animate into the inanimate, whether they're friends, significant others or furry friends. Design your own manfriend or pet for $22 so luck will always be in your pocket or your friend's during those sweaty-hand moments.
Gifting unique items is my thing. Etsy is always a go-to destination, but, let's be honest, sometimes it's hard to search and find items, and, sometimes, you just don't have time to sift through 63 pages of search results.
So, when I stumbled upon e-commerce site Of a Kind, I was thrilled. Of a Kind does the searching for you. Think of it as a marriage between Gilt and Etsy. It specializes in offering limited edition pieces from new designers
who share their inspiration and stories behind the pieces for sale on the site.
Those gorgeous tortoise shell tumblers? Their inspiration was conceived during a walk in Brooklyn. The oh-so-contrasty lapis necklace? Its designers aim to bring back the work and centuries-old traditions that have otherwise lost market value.
Thanks to Of a Kind, gifting a present and its story just got easier.
When it comes to the debate on Kindle vs. physical book, physical book always wins in my book (bad pun, sorry). Clicks will never replace page turning, plastic will never replace leather covers and electronic ink screens will never replace crisp paper. Even if you don't agree with anything I just said, it's hard to argue that something will replace the scent of books. Well, except for Frostbeard's "old books" scented candle. Gift this jar of magic to the book lover in your life.
For the healthy DIY-er, consider gifting a home brewing kit for kombucha. Haven't frequented Whole Foods recently? Kombucha is a drink produced by fermenting black tea using a symbiotic colony of bacterial and yeast (known as SCOBY). The fermentation process gives the drink a natural fizz and probiotics, and offers health benefits including detoxification, joint care and an immune boost. Kombucha originated in Northeast China and later spread to Russia and has been enjoyed for over 2,000 years. Since it's naturally fermented, kombucha contains a small amount of alcohol. For those who want to gift a little more of those benefits, how about a home brewing kit for gin?
