CREATIVE GIFT GIVING: MY TOP PICKS
Every year I put together a gift guide of my absolute favorite products from the year. I love to give gifts, especially creative gifts that have a touch of the unexpected or feel like a fresh, lucky find. I think you’ll like this year’s list! Note: I receive a small commission on a few of these items, but I think they are all amazing. I only recommend things that I love!
I am a sucker for a great design book. Too often I feel as if there is so much filler in design books. I crave info and lots of photos to explore. I love a book that I can go back to again and again for inspiration. Kit Kemp’s Design Secrets is exactly that; an absolute gem. It was published this year, so it’s new and up-to-date. I will be giving this book as a hostess gift and to friends that I know love design.
I love all of Chris Shands’ artwork! One day I will splurge and purchase a large piece for my living room wall, but in the meantime, there are minis! She calls them Petit Bijou and you can still get one at Palette Home. They are in the $450 range, but if you want to delight someone special, this is it! Move quickly as I’m sure they will sell out soon.
Bellisari’s Gourmet Sauces & Spreads
Gourmet convenience is ALWAYS a hit, especially with a Bellisari’s sauces and spreads. Not only are they unique and crave-worthy flavor combinations, but the blog and web site are chock-full of recipes featuring their products and fabulous cooking tips in general. If you favor videos, they’ve got those too! I’ve know Annette for years and I’ve been one of many lucky friends who get to experience her talent first hand. Check out the “gift” section of their site for easy, prepackaged gift sets. The one shown below can be found here. If you show up to a party with Bellisari’s in tow, you’ll definitely get asked back next year!
It wouldn’t be my gift list if I didn’t include my 2022 Desk Calendar! This is an annual favorite for many, which means a lot to me, and this year’s designs are my absolute favorites. My calendar makes a lovely accompaniment to a gift card. Some how it feels less like “I paused in the grocery line for you” and more like “I thought about something you might enjoy all year in addition to this gift card”. Think teacher and hostess gifts! It’s $22 and available in my shop.
Want to be an absolute hero to someone who craves creativity? Gift them a subscription to Creative Bug! I often feel this platform takes a back seat to other learning platforms that are very generalist. Creative Bug is devoted to makers of all kinds. I’m talking about an all-star line up of teachers like watercolor with Yao Cheng, drawing with Lisa Congdon, and embroidery with Rebecca Ringquist. We all know someone who would love an annual subscription. Start with 2 months free and 50% off for life!
If you’ve ever met me (or been on a Zoom call with me) you know that I have tea (usually iced) of some sort in hand. I love flavored teas, wellness teas, and caffeine infused black teas (or matcha for a mega blast). Coffee may seem like everyone’s favorite, but do some asking around and you’ll find there are more tea fans than you ever imagined. The Art of Tea sells lovely samplers and gifts like this exquisite gift box. I’m partial to their patterned tea packages and will definitely be getting in touch with them as I’d love to design patterns for tea packaging! Hint, hint.
I’m a sucker for these pencils. I sketch a lot with pencils, and I love to have one handy for sodoku and crossword puzzles. Nothing will ever take away my love of graphite on paper, not even the snazziest gadgets, so I searched out the best I could find and stocked up. I prefer the Matte pencil because it is soft and lends itself to sketching, but you can fill this sleek piano box with any type of Blackwing pencils or even a mix of all 4 kinds. For $60 it makes a lovely and unexpectedly analog gift. You’ll be surprised how many people love it. If you’re a real pencil freak, check out their annual subscription box, Volumes, where you get a new set of 12 limited edition pencils four times a year.
