GIVE MORE BY GIVING LESS. AND PERHAPS INSPIRE A HABIT SHIFT. choosing more wisely.
Gift giving any time of the year can be challenging, never mind the pressure of the holidays and the never-ending sales and promotions overflowing your inbox. There is a lot of noise out there and sometimes it's difficult to find or know where the goods stuff lies. And by good, I mean meaningful. In previous years, I use to always go overboard. I showered everyone close to me with an unnecessary amount of gifts. I thought more gifts meant more thought and more thought = more love. But it didn't take me very long to shift gears and appreciate the gesture behind one really thoughtful, more meaningful gift.
And a lot of times those deals and sales influence what we buy, but what matters most is that you do want it to be thoughtful, something they might not already have, and maybe handmade or local (bonus!). When I opened our first Holiday Pop-up at The Innovation & Design Building in Boston's Seaport district in early November, I aimed to bring in product that was all of the above and more. Keeping our goods the focus, I wanted everything around it to feel complimentary not only in look and feel but where they came from, who made them and how they would be used. Whether it be our Keap candles from Brooklyn that support the distribution of solar lamps (available in-shop only and made with coconut wax for a slower, cleaner burn) or our Mulxiply felted animals handmade by indigenous fairtrade artisans in Nepal . . . or our new Waxed Canvas Lunch Bags that encourage the use of less plastic and paper, you won't have to think twice about a gift from our shop.
So if you want to give less, but a lot more meaningful (perhaps functional, sustainable and beautiful too), our 2017 gift resource is below. Not to mention everything here is handmade in small batches (because that's just how makers work). I stand by all of these goods and by discovering something here for that last person on your list, you support a small (but mighty) business too.
So the deal here, less is always more.
1 Encourage bringing lunch and the use of less plastic and paper
Waxed Canvas Lunch Bag 3 Colors: Camel, Navy, Chartreuse $24
2 Stop with the paper napkins and give a set of Everyday Signature Napkins
Blue Yarn-Dyed with Moss starting at $8.50ea
3 Handmade by indigenous fairtrade artisan in Nepal, Mulxiply Felted Animals provide opportunity and interrupt poverty. Babies $20–$24; Large $36–$42
4 Traditional napkins are cumbersome, use a lot of material.
Our Gold Windowpane Dinner Napkins are great for everyday use, not just holidays. Set of 4 $56
5 Sometimes that oversixed cutting board just isn't necessary, not to mention where does it get stored? Maple Hexagon Serving Board $38
6 Our handtowels are found in kitchens and bathrooms with our brightly-colored hooks. Green Chambray Hand Towel with Navy Hook $20 (more styles and scents available at our pop-up shop)
7 Customize and keep close to your heart. Carry with you and use often. Custom Handkerchiefs
8 Not just decorative but functional. Unzip our exposed brass zipper and toss in the wash when necessary! 24" Throw Pillow $148 down/feather insert included
9 Preservative-free and made with 100% soy wax derived from American-grown soy beans for an eco-friendly, clean burn . . . And lead-free cotton core wicks primed with vegetable based wax, essential oils, and phthalate-free perfume oils. Brooklyn Candle Studio Gold Travel Candle Scents: Sweet Fig, Fern + Moss, Japanese Citrus,Tobacco $14 (more styles and scents available at our pop-up shop)
10 Doubles as a cutting board, serving board, and small plate. Red Oak Serving Board with Handle $22; with wood conditioner $27
+ Bonus! Don't forget about your little furry friend. Handmade by self-taught ceramicist in Portland, Oregon. Sandbox Ceramics Pet Bowl $30 (mugs and ramekins available at our pop-up shop)