With the holiday season fast approaching, planning gifts for all the important people in your life can get stressful—and it doesn’t have to be! We’ve compiled this list of the things we’re giving this year (and some of the gifts we’re hoping to receive). All of these gifts, by the way, are handmade by Seattle small businesses. Score!
Gift Ideas
Photo credit to Hemleva.
What: Hemleva’s brass himmeli air plant holders—plants not included (but for sale!)
Where to Buy: Online, from Hemleva’s website, or in-person, at one of several Seattle-area holiday markets
How Much: Prices start at less than $10, for some of the smaller himmeli, and range upwards for the large mobile pieces.
For Whom: Your friend who just moved to a new apartment; your coworker who loves air plants (true story: Aran got two of these for Christmas last year!); someone who’s looking to decorate a baby’s room (or their own)… maybe grab a couple for yourself while you’re at it!
Why: Not just for plants, these sculptural ornaments are inspired by traditional Finnish mobile decorations. Hemleva’s open, geometric air plant holders, wall sconces, and mobiles (limited edition or otherwise, both are equally stunning) are the perfect mix of form and function.
Photo credit to Hardmill.
What: Hardmill’s Grocery Tote in charcoal waxed canvas
Where to Buy: On their website!
How Much: $110
For Whom: Everyone—honestly!
Why: This reusable tote is great for transporting groceries (and just about any else!) wherever you need to go. As a bonus, the waxed canvas bag is both heavy-duty and water-resistant, with an inner leather base, making it super useful on rainy Seattle days.
More necklace styles available here.
What: Our Small Smooth Bead Set Pendant, pictured above in 14k yellow gold with a recycled diamond
Where to Buy: Right here!
How Much: $230-280 in the combination pictured above (but very customizable!).
For Whom: Your partner/girlfriend/wife/fiancee; your mother, grandmother daughter… The list goes on! PS—planning a wedding? This necklace makes an awesome gift for your maid-of-honor and bridesmaids!
Why: There’s nothing costume-y or flashy about this sweet, delicate necklace (one of our own!). In both the small and large sizes, this minimal, matte gold pendant looks great with both the coziest of sweaters and businesswear. Made in your choice of 14k yellow or white gold with a recycled diamond or fair trade black spinel center stone, this pendant offers a range of options for even your loved ones who don’t like wearing jewelry.
Photo credit to Tuesday Shop.
What: Tuesday Shop’s raw silk blanket scarf in indigo
Where to Buy: Online, or in-person at their Seattle shop
How Much: $48
For Whom: Your mom; your sister; your friend/coworker/partner who is always cold; someone who loves a good bright color (this goldenrod scarf is also awesome)
Why: These colorful and cozy blanket scarves are dyed by hand, which gives each scarf a one of a kind uniqueness. Both functional (silk is a great insulator!) and beautiful (you can see these colors, right?), these scarves are perfectly suited for mountains and sidewalks alike.
Photo credit to Design by SML.
What: Design by SML’s Topographic Coat Hangers, pictured above in maple—although we’re also big fans of their wall-mounted bottle openers
Where to Buy: Online
How Much: $90 for the medium size coat hanger style with two coat hooks, $140 for the large size with three coat hooks
For Whom: Your parents; your friend who never has room in their coat closet for more coats when you visit...
Why: We love a gift that looks nice and serves a purpose! These coat racks are handmade in Seattle with upcycled scrap materials from SML’s larger design projects, and each one features a laser etched topography of Mount Rainier. Bonus: each coat rack comes with the hardware needed to install it!
Photo credit to Decicio Glass.
What: Decicio Glass’s hand blown whiskey glasses in antique grey
Where to Buy: Online
How Much: $48 for a set of two or $88 for a set of four
For Whom: Your friend whose taste in alcohol almost rivals their taste in friends
Why: These hand blown glasses have a nice, solid weight to them and a smoky color. Bonus: they’re dishwasher safe, and double as stemless wine glasses. Have a friend you meet at a bar for drinks on a regular basis? Start making it a comfort night in, with these unique glasses (not just for whiskey!). For the full effect, we’d recommend pairing this gift with a bottle of their favorite spirits for sharing purposes.
More earring styles available here.
What: Our Hexagon Stud Earrings, pictured here in 14k yellow gold with a fair trade black spinel
Where to Buy: Right here!
How Much: Pricing ranges between $230-315 depending the combination you choose
For Whom: Your sister/friend/partner/mother; someone who wants to wear more jewelry, but doesn’t know where to start
Why: These tiny, geometric studs are just about as minimal as it gets! With a recycled diamond or fair trade black spinel center stone, you can feel good about what these earrings say and their impact on the environment. Handmade-to-order in Seattle, with a two week lead time.
Photo credit to Raw Parcel.
What: Raw Parcel’s Macro Tray in red oak/peach—but there are tons of other color combination options
Where to Buy: Online
How Much: $52
For Whom: Your friend who always has, at minimum, three different varieties of cheese in their fridge at any given moment (or maybe that’s you!); your sister, who could always use more help organizing their extensive jewelry collection
Why: Handmade to order (in Seattle!) and one of a kind, we think these trays would be equally suited for both food and jewelry displaying purposes. Don’t see a color combo you like? Not to worry—Chelsea can work with you to customize a tray exactly as you want it. If you’re in the Seattle area, we’d recommend pairing this gift with a variety of cheeses from Kurt Farm Shop in Capitol Hill! Prefer a non-dairy alternative? Try Fauxmage!
Photo credit to Minter Goods.
What: Minter Goods’ cork business card cases, available in a wide range of colors
Where to Buy: From their Etsy shop!
How Much: $15
For Whom: Your friend who’s getting their own business started, or your friend who already owns a small business
Why: With its sleek, minimal shape, these business card holders are something you’d be excited to pull out at a networking event to share your cards. Made from a durable and eco-friendly cork fabric, this card holder is both easy to clean and a great vegan alternative to a fully leather product.
Photo credit to Improper Goods LLC.
What: One of Improper Goods’ cocktail kits—we think that the Smokey Old Fashioned and Whiskey Ginger Smash Kits sounds stellar!
Where to Buy: Online
How Much: $25 for a kit, but all of the components are also available for purchase separately on their website
For Whom: Your friend who’s into mixology, who always ends up as the party’s informal bartender anyways; your cool neighbor friends who make a mean cocktail (or want to!); yourself, to bring along to a small holiday gathering
Why: Sometimes your go-to needs a little bit of updating for the season, and these cocktail kits are great for that! Each kit contains a 50ml bottle of bitters and 100ml bottle of syrup, perfect for a small party (or to keep to yourself—each kit makes 6-7 drinks!). Paired with Decicio Glass's whiskey glasses, we think this kit would pack the just the right punch for anyone on your list this year.
Photo credit to Bean Box.
What: Bean Box’s subscription coffee box sampler
Where to Buy: Online!
How Much: $24 for one month, $68 for three months, $129 for six months, or $244 for twelve months
For Whom: That family member who’s very picky about their coffee preferences; an out-of-town friend/family member/in-law you need a little bit of java-related help to convince to come visit
Why: Bean Box’s coffee samplers feature four hand-picked roasts from independent Seattle roasters every month, delivered directly to your door! Each box ships with 48 hours of roasting (so fresh!) and includes a roaster profile, tasting notes, and a guide to brewing. Not seeing quite what you want? Check out the other coffee gifts on their website!
Photo credit to Capitol Hill Candle Company.
What: Capitol Hill Candle Company’s Vanilla Pine soy blend candle
Where to Buy: Online, or at one of their many Seattle area stockists
How Much: $20
For Whom: Your mother/sister/grandmother/partner who needs to take some time to relax; someone who’s feeling homesick for the smell of the Washington’s forests; anyone else on your list who’d appreciate something nice smelling
Why: These candles are hand-poured in Seattle, using only natural and local supplies. This candle smells like Mount Rainer National Forest! Not so much into a pine scent? Consider the Campfire Toddy soy candle! 10% of the proceeds from the sale of every candle go directly to the IslandWood organization, which improves access to nature-based learning experiences for children in the region.
What if someone on your list already has everything they need? Consider making a donation to the ACLU or All Hands Volunteers in their name! You can donate as much as you want—everything helps to make a difference.
Seattle Holiday Markets
Great news: you can find many of the vendors mentioned here selling their goods at a number of the Seattle-area holiday markets. We’ve listed some of the ones we'll be visiting below!
- Seattle Made Market: on Saturday, November 25th, at the Broadway Market in Capitol Hill (401 Broadway E) from 10a-3p
- The Seattle Collective Market: on Sunday, November 26th, at the Melrose Market Studios (1532 Minor Ave) from 11a-5p
- Urban Craft Uprising: on Saturday, December 2nd through Sunday, December 3rd, at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall (301 Mercer St) from 10a-5p each day