Final up to date on October 19, 2023.
I did my first ever vacation present information for vacationers a number of years in the past, which was enjoyable to compile. Readers appeared to benefit from the varied objects, and I used to be glad to share among the merchandise that accompanied me on the street. This 12 months, I needed to do one thing a bit of completely different.
For starters, my life is a little completely different – one thing all of you already know. Consequently, my very own items to household and pals aren’t souvenirs from far-away locations, however enjoyable issues I’ve found. I needed to share a few of them right here, particularly as many are small companies like myself.
This 12 months, I’d prefer to share two classes of items: artists and makers from my new dwelling of Ottawa and a few from past, and books I like or discovered impactful in my very own life.
I deliberate to publish the ebook information and the artwork/items information in the identical submit, however there are too many options and it obtained fairly unruly. So I’ll publish the ebook information within the coming week, and under are my options for artwork, jewellery, and extra.
I hope you’ll discover one thing you want in them!
Artwork, magnificence, and jewellery items for 2022
Now that I reside in Ottawa, it was enjoyable to get to know a few of these nice folks and I’m excited to share them with you, too. The objects under are from artists that I’ve both supported by buying merchandise myself, or native objects I beloved that didn’t work with my many immune/different restrictions.
Floral Polymer Clay Earrings
The expertise behind Island Meadow Clay is Rylan, who runs the store together with her husband Alex. She makes the jewellery, he packs the orders, and so they each present up at native flea markets with a sales space to indicate off their stunning earrings and necklaces.
The enterprise started as a pandemic passion, however took off even because the nation reopened. I’ve bought these for myself (see under), as items, and had an earring pair commissioned particularly for a good friend primarily based on the colors she loves.
These are fabricated from light-weight polymer clay, so even the bigger earrings will not be going to drag down in your earlobes. This is a crucial factor for me, since I have already got plenty of head ache. These may also make for an amazing present for folks with migraine complications or different situations that have an effect on the cranial nerves. And, for individuals who merely love hand-crafted jewellery.
As a result of I’ve bought from them essentially the most, they’re on the prime of the listing—and rightfully so! I like their merchandise, and their heat as a pair too.
Extra data:
The place to purchase: the Island Meadow Clay web site
Transport to: Canada and the US
Observe them on: Instagram
Embroidered coronary heart maps
I met the stunning couple behind Sadie and June when at a flea market in Ottawa, and appreciated their enjoyable choices as a traveler with plenty of locations I miss deeply. They promote hand-embroidered maps for 900 places (and counting), both as stand-alone “I like this place” model, or connecting hearts, the place there’s a thread connecting two locations. In addition they do customized maps, in case your favorite locations aren’t on supply presently.
The couple, whose names are literally Steve and Kendall, are a cross-border couple—one thing fairly widespread right here within the cities that border the US! She’s from New Jersey and he’s from Ottawa, however they met in Florida. Extraordinarily common any time I’ve seen their sales space round city, they seize the nostalgia of leaving items of ourselves in locations we beloved.
Says Kendall, “Our hand-embroidered coronary heart maps have been born out of this love and our perception that love is aware of no borders. The idea: I started embroidering via paper classic map prints that meant one thing particular to me and Steve.”
The couple have a submit about how they went from being ‘flat broke’ in 2014 to constructing a full-time enterprise round their stitching expertise. After I met Kendall on the market, she talked about that because the enterprise picked up she was struggling to get orders performed … till she taught Steve sew, and that helped get the maps accomplished a lot quicker. Now they’re each engaged on their common maps, and including cities the entire time.
Extra data:
The place to purchase: the Sadie and June web site
Transport to: Canada and the US, in addition to Europe
Observe them on: Instagram
Preserved resin flower jewellery
One other native vendor that I used to be taken by is Floral Sweeties. I ended up getting my mum’s birthday present from them, stunning earrings that I knew she’d get pleasure from.
Floral Sweeties is the brainchild of Hannah, a registered nurse who has expanded right into a botanical facet hustle. The jewellery she sells is made with hand picked wild and backyard flowers from Ottawa which might be dried, preserved, after which embedded in resin to create each bit. (She additionally sells clay items the place contemporary flora is imprinted in clay to provide plaster reduction artwork utilizing pure pigment, however these are fairly heavy to ship and I’m specializing in her jewellery).
Their earrings, like Island Meadow Clay, are principally very light-weight—good for anybody who has complications.
Extra data:
The place to purchase: the Floral Sweeties web site
Transport to: Canada and Worldwide (together with USA)
Observe them on: Instagram
Hand-drawn maps of meals
Sure, sure—I’ve included my very own maps on this information as nicely. I, too, am an area Ottawa enterprise in any case. And one with an thrilling growth: my meals map of Canada is lastly full!
As with the opposite maps on this collection, the Canada map is designed by me and inked by Ella Frances Sanders, a bestselling writer whose new ebook can be within the books information that might be revealed shortly.
Extra data:
Authorized Nomads readers can take 10% off with the code HOLIDAY22 till December 24, 2022.
The place to purchase: the Authorized Nomads artwork store web site
Transport to: Worldwide
Observe me on: Instagram
Plantable playing cards that flip into wildflowers
One other enjoyable present that’s considerate, AND doesn’t create waste: quirky playing cards embedded with seeds, you could then plant and nourish over time.
Seeded Reminiscences was constructed by MaryAnn and Jose, a husband and spouse workforce who felt greeting playing cards have been each costly, and wasteful. So that they determined to make paper and playing cards utilizing 100% recycled materials which might be embedded with a wide range of wildflower seeds. So the cardboard you acquire might be planted, rising a backyard of reminiscences and one which creates no tangible waste.
Playing cards can be found in English, French, and Spanish.
Extra data:
The place to purchase: the Seeded Reminiscences web site
Transport to: Canada solely. For my many American readers, you could find seeded playing cards at Cute Root as a substitute.
Observe them on: Instagram
Lovely fruit earrings
I fell in love with cute grapefruit earrings a number of years in the past, and have worn them so regularly that they fell aside.
Within the hunt to seek out new alternative earrings, I discovered a number of retailers on Etsy that provide them, in case you need a pair for yourselves—or another person!—too.
LOOK HOW CUTE THEY ARE:
They too are light-weight, and a really enjoyable addition to any outfit.
The place to purchase:
The Scrappy Cat (USA)
Ellie Bear (Canada)
Brlogarka (UK and EU)
Porcelain and ceramic jewellery
Larra & Daybreak began Flourish Stoneware in October 2018, on what they name “nothing greater than a dream to create.”
Every of their items takes a median of 25 hours to create, because it includes sketching, imprinting the clay, drying it out, after which firing it within the kiln earlier than glazing thereafter.
The items are individually crafted with a wide range of supplies like porcelain, speckled clay, black clay, a wide range of glazes and overglazes (like gold lustre and Mom of Pearl overglaze).
The result’s a set of gorgeous, distinctive jewellery that caught my eye at an area market.
Extra data:
The place to purchase: the Flourish Stonewear web site
Transport to: Canada, USA, and Worldwide. (Transport exterior N. America is dear, although)
Observe them on: Instagram
Knitted cacti
With a mission to convey greenery to “each struggling plant mother or father”, Kelsea’s whimsical knitted cacti caught my eye at an area flea market. The enterprise took place when Kelsea knitted her sister some cacti for Christmas, after seeing how her sister couldn’t preserve vegetation alive.
Taking inspiration from actual vegetation, Kelsea rigorously crafts knit cacti and succulents in a wide range of sizes, colors, and shapes. She additionally tries to make use of sustainable supplies for different components of her merchandise: upcycled packaging, sustainable yarn and stuffing, plus reusing cardboard contained in the pot to make them lighter weight for delivery.
The corporate is totally family-supported, together with the construct for the shows on the market stall I met her at.
I purchased myself a mini cacti (although I’m having cactus remorse that I didn’t get a bigger one), and thought it’s your decision one too.
Extra data:
The place to purchase: the Kelsea Knits web site
Transport to: Canada, USA, and Worldwide.
Observe them on: Instagram
DIY candle, deodorant, and clay masks kits
Jessye, the founder and maker behind Make This Universe, began her DIY store in 2018, whereas getting very pissed off making an attempt to make her personal deodorant at dwelling. She looked for a store the place ought to get a package to take action as a substitute, and got here up empty. Like me beginning my meals maps as a result of I couldn’t discover the product I used to be in search of, Jessye kicked off her store to fill a niche within the market.
Make the Universe gives DIY “fashionable craft kits” for candles, deodorant, masks, and necklaces, in smooth packaging that may be recycled. They permit for customizable merchandise to account for private sensitivities, with out having to do every part from scratch.
Extra data:
The place to purchase: the Make the Universe web site
Transport to: Canada and USA
Observe them on: Instagram
Caffeine necklace in silver
Do your family members get pleasure from espresso as a lot as I do? This chrome steel and silver plated necklace of the molecule for caffeine could also be up their alley, or yours. Chain size: 50cm. Nickel and lead free
You should buy it right here.
Whimsical hen artwork
I’ve had the pleasure of assembly the genius behind Birdstrips, Jess, in particular person in Montreal twice earlier than we every moved elsewhere. Her illustrations have grown an enormous following on Instagram attributable to their whimsical, relatable messaging.
In Jess’ phrases, the store includes “the existential misery of the flightless via the eyes of the flighted.”
Under, two prints from her store: one in all an acrylic portray of a rooster named Cheddar Cheese, who’s “escaped right into a area of dandelions and is having the time of her life”, and the second, remedy “earlier than and after”—in basic Birdstrips model
Extra data:
The place to purchase: the Birdstrips Print Store (additionally mugs, tees, and extra!)
Transport to: Worldwide
Observe them on: Instagram
Birds + curse phrases
These illustrations of birds that swear in inventive methods are common all around the internet, with good motive. As Twitter implodes and the world feels prefer it’s doing the identical, the hen outrage by Aaron Reynolds says all that we’re bottling up inside.
That doesn’t cease folks from getting pissed off in regards to the cursing, however … did you count on the rest from an organization referred to as Effin Birds?!
Extra data:
The place to purchase: Clothes, mugs, pins, and extra right here, plus an Effin’ Birds ebook and a more recent French Effin’ Birds ebook, in addition to a 2023 Calendar too.
Transport to: Worldwide
Observe him on: Instagram
Pearl jewellery from Tahiti
My good friend Celeste isn’t solely an amazing journey author, but additionally runs an environmentally-friendly Tahitian pearl firm, Kamoka, that adheres to the strictest ranges of sustainable farming on the earth. Their pearls are from oysters grown within the nutrient-rich lagoon of Ahe Atoll, 300 miles northeast of Tahiti, with electrical energy equipped by photo voltaic and wind energy. And should you wanted extra convincing about supporting their enterprise: a Nationwide Geographic examine discovered that their farming strategies helped improve the world’s fish inhabitants lately.
One in all their merchandise I put on usually: the Mana Bracelet. At $99, it’s an funding, however a sturdy and delightful one.
Celeste stated that this bracelet was initially crafted for surfers. Now, it’s one in all their finest sellers for energetic individuals who need an exquisite pearl bracelet with out worrying about fragility. The adjustable band is made out of kangaroo leather-based (the strongest leather-based on the earth), and is a superb selection for the modern wanderer and the energetic fashionista alike.
In addition they now supply a brand new assortment, that includes Tahitian blacklip oyster shells and jewellery made out of their very own sustainably produced mother-of-pearl. The earrings under are extra inexpensive than the pearls alone, and are an exquisite present for individuals who need one thing sustainable and completely different.
Extra data:
The place to purchase: The Mana Bracelet is obtainable right here. The total mother-of-pearl assortment is right here, with the earrings above right here.
Transport to: Worldwide
Observe them on: Instagram
These are my 2022 present picks! I hope you get pleasure from not less than a few of them. I’ll be following up with the books I feel are value a learn, in just some days. 💙
-Jodi
