I did my first ever vacation present information for vacationers a couple of years in the past, which was enjoyable to compile. Readers appeared to benefit from the numerous objects, and I used to be comfortable to share among the merchandise that accompanied me on the highway. This yr, I needed to do one thing somewhat totally different.
For starters, my life is a little totally different – one thing all of you already know. Consequently, my very own items to household and buddies aren’t souvenirs from far-away locations, however enjoyable issues I’ve found on-line. I needed to share a few of them right here, particularly as many are small companies like myself.
The objects beneath are from artists that I’ve supported, a few of whom I’ve truly met, and they’re all merchandise I stand behind.
Artwork and jewellery items
Some stunning objects to make your individual.
BECCA JANE DESIGNS
When looking for a present for my mum’s birthday final yr, I believed I might do one thing somewhat totally different. I appeared for an artist who might illustrate our household with a stupendous border after which ship her a printed copy for her birthday.
I’ve by no means commissioned this type of present earlier than, and Rebecca – the artist I selected – was affected person and sort, and we went forwards and backwards a couple of occasions till I used to be happy. She even agreed to make my brother as depicted, carrying his favorite martini t-shirt.
I used to be ready on this present information till my mum obtained her present, and she or he beloved it!
Rebecca’s full store right here, and notice that she is going to do other forms of designs as properly, like Save the Dates for weddings, vacation playing cards, personalised child blankets, and extra.
LEXIGRAPHIQUE
I’ve adopted Michael Buchino’s whimsical phrase work for a while on Instagram, because it combines two of my favorite issues: studying, and artwork. His Insta feed, Lexigraphique, is a type of accounts that I ship to a number of buddies many occasions every week.
Earlier than this information went up, I wrote him to ask if he had any vacation objects I might embody, and fortunate for all of us he was nearly to launch the hygge playing cards beneath.
You should buy his prints and these cute vacation playing cards in his Buchino store, right here.
BRAIN EARRINGS
These earrings are stainless-steel, quirky, and a enjoyable method to put on one of the vital elements of the physique in your ears. I anticipate many, “is {that a} tree?” questions, to which you get to say, “nope, it’s BRAINS!”
You should buy them right here.
PICTRIXDESIGN
Anne Connell’s store is a marvel to behold, chock stuffed with paper items designed — as she notes on Instagram and on her web site — with an “absurd consideration to element” She lists herself as a precisionist, and it’s simple to see why. Her art work is meticulous, delicately crafted, and really distinctive.
I discovered her botanical card collection first, and clapped my palms with glee. As somebody making an attempt to get out in nature throughout transient spurts of respite from bedrest, they have been a breath of recent air. Her constellation playing cards, that includes every of the zodiac indicators, are a transparent crowd-pleaser. I’ve put these two sorts of playing cards beneath however actually it’s price heading to see her full store.
I notice these are listed as playing cards, however I believe they’re frame-worthy all by themselves.
Her full store right here.
VULVA EARRINGS
I’ve written about how a menstrual cup has been one of the helpful objects for a solo feminine traveler to deliver, and this yr they’ve added a enjoyable light-weight jewelry choice in wooden. I purchased these for myself, and completely love them.
They’re adequately subtle to not scream VULVA to anybody you meet, and so they’re in my favorite color. Figured I’d add a second physique half to this information 🙂
Earrings here, and a necklace choice right here.
NICALLENART
Nicola is a long-time Authorized Nomads reader, and a fellow lawyer and traveler. She has generously shared chicken illustrations and different enjoyable to maintain me cheered up once I’ve been down. She’s additionally a really proficient artist, and her playing cards and different objects are wealthy in puns and joyful artistry.
Nicola’s work jogs my memory of the kids’s’ books I beloved most, with inventive characters, maps, and kooky animals. A proficient hand-brush lettering artist, she additionally contains numerous drawn typography in her work.
From a grumpy owl to a festive sheep, you’ll be sure you discover vacation playing cards to your tastes. And certainly one of my absolute faves is her marriage ceremony card beneath, “Of all of the fish within the sea” — pleasant.
Nicola’s full store is right here.
BIRDSTRIPS
I’ve had the pleasure of assembly Jess, the genius behind Birdstrips, in particular person twice. She’s at the moment in Montreal, and a pal launched us simply earlier than I re-leaked final summer time. Her illustrations have grown an enormous following on Instagram on account of its relatable messaging, and her captions that accompany the drawings are uncooked and susceptible. Collectively, it’s highly effective work that makes nearly everybody really feel heard.
In Jess’ phrases, the store contains “the existential misery of the flightless by way of the eyes of the flighted.”
You may try her photos and decide up mugs, shirts, prints and extra, right here.
ABSTRACT AERIAL ART
JP and Mike Andrews, two brothers from the UK are an Instagram favorite of mine. I usually share their photos with my group as a result of their eye is exclusive, and their photos compelling. Like me, they completely like to journey. Not like me, they concentrate on photographing weird, aerial photos our planet utilizing drone pictures.
Their aim: to share views of the world in any other case unseen, captured from a vantage level most of us miss. An ideal present choice for many who like to roam.
Right here’s one I like from them: Skyline, a drone {photograph} of a freighter that appears like a cityscape.
And this aerial view of a seaside made me smile:
Their full gallery store right here.
TEKSTARTIST
Jason Markow, aka TEKSTartist is an artist I discovered a couple of years in the past, and was hooked instantly. His work combines each conventional and digital media, a fusion of strategies that lead to elegant but crisp merchandise. Provided that my very own merchandise are typographic representations of meals, I like that his artwork contains quotes he’s loved over time, visually represented in distinctive methods.
One among my favourites: this flower, “Your Backyard, Without end” obtainable right here, created by warping and twisting the phrases from Tennyson’s well-known quote – “If I had a flower for each time I considered you…I might stroll by way of my backyard without end.”― Alfred Tennyson
And the merchandise beneath, The Giving Tree, was created by warping/twisting the phrases from the complete set of textual content from Shel Silverstein’s iconic e-book “The Giving Tree”. Purchase a duplicate of the art work right here.
Full store right here.
EFFIN BIRDS
These illustrations of birds with curse phrases sayings are all the craze on Instagram and Twitter, for good purpose: they’re hilarious. Crafted by Aaron Reynolds, they do appear to offend some, however because the title suggests precisely what they’re it’s onerous for anybody to be upset. Don’t like them? Shut the tab.
Personally, I discover them precisely what I would like, every day.
Clothes, mugs, pins, and extra right here, plus an Effin’ Birds e-book and a 2022 Calendar too.
TOTE BAGS: TYPOGRAPHIC MAPS OF FOOD
I’m excited to share the brand new tote baggage within the Authorized Nomads store. Beforehand, I supplied a canvas, bull-woven tote of the maps, with the map printed on one aspect. These new tote baggage are black and white – and if folks like, I also can swap out the handles to make them crimson or mustard! – and the design is printed on either side.*
The brand new tote has sturdy handles and holds as much as 44lbs, excellent for errands and/or carrying a laptop computer with no laptop computer bag. Meals maps of Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Portugal, Italy, and Mexico obtainable.
Store the brand new totes right here. The total store is right here. Use code TOTESAMAZING for a 15% low cost till December eighth, 2021
MICAPEET JEWLERY
Given my love of nature, it’s no shock that I additionally love jewellery that depicts it in design. I noticed these gold leaf earrings lately and ordered a pair as my vacation present to myself. They’re light-weight — nice for anybody with complications — and they’re delicate and simply so fairly. I just like the distinction of the gold with the emerald inexperienced stud within the ear.
If leaf earrings aren’t your factor, Mica additionally has necklaces, rings, and different earrings in a wide range of styles and sizes. They’re light-weight and delightful, and oh so inventive. Her jewellery is hypoallergenic and nickel-free.
Purchase the identical gold leaf earrings that I like right here, with Mica’s full store right here.
KAMOKA PEARLS
My pal Celeste shouldn’t be solely an ideal journey author, but additionally runs an environmentally-friendly Tahitian pearl firm, Kamoka, that adheres to the strictest ranges of sustainable farming on this planet. Their pearls are from oysters grown within the nutrient-rich lagoon of Ahe Atoll, 300 miles northeast of Tahiti, with electrical energy provided by photo voltaic and wind energy. And in case you wanted extra convincing about supporting their enterprise: a Nationwide Geographic research discovered that their farming strategies helped improve the realm’s fish inhabitants lately.
As with my former present information, I needed to incorporate their Mana Bracelet. At $99, it’s sturdy and delightful. Celeste stated that this bracelet was initially crafted for surfers. Now, it’s certainly one of their greatest sellers for energetic individuals who need a stupendous pearl bracelet with out worrying about fragility. The adjustable band is constituted of kangaroo leather-based (the strongest leather-based on this planet), and is a good selection for the modern wanderer and the energetic fashionista alike.
For one thing somewhat extra delicate (and fragile!), I like this white Tahitian keishi pearl ring, offset with a crescent to signify the solar and the moon. Keshi pearls are comfortable accidents, small nuggets which are created as a by-product when the pearl grows with no nucleus, or rejects the bead nucleus because it grows.
I like that Kamoka took these often-discarded objects and made one thing stunning out of them.
- The Mana Bracelet is accessible right here.
- The White Tahitian Pearl Ring is right here.
- Kamoka’s full store, with pendants, necklaces, rings, bracelets, and extra, is right here. Their vacation sale is on now, with 20% off.
Sensible Presents for Well being and Dwelling
Some further concepts for this vacation season.
WINE WANDS
I used to be sceptical of those, however they actually do work for me through the occasional time that I’ve a glass of wine. Because of an inflammatory immune situation known as Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (I’ve written about it elsewhere on the weblog), wine is a rarity. However these wands make a glass one thing I don’t react to anymore, which has been nice.
Purchase them right here.
SAD LAMP FOR WINTER
I take advantage of a SAD lamp within the winter months when in a colder local weather. As the times shorten, it’s simple to really feel the winter blues. These Verilux lamps are reasonably priced and use LED lights, and are increasingly more moveable over time. They solely model I’ve used for years.
Purchase them right here.
QUIETON 3 NOISE CANCELING EARBUDS
These tiny earbuds don’t play music or audio from the telephone, however have noise cancelling expertise. They’re the world’s smallest for this goal, and are constructed to be snug for sleep—together with for aspect sleepers. I used to be involved they’d match, however they arrive with an XS earbud measurement that’s excellent for me.
Purchase them right here. Black Friday sale on earlier than the 2021 holidays.
KIZIK HANDS FREE SHOES
I’ve been utilizing these sneakers for nearly a yr, and I can’t see myself going again to the rest. With a spinal CSF leak, I can not simply get right into a pair of sneakers, or tie my very own laces. Previous to discovering out about these from a pal, I used an extendable shoe horn to get into my sneakers with ease.
Not anymore!
Now, the shoe itself is sufficient. Kizik’s patented expertise in all of their sneakers contains a inbuilt “spring-back” motion making them simple to placed on and take off. I take advantage of the Cairo girls’s shoe (above) as a result of I needed probably the most sturdy help that they had. They’ve a more recent operating fashion (the Atlas) or lower-profile types just like the Vegas or Prague which are additionally nice. Actually simply will depend on what you wish to put on!
Many readers have bought these already, and love them—I get numerous emails about it. So have buddies who broke a leg, or are pregnant and may’t attain their sneakers, or are disabled like me. I’m not an envoy for them, I simply love the sneakers as a result of they’ve helped my high quality of life and are snug to put on.
Utilizing my hyperlink will get you $20 off a brand new pair of sneakers, and you’ll test them out right here.
FOOD CRAYONS
These are a Quebec product, and tremendous enjoyable. They’re concentrated flavours in a “crayon” that comes with its personal sharpener. You may add the shavings to spice up any meal, or cocktail, with a wide range of flavours. Made by hand, they’re all vegan and gluten-free, and at the moment provide 24 flavours.
Purchase them right here. They ship exterior of Canada, too.
For readers who requested the right way to help me throughout this vacation season, one of the best methods are by way of my Patreon (come be part of us! there are birds!), or by way of a one-time help choice.
Thanks as at all times for all of the love!
-Jodi
