Our third holiday gift guide this season is dedicated to Kids and Pets! You can be the most cynical adult alive, however spend the holidays with children and your Grinch heart will have no other option but to grow three times its size. We also included pets in this blog because they are one of our greatest sources of joy and love and deserved to be spoiled in the holiday season (well, all year round really when you think about it). We picked five gift suggestions that we hope you will not only love for your nearest and dearest but will inspire you to do the work of actually shopping small and shopping local, not only for your holiday gifts but for all year round shopping. That is the main goal of our gift guides.
With the kids and pets gift guide we focused on small, independent brands that have a mission and a story. We included different categories and price ranges. Like all previous gift guides, there is an online store and you just need to click onto the captions for the link. We hope this starts the love and passion for hunting the treasures out there that smaller and more artisanal brands provide.
Toys for children (I bet you thought this one was for the pets) are of course at the top of this list. Mon Ami (“my friend” in French) is a child accessory brand established in 2018 that specializes in products that create a delicate balance of beauty, comfort, and emotional connection—creating treasures to cherish, gift, and grow up with. Besides toys, Mon Ami have many child related accessories. It was hard to pick our favorite plush toy so since it was the holidays we went with Jingle Holiday Dachshund, the cutest pup around! With his smart holiday sweater and festive Santa hat he is one super snuggly dog stuffed animal. Gifting this sausage puppy stuffed animal to a little one dreaming of owning a dog or the dachshund lover in your life will guarantee a lifelong childhood friend. This nine inch long bundle of love will also melts the hearts of not only children but their adults too.
MCNALLY JACKSON INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE - THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS: CLASSIC ORIGINAL TEXT PAIRED WITH MODERN ART
Books are always a favorite gift suggestion from The Local Artisan Guide, especially for children and definitely for the holidays. We always highly recommend going to independent, small book stores and McNally Jackson is one of our favorites. If you have a small local independent book store in your neighborhood it is a treasure trove for gift giving for both children and adults. We highly recommend “The Night Before Christmas: Classic Original Text Paired with Modern Art” by Hayden Goodman (Illustrator) based on the original story by author, poet and scholar Clement C. Moore. Hayden Goodman is an African American painter, illustrator, and character artist. She works primarily in gouache to paint witches, fairies, goblins, and other mysterious creatures from mythology and folklore. For this rendition, “On Christmas Eve, a little girl is woken by the clatter of Santa's reindeer on her apartment building's roof. When jolly Saint Nick comes down her chimney, she and the other children in their apartment building get swept up in a Christmas adventure.” The book features beautiful bright illustrations filled with diversity (much needed right now) in this modern twist of a classic tale where every child can see themselves in it. It is surely to become a holiday tradition and keepsake for the family of the child who receives this magical book.
MOMA DESIGN STORE - LE CHOCOLAT DE FRANÇAIS GALATIC CHRISTMAS PRALINE BALLS BOX
Chocolate will always be a holiday gift favorite, especially for children. We love MoMA Design Store because their gift merchandisers search the world for special brands that they feel will lift us up in beauty and artisanal traits. It is an amazing destination for both the brick and mortar and the online store to source spectacular holiday gifts that are easily accessible. A brand we love from France is Le Chocolat de Français which MoMA offers in their collection. This fun decorative tin contains nine milk chocolate praline balls. All Le Chocolat de Français products are made in France, using traditional chocolate-making techniques, with 100% natural ingredients. Contains 3.9 oz of chocolate. The tin is certainly a keeper and let’s face it, this is a gift for the kid in all of us.
And now for the pet portion of our program. Let’s face it, treats are the best thing that can happen in a pet’s life (besides the love of a good human). They pursue treats the way we pursue a good pizza. We found Barkin, a small independent dog brand that we feel in the future has the potential to become a huge dog brand. The company is dedicated to producing all-natural treats for dogs while championing a greater social mission. Inspired by their late English Bulldog, Marlow, who is the heart and inspiration behind this brand, Barkin also has a mission to pledge their support to causes that promote mental health and emotional wellness. We saw how dogs were going crazy for their Chicken Pot Pie Soft & Chewy Treats so we knew this had to be on the holiday gift guide for dogs. The Chicken Pot Pie is a tantalizing blend of natural goodness designed to delight your furry friend's taste buds while providing wholesome nutrition. Crafted with the utmost care, these treats are made with three key ingredients: tender chicken, luscious sweet potato, and aromatic parsley. This treat offers moderate protein, a good amount of fat for energy and taste, and fiber to support digestion. It’s balanced to provide energy and flavor while remaining shelf-stable and easy to chew. This gift is a win/win! And quite honestly, I can’t tell you how tempted I am to try it myself. One day!
LUCA THE NAPA DOG - SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA CABLE CAR DOG TOY
Besides treats pets love their toys. Lucca, The Napa Dog is another small, independent pet brand inspired by the love of a dog, in this case it’s Lucca, a big 70 lbs fluffy dog. The brand specializes in dog inspired gift baskets however they also feature other categories and pet toys are one of them. Since it’s a Napa based brand we love their San Francisco, CaliforniaCable Car Toy. Never has tug-a-war been so cute with this soft cable car that has a crinkly roof and bold squeaker. Guaranteed hours of fun for both your furry one and you.
We hope we have inspired you with these gifts. Please take a look at your local neighborhood toy stores, holiday markets, independent bookstores, pet shops and children boutiques. They contain a trove of artisanal gifts for your loved ones that they are sure to become family heirlooms.
Next week is our last blog for holiday shopping and it will be GIFTS FOR ALL! We will also be featuring in our Instagram stories special picks starting on Sunday, November 30th for all of Advent. These will be be brands we know and love that only have an online presence. Now that the holiday season is officially on its way and Black Friday is over we hope you are enjoying the season and finding shopping for your loved ones a pleasure.
Last but definitely not least we have our holiday gift guide for the most important individuals during the holidays and that is the children and our fur babies (pets). Children and pets are what the holidays are made for as their innocence and joy during the holidays make all the preparation worthwhile. We have looked far and wide for gifts that we feel will actually be appreciated by children/pets and not be thrown aside after five minutes of playing with them. We also look for gifts that will not contribute plastic to all the future garbage landfills. We recommend gifts that will be lovingly cherished and passed down generation to generation, made by artisans with thoughtfulness and love. We have all different categories and price points and all the gifts can be ordered from the brand’s online store (click onto the caption to go to the store).
This has been a personal favorite for years, I love getting these beautiful hand made in the USA alphabet blocks for children. Not only do young children love playing with them, they are educational and aesthetically pleasing. I have the French alphabet blocks here however Playing Mantis (my favorite toy shop in NYC) has the blocks in so many languages. So whether it is Chinese, Danish, French, Spanish, etc. it is a great and fun way to introduce language skills to young ones. Made from sustainable Michigan basswood with non-toxic inks, the 28 44cm blocks feature letters, numerals, and animal pictures. These blocks are guaranteed to become a family heirloom.
LITTLE MOONY - ORGANIC PIMA COTTON NEW YORK TAXI BODYSUIT WHITE LONG SLEEVE FOR BABIES
Little Moony is a beloved children’s boutique in Nolita, NYC that offers cool and chic clothing for your little ones. We love this NYC taxi cab one piece bodysuit for a newborn to 18 months. It’s the best way for a baby to show their love for NYC with the iconic taxi cab. With the soft pima cotton designed with three convenient snaps between the legs for easy dressing and diaper changes, ensuring practicality without compromising on style.
“You, Me & Our Families” by 90 Day Fiancé alumni Kenny and Armando is a children’s book celebrating the diversity of families structures today around the world. “Through engaging illustrations and relatable language, it introduces young readers to seven different family dynamics, including single-parent families, households led by grandparents, families with two dads, adopted families, traditional mom-and-dad families, and stepfamilies.” Books are always a great gift especially around the holidays and this book on the unconditional love of all different types of families is a great lesson to teach all children.
A great gift for a young child is a portrait of them when they were very young to have and to keep for generations to come. Etsy has a few artists available for portraits and we like HansHPortrait store on the site as the style of painting is quite figurative and gets the essence of the child they are painting. The sizes start at 8” x 10” to 24” x 36” and can have more subjects in the painting (for higher prices). It will be a great piece of art to have in the child’s room and to have in the future for their home.
KALA BRAND MUSIC CO. - RED SEA SOPRANO SHARK UKULELE
One of the best ways to help make children smarter is to introduce them to playing a musical instrument. It is also fun for them and helps build up self-esteem (besides musical talent). We love the ukulele as an intro instrument as it not too hard to learn to play (compared to say the piano). This Red Sea Soprano Shark Ukulele is well-suited for casual players looking for something colorful and fun to sink their teeth into. The Shark is a terrific deal that also looks and sounds great.
Here is a game for kids of all ages that helps your math skills at the same time. This multicolored domino game is a fun way to play. “This fun set of wooden game pieces in bright, saturated colors brings a tasteful, modern touch to this ancient Chinese game dating to the 12th century.” Even better for every purchase, manufacturer DesignWorks Ink plants a tree with the One Tree Planted initiative. That’s a win/win!!
What do you get the kid that has everything? How about a donation in their name to children around the world who are in desperate need of help, food, water, clothes, safety and a roof over their heads. With “Save the Children” a non-profit organization that has been helping children around the world for decades. Save the Children is extending their Giving Tuesday match so your gift today can double in value!
•$50 (becomes $100) - to help provide enough food to keep 10 children from going hungry for a month •$150 (becomes $300)- to help provide warm, cozy blankets to 60 children affected by conflict •$300 (becomes $600)- to help provide psychosocial support to 30 children
It’s a great lesson to teach children compassion, empathy and giving and that is what the holidays are for.
CLIC - Long Wool Rocking Sheep in Natural Gray, from Natures Collection
Introducing good home decor taste is the gift that will keep on giving. To make it fun for the kids (and aesthetically pleasing for the parent) we found this beautiful rocking sheep which is sure to be a toy they will not only love but will definitely will become a family heirloom. The copy is long but a well worth read: “The Original Rocking Lamb is a piece of furniture just as much as a toy. The frame is made of pinewood, and the head is carved by hand. The body is upholstered with foam and covered with sheepskin. Povl Kjer designed the first Rocking Sheep for his niece as a humorous reminder of her country roots in 1981. The Rocking Sheep has become well-known, first in Denmark, then followed by the rest of Scandinavia, and today the Danish design classic is sold all over the world. The wood used to make The Rocking Sheep is pine, which has traditionally been used for furniture in Scandinavia due to its good qualities. All the wood comes from Swedish or Finnish forests. The wood is FSC certified, and our supplier always informs us which sawmill has processed the wood for each batch. The sheepskins come from Iceland and Sweden, where the sheep roam freely with their lambs in a clean and unspoiled nature. Sheep are bred for meat production, so when a Rocking Sheep is upholstered with a sheepskin, it is a resource that is being exploited rather than wasted. The skins are tanned at the best and most controlled tannery in Europe. When it comes to sustainability, it probably matters most that our production is local and takes place in the countryside in the heart of Denmark. The Rocking Sheep is so durable that it can be used for generations to come. If a Rocking Sheep breaks, we repair it free of charge, no matter how old it is. Just as we want the child to feel safe and comfortable with the Rocking Sheep, we also hope that our customers will experience the joy of getting an honest product, that has been made with pride and care since 1981.” Dimensions L: 33 inch, W: 10 inch, H: 24 inch.
What better way to immortalize your dog than an ornament of their cuteness? Chilly Dog Sweater Co. offers 45 different breeds of dogs all made of original handcrafted wool. This darling Maltese ornament (in memory of my late dogs Powder Puff and Q-Ball) is 4” x 4”.
BARKIN - LAMB MIXED MEDLEY SINGLE INGREDIENT TREAT
Since our dogs are clueless about gift giving for the holidays (or so we think) they would especially appreciate treats. I am quite sure it will be number one on their lists of gifts if they could let us know. That brings us to Barkin Dog Treats and their Lamb Mixed Medley Single Ingredient Treat crafted with the finest quality lamb liver, lamb heart, lamb kidney, and lamb lung, these treats are a testament to our commitment to providing the highest standards of nutrition and taste for your furry friend. One of the benefits of Barkin is that a portion of their proceeds go to pet related causes and organizations that advocate for mental health and emotional wellness. A win/win for all!
OUR GREEN HOUSE - SCRATCHING BALL CAT TOY - SALMON
Let’s not forget cats (or other forms of pets). Our Green House ball toy will bring your cat hours of pouncing, swatting, and chasing fun with a rattle sound inside. 1.75” in diameter and made of sisal in the USA, it’s a gift your cat will love.
We hope you appreciate the gift suggestions for children and pets that are artisanal and chosen so they will love and appreciate and most of all cherish. We at The Local Artisan Guide wish you and yours a very happy holiday and remind you to please shop consciously, shop local, shop small and most of all shop artisan!
This year for our Valentines Day blog we were inspired for Valentine Day gift recommendations from NY NOW, the wholesale market from Bullentin, a wholesale market that focuses on discovering up and coming brands with extraordinary products. The brands are small, local, independent and teeming with unique creators.
We picked ten products in different categories for men, women, children and your favorite pet in all price ranges. We hope you will be inspired by these up and coming brands that we are sure will provide Valentines Day gifts that are distinctive, quirky and lovely. Please click onto the images to be directed to the product online store.
Chocolates are always the way to your love’s ones heart on Valentines Day. Make your gift more original with chocolate from chocolatier Coco. Coco is based in Edinburgh however they begin the making of their chocolate at origin before passionately transforming it in Edinburgh, Scotland. As a result, more wealth remains within developing economies. This beautiful heart shaped box of chocolate features modern artwork on the box by artist Stephen König. The chocolate from Colombia inside is described as “Indulgent truffles filled with an orange delicate filling and covered in fine single origin milk and white chocolate. A decadent treat, perfect for special occasions.”
GOLD+WATER CO. is a bath and body and home brand founded in 2019 in Philadelphia, PA by Chartel. The brand produce handcrafted soap, bath items, and home decor in small batches. They also support local anti-abuse organizations and those addressing mental health and hygiene needs in their community. GOLD+WATER CO. offers a 5 SOAP BUNDLE + SAVE. in their various 15 scents. Some of our favorites are ARDENT, SMOULDER, BARE and BARE.
MOSHIQA
Moshiqa, Mosh Mosh Bowls, $60
Many of us want to show all the people we love in our lives how much they mean to us on Valentines Day, however sometimes its the animals in our lives that give us the most love and support so for our pets we have these beautiful cat and dog Mosh Mosh bowls by Moshiqa. Moshiqa is a high-end lifestyle brand for pets and pet lovers; offering a unique selection of luxurious fashion wear, leather goods and accessories, established in Los Angeles by self-made woman entrepreneur Meryem Birsoz and her heroine life partner Moshi, the Shih Tzu, in 2017. The Mosh Mosh Bowls are best for both food & water. They are hand-crafted from the finest ceramics featuring gold accent patterns of kitties & puppies. Your fur babies will feel the love and food will taste better as well as make your home look quite lovely.
NO SIGN
NO SIGN, Red Wallet, ¥13,200
A thoughtful gift that can be unisex is this stunning red wallet (they will always think of you when they pull it out) by NO SIGN. The brand is a leather goods brand that uses natural leather from Wagyu beef from Miyazaki Prefecture. Using rare and valuable leather materials, the product is handmade by skilled Japanese craftsmen. From the raw material to the tanning process, the entire manufacturing process is produced in Japan. It is a brand that is particular about ALL MADE IN JAPAN. Based on free ideas based on the theme of "people"NO SIGN will blend into everyday life, proposing genderless leather goods that will make you feel at ease and attached to it every time you touch the leather. The wallet is described as, “A zip card case made of Miyazaki leather with a simple design. A slim card case that eliminates waste and is perfect for the cashless era. The zipper pocket has two partitions, allowing you to organize folded bills and coins. The outside pocket of the case can hold 4 cards, and the other side has a receipt storage space. The practical design stores only what you need, making it perfect for a minimalist lifestyle. The dimensions are 8cm / 14.5cm / 1cm.
GROUNDED CERAMICS
Grounded Ceramics, “love is complicated splattered heart stud earrings”, $29
Jewelry is always a beautiful and traditional way to show someone you love them on Valentines Day. That said, it doesn’t mean the jewelry needs to be traditional. We love these heart shape ceramic earrings by Grounded Ceramics as a gift. Grounded Ceramics has potters who thoughtfully create delicate porcelain jewelry and functional ceramics in her Oak Park, Illinois studio. She carefully crafts small batches of unique, one of a kind pieces using porcelain or stoneware clay. The earrings, “love is complicated splattered heart stud earrings” are splattered olive and peach underglaze on porcelain hearts. clear glossy glaze with a surgical steel, hypoallergenic post.
EMMOTIV
EMMOTIV, “Love Euphoric”, 50 ML, $84
Perfume is always a thoughtful Valentines Day gift as scent evokes memory and how lovely to remember the ones we love. The scent brand EMMOTIV has a scent perfect for Valentines Day called “Love Euphoric” which is a captivating cocktail of aphrodisiac florals – ylang-ylang, jasmine and rose absolutes – infused with lush notes of coconut, cashmeran and white amber. EMMOTIV is developed by some of the world's most talented luxury perfumers. Their fragrances fuse the mood-enhancing benefits discovered through aromachology and aromatherapy with the sophisticated and artfully layered composition of perfume. The result is an intimately delightful olfactive experience that proves the power of fragrance comes to life when we wear it for ourselves, not others. It is a brand that should be on your radar.
WATER BRUJA
WATER BRUJA, “Come to Me”, 8 oz, $15.50
An affordable gift for Valentines Day is a romantic candle. This candle recommendation however is more for you for self-love as the candle is created by Water Bruja (bruja is witch in Spanish) Water Bruja, founded by Melody. Water Bruja is a New York brand offering reiki-infused, vegan-friendly aromatherapy products for bath, body, and beauty. The brand focuses on relaxation, stress relief, and positive intention setting. Each product is thoughtfully crafted with gifting in mind, ideal for personal indulgence or thoughtful gifts. Water Bruja stands out for its commitment to ethical and sustainable practices, blending physical wellness with spiritual enrichment. The brand's dedication to quality and care, particularly in its handcrafted soy candles, reflects its core values of holistic well-being and environmental responsibility. This eclectic candle is a stunningly beautiful love spell to attract someone to love in your life. Its called the “Come to Me” candle, its 8 oz, made from soy and smells like citrus and berries with a musk base. Remember self love is the most important love!
VOBELLE
VOBELLE, Handknit Merino Wool Dark Red Scarf, $60
It may seem like most of these recommendations are for women however this is certainly a gift for men (or any gender) that they will love and cherish. This hand knit red scarf in 100% merino wool, nice and cozy. It is light weight and non itchy so it won’t feel too bulky. Handmade in the USA. Dimensions: approx 7″ X 74″. The brand Vobelle is a small, female-owned and operated brand dedicated to creating exquisite knitted accessories. Every piece is designed and handmade in their studio in Killingly, CT, ensuring attention to detail and a personal touch. The merino wool is sourced from the USA not abroad to make the brand more sustainable.
BALIZEN HOME
BALIZEN, Balinese Umbrella | Prada Indigo, $380.
An unorthodox gift for yourself and your home and family is this beautiful outdoor Balinese umbrella by BaliZen. Anyone can have an outdoor umbrella but no one in your neighborhood will have this beautiful umbrella with golden heart shaped ornaments, brass bells and traditional tassels in their signature prada print in indigo blue. A perfect Valentines Day gift to enjoy everyday. Balizen Home for over two decades has been at the forefront of both the Fair Trade and sustainability movement. They create a unique line of ethical products for your home, garden and wardrobe. Their designs are inspired by nature and the Zen traditions of craftsmanship, simplicity, harmony and the use of natural and eco-friendly materials.
TEAM SUPER CREW
TEAM SUPERCREW, Emotions and Powers, Book Set of 4, $30
Last but certainly not least is a gift for the children in your life for Valentines Day and we love this book set from Team Super Crew that helps your child grow their emotional IQ. The Team Super Crew box set helps kids recognize big feelings and learn the tools to regulate their emotions in a positive way. Different from other books on the market, this series is rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a social-emotional therapy that focuses on the ways that our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are interconnected. Our thoughts create our feelings! When we develop the tools to change our negative thoughts, we learn how to regulate our emotions in a positive way. Helping your child grow and connect in healthy ways to those around them is the best Valentines Day gift you can give them that will last the rest of their lives.
We hope you enjoyed the selections from NY Now. These are brands that are local and markets like NY Now help shine a spotlight on local brands that you may not know about to create greater audiences and help their businesses. Plus you and your loved ones benefit with unique and thoughtful gifts for Valentines Day.
On the twelfth and final day of our Holiday Gift Guide, we will honor our most beloved creatures, our pets. We feature six brands that have a passionate love for animals and pets, primarily dogs and cats, and have created gifts that your animals are sure to love (or at least we think they will).
Own the block - or perhaps the countryside - with our Shiloh Leash, a formidable marriage of classic beauty and exceptional strength. Offered in both City (47”) and Country (60”) lengths and 1/2”, 3/4” and 1” widths, each lead is hand cut from a single piece of Italian leather that yields a stylishly functional accessory essential to your everyday walking routine. Handmade in New York City.
Hand crafted by master artisans
Finest quality Italian leather
Finished with expert contrast saddle stitching
Solid brass hardware in natural brass finish
Care and Maintenance: Clean with a damp cloth and mild soap or leather conditioner
Camamu Soap is owned by Stuart Bailey and Anca Ivan Bailey, based in Portland, Oregon. They are a husband and wife team committed to green living, and continuing the ethos and mission of creating 100% natural skincare products through artisanal techniques. They have created the “Dirty Dog Shampoo” soap Free of chemicals, pesticides and harsh detergents, Dirty Dog Shampoo by Camamu Soap is made from nourishing, conditioning base oils such as olive, coconut, castor, palm, apricot kernel, avocado, neem and sweet almond. To combat fleas and ticks, the shampoo is infused with neem leaf powder and scented with a flea and tick repellent essential oil blend of citronella, eucalyptus, lemon eucalyptus, cedar and petitgrain. The end result is a a shiny coat, non-itchy skin and a sweet smelling dog. As well as gently cleansing, this shampoo has the added benefit of removing poison oak and ivy oils (just in case your dog enjoys the occasional cross-country jaunt through the underbrush). Solid bar shampoos make it easy to clean your dog's underbelly and other harder to reach areas. This shampoo can be used by humans, too (especially great for dandruff).
Ingredients: Olive, coconut, castor, palm, apricot kernel, neem, avocado & sweet almond oils; infused with neem leaf & rosemary powder.
From the much loved pet boutique in the West Village, Zoomies offers you to uncork a bottle of bubbly fun for any occasion! Dog Perignonn Champagne toy has a squeaker that your dog will love! Perfect for small breeds and puppies.
Sizes: Small - 6" L x 4" W x 2.5" H Large - 9" L x 6" W x 4" H
It may be Zee Dog but they also have love for cats. We couldn’t do a gift guide with pet gifts and not include cats! Zee.Cat's Finger Puppets are a set of 3 interactive string cat toys. These unique cat toys can be used as a teaser toy or as a toy for your cat to play with alone when you hide the string in the string pocket. With a feather, a bell and a catnip pocket, these 3 Finger Puppets are sure to keep your cat entertained for hours.
Who says comfy and attractive can't go together? This insanely cozy dog bed dispels that rumor entirely. The interior is filled with a thick premium fiber polyfil, making the bed a cloud of cushion. The madras fabric has a zippered opening and machine washable cover for easy maintenance. The Madras Dog Bed comes in five sizes (each a separate price, starts at $200 for small) and six different Madras color combinations. Made in L.I.C., NY
Maxbone is a high end pet boutique offering this adogable apres ski jumper. It comes in multiple sizes for all dog breeds and has such features as Vegan super stretch yarn, roll neck design, raglan-sleeves, its machine washable and an easy fit. There is a hole in the back for a leash and special armhole fit to allow for greater mobility. You may be the ski bunny but with this jumper your dog will be the cutest apres ski puppy around.
Our pets provide us the purest and most loyal love so let’s make sure we remember this holiday how much we love and appreciate them with a gift they will love and honors them.
So that is the end of our twelve days of Holiday Gift Guide. We hope you have explored our choices and have found new artisans from far and wide to support and that those who receive your gifts know how highly you think of them to offer unique gifts made from skillful and passionate creators.
