GIFTS FOR ALL! HOLIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE 2025

Our last holiday shopping gift guide for 2025 is “Gifts for All!”

The selections we curated are gifts for friends, family, colleagues, strangers, Secret Santas and Hostess Gifts. We have have selected gifts from around the world with diverse categories and price ranges. We picked gifts that stood out to us from shops you might not know as they are small independent brands. Some of the gifts are quirky, some are beautiful and rarefied, some have a degree of practicality and all are created by artisans. We do know they would welcomed greatly by the recipient.

All selections are featured online to purchase, just click onto the caption beneath the image. We hope these gifts inspired you to shop far and wide and out of the box. This category is our most fun because it can be anything. We highly encourage imagination, generosity and the joy of giving for the holidays.

MELODY ROSE LONDON - KISSING COUPLE BONE CHINA PLATE

MELODY ROSE LONDON - KISSING COUPLE BONE CHINA PLATE, £33.33 – £116.67

Melody Rose London is a tableware brand established in 2012 by artist and designer Melanie Roseveare. The brand is known for its elegantly eccentric high-quality fine bone china tableware and home textiles, perfect for lovers of eccentric designs, perfect for maximalists and lovers of beauty. This brand for chinaware is sustainable and has a low carbon footprint. It is generated from a third-generation pottery in Burselm, Stoke-on-Trent, UK. Each piece is handmade, celebrating the best of British craftsmanship and the finest materials. Attention to detail remains key, right down to the hand-painted yet dishwasher-friendly 22kt burnished gold finish on each piece of bone china. We picked “Kissing Couple Bone China Plate” with a depiction of a Victorian couple in a kiss. It’s perfect for newly weds or someone who wants a more unique plate set. It comes in three sizes which you can buy separately or together. It’s one of those gifts that you might actually want to keep for yourself. If you want to buy in the U.S.A. it is available at Wolf & Badger.

LA FUNDIDORA - PARTY SET SALSAS AND COOKING SAUCES

LA FUNDIDORA - PARTY SET SALSAS AND COOKING SAUCES, $23.55

After all our travels this year there is no way we could not recommend a gift from one of our favorite artisan countries, Mexico! Besides it’s beautiful craftsmanship we decided to go with a much more tastier gift and that is authentic Mexican salsas and sauces from family run La Fundidora. Founded by Mexican City natives who now reside in Brooklyn, NY. they missed the authentic artisanal small batch salsas and sauces they had grown up on. Salsas in NYC were watery and tasted very different from home. The La Fundidora products are handmade in small batches using traditional methods, ensuring quality and flavor and there are no preservatives, artificial flavors or sweeteners, they only use fresh ingredients. We recommend for gifts “The Legend” a pack of three salsas; Fresca, Fuego and Humo and “The Party Pack” which consists of Fresca, Ambar and Luna. Either three pack (or all six if you want to be invited back to your friend’s house in the Hamptons) is going to be a memorable gift especially for the foodie in your life. La Fundidora also has a collection of authentic Mexican cooking sauces that are also small batch, handmade and made with local ingredients. La Fundidora was founded based on a mission to revive the lost art of small batch, traditional salsa making and proceeds go back to help their native communities which is a win/win gift!

ABC HOME - DEEP SEA OCTOPUS ORNAMENT

ABC HOME - DEEP SEA OCTOPUS ORNAMENT, $40

ABC Home is one of the top destinations in New York City for artisan home goods. What originally started as a carpet and rug store eventually grew into presenting other home decor categories such as textiles, glassware, tableware, bedding and more. The holiday season at ABC Home is especially magical. The artisan holiday decor and decorations are some of the best in the city, especially their ornaments. We had a hard time choosing a theme much less an ornament. So we decided to recommend the Deep Sea Octopus Ornament since a “Under the Sea” tree is bound to be a colorful, beautiful and fun tree. Crafted in glass with exquisite detail, this elevated aquatic ornament brings gorgeous color to your holiday home. Available in Orange, Pink, and Purple. Dimensions: 1" W x 3" L x 4.5" H. It will definitely be a keeper as a gift for years to come.

AEDES - MILLER ET BERTAUX - IN THE TEMPLE SCENT DIFFUSER

AEDES - MILLER ET BERTAUX - IN THE TEMPLE SCENT DIFFUSER, $120

AEDES is one of our favorite artisanal perfume boutiques in New York City. When we want to find highly curated fragrances we go to this jewel box of a boutique. AEDES perfumery is dedicated to exclusive, artisanal scents. Established in 1995 in New York's West Village, it relocated to the Lower East Side since 2018 presenting an array of small international brands besides their own AEDES DE VENUSTA. We immediately knew an amazing gift would be a room scent diffuser. We fell in love with the scent of Miller et Bertaux’s In the Temple Scent Diffuser. Miller and Bertaux’s In the Temple is a soothing woody fragrance that soothes stress. Its duo cedar-sandalwood, patchouli leaf is made for fans of mystical incense. The top notes are incense, the middle notes are Patchouli, immortelle, smoked cedar and the base notes are Sandalwood. The bottle is a beautifully crafted clear glass container. This gift will have the recipient treat their home like the temple it should be.

ARTIKA BOOKS - VÍA CRUCIS BY FERNANDO BOTERO

ARTIKA BOOKS - VÍA CRUCIS BY FERNANDO BOTERO, PRICE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

The Local Artisan Guide loves recommending books as gifts especially when it’s purchased through independent book stores. However we are recommending a very special type of book, an artist book from ARTIKA BOOKS. ARTIKA is a publishing house specialized in artist books created in collaboration with world renowned artists. Established in 2003, Artika has become an exclusive publishing label that has globally redefined the concept of the artist’s book. Artika has been dedicated to creating books that are beautiful works of art. ARTIKA has succeeded in elevating luxury to the publishing industry, producing unique books that offer a level of excellence unparalleled in the 21st century, true works of art in their own right. The books are a collaboration with hand-pressed paper with its opulent thickness on each page, and the exquisite design and craftsmanship of each case or sculpture, among other elements. ARTIKA includes a Study Book and Art Book in which Fernando Botero was fully involved in the development of; he personally supervised, reviewed and approved all the pieces, and in particular, the 34 drawings in the series. Price is upon request as this is a pricey gift but if you know a lover of art, history, books and beauty this is the perfect gift if you can give it. It is in itself a work of art.

THE CITIZENRY - TWIST TAPER CANDLES

The Citizenry is a home decor brand that offers products from around the world, all small batch, all handcrafted from artisans. The Citizenry collaborates with artisans using their traditions and skills with their designer’s more trend driven designs. This helps the artisan keep in business and continue their trade whilst helping the The Citizenry produce beautiful and sustainable products. We know everyone loves a candle and instead of a room candle we love these tapers that have a twist, a literal twist. Handcrafted in New York by Greentree Home, these twist tapers offer a playful take on a classic design. With a unique twisted design detail, they bring movement and character to tables, mantels, and centerpieces—elevating everyday moments with unexpected artistry. Sold in pairs, they’re perfect for styling your home or gifting. Made from 100% North American beeswax. Burn time: 10-12 hours. Standard (⅞") diameter base. Dimensions: 9" H x 1.25" W. These candles are a lovely gift at an affordable price range.

DEBAUVE & GALLAIS - THE MARIE ANTOINETTE PISTOLES CASE

DEBAUVE & GALLAIS - THE MARIE ANTOINETTE PISTOLES CASE, 30,33€

If you are thinking of giving a gift of chocolate to the chocolate lover in your life this holiday season then have we got the chocolate for you. Debauve & Gallais is one of the oldest chocolate brands in the world. The brand was founded in 1800 in Paris, France by Sulpice Debauve, who was King Louis XVI's pharmacist. Sulpice Debauve, a doctor's son, focused his research on cocoa. “The scientist was aware of Marie-Antoinette's infatuation with chocolate, which reminded the Queen of France of her Viennese childhood. So, to help ease the sovereign's headaches who complained that her "medicines", he mixed the remedy with cocoa, adding almond milk to soften the taste. Enchanted, the queen, named these medallions "Pistoles". Previously consumed as a beverage, Sulpice Debauve invented the first solid chocolate you could bite into.” Debauve went on to create many types of chocolates and delicacies which has made the chocolate brand iconic. We are recommending the delicious original chocolate that Debauve created, “The Marie-Antoinette Pistoles” case. It is an assortment of 74% dark chocolate from Madagascar, 66% dark chocolate from Ecuador with real Bourbon vanilla, verbena, orange blossom, honey flakes, almond milk chocolate and 46% milk chocolate. Each Pistole is engraved with a design inspired by Queen Marie-Antoinette's jewelry collection. This holiday gift is not only delicious but full of history.

GLOBAL TABLE - MOROCCAN HAND PAINTED JOYA TEA GLASS SET

GLOBAL TABLE - MOROCCAN HAND PAINTED JOYA TEA GLASS SET, $90

Global Table is one of the best shops in New York City for table and glassware. Open since 1996, it offers exactly what its name implies, modern, handcrafted tableware sourced from small brands and artisans around the world. It is a popular with stylists and designers since 1996 and we always love stopping by to see what Global Table has to offer as many of their items make for beautiful and affordable gifts. We immediately saw these Moroccan Hand Painted Joya Tea Glasses and knew they had to be in our gift guide. This delightful set of Moroccan inspired tea glasses offers a modern twist on traditional design. Crafted from clear glass, each piece is hand painted with a playful arrangement of colored round accents in vibrant colors with shimmering gold details. Perfect for your favorite cocktail, whisky, water or juice. They are made by artisans in Morocco and not only are they beautiful but are a practical gift too.

SEAMAN SCHEPPS - SMALL TRAY IN RED JASPER

SEAMAN SCHEPPS - SMALL TRAY IN RED JASPER, $5,750

If you are looking to go big may we recommend this Red Jasper Tray from Seaman Schepps. Seaman Schepps is an iconic jewelry brand established in New York in 1904. The eponymous designer Seaman Schepps was world renowned for his out of the box designs and mixing of luxury materials and gems. His bold creations and ideas also spilled over to their home decor collection which shares many of the same materials used in their jewelry line. This is the perfect gift for the aesthete and collector in your life. The Small Tray in Jasper is a Limited Edition Hand Carved Tray in Red Jasper with Turquoise Bars set in 18K Yellow Gold. Stamped Seaman Schepps. It is for the person in your life that has everything and yet will still appreciate and treasure this gift. It is definitely on our pricey side however we are sure it will become a much loved family heirloom.

E. BRAUN & CO. - CRISTAUX LINEN HOLIDAY COCKTAIL NAPKINS

E. BRAUN & CO. - CRISTAUX LINEN HOLIDAY COCKTAIL NAPKINS, $450

E. Braun & Co. was founded in 1893 in Vienna where they became known for selling fine linens and ready-to-wear clothing. Eventually the company opened an office in New York City where they concentrated on just selling linens. Now E. Braun & Co.has emerged as the premier source for luxury linens and distinctive accessories. We highly recommend E. Braun & Co.’s Holiday Collection which includes Cristaux snowflakes in white and gold in 6 assorted designs make for classic holiday linen cocktail napkins. They will make any table scape especially beautiful around the holiday or all year round and would be much appreciated by any host or hostess who loves to entertain.

That is our Holiday Gift Guide for all. Once you start looking there are so many amazing, beautiful handcrafted, artisanal gifts that you can find that would make the recipient of such gift feel like you put great thought and care into their gift. Whether it be a beautiful candle or high end home decor, when you shop local artisans you are giving in so many ways and that is the lesson we should all take away from the holiday season.

We are also doing a daily Advent Calendar online shop gift guide on our Instagram and Facebook for brands that do not have a brick and mortar store so look out for those recommendations.

We here at The Local Artisan Guide wish you and yours a very happy and healthy holiday seasonvwith your friends and family.

By Natalie Rivera

BRANDS TO BE THANKFUL FOR GIVING BACK

With the holiday season now officially upon us The Local Artisan Guide would like to highlight some brands that share the same ideals and mission of working with artisans in a sustainable manner and giving back to make the world a better place.

These days you can help make the world a better place by learning to be a conscious shopper. Investigating a brand’s ethos and what they stand for is a win/win situation. To know the product you are investing your money is made in an eco friendly manner that helps local community around the world is the shopping ripple that we as a society need to be apart of.  We are highlighting for this Thanksgiving five brands that have this mindset. Click onto the caption in the image for more information.

The first brand we would like to highlight is Akola, a globally inspired jewelry brand creating beautiful designs to lift up and champion women around the world. Akola means “she works” in a local Ugandan dialect. Akola provides life-changing job opportunities through vertically integrated manufacturing employing women in Uganda to make each Akola piece. 

AKOLA - Zuri Set of Bangle Bracelets, $195

A piece we love is the Zuri Set of Bangle Bracelets. For an affordable $195 you get the option of two different color sets of bangles to chose from (blonde and black). The blonde set featured here includes; one luxury designer Austrian Crystal encrusted bangle, two 10k gold tone bangles and three horn bangles carved by hand in their Ugandan horn studio. All bangles are handcrafted in Ugandan, 2.5” inner diameter and you can wear all together or mix and match.

Are you are looking for a gift for the special man in your life whether it be your boyfriend, brother, dad or good male friend? Are you looking a spectacular gift that also gives back to the world? May we recommend the Alpaca Scarf from Global Goods Partners. This knit Nayra Alpaca Scarf is woven from the softest baby alpaca from Peru and is not only cozy warm but super lightweight. The dimensions are 72”L x 16”W and come from the artisans of Royal Knit, a group of artisans based in Peru who work in their small workshop weaving alpaca and other natural fibers into accessories. This program helps specially women who are victims of domestic  abuse in effort to promote cultural identity and generate incomes for themselves and their children. They have grown now to over 400 weavers and knitters with over 40 workshops located in Cusco, Puno, Huancavelica and Lima, Peru.

GLOBAL PARTNERS - Nayra Alpaca Scarf, $78

A great affordable stocking stuffer we have for the holidays comes from Patent of Heart with their new selection of novelty leather luggage tags at just $29 each (Dimensions: L: 4.25” x W: 3”). Each luggage tag come in a variety of different colors with five funny sayings we most certainly find ourselves saying when we travel with luggage. They are:

• Thank God You Found Me comes in black, yellow red, blue and orange.

• They All Look The Same Don’t They? Comes in black, yellow, red, blue and orange.

• Woo Hoo I’m Over Here! Comes in black, yellow, red, blue and orange.

• Nope Not Yours comes in blue, yellow, orange and red.

• Nope Yours Is The Other Black Bag comes in black, yellow, red, blue and orange.

PATENT OF HEART - Novelty Luggage Tags, $29 each

Patent of Heart was built on the belief and mission of giving back. Their brand was born out of creating a beautiful product working with artisans, mostly female, whilst preserving their traditions and skills, upcycling raw materials and having a portion of our profits go to help educate girls in Turkey.

When it comes to home decor, World Market, is a San Francisco brand that has been selling artisanal home decor from around the world since the 70’s. They focus on products that are sustainable and helps artisans keep their local artisan skills alive. We are featuring exclusively from World Market the “All Across Africa Dark Blue Woven Disc Wall Decor”. Handcrafted of raffia and banana fibers, this beautiful disc is made in Uganda and is ready to hang in your home or office. Available in additional designs, the disc is 20” in diameter x 2.5” depth. The artisans creating this piece are artisanal women weavers from Uganda and includes a tag from the weaver describing what creating this piece of art means to her. In collaboration with “All Across Africa”, these artisans are empowered to pay school fees, gain access to safe housing, food and healthcare and save for her future and family.

WORLD MARKET - All Across Africa Dark Blue Woven Disc Wall Decor, $79.99

Our final recommendation of gifts that give back to the world is the “Mini Candle Trio Gift Box” from the Wurrumay Collective for $49.95. The Wurrumay Collective is a small handmade business created by Natasha Kaiser, a proud Aboriginal woman from the Gomeroa Tribe in NSW, Australia. These three 60 gram mini candles come in Australian Bush, Australian Sandalwood and Kakadu Plum. Inspired by her homelands and Australia’s natural resources, Wurrumay Collective helps the Gomeroa Tribe and provides work from this Australian luxury fragrance brand. The candles make for unique unisex gift items and is a great way to help a small artisan brand and its community from around the world.

THE WURRUMAY COLLECTIVE - Mini Candle Trio Gift Box, $49.95

We hope we inspired you to gift giving that ripples in positive ways from brands that make it part of their mission to give consciously back to communities and people around the world. The stories of these brands and how they came about to make a difference in the world using artisans makes any product whether for yourself or to your loved ones worth having. Going against algorithms for shopping and focusing on small, local brands that give back is the perfect way to acquire good shopping karma for the holidays.

Happy Thanksgiving from The Local Artisan Guide!

THE LOCAL ARTISAN GUIDE'S TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE - DAY TEN: CANDLES

It’s the tenth day of our Holiday Gift Guide and today we explore some inventive scented candles. Everyone loves a candle so it makes a great holiday gift and stocking stuffer. Here are five candle brands made by local artisans.

BROOKLYN CANDLE STUDIO, “MAUI”, $38

Brooklyn Candle Studio candles are made in Brooklyn, New York with 100% soy wax for an eco-friendly clean burn. They use lead-free cotton wicks and premium fragrance oils infused with essential oils. Plus their candles are vegan, cruelty-free, phthalate-free, and petroleum-free.”Maui” evokes the tide rising and falling on a secret beach on the island of Maui and with it, notes of sea salt, sea moss, and driftwood evaporate into the air. A touch of zesty bergamot and soft ylang ylang round out aromas of the ocean. TOP NOTES: Bergamot, MIDDLE NOTES: Ylang-Ylang, Sea Salt, BASE NOTE: Sea Moss, Driftwood.

REGINA’S ESSENTIALS,”COQUITO CANDLE TRAVEL TIN”, $12

This candle by Regina’s Essentials evokes holiday time in the Caribbean where on the island of Puerto Rico their version of eggnog called Coquito is served and loved. To bring this scent to life the key ingredients are: Certified Organic Beeswax, Certified Organic Coconut Oil, Certified Organic Cassia Essential Oil, Certified Organic Clove Essential Oil, Certified Organic Vanilla Essential Oil and Certified Organic Nutmeg Essential Oil. Regina’s Essentials aromatherapy candles are made in small batches with certified organic beeswax and certified organic essential oils. Aromatherapy candles contain only certified organic essential oils instead of chemically derived oils. Essential oils are extracted from flowers and plants.

THE WONDERMENT, HAPPY CAMPER CANDLE “INDIE COFFEE SHOP CANDLE”, $22

Let the warm, rich aroma of Happy Campers Candle “Indie Coffeeshop” candle evoke the sense of sitting with a freshly brewed latte in a dark mahogany booth at a local cafe, where the barista starts preparing your order before you even get to the counter. Outside the gray skies spill fat raindrops as leaves the color of burnt orange, fiery red and golden yellow dance in the wind on the street corners. The velvety sound of jazz music plays softly in the background accompanying the symphony of coffee making: the "grinding, banging, pounding, clanking, humming, gurgling, and whistling" (as described by writer Stefanie Spencer of The Voice in Cochise County, Arizona). SCENT NOTES Top: eucalyptus, green apple, and bergamot. Middle: cashmere, black pepper, clove and geranium. Base: amber, black cardamom, sandalwood, patchouli. DETAILS Happy Campers Candle is made on Long Island, NY with 100% soy wax from American grown soy beans for a non-toxic, long lasting and clean burn. High quality fragrances infused with natural essential oils blend together to create scents that evoke peace and joy. Vegan. Cruelty-Free. Petroleum-Free.

URBAN MONK BALM CANDLE, “WHISKEY”, $28

The Urban Monk Balm line began as an all-purpose gentlemen's balm for hair, beards, hands, and body. It is 100% natural, using pure essential oils, and artisan-crafted in New York. Not only do they use the best ingredients, waste is minimized in the making process for a healthier environment. Urban Monk has expanded their holistic and clean approach to other self-care products and home goods. Urban Monk Balm products are lovingly created by professional fashion model and businessman Leo Funderburk. The balms were first developed for his personal use as a chef/restauranteur in New York City. When he started to make them at the request of his friends and family, an idea emerged to share these beautiful products with the world. Using all-natural ingredients and always artisan made. Ingredients feature natural essential oils, organic soy wax, organic cotton wicks, designed for enhanced release of essential oil fragrances.  “Whiskey Candle” has notes of :Top: WhiskeyMiddle: WhiskeyBase: Smoke, Oak, Tonka Bean.

VIRGINS ON FIRE, “THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMEONE HIDING BEHIND THE SHOWER CURTAIN”, $12

From Virgins on Fire Candle Co. this 6 ounce 100% Soy Candle is Handmade in Brooklyn, NY using only the safest fragrances sourced from socially responsible suppliers. Fresh, odor eliminating scent, with a hint of lemon. Perfect for bathrooms, laundry rooms, nurseries, or anywhere you need a little clean air. 25-30 hours burn time. Phthalate-free fragrances.

These five artisanal candle brands offer scents that evoke places, experiences and unorthodox fragrances which is why they make such great affordable holiday gifts. Each brand offers a plethora of unique scents for you to explore for yourself and others.

By Natalie Rivera