THE LOCAL ARTISAN GUIDE'S HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR HER

There are just too many holiday gifts out there to just do one blog so we here at The Local Artisan Guide decided to do weekly gift guides leading up to Christmas and this week’s gift suggestions are all for HER.

We picked from multiple categories and price ranges and chose gifts that are all artisanal and help contribute to shopping local. Artisanal gifts guarantee a thoughtful and unique gift that will have her feeling appreciated and adored. So click onto the captions for the links as all the suggestions are also available on their online shops.

GUZEMA - “LIGHT MY FIRE” BOLD EXTINGUISHER PENDANT

It’s quite a grand start and our most expensive in this gift guide but we fell in love with Guzema and the unique jewelry pieces they create. Guzema was founded in 2016 in Ukraine by Valeriya Guzema. Guzema started out her business by melting the gold teeth her grandfather bequeathed her. From there her business has grown and has represented Ukrainian culture and arts. We adore the “Light My Fire” fire extinguisher pendant which comes in both white and yellow 18k gold (chain length is 68 cm). It’s definitely a conversation starter and a piece that will eventually become a family heirloom.

SABAH - CIN CIN SABAH LOAFER

Sabah, which means “morning” in Turkish was founded in 2013 by an American expat who missed the leather slippers he wore while working in Istanbul. By collaborating with Turkish artisans who have been creating the leather slippers since the late 1800’s. Years later Sabah’s come in all colors and are made for men, women and children. We love the gold “Cin Cin” as it can go from day to evening all the whilst leaving your feet stylish AND comfortable. The shoes are entirely handmade in Turkey and are sturdy yet flexible hand-stitched sole construction with a soft leather lining (no socks, no problem!). Water buffalo leather insole & midsole, forms to feet with replaceable rubber outsole to ensure longevity. The shoes are also lightweight, packable and perfect for travel. So why not give her the gift of a stylish, fun shoe AND comfort. It’s one of the easiest ways to keep a smile on a woman, comfortable feet.

FRASSAI - TEISENDDU EAU DE PARFUM

Frassai is a fragrance brand founded by Argentinian Natalia Outeda who uses the fragrance as an olfactory journal of her adventures and travels. We picked Teissenddu Eau de Parfum as we feel it’s the perfect perfume for the holidays with notes of: Bitter orange, Rum, Juniper, Nutmeg, Mimosa, Dark sugar crystals, Leather. We love the story of this particular fragrance:

May 1865. 153 Welsh emigrants set sail on an old converted tea clipper, the Mimosa, bound for the rugged wilds of Patagonia. With dreams of establishing a new settlement, they arrived in Porth Madryn after a voyage of 7,000 miles. Generations later, their journey still bears an indelible imprint on the region that became their new home. Inspired by the Welsh settlers’ torta negra (black cake), TEISENDDU is a fragrant celebration of Welsh tradition fused with the arid landscape of Patagonia. Warm spices, bitter orange and juniper greet the senses like a cozy Welsh tearoom. A delicious heart of dried fruit and nuts is macerated in rum and enveloped by honeyed mimosa, while an intriguing blend of leather and dark sugar crystals completes the recipe, lingering like warm memories shared over a cup of black tea. An unforgettable scent.

MARIA DE LA ORDEN - NAT JERSEY

We discovered this brand from Madrid a few years ago and just love the fun the designer has with color, patterns and embellishments. As an owner of their cashmere I highly recommend this emerald green sweater that is perfect for holiday parties. It is the antithesis of the ugly Christmas sweater, it’s the soft and luxurious green holiday sweater. Nat Jersey is an oversized high neck jumper in cashmere with side slits. Composed of 100% pure Mongolian cashmere, this luxurious jumper is as thick as soft thanks to its 4-ply knitting.

STEFKA - STEFKA SLOUCHY TOTE

Stefka is a NYC women owned handbag brand creating handbags in NYC since 2009. A family business stationed in Breezy Point (Queens) the bags are unique, stylish and functional. Info for the bag is as follows:

The Stefka Tote was designed in 2015. My strap detail was an original feature of the bag that carried through over the years. I always wanted to find a better leather for the design to make it more cozy and comfortable to carry. The relaxed silhouette offers a casual chic look, while the sturdy straps ensure easy carrying. Whether you’re heading to the office, a coffee shop, or a weekend getaway, this tote effortlessly combines practicality with a laid-back aesthetic. The first run of this bag will be using a natural unfinished vegetable tanned leather. It is absolutely buttery soft and also a very light bag. So it doesn’t come with a lot of weight to it. Will come with imperfections and become more beautiful over time. Suede option comes with leather straps. Choose the color bag and straps. If you want it all monochrome just choose the same 2 colors. Made to order in NYC, please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery. 14”w x 11”h x 6”d D d rings to attach crossbodyInner pocket. Hook closure.

elan florist - small holiday reds

A wonderful and magical gift to give throughout the holiday season is a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Your local florist should be able to arrange a holiday bouquet to your budget. We have here Tribeca florist, Elan who creates spectacular arrangements, especially during the holidays. In Elan’s Small Holiday Reds the arrangement is made in a 6" pedestal vase, and features black magic roses and spray roses, aubergine scabiosa, and ranunculus with touches of green cedar. This gift makes for a festive centerpiece on any holiday dining table or coffee table.

LADERACH - FRISCHSCHOGGI CHRISTMAS STICKS

One of the best ways during the holiday to impress her is through her sweet tooth. With that we recommend Laderach, a Swiss chocolate brand founded in the 1960’s and is well known for their chocolate specialties. Elias Läderach, their Master Chocolatier is the only Swiss chocolatier to have earned the title “World Chocolate Master.” Experience his award-winning creations and specialities like FrischSchoggi Sticks Christmas. This selection of fresh chocolate from Läderach chocolatier suisse combines their most popular FrischSchoggi varieties in an attractive, transparent packaging. The perfect way to sweeten the holidays.

QUEER CANDLE CO. - PEPPERMINT & EUCALYPTUS SOY CANDLE

A candle is a sweet and affordable way to show her you are thinking of her during the holidays. For this holiday the Peppermint & Eucalyptus Soy Candle from the Queer Candle Co. smells like the holidays and the fresh winter outdoors. One other important benefit from buying a candle from the Queer Candle Co. is how they give back to the QTBIPOC community:

As a trans and queer owned business, it's important to us that our profits promote visibility and amplify the voices of members of our community - specifically the voices of QTBIPOC folks. We contribute 10% of our profits to the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, an NYC based grassroots organization working to "guarantee that all people are free to self-determine gender identity and expression, regardless of income or race, and without facing harassment, discrimination or violence.

CHIMI - 08 SUNGLASSES

If you are planning a trip with your special someone this holiday season to warmer climates, may I recommend a good gift to start the holiday is a set of glamorous sunglasses from Chimi. Chimi is a Swedish contemporary brand founded in Stockholm in 2016 by friends Charlie Lindström and Daniel Djurdjevic, whose ambition was to create a brand that uses only the best materials with a touch of mathematical principles. 08 Sunglasses is a very chic pair of sunglasses with a green acrylic frame for the holidays! 08 is a bold D-shaped frame balancing melodramatic volumes with a linear look. Designed with large UV-protective CR39 lenses and finished with silver-tone rivet hinges. Handcrafted in premium Acetate Renew™, composed of 42% bio based and 28% certified recycled plastic with a customized CHIMI metal core.

STRAND BOOK STORE - NEW YORK: THOUGH A FASHION EYE: SPECIAL EDITION BY MEGAN HESS

From one guide to another, we love New York: Through a Fashion Eye: Special Edition by illustrator Megan Bess as she shares her favorite places to play, sleep, eat and of course shop in the Big Apple. Let Megan Hess take you on a fashion-lover's adventure through the city that never sleeps - from breakfast at Tiffany's to people watching in Central Park. It’s the perfect gift for a New Yorker or a wannabe New Yorker who will cherish this cheat sheet on the best of New York. It’s an affordable and memorable gift they will be sure to cherish.

All our recommended gifts are produced by small, local brands who strive to give back and produce products as ethically as possible. May these gift recommendations inspire you and the local, small brands around you. You are guaranteed thoughtful and unique gifts that will be remembered and appreciated during the holidays.

By Natalie Rivera

THE LOCAL ARTISAN GUIDE'S CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR THE HOME

The holidays are upon us once again and The Local Artisan Guide’s yearly gift recommendations are here to make shopping for you and your loved ones easy to find artisanal, well thought out gifts from small local brands.

We like to write four blogs for the holidays when it comes to gifting. Our first blog is for home decor as home decor is a great gift for friends, family, co-workers and even yourself. We will follow up with separate blogs for him, her and children/pets.

As always we focus on smaller, more local artisanal brands for our gift guide. Home decor is an especially pleasurable topic to recommend as gifts because it involves so many crafts and skillsets. We have made recommendations in multiple categories in all price ranges with brands that also offer their wares on their online shops which can be found by clicking the link in the captions.

CITY OF SCENTS - ASPEN ROOM MIST

City of Scents is a fragrance brand founded in NYC by friends Sebastien Courty and Rose Swarbrick. They decided to start the brand as both are avid travelers and wanted to recreate scents that are inspired by the places around the world that left olfactory impressions on them. For the holidays we recommend the wintery Aspen Room Mist.

This bright, wintery fragrance will fill your home with the essence of Aspen, replete with its perfect green pines, powdery slopes, clear skies and well-heeled socialites.

The crisp scent of Fir needle brings the outdoors in, while vetiver references the earthiness of Aspen’s alpine woodland, balancing this elevated blend.  The traditional holiday fragrance, Myrrh, adds a complex spiciness and the essence of campfire provides a woody base, evoking the deep satisfaction that comes after an energetic day shushing off-piste.

Finally, anise infuses this bright and festive home fragrance with a top note that represents the elegance of this majestic mountain retreat and lends this incense an invigorating, and inviting, finish.

THE CITIZENRY - TORRES LEATHER STORAGE OTTOMAN

The Citizenry is one of the largest brands in the US that focuses solely on artisan home decor products. None of their products are created in factories but in small studios and ateliers from artisans around the world and in the United States all complying with Fair Trade regulations. We love the Torres Leather Storage Ottoman. This ottoman is handcrafted with vegetable-tanned cow leather ethically sourced from Alcanena, Portugal, a small town known as “The Land of Leather.” All made start-to-finish in a fair trade environment. This ottoman is ideal as it not only acts as an ottoman but can also be a coffee or side table and it also includes storage. This ottoman is perfect for parents with young children to make sure they are around furniture that won’t harm them and can also store their toys or any other items you need stored away.

PARACHUTE - FLANNEL SHEETS

Parachute was founded in 2014 by Ariel Kaye who wanted to provide high quality and affordable home goods that are easy to shop for. We love the Flannel Sheets that make sleeping through winter not only warm and toasty but very stylish. The Flannel Sheet set included one fitted sheet, one flat sheet and one set of standard pillowcases. The set comes in Thyme (as seen above) and Bone. The sheets are offered in Full, Queen, King and Cal King (comes with King size pillows) sizes. Made in Portugal the sheets are made of 100% cotton flannel that are brushed and cozy warm.

CLIC - JOHN DERIAN PICTURE BOOK

Highly curated Clic is a store that specializes in finding special pieces for your home from around the world to help you put your design fingerprint on your home and design style. One of the most important elements in designing your home are your books and library. Your books and your library express your passions and your interests. A beautiful coffee table book is not only aesthetically pleasing but can also offer eye candy for you and your guests. We picked the John Derian Picture Book from home decor designer John Derian who is world renowned for elevating the decoupage technique into fine art. Over the past 25 years, the brand has expanded greatly to include home and general design gifts and products. The book illustrates John Derian’s design inspiration and makes for a spectacular gift.

GLOBAL TABLE - VENEZIA CARAFE

Global Table is the go to store in SoHo for all things tabletop. They have been selling tabletop drinkware, ceramics, cutlery, plates, cups, home decor and more for decades. One of the products they offer is this beautiful colorful Venezia Carafe. Designed in Italy by Federico de Majo, this faceted carafe has grip hold dents for easy holding and pouring. The colored glass carafes and tumblers in the Venezia collection are created by the typical Venetian technique of blowing incandescent paste inside a special diamond-shaped mould. Measurements: 3.7" diameter x 8.7" h. with 41 oz volume. The carafe is offered in Amethyst (as seen above), Sky Blue, Amber, Clear and Cobalt Blue.

TEA DEALERS - HAND HAMMERED COPPER TEAPOT

Founded in 2015 by Shin Won Yoon and Stefen Ramirez, Tea Dealers is a NYC-based tea company. Focused on sourcing premium teas from small farmers in China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and India, they offer pure, authentic varieties found no where else. Along with their teas is their incredible collection of teapots that make for truly memorable gifts. It’s quite an extravagant gift however we fell in love with the Hand Hammered Copper teapot that we feel will become a family heirloom. Made in Niigata, Japan by Studio Gyokusendo the teapot is described as “Crafted with a timeless, elegant design this teapot efficiently retains high temperatures, perfect for dark or old teas. The general rule of practice for teapots is that the higher the quality of the tea, the smaller the brewing vessel to create a concentrated taste through shorter steepings and thoroughly enjoy each successive brewing.  This teapot features a built-in strainer so you can put the tea directly in and allow it to expand and fully release its magnificent taste. The textured body showcases delicate hammer marks and a rustic handle adorned in bamboo. As it is used regularly, the teapot will develop a one-of-a-kind patina, giving it a unique charm. The natural patina is not painted on but created through a traditional process with raw copper.” Dimensions are 13x8x9cm, 200ml.

JOHN ROBSHAW TEXTILES - ELEPHANT TAPESTRY

Textile designer John Robshaw who is a favorite in the Interior Design world started out as a fine artist before he started his career in textiles. Besides offering textiles on his online shop, retailers around the world and his store in Connecticut, John offers art on his site as art will always be his first love. He believes strongly that all interiors are only better when they include art that you love. One of the images we love is the “Elephant Tapestry”. This fabulous tapestry was hand painted by an artist in Jaipur who also paints John’s hand painted pillows each season. True pieces of art, this tapestry is also part of a foursome of images that include besides the elephant a camel, horse and tiger which are sold individually or as a bundle, grab them quick as these are a limited quantity item. They are easy to hang unframed with the loops, or you can frame them for more of a formal look. Each tapestry is 22" x 26" and hand painted in India.

PLANTSHED - FICUS LYRATA

Plantshed has been a family owned and operated floral and botanical community since the 1950’s that combine a brick-and-mortar boutique plant and flower shop with a quaint cafe experience. We love Plantshed because we feel there is no better gift to make a room feel alive as giving a plant. We especially love the Ficus Lyrata tree, more commonly known as Fiddle Leaf Fig. The Ficus lyrata is a fashionable houseplant with sculptural and broad foliage, that makes a statement in any room with bright sunlight. The Ficus Lyrata is a broadleaf evergreen with large, violin-shaped foliage. As houseplants, Ficus Lyrata typically grows 2-10 feet tall and rarely produce fruit. Requiring bright, filtered sunlight, large specimens perform especially well in corner windows, ensuring light hits all the leaves. One of the most widely used plants by professional interior designers, the Ficus Lyrata adds drama and style to any space. Plantshed also offers a variety of beautiful pots that will make the ficus an even more stylish addition to your home.

CARDS AGAINST HUMANITY - HUMAN PACK

Cards Against Humanity is a card game invented by a group of friends who made the first version to play at a New Year’s Eve party. You put the cards together to make ridiculous jokes. If you are giving a gift for someone’s home or a hostess gift for a holiday party, a card game for entertainment is a wonderful idea, especially when it’s going to make you all laugh your asses off. We recommend the “Human Pack”. For Black Friday 2019, they taught a computer to write Cards Against Humanity cards and then made their human writers battle it for their jobs. Wow! Here's the pack the humans wrote which has 30 beautiful cards about the human condition straight from the hearts of our human writers. Goes well with the A.I. Pack, which was written by the computer. They also donate a bunch of money to charities so its a win/win when you buy from Cards Against Humanity.

NYPL - PIZZA RAT ORNAMENT

The New York Public Library has a shop that helps fund the library and in the shop they curate an incredible selection of local artisans. We picked again another version of the legendary “Pizza Rat” who became a viral sensation a few years ago when he showed New Yorkers (and the world) his love of NYC pizza by dragging a whole slice through the NYC subway system. The Pizza Rat ornament is the holiday decoration that bonds New Yorkers together in the coldest and most disgruntled time of the year. It is the perfect gift to place on a Christmas tree, mantle, or keychain for fun. The cute subway rat features a cheesy pepperoni-topped pizza and is wearing an "I Love NY" turtleneck sweater. For the true New York lover and meme lord! It is made of Felt and knitted wool and measures 3"L x 2.25"W x 6"H. It’s the perfect gift to bring to a holiday party so your host can add to their tree.

So there are our holiday recommendations for home decor that you can give to your friends, family and most importantly, yourself! These small brands strive to create unique gift giving experiences while giving back to the community. All the recommendations can only make a home a beautiful, calming place to be while showing the essence of the homeowner.

By

Natalie Rivera






THE LOCAL ARTISAN GUIDE TO MOTHER'S DAY GIFTS 2024

Another year, another blog on great Mother’s Day gift recommendations on The Local Artisan Guide. As always we offer curated selections that are artisanal, sustainable with stores that offer small independent brands created by artisans. Your mother will appreciate that you have given great thought to unique gifts that show how much you care. No robe from Sears here! All are available online just click onto the captions under the photos.

Rothy’s has been a longtime favorite of The Local Artisan Guide for years. The brand has been at the forefront of offering stylish footwear made from recycled materials that are comfortable and easy to clean. We are again recommending Rothy’s for this Mother’s Day as they just introduced espadrilles! Imagine a comfortable and stylish espadrille that is also made from recycled materials? We couldn’t resist! Rothy’s offers the espadrille in many colors and patterns so mom will have so many choices.

In our recent trip to San Miguel de Allende we fell in love with Mexican White Ceramics for home decor. The beautiful creamy glaze is perfect for all decor and color schemes. Made my local artisans of Mexico, Marquesa de Mancera offers a stunning and affordable selection of the ceramics. I guarantee your mother will be happy to have one of these handmade, artfully created pieces in her home.

If your mother loves jewelry (whose mother doesn’t) we selected this lovely necklace of multicolored gemstones from Dana Blair Design. Dana Blair always designs not only with aesthetics in mind but how the energy of the gems affect our lives. “This necklace is inspired by the meanings of the 27 individually wrapped stones used to create it. With its myriad colors, the Symbolic necklace pairs so well with any ensemble that you’ll never want to take it off. It looks great alone or layered with other necklaces. Available in 14k gold fill or sterling silver, on a 17″ chain.” All those colors will definitely fit in with mom’s wardrobe.

Res Ispa (legalese for “the thing speaks for itself”) is a brand that focuses on globally-designed one-of-a-kind products made from vintage and repurposed materials. Trust me your mother will love this handmade Cactus silk patchwork kimono made by hand in their atelier in Marrakech. Each kimono's front collar is trimmed with handwoven fabric, cactus silk fabric, or West African mud cloth. It is an original design that will go with everything you have in your wardrobe whilst being sustainable as all the fabrics are repurposed materials. She will be the envy of her friends and you might find yourself asking to borrow it yourself. Think of this gift as the much elevated version of the robe mom usually got for Mother’s Day when you were younger (that was dad’s idea of a gift for sure).

One of the problems you have with perfumes and fragrances is that it is quite common that others can easily share your fragrance (remember the 80’s when everyone and their mother was wearing “Obsession”?). When you seek out small independent perfume brands you drastically decrease this possibility and having a fragrance that is practically your own. That is why we love Widian perfumes. We picked “Granada” by Widian as it is the closest you can come to being in Granada without buying your mother a plane ticket (not that we are discouraging that). The copy alone for the fragrance had us running to try it out: “Resting beneath the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains, with multiple World Heritage Sites dating back over a millennia, Granada sits at the crossroads of nature and history. A tribute to this rich legacy in all of its contrasts, the newest fragrance from Widian is a symphony of fiery passion and tranquil breezes, an exquisitely constructed parfum that combines exotic spices, lush florals, and a rich amber base to create an unforgettable, wholly unique experience. Delicately calibrated between he softness of rose and the freshness of juniper, the opening harmoniously blends with the intense heat of black pepper and cinnamon supporting a robust cedarwood heart. The luxurious scent is deepened with rich undertones of amber, musk, vetiver, and patchouli, creating a captivatingly perfect balance that sets you on an historic olfactory journey.” It actually makes for a great unisex fragrance so dad may be seeking a few dabs too!

In our last blog we mentioned visiting 2 Note in Kinderhook, NY and how we fell in love with their fragrance boutique. If you don’t feel confident enough to buy your mother perfume for Mother's Day this candle in the universally loved scent of “Opus 1”Lavender Black Pepper Sandalwood is a no brainer. There is also a “Opus 2” Balsam Fir Frankincense in case you want a woodsier slightly more masculine fragrance. The packaging makes it possible to travel with the 10 oz candle that is made with 100% pure beeswax. The candle is made locally with pure botanical essences, hand poured in small batches. It’s a gift she is not only sure to love, but to actually use.

Our last gift recommendation is the very affordable Mother’s Day Gift suggestion is a book by author Chris Power entitled “Mothers” (how appropriate). Available at one of our favorite independent book stores, McNally Jackson, the synopsis reads as: “A woman uses her mother’s old travel guide, aged years beyond relevance, to navigate on a journey to nowhere; a stand-up comic with writer’s block performs a fateful gig at a cocaine-fueled bachelor party; on holiday in Greece, a father must confront the limits to which he can keep his daughters safe. Braided throughout is the story of Eva, a daughter, wife, and mother, whose search for a self and place of belonging tracks a devastating path through generations.

Ranging from remote English moors to an ancient Swedish burial ground to a hedonistic Mexican wedding, the stories in Mothers lay bare the emotional and psychic damage of life, love, and abandonment. Suffused with yearning, Power’s transcendent prose expresses a profound ache for vanished pasts and uncertain futures.” If your mother is an avid reader and perhaps can’t travel so easily these day, Mothers is a gift that will let her travel in her mind.

While flowers, chocolates and greeting cards will also make her happy, we hope these recommendations show your mother that gift giving is an art form and one that leaves the recipient with feelings of gratitude for being fondly thought of. Let that be, there is no greater gift to mom than your actual presence, that is the best present of all. Happy Mother’s Day to the women who do the hardest job on earth where you never get a day off!

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. 

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.

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 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.

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.

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!

VALENTINES DAY GIFT GUIDE FOR HIM

We did our choices for HER for Valentines Day, now we are going to do our blog for Valentines Day Gifts for HIM from The Local Artisan Guide. We have chosen five gift ideas that range in categories and price points yet are romantic, thoughtful, artisanal and unique. We know he will appreciate that you think he is original enough to shop artisanal.

Ellis Brooklyn, Super Amber Eau de Parfum

Ellis Brooklyn, Super Amber Eau de Parfum, $105

This Brooklyn based perfume brand has created an amazing scent that can definitely be unisex in nature. Super Amber can best be described as:

Ever imagined perfume as a texture? Meet SUPER AMBER, a cozy, super warm, addictive scent that envelops like a cashmere blanket on warm bare skin. SUPER AMBER is the beautiful marriage of cutting edge olfactive technology (made with minimal environmental and social impact) and clean perfumery (it’s free of fragrance allergens). Unlike traditional fragrances, SUPER AMBER is not structured with top, middle and base notes. Rather it blooms once it interacts with your skin's own unique chemistry. It's unlike any perfume you've smelled.

What we love about this locally made in the USA perfume brand is the amount of eco-friendly responsibility that goes in creating their scents. It scores a AAA rating (green, social impact, environmental impact) for the EcoScent Compass, it is PETA certified vegan and cruelty free, the scent uses up cycled Virginia Cedarwood with a biodegradable musk. The bottle is composed of glass and can be reused or recycled. Remove cap and any spray parts, including the dip tube. Rinse out glass portion and reuse or recycle. It has a Bakelite Compression Cap: This cap is biodegradable and contains no petrochemicals.

Ghylain Rouge Chocolate Heart Box

Ghylain Rouge Chocolate Heart Box, $37.75

Originally from Québec, Canada, Ghyslain Maurais found his culinary passion while working in the field to fund his architectural education. Soon after, he changed career paths and became a renowned French pastry chef specializing also in chocolate décor, candy making, blown/pulled sugar and bread making. He relocated to his wife’s hometown of Union City, Indiana to establish Ghyslain Chocolatier. We love his original Rouge milk chocolate heart box that includes six of Ghyslain’s Valentine hearts, presented in a window box with red satin bow and watercolor tag. The chocolate heart flavors include:

Mango Margarita, Coconut Rum, Peach Daquiri, Jivara, Chocolate Raspberry and French Vanilla.

They can be ordered on the website and delivered straight to your loved one’s door. Hearts within a big red chocolate heart is the gift that keeps on giving.

Macha, Men's Square Signet Ring Hallmarked

Macha, Men’s Square Signet Ring Hallmarked, $365

Brooklyn based jewelry designer Bernice Kelly's is originally from Northern Ireland which has had an enduring influence on her approach to jewelry design from Ireland’s rugged landscapes and the warmth and tenacity of its culture. She has designed a collection of jewelry for men called “The Men’s Room” where her signature Signet rings date letter collection utilizes a strong British tradition which requires precious metals to be officially stamped. A symbol represents the metal the piece is created in, and the date letter represents the year it was made, by law only available for that particular year, there being a 26 year wait before this letter can be marked again. Classic large square signet ring in sterling silver with British hallmarks. The Lion represents Sterling Silver. 'X' is the hallmark for 2022. Specifications for this signet ring are:

Sterling silver. Face of ring measures at 11mm x 13mm. Band is 5.5mm at back

Kempton and Co. Brass Stud Freddie Pouchette

Kempton and Co. Brass Stud Freddie Pouchette, $68

Kempton and Co., a handbag and leather goods brand founded by English designer Fiona Kempton who based her brand in Red Hook, Brooklyn offers plenty of Valentines Day gift options for him and that includes this Brass Stud Freddie Pouchette. In a buttery soft cowhide leather, the Freddie Pouchette can hold a passport, checkbook, or notepad holder offers an urban chic edge with a row of distressed brass studs down the center. Add a vintage pen for the ultimate gift. The pouchette includes:

Buttery soft cowhide leather exterior

  • Soft cotton twill interior

  • Solid brass clasp and studs that get better with age. We think the tarnish looks lovely. Prefer it shiny? No problem, it buffs up in seconds.

  • 5.5” x 7”

Santa Maria Novella, Shaving Foam

Santa Maria Novella, Shaving Foam $28

The Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella from Florence, Italy plants its roots back to 1221. Creating multiple products for men’s and women’s beauty and skincare for hundreds of years now, the Shaving Foam is a special way to contribute to your loved one’s skincare routine. This moisturizing shaving foam is enriched with plant oils, for all skin types and mildly scented with Tabacco Toscano cologne. He’ll be forever grateful you have unearthed this product for his manscaping ways.

Clicking onto the title links will bring you to the products website featured in this blog. We feel very strongly that your man will enjoy and appreciate the unique gifts you were able to procure for him this Valentine’s Day that are artisanal and as unique and wonderful as you think he is too.

By Natalie Rivera