Holiday Gift-Giving Tips and Gift Guide

It’s that time of year again. With everything else that’s going on, gift shopping can be stressful or exhilarating. Here are my holiday gift-giving tips to help make the experience more pleasurable and memorable.

Shop local. Support small, independent businesses to keep our neighbors economically healthy and our communities vital.

Seek out open-studio events and holiday fairs. Meet the artists and find unique gifts as you enjoy the festive spirit.

Shara Porter’s hand-printed wallets, bags, & other accessories

Give gifts that reflect your own personality and values. Share something that’s important to you, and the gift will have extra meaning. For example, I love plants and, in particular, succulents. I repot cuttings as gifts to those who’ve admired my collection. It’s fun to get reports of the progeny from other households. Caveat: Some people are convinced that they don’t have a green thumb and dread the idea of having to keep plants alive. For them it’s not a pleasurable gift, so keep searching. 

Repotted baby next to the mother Christmas cactus plant

Skip the fancy wrapping paper. It’s a big waste. Instead, repurpose newspapers or pages torn from magazines. To go the extra mile, look for images or words that are relevant to the recipient and wrap the gift to feature them on top.

You don’t need to spend a lot. Typically there’s no correlation between what you spend and how much the recipient will value the gift.

Museum gift shops are a good place to find gifts. Many of them now offer the convenience of online shopping. Large museums such as MOMA in New York, San Francisco MOMA, the MFA in Boston, the Getty in Los Angeles, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Louvre in Paris offer a broad selection of artistic gifts. But don’t overlook the smaller museums which also have excellent shops, such as the DeCordova and the New Bedford Whaling Museum to name only two. If you have a membership, you’ll get a discount. Or consider giving a museum membership itself as the gift.

Avoid the last-minute holiday rush by shopping throughout the year. When I see something that I like but don’t yet know to whom I might give it, I buy the item and tuck it away for later.

Ceramic bowl by Reme Gold. I bought it at Mud Flat Open Studios and intended to give it away but I’ve become quite attached.

Here are some unconventional, modestly priced gifts that I like a lot. In some case I’ve given them, and in other cases received them. Either way, they’ve made it onto my favorites list.

For the Francophile: 

Provence-Themed Shirts

I adore these tee shirts made by The Provence Market.
100% soft cotton, super comfortable, and available in a variety of designs that celebrate Provence.

Paris Maps 

Subscribe a friend or treat yourself to the Paris Maps series (6- and 12-month subscriptions)
created by Carol Gillott (aka Paris Breakfast) for a monthly infusion of Parisian flair and whimsy.

Herbes de Provence

Herbes de Provence are best when straight from Provence, but they’re also easy to find in specialty shops or DIY.
See my blog post for more info and recipes. 

Travel Guides

Forgive the self-promotion, but these easily packable guides make a good gift for anyone who is planning or dreaming of a trip to France.
Click here for details. 

For the market aficionado:

“Meet Me at the Farmer’s Market” Apron & Towels

Designed by Roni Shepherd, the colorful market scenes are printed on textiles and sold at various culinary shops and websites.
Or order the apron and kitchen towels from PaperSharks.

Market Apparel

Many markets sell clothing with their logo. Refresh the wardrobe and support farmers’ markets at the same time.

Farm-Portion Memberships

With the popularity of CSAs and farm-to-doorstep services, membership slots fill up fast. Now is a great time to enroll so that your lucky gift recipient will have fresh produce throughout the next growing season. 

Goat’s Milk Soap

Silky smooth soaps made with all-natural ingredients, such as these from
Elmore Mountain Farm in Vermont, are good for both the face and body. 

For the foodie:

Cheeses

Artisanal cheeses are a treat. Visit a cheese shop and get knowledgeable help in assembling a selection.
Or inquire about a monthly subscription, an option that my local cheesemonger Formaggio offers as does Murray’s Cheese and others.

Another cheesy gift is “The Paddle” from Bedford Cheese Shop which includes a handcrafted wooden cutting board with cheeses and sweet accompaniments. Or this handsome array of hand-waxed, cave-aged cheeses from Plymouth Artisan Cheese. 

Olive Oil

A drizzle of high-quality olive oil can significantly enhance the flavor and texture of salads, veggies, pasta, and grilled meat especially at the end of preparation. You might not splurge on finishing oils for yourself, but your foodie friends will be glad if you do for them. My personal favorites are Provençal oils such as those from Moulin Jean Cornille and Moulin Castelas as well as Arbequina oil such as Miguel & Valentino. Specialty food shops offer a selection of fine oils. 

Ceramic Dishware

Hammerpots (sold on Etsy) are hard to come by, but if you find them grab them (gently!).

Foodies appreciate handmade ceramics because they know that the presentation contributes to the experience. Many artists sell their wares this time of year at holiday fairs and open-studio events. Two of the best in my area are Mud Flat and Harvard Ceramics Program. 

For the environmentalist:

Stretchy Lids

My latest obsession! Stretchy lids eliminate the need for plastic wrap and plastic containers. No more driving oneself bonkers rummaging to find properly sized lids. Stretchy lids come in a range of sizes. Available at many natural food stores and online. 

Reusable, washable produce bags.

Another way to reduce single-use plastics that muck up oceans and landfills is to use reusable produce bags. They allow airflow, and make it easy to see at a glance what you’ve got in the crisper. Again, available at many natural food stores and online.

Gift ideas for everyone on the list:

Donate to a cause in someone’s honor.

photo from Future Chefs

It’s a two-fer. You’ll delight the recipient and help an organization that’s doing good work. You’ll be happy too. So, make that a three-fer. Just a handful of the many nonprofits that are doing excellent work related to food insecurity and skill development in my community are Future Chefs, Coastal Foodshed, Food for Free, and Boston Area Gleaners. 

Tickets

Chef Pascal leading a class at Maison de la Tour

Tickets to a farm-to-table dinner, food tour, travel show, or cooking class can be a welcome surprise. The opportunities abound.

DIY

Nothing is more meaningful than a homemade gift. What do you enjoy making that you could prepare in a larger quantity and distribute as gifts?  Granola? Bread? Beaded jewelry? A friend gave me this bracelet years ago and I cherish it. 

I hope that these suggestions bring some fresh ideas to your gift-giving. Above all, keep it manageable and fun. Wishing you a joyous holiday season!