Yes, I get it; the holidays are super capitalistic and buying gifts is just one of the ways our culture has commodified what is supposed to be a ritualistic celebration of the winter solstice when the longest night of the year occurs and marks the time when the days will begin to get longer again. The return of the sun, etc. It’s very beautiful. But this is how I think about it; I love finding people gifts because honestly it’s really fun to treasure hunt (and find!) the perfect gift for the people I love. So, when I started to compile the below ideas, it was with the intention of subverting capitalism (and the patriarchy!) as much as possible while still using dollars in trade for products (bummer). So I picked either local artists or shops that are owned by local people with an emphasis on female-identifying artists and shop owners. I broke it down into cost categories because I really hate those gift guides where everything is so expensive you feel like giving up, and I also personally don’t enjoy the ones that tell me how to shop for specific “types of people” (i.e. the artsy friend, the nature friend, the techie friend). Blah, people are complex. I did include three things from people/shops outside Seattle because they were just too good.
Under $20
Kyler Martz’ Diver Enamel Pin ($10) – I’m all about enamel pins, and this one along with Tuesday Bassen’s heart lollipop is my fave. Kyler is also a tattoo artist at Jackson Street Tattoos. His art is all around town at Little Oddfellows, The Whale Wins, etc. His whale – as a boat – and his snails -as houses- prints are the best. http://www.kylermartz.com/store/diver
B.Fuller’s Mortar & Pestle Bath Tea ($6) – It’s tea for your bath. You put tea in your drinking water, why not your bathing water? Seriously, though, why not. Three “flavors”: Really Rosey (rose petals, jasmine tea, damiana leaf, Himalayan pink salt, Epsom salt), Eucalyptus Sunshine (dead sea salt, Epsom salt, white tea, lemon peel, peppermint, and eucalyptus oil), and Lady Grey (lavender, chamomile, earl grey tea, Epsom salt, grey Celtic salt, and organic essential oil).
Flaming Idol Candles ($10) – You can get pretty much every LGBTQIA+ celebrity you love on a shot glass filled with paraffin wax. Then you light it up as an offering to the gods who gave us Beyonce, the Golden Girls, Grace Jones, and Abbi and Ilana. https://www.etsy.com/shop/flamingidols
Dark Days Moon Patties ($2+) – Wren makes these dark chocolate patties with vegan, organic, sustainable, fair-trade ingredients. ALSO, she infuses each patty with the following herbs in accordance with the actual MOON: red raspberry leaf, motherwort, lady’s mantle, nettle, chamomile, and dandelion root. Three flavors to choose from: date & bourbon vanilla, sea salted lemon and peppermint. You can buy a 3 pack with all 3 flavors. At Sugarpill and online. http://www.darkdayschocolate.com/#!product/prd1/3411724025/moon-patty-stack
Crystals/Gems/Stones from The Vajra ($2+) – This is where I go for all of my raw or polished crystals and stones because they are priced super reasonably, there is an ever-changing selection, and it smells super good up in there.
Live Through This Mix Tape ($10) – Found these at the Rose Gold pop-up. I don’t know when they will pop up again, but they always very interesting items/shows/classes so follow on facebook. This is really an A+ not-just-the-hits feminist mix including songs by Huggy Bear (!), Bratmobile, Sleater-Kinney, Bikini Kill, and Team Dresch. Contact rosegoldseattle@gmail.com to purchase.
Customizable Everything Sucks Except…/My One True Love… Patches ($20) – Tuesday is a feminist illustrator who draws/designs everything from enamel pins to customizable patches to satin jackets. Basically, Tuesday hand embroiders these patches with whatever you think sucks or whatever you love most. http://www.shoptuesday.com/collections/pins/products/my-heart-belongs-to-patch http://www.shoptuesday.com/collections/pins/products/my-one-true-love-custom-patch
Hot House Spa Gift Certificate ($18) – That’s all it costs to go. Female-identifying folx only. Hot tub, steam room with lavender, sauna, and cold plunge.
Lumberjack Calendar ($20) – This is a calendar that features a bearded guy lounging around on a very lumberjack-y couch. Idk. I think if you like beards and lumberjacks, well, this is the perfect calendar. This is a collab between Photographer Rosemary Dai Ross and Jess Rainbolt, owner of ReRunRoom. What sold me was that after costs, 50% of sales go to Planned Parenthood. https://www.etsy.com/listing/259359258/pinup-calendar-the-living-room?ref=shop_home_active_2
Derek Erdman Portrait ($20) – To be clear, this is a portrait of you or someone you love, not Derek Erdman. Derek is the artist. He’s from Seattle. Support local art. http://www.derekerdman.com/portraits.htm
Tiny Watercolor of Literally Anything by Katie Wheeler ($20) – This would be an ideal inside joke gift or secret Santa gift. Her watercolors are just so tiny and perfect. Just email kagwheeler@gmail.com with your ideas.
$20-$50
Otherwild’s The Future is Female T-shirt ($30) – 25% of sales goes to Planned Parenthood. I got this shirt at the Rose Gold pop-up. It was designed in 1975 for the first women’s bookstore in NYC. I love it; you’ll love it. See also, the sweatshirt version ($50). http://otherwild.com/collections/by-otherwild/products/the-future-is-female-t-shirt
House of Wolves Leather Cable Wrap ($25) – I know this doesn’t sound exciting, but a select few of you will hear the words “cable wrap” and be filled with inexpressible, organizational joy. House of Wolves is a female-owned leatherworking studio. http://www.houseofwolvesleather.com/shop/cable-wrap
Poseurs “Practice” Sports Bra ($40) – Poseurs started as a yoga zine and has become something more. They offer my favorite clothes to wear while doing yoga, that is, not weird pastel, flowy yogawear. They also have some really great muscle tees designed by local artist Daisy Heroin. http://www.poseurs.us/collections/tanks/products/poseurs-loves-daisy-heroin-lucy-tank
http://www.poseurs.us/products/practice-sports-bra
John Criscitello T–shirt “Yep, still dead inside…” ($25) – Criscitello is an artist whose socio-political graffiti comments on the rapid gentrification of Capitol Hill by way of the incoming techie/bro/woo girl population. I just crack up every time I look at this shirt. Literally every time. http://jcriscitellostudio.bigcartel.com/product/yep-still-dead-inside
Bath and Meditation Incense Bundles ($32) – Also at Sugarpill. These are fair-trade from Peru, and they include Chacrona Leaf and Jagube Vine (two key ingredients in preparing ayahuasca), Palo Santo, White Sage, and Breu Resin (if used ritualistically can support regression experiences and conscious dreaming). Also, a little soap that smells great.
Kyouei Design Endless Rain Record ($32) – This is a record from Japan that just plays the sound of rain. Get it at CAIRO.
Build Your Own Terrarium @ The Palm Room ($20ish) – Pick out a glass container, pick out some rocks, pick out some tiny plants. Terrarium. Also available at Glasswing. I personally go to Goodwill for the glass containers because they are much cheaper, and then you could make one for less than $20.
Moonphase Stud Earrings ($40) – These are made from reclaimed/waste wood and wood burned by the lovely Twyla Dill. I know that this gift guide is slanted towards my own fascination with the MOON. I know that. https://www.etsy.com/shop/TwylaDill?ref=shopsection_shophome_leftnav
Copper Bottle Opener/Key Ring from Blue Owl Workshop ($36) – This hooks onto your jeans or wherever you hook things (your heart?). It’s very classy and a way to support Blue Owl without cleaning out your accounts. Blue Owl specializes in selvedge jeans (basically raw denim woven using older weaving techniques, sometimes on very old looms), which last longer than regular old jeans. They are definitely more expensive and almost always cut for straighter (less curvy) bodies. However, Blue Owl carries Selvedge jean brands for curvier bodies ($185+) too! http://www.blueowl.us/collections/all-products/products/corter-leather-bottle-opener-key-hook-in-copper?variant=10495007105
Pop Culture Embroidery ($20+) – I’m partial to the Hotline Bling embroidery personally, but there’s also a Rainier beer can, smash the patriarchy, portrait of Daria, and other great embroidered representations of pop on Koe-Zee’s shop. https://www.etsy.com/shop/koezee
Ombre Tights from BZR ($40) – Tiffany hand dyes these tights. They are gorgeous. I hate to pay this much for something I wear once and then rip, but you know there must be people out there who don’t do that right? Right? She also sells these cool sunglasses that are just…well, I can’t describe them, but they are really cool. https://www.etsy.com/shop/BZRshop
$50-$100
Kilnwitch’s Constellation Mug ($48) – Created by a Seattle ceramicist (actually a word! I guessed), these mugs are customizable to your sign obvs. Nothing says I love you like astronomical astrology. They come in speckled white or speckled black (“stars” in gold duh). Available at PRISM, CAIRO and online. https://www.etsy.com/shop/KilnWitch
Nikki Jacoby’s Brass Hair Comb ($86) – Nikki Jacoby’s lasercut brass jewelry is visionary. I bought one of these hair combs during the Macefield Festival, and I wear it almost every day. http://www.nikkijacoby.com/combs/surya
Actual Pain Black Leather Gloves ($52) – These gloves are inspired by the villains in Dario Argento’s horror films. Do you want to be like them y/n? http://actualpain.myshopify.com/collections/all-products/products/dario-2-black-lining-leather-gloves
Actual Pain Moon Cycle Leggings/Marbled Leggings ($52) – I myself owned a pair of the moon cycle leggings, and I wore them completely out because I loved them just too, too much. I really don’t think you can go wrong with either of these leggings for real. http://actualpain.myshopify.com/collections/all-products/products/lunatic-leggings-black
http://www.poseurs.us/collections/leggings/products/copy-of-lunatics-leggings
Ienebulous Necklace ($60ish) – I have to be honest, I don’t know how to buy her jewelry. I think her necklaces are the only necklaces I’ve ever just completely loved. I’ve been trying to buy one from her for two years. Other people around me buy them all the time like it’s no big deal. I once had the opportunity to buy one at Speckled and Drake, but I was broke. I am basically including her in this guide because she lives in Seattle and makes amazing jewelry that maybe someday I will be able to wear. But maybe this necklace is just the one that got away. https://www.instagram.com/ienebulous/
$100+
Next Level Mood Ring by Mondo Mondo ($140) – Sterling silver, tells you how you feel at any given moment, what more do you want. Made by Mondo Mondo, but get it from CAIRO. http://www.templeofcairo.com/jewelry/mood-ring
Malachite Radial Ring Set ($140) – This is actually three rings in one. You can find it at E. Smith Mercantile in Pioneer Square, and it’s made by Acanthus Jewelry. Malachite is a stone that is good for if you’re broke or looking for a job. My gf tells me it’s important not to be greedy with malachite and to give it away eventually (you could also just not wear all the time) http://www.esmithmercantile.com/collections/jewelry/products/radial-ring-set-malachite
The Chore Coat ($295) – Whiskey and Honey is nestled into Georgetown- and the couple who own it are just the best. I found this shop while on my way to the Georgetown Trailer Park Mall. Oiled canvas, Mackinaw wool lining on the collar and inside the sleeves, a dream. They also make an amazing leather purse and carry a collection of great vintage items. http://www.whiskeyandhoney.us/chore-coat/chore-coat-in-tobacco
Open Habit All Day Every Day Purse/Backpack ($185) – This bag, purse, I don’t know what awkward portmanteau to call it (purpack?), is amazing and very classy. I found it at Glasswing in Melrose Market, and the employee who showed it to me was kind enough to model its various iterations for me. It transforms from purse into backpack. It has leather straps. What else is there to know?
Eric Saeter’s Jewelry ($170+) – This person’s jewelry is unreal. They don’t have a super updated website because they’re way too busy making amazing stuff, but I messaged them and asked if they are still active. They said yes! Just look at their instagram, and you’ll see what I mean. Unreal, breathtaking designs. Eric is doing something unparalleled in my opinion. Email ericsaeter@gmail.com to get one of their pieces. https://www.instagram.com/p/-pXh-hEgcm/ https://www.instagram.com/p/–Gpk3kgWA/?taken-by=ericsaeter
Pet Portrait by Susan Stimers ($100) – If you walk down Roy street on Capitol Hill (between 15th and 19th), you will come upon a gorgeous arching shrub over the sidewalk that seems like a portal into another dimension. If you walk through the portal and look to your right, you will see a small apartment complex with a sign in the window of the ground level unit reading Pet Portraits. This is the apartment of Susan Stimers. She does pet portraits that are otherworldly and somehow capture the spirit of the animal. Basically the best gift for your friend who loves their pet. Just email susanspaint@icloud.com.
