All the Christmas Feels
The holidays are right around the corner, and we’re getting geared up to get in the Holiday Spirit. My birthday is on December 25th, so I’ve always been especially fond of Christmas. My Grandma has gifted me more Christmas decor (both homemade and Hallmark) over the years than I can even tell you–thanks Grandma! The day after Thanksgiving our first year married I pulled out a big Tupperware of Holiday decor and my husband was stunned. He said “You could open your own Christmas Shop!” At which point I had to tell him there were 5 more bins just like it. Suffice it to say, I love all things Christmas.
Autumn is always an exciting time of year–gearing up for the holidays, yay! I’ve found my new favorite place to source ‘Holiday Spirit’ goodies and one-of-a-kind gifts; Uncommon Goods. Founded 20 years ago by Dave Bolotsky, who visited a craft show and decided to create something that hadn’t existed before–an online marketplace to connect makers and their creations with shoppers looking for truly unique goods. The site boasts: We offer remarkable designs by independent makers, and we do it with a positive impact on both people and our planet. We love their products, commitment to the planet and that each item has a unique backstory.
‘Tis the Season
These goodies are delightfully festive and unique at affordable prices. We’re proud to showcase the work of independent designers and love that each one has a story to tell. We’ve pulled together our festive favorites to get you in the Holiday Spirit, hopefully you’ll love them as much as we do!
Cookie House Mug Buddies
These delicious (and beyond adorable) gingerbread–or dark chocolate cinnamon– treat is just a mug of coffee or cocoa away. These tiny, handcrafted houses perch right on the edge of your mug, adding “aaaw”-worthy charm to any hot beverage. And while they are very nice to look at, they’re so tasty you won’t mind gobbling them up as you drain your drink. Set of four. Handmade in Maine.
Holiday Ale Beer Brewing Kit
Maybe you’d prefer home-brewed, winter-spiced, holiday ale? With this kit, it’s easy to brew your own special seasonal ale with a cinnamon-y, all-spicy flavor that’s malty and warm, but not too sweet. In other words, the favorite ale of gingerbread people everywhere. Assembled in Orlando, Florida with US-grown ingredients.
Any favorite photo can be turned into a postage stamp ornament printed onto Baltic birch plywood. This personalized, and one-of-a-kind keepsake ornament with forever sentimental power. Whether you choose a pro wedding shot or a fun family vacation snap, just nestle it on a tinselly branch. Then neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night will move that precious moment from its appointed tre.
Twinings is delighted to offer these limited edition winter teas that celebrates the joy and spirit of the holiday season.
Peppermint Cheer is a velvety smooth blend that combines refreshing peppermint with the rich creamy flavor of vanilla. Naturally Caffeine Free.
Holiday Berry is a mouthwatering blend that combines rosehips, hibiscus, orange and blackberry leaves, apple pieces, liquorice root and natural berry fruit flavors. Naturally Caffeine Free.
Christmas Tea is an aromatic blend that combines the finest black teas with the traditional flavors of cinnamon and clove.
Winter Spice is a warm and inviting blend that combines soothing apple and flavored chamomile with tantalizing cinnamon, cardamom, and clove spices. Naturally Caffeine Free.
24 Days of Tea Advent Calendar
Holiday to-do list: Presents wrapped? Check. Tree trimmed? Check. Five minutes of calm? Send this shimmering gold calendar to your favorite holiday busy bee so they can delight in a soothing sachet of finely sourced tea every day of the season. Each of the 24 teas is unique to the day, and offers its own special blend like Chinese black tea, and Scandinavian tea with cranberry and elderflower. All they’ll need is a favorite mug, a comfy perch by the fire, and maybe a gingerbread cookie for dunking. Made in France.
Four Seasons Mini Snow Globes
I love to decorate for all seasons and always get a little sad when I put away the holiday decor. Problem solved–snow globes for all seasons. What’s your favorite season? The magic of blossoms in springtime? The vibrant warmth of summer? The falling leaves in the crisp autumn air? The white blanket of winter snow? This set of mini snow globes was created as a way of treasuring the beauty of nature all year. Display one at a time to match the calendar, or set them all out to catch a glimpse of your favorite season anytime. They make a thoughtful gift for a friend who sticks by you through heat waves, drizzles, and the coldest of days, or remind a special someone they’re more than just a summer romance.
Personalized Family Recipe Board
Nothing says Holidays like adding a dash of love. Take a treasured recipe and keep a family tradition going strong. Preserve those memories on something sturdier and more beautiful than a paper card. This unique cherry wood cutting board showcases the ingredients and instructions for one meaningful dish. Submit a photo of your recipe card, and the exact directions are etched in your loved one’s handwriting. It’s a sentimental gift for your favorite cook, a child moving out for the first time, or a foodie friend. Also a great way to celebrate the loved ones we’ve lost at the holidays, letting a piece of them live on. Made in Vermont.
Hot Chocolate Vintage Silver Spoon
As this chocolate treat melts into a cozy cup of cocoa, the silvery vintage spoon reveals a sweet message. combines enticing ingredients like cocoa, natural vanilla, and just a touch of sea salt to create these meltable confections, and then puts a vintage silver spoon in each mold. Place one in a mug of your choice of hot milk, then watch as it turns into a drinkable treat as you stir. A thoughtful gift for any chocolate lover or collector of vintage trinkets, the spoon holds another surprise: It’s stamped with a secret message that’s revealed when the chocolate melts, which reads either “stay sweet” or “good wishes.” Handmade in California.
Chloe Hat and Mittens
“Tis the Season to get cozy!” Warm up with this sweet hat and adorable mittens. Beautifully hand knit by women artisans in Nepal, both hat and mittens feature sky-blue mountain scenes with lots of bright mountain flowers in the foreground. So what if your biggest winter climb is up a three-level outdoor parking lot—as long as you look adorably red-cheeked and pretty while you’re doing it. Handmade in Nepal. Sold individually.
Personalized Gingerbread Family Mugs
Create your own personalized mugs for the entire family. Sip hot cocoa, toddies, or mulled wine from a mug personalized with your own name and gingerbread person. Choose from wide 12 oz. mugs, perfect for cocoa with extra marshmallows, or tall 7 oz. mugs, designed with mulled wine and hot toddies in mind. Mix and match them however you’d like, then personalize each mug with hand-drawn gingerbread person illustration—etched into the glass—and the name of your choice. Whether you’re sipping peppermint mochas with family or boozy spiced cider with friends, the set’s a sure way to spread holiday cheer. Made in North Carolina.
Long Winter’s Nap Candle
Once the children are nestled all snug in their beds, enjoy the comforting scent and crackling flame of this candle inspired by the beloved holiday poem, “A Visit From St. Nicholas.” This candle’s soy wax blend features essential oils of cinnamon, vanilla, and woodsy clove for a sugar plum-worthy scent and wood wicks that crackle lightly as they burn for a nestled-by-the-fire feel. They make a great companion to curling up with your favorite book before a long winter’s nap. Let’s be honest, this time of year we could all use one!
Mulled Wine Gift Set
As the harvest moon draws us to celebrations, enchant the senses with a warmhearted hostess gift. This mulled wine gift set captures cozy in the form of seven aromatic spices: cinnamon sticks, anise stars, dried orange slices, allspice berries, cardamom pods, whole nutmeg, and whole cloves. Infuse your wine (or cider!) and use the included zesting grater to grind spices and for a touch of citrus. The beautifully illustrated folding guide has lots of European-inspired recipes to try, or get creative and start a new tradition. You’ll want a second cup and, fortunately, the mulling bag is reusable. Makes six wine bottle-sized batches.
Chocolate Holiday Cards
You know when a card isn’t enough, but an actual gift feels just, you know, way too much? This treat strikes just the right balance: it’s a sweetly illustrated holiday card that comes with a rich dark chocolate bar. Flecked with sea salt and filled with a layer of salted caramel, it’s a fool-proof stocking stuffer, a sweet way to give your niece holiday mall money, or a way to say “thinking of you” to a friend who lives way too far away. This card contains a bar of dark chocolate flecked with sea salt and filled with gooey caramel.
Handcrafted Caramel Advent Calendar
Delicious small-batch caramels in intriguing flavors. Savor traditional flavors, like vanilla, coffee bean and cinnamon, as well as unexpected ones, like scotch, clove, Hawaiian sea salt, and fresh ginger. No artificial flavors, no corn syrup—just top-notch ingredients: real New Hampshire maple syrup and dairy picked up daily from a farm in Massachusetts. The calendar features adorable animal illustrations by artist Cindy Hendrick, which makes this a sweet gift for hostesses, favorite coworkers, or…yourself. Handmade in small batches in copper kettles in Massachusetts.
Winter Season Maple Syrup Gift Set
Experience an epiphany: maple syrup isn’t just for pancakes (!!!). This is your trio of secret ingredients for the most festive holiday fare: barrel-aged bourbon maple syrup with warm vanilla notes, refreshing peppermint maple syrup, and a perfectly spiced gingerbread maple syrup. Try drizzling the bourbon flavor on roasted carrots with a bit of cayenne. Layer the peppermint onto chocolate ice cream or into a holiday cocktail. Add the gingerbread to your favorite marinade. Not convinced yet? Maple syrup contains more than sixty five minerals and antioxidants, with just two thirds the sucrose as sugar. Harvested in Vermont.
Birthstone Ornaments
The most wonderful time of the year? Her birthday, of course. Celebrate with these one-of-a-kind, blown glass globes. There’s a colorful bulb matched up with each month, along with an insert explaining the lovable qualities people born at that time share.
Plus, there’s an unexpected detail that makes these decorations extra special: each contains rock dust from the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens, offering a rare connection to what lies beneath Earth’s surface—major for nature lovers, and a meaningful gift for anyone who colors your world happy. Handmade by artisans in Washington–my home state!
Holiday Candle Trio
The moment you bring the tree into the house and the boughs brush against the door jambs, filling the air with the tang of greenery. The dying fire on Christmas Eve with its smoky, woodsy scent. The rich, sugary you-can-almost-taste-it smell of holiday treats in the oven. Guess what? They’re not just for holidays. With this trio of candles, in vanilla amber, fir, and fireside embers, you can inhale Christmas year-round. Even unscrewing the jars is like opening a gift; decorative papers inside each lid evoke holiday wonder. Hand-poured in small batches by four (Christmas-loving) women in Boston.
Geode State Ornaments
These states-shaped, stoneware ornaments feature crackled glass glazed surfaces resembling the crystalline, geological complexity of geode cross-sections, these stoneware and glass glazed ornaments bring handcrafted beauty to your holiday tree—along with some festive state pride. The organic interaction of stoneware, glass, and colored glazes produces a unique, crackled surface that looks like a geode slice, with fascinating variations that make each ornament a one-of-a-kind homage to your favorite state. Handmade by Kerry Brooks in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Due to the handmade nature of this item, each is unique and will vary.
Everything you need is included: preprinted holiday greenery designs on four five-inch-by-seven-inch textured cards; two synthetic sable-hair brushes; six nontoxic, water-based acrylic paints; and four envelopes for mailing your finished creations. Send a set to a friend and have a virtual card-painting session–because, you know, 2020.
Personalized Night Before Christmas Book
No better way to get into the Christmas Spirit than with a personalized Christmas story. Your little one will know they made the “nice list” when they open this sweet, personalized Christmas book. The classic 1823 poem on which this colorful book is based, “The Night Before Christmas,” was originally intended for the children of the author, making it a perfect gift from parent to child. The child’s name is sprinkled throughout the book, along with up to 4 names of other family members or close friends, and even a beloved pet. Perfect for children ages 0 to 12. Made in Minnesota.
Snow Gauge
Nordic Tea Light Trough
Cold Weather Comfort Tea Gift Set
Bag of Coal Soap
Here’s a good excuse to land on the “naughty” list. These cheeky little lumps of “coal” are cleverly disguised soap made with organic activated charcoal. They moisturize as they clean and feature a delightfully smoky aroma reminiscent of crackling firewood. Presented in a canvas bag, this cute holiday gift makes a great stocking stuffer for naughty and nice alike.
'Tis better to give than receive
I’ve always loved being a gift-giver and finding that “just right” gift for my loved ones. These hand-crafted and unique items really fit the bill for me. We hope you enjoyed this collection and maybe found some goodies to get you & yours in the Christmas Spirit.
Check out our White Elephant Gift Guide for more great unique gifts people will actually want, and our Gift Guides “just right” gifts for everyone on your list.
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