Holiday Lookbook
2013
PROMOTION
GIVE THE GIFT OF HAPPINESS! You love the world of craft. Now share it with your friends, family, and co-workers with a gift membership to the American Craft Council. It includes a subscription to American Craft magazine and free entrance to all ACC shows. First gift
$30 Second gift just
$25
Order online at craftcouncil.org or by phone at (888) 313-5527
Season’s greetings from the staff of the
Suellen Fowler
Uncommon Goods Made from vintage saris, these silk scarves are 100 percent recycled. The saris are cut into strips, which are then hand-stitched in various combinations by artisans in India, creating a vibrant mélange of color. uncommongoods.com
contr ibutors Julie K. Hanus Senior Editor American Craft magazine jhanus@craftcouncil.org Monica Moses Editor in Chief American Craft magazine mmoses@craftcouncil.org Colin Nelson-Dusek Education Coordinator American Craft Council cndusek@craftcouncil.org Elizabeth Ryan Interactive Editor American Craft magazine eryan@craftcouncil.org Jessica Shaykett Librarian American Craft Council jshaykett@craftcouncil.org Andrew Zoellner Assistant Editor and Video Specialist American Craft magazine azoellner@craftcouncil.org designer Alanna Nissen Office Coordinator American Craft Council anissen@craftcouncil.org
Gifts They’ll Remember gift giving, you could argue, is harder than it used to be. Time was, you could observe your closest pals and think: That woman could use another scarf! Or, that guy’s wallet is falling apart. Now, who knows? He may already be en route to the mall to replace that raggedy wallet. She may have ordered three new scarves online. Gift giving is more challenging because, today, shopping doesn’t wait for an occasion. Once upon a time, before it became a major leisure activity, shopping was an annual or semi-annual restocking. You dressed up to visit the stores, because it was an event. Now
shopping is woven into our weekends, our evenings, our lunch hours. And it’s harder to surprise and delight your loved ones when those loved ones might be trolling e-commerce websites at all hours of the day and night, buying things for themselves. Not long ago, I found the perfect book for my hard-tobuy-for husband – eureka! – only to discover he’d ordered it for himself. It’s harder to leave an impression with a gift today, because so much of what you buy your giftee he could just have easily purchased for himself. That’s why memorable gift giving these days takes
copy editor
more imagination and research. And we’re here to help. Six of us on the American Craft Council staff did some digging for gifts off the beaten path. We present them to you in this digital holiday lookbook. Each gift is connected to an artist or craftsperson. All have the air of the unexpected – and the potential to captivate and gratify. Challenging though it may be, gift giving is still an art in itself. Go forth and be generous.
Monica Moses Editor in Chief
Judy Arginteanu Copy Editor American Craft magazine
Adam Hoff
Northwest Axe Company Identifying the ideal gift for your dad, bro, or anyone else with a handy bent can be next to impossible. For something they might not expect, check out Seattle-based Andy Gregory’s custom axes and hatchets. Gregory rescues antique American-made axes, cleans them up, and adds handcrafted handles and leather sheaths. Not only are they handsome, these axes are functional to boot. nwaxeco.com
Na tha
ey
nO ’M al l
Juniper Ridge Commercial scents are classic gifts; they’re also loaded with synthetic smells (made from who knows what). Juniper Ridge puts “the mountains in a bottle,” distilling plants and bark from the California backcountry to produce their fresh backpacker’s cologne. juniperridge.com
Leather Works Minnesota When it comes to keeping your pants up, St. Paul-based Leather Works Minnesota has you covered and looking sharp. Classic belts and braces come in several colors and are crafted in-house using leather from Ohio, California, and Minnesota. leatherworksminnesota.com Juniper Ridge
Kaufmann Mercantile This quintessentially Brooklyn company chose dark green canvas, reinforced with home-run leather (the same material used to make baseball gloves) to make this luxurious bag. It’s a sturdy, classic design, great for overnight trips and weekend getaways. kaufmann-mercantile.com
an
ufm
Ka
tile
an
erc
nM
Portraits of the American Craftsman Several years ago, Texas-based photographer Tadd Myers began documenting craftsmen and -women across the United States, from luthiers to wooden-carousel carvers. Those intimate images, accompanied by absorbing essays, are now collected in Portraits of the American Craftsman – a showpiece addition to any craft lover’s library. americancraftsmanproject.com
Mark LaFavor
P et
er M cC ull ou g h
ByAMT and Mimot Studio This leather-strapped basket with copper-plated rivets is a collaboration between designer Alissia MelkaTeichroew and Thomas Im of Mimot Studio. Made in Los Angeles, it’s a rugged container for newspapers, firewood, towels, and who knows what else. byamt.com mimotstudio.com
Donna Wilson Here’s a sweet something for the unabashed animal lover on your list: a cozy lambswool bunny scarf designed by Londoner Donna Wilson and handmade in the United Kingdom. donnawilson.com
byAMT
Sebastian Bergne Know somebody headed to Europe? The Travelling Square, produced in small batches in the United Kingdom, might be just the ticket. Designed by Sebastian Bergne of London, the 100 percent cotton kerchief lists 44 handy phrases in four languages: English, French, German, and Italian. buysebastianbergne.com
asti
Seb .
Ltd
Chery l Sor
g
gne
an B er
Cheryl Sorg Buying for a Renaissance man or woman? Check out Californian Cheryl Sorg’s 3-foot-high portraits, which employ a thumbprint, along with imagery and text from your giftee’s favorite things, to catalogue tastes in books, music, films, quotes, places traveled, and so on. etsy.com/shop/cherylsorg
m To
an Vici
Caro
lina
Blue Eagle Pottery This stoneware mug by Illinois-based artist Robert Blue features a striking landscape-inspired glaze. Couple that with the mug’s hearty volume (14 ounces), and it will suit anyone with an earthy love of tranquil scenery (and coffee). Some exclusive designs are available at store.mociun.com. blueeaglepottery.com
Cot ton
Bow
Tie s
Carolina Cotton Bow Ties For the sartorially genteel, these bow ties are handmade in Little Rock, Arkansas, out of 100 percent cotton, so they can be machine washed. Bow ties in the fall collection, some of which are reversible, are stylish throughout the year and great for the holidays. carolinabowties.com
Dennis Gordon
Ironwood & Vine Studio Delight the wine aficionado in your life with a one-of-a-kind serving tray. Akron, Ohio’s Dean Myton collects panels from vintage wine crates and adds touches of decades-old heart pine flooring and other reclaimed wood to create handsome, durable trays for entertaining. ironwoodandvine.com
Karie Reinertson
U n c omm on G ood s
Shelter Urban and rural trekkers alike will fall for the tough yet lovely leather and textile bags, such as the Westwood purse, made by Karie Reinertson and Robert Maddox, the nucleus of the Shelter collective. Handcrafted in Asheville, North Carolina, a Shelter bag is the perfect apparatus for the aesthetically inclined bicyclist, traveler, or other person in your life. shelterprotectsyou.com
David Rasmussen Though he spends most of his time making furniture and built-ins, this Colorado craftsman also makes a few handsome accessories. These tumblers, combining the warmth of walnut with white ceramic, let the materials speak for themselves. uncommongoods.com
Krabhuis Show your feline companions you care about their physical and aesthetic well-being with this playful house/scratching post. The Krabhuis – Dutch for “scratch house” – was designed by three Rotterdam architects, assembled in Gilze, Netherlands, and can withstand the sharpest claws. krabhuis.tumblr.com
Krabh
uis
Lindsa ers
y Rog
Lindsay Rogers Vegetables never looked this good before. Asheville ceramist Lindsay Rogers’ hand-built vessels with castglass vase insets are designed for your onions, carrots, kale, and all manner of produce. Rogers’ new work is all about form and function, with a focus on sustainable food, which makes it the perfect complement to any meal. rogerspottery.com
AudreyModern San Francisco native Audrey Jung wants “felt to be felt,” and you’ll want to get your hands on these sturdy nesting bowls made of German wool felt. Use the trio to corral your small items or parcel them out as host gifts. Jung’s messenger bags are a must-see as well. audreymodern.com Audre
y Jung
Shapes & Colors Textiles Those who like sewing with uniquely patterned fabrics will fall for Samantha Cisneros’ collection of midcentury-inspired textiles. No need, however, to be an expert with a needle and thread to enjoy her designs; the Bay Area-based designer also sells vibrant pillows, tea towels, and bags through her online shop. shapes-colors.com
os
a Cisner
Samanth
Ingrid Jansen
Ingrid Jansen Dutch designer Ingrid Jansen takes crochet far beyond your grandmother’s afghan. Vividly colored and patterned, her garlands, blankets, and pillows are made to order for the enjoyment of both children and adults. Perhaps her most noteworthy use of crochet is to cover her handmade or recycled wooden stools, an exuberant addition to any home. etsy.com/shop/woodwoolstool
rt, Stewa
Tabori
& Cha
ng
Lena Corwin’s Made by Hand Give a gift of inspiration: Lena Corwin’s Made by Hand features beautifully photographed projects, from sewing to jewelry making, based on classes the textile designer and illustrator teaches at her Brooklyn studio. lenacorwin.com
Annika Kaplan Fashioned in her Minneapolis studio, Annika Kaplan’s jewelry feels both modern and urban, vintage and folksy. Her collection of intricately formed Moon necklaces, bracelets, and earrings of blackened sterling silver, brass, 14-karat gold and semiprecious gems are the perfect gift for that stellar lady in your life. shipandshape.com/artist/annika-kaplan
Helen
Greenstein
Annika Kaplan
An Astrid Endeavor We love a good piece of statement jewelry; if you have friends who do, too, check out these brilliant embroidered necklaces by San Francisco-based textile artist Astrid Reichenbach. etsy.com/shop/anastridendeavor D
om in
R go
ledo ob
Eleni Creative Helen Greenstein’s canine creations are pint-sized portraits of our best friends, guaranteed to launch any pet lover over the moon. The soft sculptures are completely custom-made; each one takes the Atlanta-based textile artist several weeks to make – but you can always put a card under the tree, promising Rover (and his human) it will be worth the wait. (Not a dog person? Greenstein also makes dolls, mobiles, and more.) elenicreative.com
Brooklyn Slate Co. These natural slate cheese boards are an excellent way to display holiday goodies. Sourced from the owners’ family quarry in upstate New York, each board is finished with non-slip feet and comes with soapstone chalk, for labeling your delicacies. brooklynslate.com
te Co.
lyn Sla
Brook
Forage Haberdashery These neckties, bow ties, and handkerchiefs come in a wide array of classic patterns and colors, made by a couple of Philadelphia-based Cranbrook grads in limited editions. What started as simple gifts for friends turned into a full-time business supplying timeless accessories that can turn any outfit into a unique ensemble. forage.bigcartel.com
Forage Haberdashery
Fort Standard
Fort Standard These refined lights, made of marble and wood, glow softly, making them perfect bedroom or accent lamps. They are available in three different profiles from the New York-based design studio. fortstandard.com
Tara Locklear Treat your skater-chic girlfriend to jewelry by North Carolina artist Tara Locklear, who transforms reclaimed skateboards into gem-shaped drop earrings and more, all with a delightfully gritty, modern vibe. taralocklear.com
ock lear
Tar aL
te
on
ep
D ole
c
Ni
Lilian Asterfield Under the moniker of her designer alter ego, Boston’s Nicole Deponte creates knockout neckwear using vintage and hand-dyed silk neckties. Perfect for the person who loves to make a statement mixing patterns and doesn’t need yet another pashmina. lilianasterfield.com