2019 Holiday Gift Guide

2019 Holiday Gift Guide

Curated Especially for the Discriminating Land Aficionado

For Him

1. SADDLEBACK LEATHER CO.

A simple, quality leather desk pad is the foundation upon which great offices are built. Leather has always been the writing pad of choice throughout history because it has "bounce," and Saddleback Leather Co.'s full-grain leather desk pads have a slight bit of high-density Neoprene beneath the leather to give it a raised look and just the right amount of bounce. The bottom is lined with suede to protect the surface of the desk and to keep it from sliding. SaddlebackLeather.com

2. JACK BLACK ®

Jack Black ® is a small team with a big entrepreneurial spirit. There were plenty of skincare companies that made luxury, efficacious products for women, but no one was addressing the needs of the modern man. So they stayed close to their customers and listened to what they wanted—and what they didn’t. What they wanted were no-nonsense products that worked as advertised and used the best ingredients—and were never, ever tested on animals. The industrial-strength hand healer is a non-greasy formula providing instant relief for dry, chapped or cracked hands. Intensive moisturizers and special conditioners help diminish tough calluses and heal unsightly cuticles. GetJackBlack.com

3. MAIDA’S CUSTOM FOOTWEAR

The oldest family-owned and continuously operating boot and shoe company in the U.S., Maida’s still uses equipment and techniques for the majority of their 264-step process that they’ve used for the last 100+ years. Your boots will be 100 percent hand crafted in the fine tradition of authentic master boot makers, one at a time in their Houston, Texas, facility. Maida’s gives you the opportunity to be personally involved in the aesthetic choices on your footwear, building your boots or shoes exactly the way you want them, with their professional fitters providing the proper fit. The outcome of this personalized collaboration is the exact look, color and fit that suits you. Maidas.com

For Her

1. PHLUR

Based in Austin, Texas, PHLUR is re-imagining fragrance from scent inspiration to production, to purchase. The inaugural line of products was created with a unique balance of premium ingredients and environmentally responsible practices. PHLUR has introduced a novel sampling process that lets customers audition the scents in their real lives, the way it should be—all to help share the love of fragrance. Phlur.com

2. FORT LONESOME

Fort Lonesome is a design-forward, custom western wear and chain-stitch embroidery studio based in Austin, Texas. They work collaboratively with their clients to create works that capture the stories of their wearers and that encompass the symbiosis of art, narrative and technician-ship. Their process is led by considerations of necessity and sustainability, and their designs are inspired by the natural world. This set of three hand-cranked chainstitch embroidered patches represents interconnecting plant, animal and earth elements. FtLonesome.com

3. POOR HOUSE RANCH DESIGNS

Poor House Ranch Designs, started in 2016 by Taylor Wars as a creative outlet, has grown into a brand that is close to her heart. Taylor designs and makes her handbraided leather accessories in Midway, Texas. Design inspiration comes directly from her customers as well as current fashion trends and traditional leather braiding utilized in the western lifestyle. PoorHouseRanch.com

4. OUTDOOR VOICES

Outdoor Voices is an active lifestyle brand that embraces activity with ease, humor and delight. Their MegaFleece is made from recycled wool and a polynylon blend, a warm and cozy mix that is naturally thermoregulating, soft, sweat-wicking and strong. By using recycled wool, they cut down on the overall impact of wool production. OutdoorVoices.com

For the Foodie

1. 1915 FARM: GRASSROOTS MEAT CLUB

Catherine and Tanner Klemcke’s goal is to deliver the highest quality, beyond organic, grass-fed and pasture-raised meats directly to your doorstep straight from their farm near Victoria, Texas— and share with you their story on how they responsibly raise your family's meat. Joining the 1915 Grassroots Club is a convenient and cost effective way to bring the 1915 experience to your kitchen consistently. They will ship you a variety box of their premium grass-fed meats catered to your cooking style every two, four, six or eight weeks. Choose the box that best fits you! 1915Farm.com

2. IRONROOT REPUBLIC

In 2011, the Likarish brothers took a leap of faith. Robert and Jonathan decided to throw caution to the wind and pursue distilling. Over the next several years, they traveled the country interning under the best minds in the industry until they decided to put down distilling roots in Denison, Texas. The name Ironroot pays tribute to viticulturist and Denison native T.V. Munson’s hardy “iron” roots that helped save the French wine industry from total destruction. The Likarishes mash, ferment, distill, barrel-age and bottle on site in Denison. The spirits are made using high quality heirloom and non-GMO corn from local farms to capture the authentic flavor of North Texas. IronrootRepublic.com

3. GOURMET TEXAS PASTA

Gourmet Texas Pasta believes when you serve pasta, it should be flavorful, wholesome, all natural and the star of your meal. All of their 38 whole-wheat and eight gluten-free varieties of pasta are vegan and are made with real vegetables and herbs. Sourcing most of their vegetables from local farms in Texas, they blend the fresh vegetables and herbs with non-GMO, 100 percent Durum whole wheat or, for their gluten-free flavors, with white rice flour and organic tapioca. The flavor is in the pasta, so no heavy sauces are needed to cover it up! GourmetTexasPasta.com

For the Bookworm

1. THE GREAT BOOK OF TEXAS

Whether you consider yourself a Texas pro or you know absolutely nothing about the state, you’ll learn something new as you discover more about the state’s past, present and future. Find out about things that weren’t mentioned in your history book. So, what are you waiting for? Dive in now to learn all there is to know about the Lone Star State! Amazon.com

2. A FAMILY OF THE LAND: THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF GUY GILLETTE

Since he first dreamed of a career in photography, Guy Gillette has traveled regularly to his wife’s family’s ranch, the Porter Place, located outside of Crockett, Texas. When Gillette first came to the ranch, he began to photograph the Porter family and their land. Collected here for the first time, his black and white photographs document small-town life in East Texas, where Guy Gillette’s sons still run cattle. A Family of the Land offers a portrait of a community over a half century, during which, remarkably, little has changed. Amazon.com

3. SURPRISE, TEXAS

This is a story about how we sometimes must become what we pretend to be. Set in the ephemeral village of Surprise in the hard-scrabble oil patch of Andrews County, Texas, Thom Ed Jones recounts the history of the place and its peoples, a tribe by choice living by design in obscurity, quartered in homes with wheels. Amazon.com

4. TOP TEXAS WINERIES

The Texas wine industry just keeps growing. Texas wine has never been better. The hard part is identifying the best winemakers among the hundreds of establishments that beckon the wine tourist. Needed is a guide who knows and cares about wine in general, and Texas wine in particular. Enter Andrew Chalk. Knowledgeable, passionate and opinionated, Chalk is committed to quality and authenticity. This longtime observer and critic has written this book to share his judgments on the best of the best in Texas wine. Amazon.com

For Your Land

1. RANCH HAND

Ranch Hand's number one priority is that you, your family and your vehicle are protected from the unpredictable. They’ve built a reputation in the truck accessories industry for making the sturdiest products meticulously engineered for durability. Whether offroading or driving on poorly-lit roads or trails, you can ride in comfort knowing that you and your family are safe behind the strength of their steel bumpers and grille guards. Staying true to their roots, Ranch Hand products are proudly made in two small Texas towns: Shiner and Beeville. RanchHand.com

2. LAMCO ® FEEDERS

At Lamco ®, they understand how important it is to have a reliable feeder that will give you years of trouble-free use. Their patented line of protein and corn feeders, designed to feed whitetail deer and other exotic species, and their wild bird, pet, fish and alfalfa hay feeders, are all designed for strength and durability. They pride themselves in producing feeders that are easy to fill and easy to move. In most cases, no ladders are needed! They also offer a Low Profile Road Feeder that fits below the tailgate of your vehicle and does not have to be removed when opening or closing the tailgate. All feeders are proudly made in Texas. LamcoFeeders.com

3. TXGATES

TXGates designs and builds heavy-duty fire pits that are purposely built to last a lifetime. They value their customers, and they want you to feel confident that when you purchase a beautiful backyard fire pit from them, you are getting a sturdy product that reflects the quality you expect! Their heavy-duty outdoor fire pits are handmade from steel, with careful attention paid to welding components together masterfully for strength and durability. Every fire pit has a rain drain at the bottom to prevent standing water, and every grill top has a signature quarter-inch-tall "weenie rail" around the edge to make sure your dogs don't roll off into the fire. TXGates.com

For the Kids

1. THE HAPPY TOYMAKER

The Happy Toy Maker designs and builds western toys that are as rugged and durable as the kids who play with them. These toys are made of steel—designed to last a lifetime and more. The craftsmanship and attention to detail are unmatched by other toys. In a time where things seem to be disposable and low quality, the Happy Toy Maker breaks the mold and builds a quality toy built with pride. All toys are hand made in Happy, Texas! TheHappyToymaker.com

2. PALO PINTO ROCKING HORSE COMPANY

The Palo Pinto Rocking Horse Company makes heirloom-quality rocking horses and bulls that are realistic in every detail and built to last! All are made in Texas from Texas-sourced wood, typically hundreds of years old. While they always attempt to have one or two completed horses on hand, for the most part, they create custom orders. The rocking horses can be personalized right down to the color, markings, brands, scars, etc. of a favorite horse, as well as to the materials used for the rocker and saddle. Facebook.com/PaloPintoRockingHorse

3. TEXAS BABY RATTLE

A great modern gift to give as a keepsake, this organic, all-natural wooden rattle in the shape of Texas makes a fun and personal gift. With customizable disk colors and builtin grasping spots making it the perfect shape for a baby's grasp, this Texas rattle is a great toy for babies as they develop their senses of touch, sight and sound. Made by Bannor Toys. Etsy.com

4. LARRY GETS LOST IN TEXAS

Larry's latest tale begins in the family's car with a trailer hitched to the back—they're off on a road trip to the Lone Star State! Follow Larry as he gets separated from his best friend Pete and searches for him all over Texas. Larry journeys through the major cities—Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Fort Worth, El Paso, Amarillo and Corpus Christi. Written by John Skewes. Amazon.com