You like stuff? I like stuff
Gift guide with a list of things you can buy, steal, or make for the holidays.
Last year, one of my most popular newsletter posts was my genderbendy holiday gift guide. This year, my most popular (by far!) newsletter was about how the wealthy are cosplaying as poor people while the rest of us are glorifying bed rotting. Contradiction, you say? We all contain multitudes so here’s this year’s list of things you can buy, steal, or make for your friends and lovers.
None of the items below are disposable or cheaply made, and none link to Amazon. Most of us would rather receive a simple card or nothing at all than to receive junk. The gifts in this list vary in price and some are low or no cost to make. In all honesty, I enjoy perusing curated gift guides (such a treat into someone’s brain and taste) as well as making gift guides (which scratches both my love for deep internet research and the itch to forage).
If you want to skip past this sliver of consumerism, read my essays on nonviolent action, politics & performance, homohysteria, turning outward in love, or silent book clubs. Onward!
Circle Crossbody Bag ($88)
Ugh am I really starting this list with a leather item? If I was just a little more femme, I would really dig this crossbody bag from Portland Leather Goods.
Lux Magazine Subscription ($35)
This magazine has it all: Lux feels good in the hands (shiny cover!), it’s got juicy features, it’s got great design, it’s got good analysis. Other options for gifting subscriptions include Dissent and Jewish Currents. Hammer & Hope is fantastic, though it’s free to read and they take donations.
Homemade Fig Jam (~)
Jam is surprisingly simple to make and infinitely better than anything you pick up in a grocery store. I’m lucky enough to have a fig tree outside my window, and all it took was to cut up a dozen figs and simmer them in lemon and sugar. Pour the jam into reusable jars and it makes a great gift for your neighbors. Substitute figs for whatever you can acquire or forage.
Ikigai Pill Case ($94)
Possibly the most expensive pill case that exists. But wow such a sleek, chic gift for your mentally ill friends.
Question Technology Shirt ($112)
Obsessed with this long-sleeved t-shirt from Come Tees. Silk screened and made in Los Angeles.
Bird Feeder ($55)
Who doesn’t like birds? Plus this could double as a gift for your cat if you place it on a tree right outside the window. This feeder is made from recycled materials. Just please, please don’t get one of the webcam bird feeders. Must we surveil every living creature?
Antique Mall Gift Card ($5-500)
This one is for your thrifty buds. Many offer gift cards that are a better option than big box stores. Local suggestions for those of you in Oregon include Antique Alley, Memory Den, and Stars & Splendid Antiques Mall.
Sewing Class ($85)
Does anyone learn how to sew in school anymore? I only learned last year through a class at Soul Collection’s Sewing Lounge in New York. There’s also a very cute spot called Sincere Studios in Portland that offers a three-hour beginner’s class.
Rechargeable Table Lamp ($63)
The big question is why have we had such huge technological leaps in artificial intelligence but all of our lamps have to be plugged in? More cordless lights please! This is a fun one.
Viva Palestina Jersey ($138)
Inspired by vintage soccer uniforms, this Nöl Collective jersey is made in a sewing workshop in Bethlehem. Screen-printed by hand in Um al Sharayet then hand-embroidered in Ramallah's old city. I mean just look at it! Gorge.
Owala Water Bottle ($28)
I’m not exaggerating when I say that my water intake increased by 200% when I switched to this water bottle. I don’t like drinking out of metal, my Nalgenes get warm too quickly, and the Camelbak squishy straws get yellow and gross. Somehow Owala has solved all three of these issues?!
Wool Beanie ($30-50)
Hats are hard to nail, and unless you are VERY talented, I advise against knitting one (maybe opt for knitting a pair of socks instead?). Better options for hats include purchasing this super soft Alpaca beanie or this Merino wool one, both made in the United States.
Doomsday Print ($20)
The world is lucky to have artists like
Snail Mail Postcard (~)
People don’t get enough snail mail these days from non-corporate and non-government entities. You could change that! One year I cut up the previous year’s wall calendar into post-card sized shapes, hand wrote reflections and memories on the back, slapped some stamps on and mailed them out to several friends. Huge hit.
Milk Chocolate Box of Bons ($21)
Weird, delicious box of chocolates straight from Detroit. Everything about this company is delicious from the chocolate to the packaging.
Suncatcher Stained Glass ($62-125)
We could all use a little extra sun during the dreary winter. This cute suncatcher ($62) by Kristin Culotta brings in the light. I’ve also previously gifted this floral suncatcher by artist Kim Lewis that are a little pricier ($85-125) but absolutely worth it for the craftsmanship. You’ll have to message her on Instagram for a custom order (Support local artists! This is the best way to avoid fees taken out by Etsy and credit card companies!).
Table Napkins ($63)
This set of four napkins from Warp & Beam is my absolute favorite. I first met Emily at a craft fair in New York several years ago, and recently ordered another two sets of napkins. She weaves each one by on a loom in her home. They hold up so well to use and washing, even with near daily use.
Curated Playlist (~)
Fuck the algorithm! Sit down and make your loved one a playlist curated by the one and only you. Nostalgic for making art for cassette tapes or burning cds? There’s a neat feature on Spotify that also let’s you add a custom album cover.
Wool Blanket ($262)
Honestly, someone should just buy this Pendleton x Schoolhouse collaboration wool blanket for me, thank you.
Vintage LL Bean ($10-30)
Don’t be afraid of gift hunting on Depop. There’s a ton of vintage options like this pullover, this jacket, and these plaid flannel-lined jeans.
Delivered Cookies (~)
Not a novel idea but a good one nonetheless! My friend Natania delivers cookies every year for Christmas, and it’s the most heart-warming way to visiting a bunch of friends back-to-back. Here’s a Zirochki cookie recipe.
Cooperation Not Competition Wall Art ($35)
It’s going to be a tough year. This wall art could be a good reminder for how we’ll get through.
How to Write Sex (and Why) ($300)
Maybe you have that one friend who keeps talking about writing but doesn’t actually, you know, write. Maybe your friend group is all couples and one single friend who provides comedic and salacious stories for everyone else. Either way, this class on how to write sex scenes (and why) on January 18 & January 25 led by
Paying for People’s Abortions Crewneck Shirt ($36)
Yes, this is the third long-sleeve shirt on this list, but in my defense this one benefits the National Network of Abortion Funds. Alternatively, you can just pay for someone’s abortion… or depending on your state, you can even go to the pharmacy and pick up Plan B which has a shelf life of several years. In fact, you can get it for as low as $5-7 at Walgreens if you ask the pharmacist compared to $30-50 if you grab it yourself in the medication aisle. Just remember to pay cash, not card, and tell the pharmacist you don’t have an account in the system, even if you do. This is not legal advice.
Nudge Counter ($79)
Know someone who’s counting something? This brass counter can be used for tracking days sober, knitting rows, or other milestones. Push button, receive serotonin.
Crochet Balaclava (~)
Don’t tell me balaclavas are so last year. Crochet is quick to learn and one of the coziest winter activities you could pick up. Here’s a beginner friendly tutorial. Or if you are in your “no new hobbies” era, here is one you can buy on Etsy for thirty bucks.
Sewing Machine ($159)
I have recently come into some knowledge about how universally hated Singer machines are by sewists. The reason is (you guessed it) a private investment firm bought them up twenty years ago and merged them with two other corporations, gutting staff and quality for profit. Instead, opt for this sewing machine adorably called Baby Lock Zest that’s great for a beginner or this Janome if you’ve got someone in your life who has a machine but is ready to upgrade (I for one have been drooling over it!).
Wooden Needle Point Pen ($10)
Have you ever wanted to eat a pen? Just look at how delicious these look! They are made with wood, write very thin, and come with refills. While you’re shopping at Little Otsu, you can also pick up this classic notebook from a fourth generation family-owned business in Portugal, but whatever you do don’t get a Shinola.
Expanding Your Radical Imagination for Collective Liberation ($33-88)
Maybe you want to buy less stuff. My friend Anthony pivoted to “only experiences” gifting last year. Talk about goals. If this is you,
Harriet Tubman Tee ($25)
The shop run by The South is having a sale on goodies like this Harriet Tubman t-shirt, Defund the Police basketball shorts, and a reparations hoodie (which I own and it is SO COMFORTABLE).
Chosen Family Crewneck Sweatshirt ($35)
This crewneck is brought to you by Transfigure Print Co, the makers of the Protect Trans Kids shirt and features hits like “I love you on purpose.” And if you’re already placing an order, might as well add the “You don’t have to heal all at once” sticker.
Dried Flowers in a Pressed Frame (~)
I’ve been on a big hunt for picture frames since my move a few months ago, and have picked up more than a dozen from Goodwill for an average of two to three dollars. Here’s a tutorial for pressing flowers.
Tenderness: A Black Queer Meditation on Softness and Rage ($8)
This workbook is made by the legendary
Penrose Soy Candle ($48)
Definitely a splurge, but candles are a classic gift for a reason. Skip the paraffin and opt for soy or beeswax instead. These ceramic candles from Penrose come in scents like “summer rain” (defined as rain, soil, oakmoss, and noble fir).
Books as gifts probably deserve their own section. There are so so many books that make great gifts; my top picks would be The Left Hand of Darkness (especially in this gorgeous hardcover), Everyday Utopia, The Dawn of Everything, Martyr!, The Art of Gathering, Beautyland, and anything by
.Or if you’re gifting a book to an avid reader and you’re not sure if they’ve read the book already, you can either a) snoop on their Goodreads account to get something they haven’t read yet, b) pre-order a book like
’s Hot Shot, or c) get them a gift card to Powell’s or Bookshop.org.That’s all from me; happy gift giving!
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INCREDIBLE list!!
So glad you’ll be in the class. Thank you!