Day Three of ReadyMade’s Gift Guide Extravaganza
Alexa Fornoff
It’s the American Way. No sooner are you through digesting your Thanksgiving feast, than it’s time to start making your list, checking it twice, and shopping till you drop–or until the major winter holiday of your choice comes and goes.
ReadyMade served up a holiday gift guide in our December/January issue, and a batch of DIY giftables to boot, including chocolate lollipops, tiny terrariums, and the formidable snowball bathbomb. But, true to our American roots, we just can’t get enough. Each day this week on our blog, ReadyMade’s editors will present their own personal gift guides.
Welcome to day three of the ReadyMade editors' gift picks for the impending holiday season—the guides from Katherine and Andrew and were full of things that I now have to add to my wish list! I'm Alexa, the assistant editor, and I'll be sharing some less expensive (but still great) ideas with you. For a touch of background info, I am a Nebraska ex-pat living in Iowa (which, it turns out, is very similar to Nebraska...), and I rent an adorable space on the second floor of a tea room complete with crooked floors and wavy walls. On any given day I go from hippie to outdoorswoman to super girly—and I hope this helps to explain my hodgepodge of a list.
What: 2010 Calendar
Why: It’s like a fortune cookie for the entire year—this 2010 pocket calendar not only tells you the date, it also tells you one of 24 random sayings to keep you on the forward path.
Price: $4
Where to get: Sub-Studio
What: Demine A Soccer Field
Why: Donating to this organization will demine grassy areas in war-torn regions around the world, giving children safe places to run around, kick a ball, and release some energy.
Price: Starting at $5 for one square meter
Where to get: Roots of Peace at Changing the Present
What: Wanderlust Hemp and Kapok Pillow
Why: This tea-stained hemp pillow combines soft and cuddly couch flair and thought-provoking words, two of my favorite things.
Price: $30
Where to get: Enhabiten Etsy Shop
What: Bella’s Mittens
Why: Because I am not ashamed of seeing New Moon on opening night with all of the other tweens, and it gets pretty frigid where I live so these long, chunky knit mittens are the perfect accompaniment to the many layers and layers necessary to brave the cold.
Price: $35
Where to get: Knits, Crochet, and More Etsy Shop
What: Anything from the Rodarte for Target Go International Collection
Why: Seriously, there hasn’t been a Go collection this amazing since the Erin Fetherston dresses a few years back—this line is camp-out worthy.
Price: Available December 20
Where to get: Target
What: Midwest Seed Bomb
Why: I’ve been contemplating Johnny-Appleseeding the Midwestern roadsides with wildflowers after my drives from Des Moines to Omaha, and these seed bombs would make that task a bit easier.
Price: $6 for five seed bombs
Where to get: VisuaLingual Etsy Shop
What: Penguin Classics Clothbound Books
Why: Why not have beautifully covered classics lining your shelves? Of course there are a few volumes from Jane Austen, and Charlotte Bronte, Emily Bronte, Charles Dickens, and Oscar Wilde, but the color combinations are really what have me swooning.
Price: $14
Where to get: Amazon
What: The Cities
Why: How amazing would a state like Nebraska look on this modern plate? Or, maybe someplace more exciting would look even better…but that’s the beauty of it, you decide the location and color combination.
Price: $15
Where to get: Nuno Studio Etsy Shop
What: Sea to Summit Lightweight Dry Sack
Why: If the recipient plans on doing any sort of traveling, this bag will keep their toiletries and other liquids completely separate from the items they would like to remain dry. It’s super durable and reusable—meaning it’s way better than a Ziploc (and looks better, too).
Price: Starting at $7
Where to get: Backcountry.com
What: Forget Me Knot Ring
Why: This dainty number has been on my mind for the last year, but it is just so adorable; it reminds me of the thimble from Peter Pan for some reason, of a secret that only I know.
Price: $54
Where to get: Fred Flare
What: 2010 Calendar
Why: It’s like a fortune cookie for the entire year—this 2010 pocket calendar not only tells you the date, it also tells you one of 24 random sayings to keep you on the forward path.
Price: $4
Where to get: Sub-Studio
What: Demine A Soccer Field
Why: Donating to this organization will demine grassy areas in war-torn regions around the world, giving children safe places to run around, kick a ball, and release some energy.
Price: Starting at $5 for one square meter
Where to get: Roots of Peace at Changing the Present
What: Wanderlust Hemp and Kapok Pillow
Why: This tea-stained hemp pillow combines soft and cuddly couch flair and thought-provoking words, two of my favorite things.
Price: $30
Where to get: Enhabiten Etsy Shop
What: Bella’s Mittens
Why: Because I am not ashamed of seeing New Moon on opening night with all of the other tweens, and it gets pretty frigid where I live so these long, chunky knit mittens are the perfect accompaniment to the many layers and layers necessary to brave the cold.
Price: $35
Where to get: Knits, Crochet, and More Etsy Shop
What: Anything from the Rodarte for Target Go International Collection
Why: Seriously, there hasn’t been a Go collection this amazing since the Erin Fetherston dresses a few years back—this line is camp-out worthy.
Price: Available December 20
Where to get: Target
What: Midwest Seed Bomb
Why: I’ve been contemplating Johnny-Appleseeding the Midwestern roadsides with wildflowers after my drives from Des Moines to Omaha, and these seed bombs would make that task a bit easier.
Price: $6 for five seed bombs
Where to get: VisuaLingual Etsy Shop
What: Penguin Classics Clothbound Books
Why: Why not have beautifully covered classics lining your shelves? Of course there are a few volumes from Jane Austen, and Charlotte Bronte, Emily Bronte, Charles Dickens, and Oscar Wilde, but the color combinations are really what have me swooning.
Price: $14
Where to get: Amazon
What: The Cities
Why: How amazing would a state like Nebraska look on this modern plate? Or, maybe someplace more exciting would look even better…but that’s the beauty of it, you decide the location and color combination.
Price: $15
Where to get: Nuno Studio Etsy Shop
What: Sea to Summit Lightweight Dry Sack
Why: If the recipient plans on doing any sort of traveling, this bag will keep their toiletries and other liquids completely separate from the items they would like to remain dry. It’s super durable and reusable—meaning it’s way better than a Ziploc (and looks better, too).
Price: Starting at $7
Where to get: Backcountry.com
What: Forget Me Knot Ring
Why: This dainty number has been on my mind for the last year, but it is just so adorable; it reminds me of the thimble from Peter Pan for some reason, of a secret that only I know.
Price: $54
Where to get: Fred Flare
