A Sense of Place: A Transporting Gift Guide
From customized Parisian fans to Japanese flower scissors to my favorite Venetian slippers, these gifts will take you places.
It’s pretty clear that I’m a big believer in the power of being transported through objects, smells, sounds, tastes, stories—so I wanted to make a gift guide that celebrates the idea of being transported. I’ve listed the objects plus the location they either come from, or celebrate…and in many cases, it’s worth going down a rabbit hole on each of these sites—they have so many great objects. After this one we’ll have an armchair traveler gift guide (our favorite books!), and then one that features smalls—things that are easy to ship or to bring. Hope these give you some inspiration during this giving season.
The California Coastal Palette: All the sets watercolor from Case for Making in San Francisco are so beautiful, but this one is particularly transportive.
The Eye Ring, Greece: I never take mine off, and I give it as a gift to all my friends.
Flower scissors, Japan: I love the hyper-specificity of these traditional ikebana scissors, perfect for cut flowers.
Surprise balls, Northern California: Artist Anandamayi Arnold makes these works of art and sells them only through my favorite store in Berkeley, Tail of the Yak.