Seattle is jam-packed with talented and ambitious creatives whose wares are prime for gift giving this holiday season. Shopping for someone who’s practical and no-nonsense, or looking to pamper your pal? Here are 40 gift ideas from local artists, artisans, makers, and retailers to help you wrap up that holiday shopping:
FOR THE SEATTLE NEWCOMER
- Some good, strong beans and a travel mug (Caffe Vita, Victrola Coffee Roasters / Sub Pop Records)
- A sturdy tote for farmer’s market goodies (Hardmill)
- A raincoat for him or her because a deluge is imminent (Freeman, Feller, REI)
- A stainless-steel growler because Seattle is the most brewery-dense city in the U.S. (MiiR)
- Weed cookies, gummies, and other sweet treats (Goodship)
FOR THE PRACTICAL WESTERN WASHINGTONIAN
- A Discover Pass because we all need one to experience the state’s beautiful parks (Washington State Parks)
- Flannel because layers are key (Kavu, Filson)
- A wool blanket for cold evenings and movie nights at the park (8th Generation)
- A waterproof bag because a wet laptop = 😭 (Uphill Designs)
- A brake adjustment or new pannier for your pal, the cyclist (Bike Works, Swift Industries)
FOR HOMEBODIES WHO HYGGE
- A monochrome planter for a succulent or two (Jennifer Spring Ceramics)
- A luxe body scrub that leaves skin soft and refreshed (Herbivore Botanicals)
- A candle that’ll make their home smell like a twice-baked almond croissant from Bakery Nouveau (Estrella)
- A cacti jewelry holder or a hand-shaped trinket dish (Kelsey Melville)
- Lounge-worthy leggings made from recycled plastic (Girlfriend Collective)
FOR ART AFICIONADOS
- Contemplative digital artworks about “learning to listen to the quiet voice within” (Yvonne Chan)
- Colorful illustrations and paintings that reflect science, travel, history, and queer culture (Levi Hastings)
- Prints, posters, buttons, and tees that demand social change, including works by Seattle-based illustrator and tattoo artist Raychelle Duazo (Amplifier)
- A one-of-a-kind stoneware teapot with etched lines, a beeswax finish, and a walnut handle to prevent hand burns (Saltstone Ceramics)
- Acrylic and oil works (stretched-canvas prints, too) depicting animals and other wildlife navigating a variety of landscapes (Jesse Link)
“The Elliott Bay Book Company is hands-down my favorite locally owned store to buy gifts from! It’s wonderfully curated by the staff and they create a book-loving community space that is harder and harder to find.” – Yvonne Chan, artist
FOR THE FOODIES
- A pie-making overnighter or one-day workshop because baking ain’t easy (Art of the Pie)
- Gourmet cooking and seasoning spices, like Creole and North African blends (Mesa de Vida)
- A few links of local, sustainable salami… (Salt Blade Meats)
- …sliced on a hand-crafted cutting board made from up to a dozen hardwoods (Ruby Pear)
- A decadent little bottle of whiskey caramel sauce because what wouldn’t it make taste better? (Hot Cakes)
“Seattle has great local farmers markets. You can compile several little things and put them together in a basket from World Market. It’s a unique gift that people will remember. I’m a huge fan of giving food gifts.” — Kristen Helle Sandoval, Mesa de Vida
FOR VORACIOUS READERS
- Take a deep dive into the nature of ‘place’ through visual storytelling, data, and more (Seattleness: A Cultural Atlas by Tera Hatfield, Jenny Kempson, and Natalie Ross)
- Explore the complexity of today’s racial landscape with the work of a prolific Seattle writer (So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo)
- Seattle is the largest city in the Americas named after a Native American, and we should know his story (Chief Seattle and the Town That Took His Name by David M. Buerge)
- A celebration of the Northwest coast and the food, activities, and wildlife it encompasses (By the Shore: Explore the Pacific Northwest Coast Like a Local by Nancy Blakey)
- A handy resource for impromptu foraging excursions (Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest (A Timber Press Field Guide) by Joe Ammirati and Steve Trudell)
“I really enjoy the works of local artists Baso Fibonacci and Kyler Martz. I also like to do a little holiday shopping at Glasswing, Elliott Bay Book Company, Freeman, Kobo, and Sugar Pill.” — Jenny Kempson, author, Seattleness: A Cultural Atlas
FOR TOTS (AND THEIR PARENTS)
- One-of-a-kind artwork because some old onesies should live on forever. (Pokidots)
- A family membership to one of the city’s best all-ages destinations because sometimes it’s just about getting out of the house (Seattle Aquarium)
- These wee ensembles made from bamboo and organic cotton that feature floppy bunny ears and collars (Kate Quinn Organics)
- A sweet little bedtime read about a snoozing polar bear (Paul Schmid)
- Simple, eco-friendly toys that inspire and challenge (Manzanita Kids)
FOR THE VERY GOOD DOGGOS IN YOUR LIFE
- Handmade cakes with whipped cream cheese frosting and bacon bit sprinkles or peanut butter glaze (Seattle Barkery)
- ‘Nog for Dogs, available through December, which combines vegan eggnog and pumpkin spice for your favorite four-legged friend (Swell Dog Gelato)
- Fruit and chicken treaties made with only the good stuff (Sweet Lilly’s All Natural Dog Treats)
- A custom pet portrait embroidery kit for the gift of DIY (Hoffelt + Hooper Co.)
- Artistic pet portraits of canines (cats and horses, too!) (Dirtie Dog Photography)
“My favorite go-to for my pups is ‘Nog for Dogs from Swell gelato. They love it!” — Dawn Ford, The Seattle Barkery
Happy shopping. And thanks to writer and Evergrey reader Kelly Knickerbocker for scouring the city to find such amazing local items!