Gift Guide 2015: Dudes

Men! So hard to shop for, right? How many years in a row is too many when it comes to Gander Mountain/REI/Home Depot gift certificates? Never fear—whether it’s your boyfriend, best friend, brother or dad, I’ve got you covered this year!

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Dudes are the worst because they rarely lust after objects like women… and when they really want something, they just go buy it. But you know what dudes need but never buy? Art! The numerals print above is perfect for his office—especially if he’s a numbers guy… your accountants, actuaries, general nerds.

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Not so math-oriented? If there’s one thing all men love, it’s beer! This print was made by hand using antique wooden type on my antique printing press. Lots of antique things—hipsters and old souls alike love that shit. Round out your offering with these coasters and voila! A gift made in man cave heaven.

If you’re feeling super fancy, get in touch in the next week or so to commission a set of personalized coasters just for him! Pick a favorite color and I’ll print his name above “BEER goes here”! I can even print them with “scotch” or another favorite cocktail. Last day to order is December 9!

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And finally, if your fella is a fashionista (or you just wish he was), here’s a collection that’s sure to please. First up: that skinny tie. Zuzu Wear is a husband and wife team handmaking ties in tons of fun fabrics and colors. Personally, I’m a fan of these floral numbers, but they offer some more traditional striped options as well.

While we’re on the subject of neckwear, I love a dude in a scarf. There’s nothing more manly than admitting it’s f*$#ing cold outside so let’s all bundle up, amiright? This hand-crocheted number will keep him cozy while not being overly full (read: girly).

In my opinion, no stylish person is complete without bespoke stationery. I made this set for my own mister with a lead typeface that’s friendly while remaining quite simple. Order your own set here!

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New: Handmade Scarves and Cowls!

The temperature is still hovering around 80F in Bermuda, but fall has officially begun everywhere else. Last year, I got really into crochet and developed original patterns and stitches for several cowls and scarves (remember that bit about inspiration coming in waves?), and now they’re finally available in my etsy shop!

orange-KJ5 group-6080Beautiful photography by Laurels & Stars :)grey-6069Each piece is made from super chunky wool-acrylic blend yarn completely by hand. I wasn’t so sure about sourcing the yarn on the island, but as it turns out, one of the department stores here has a better selection than the craft shop back home! I can’t wait to start making scarves and cowls to order—get in touch to order!

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Give Back

Today I am proud to feature artists who are creating beautiful work and using it to give back to their communities. In the last 18 months, the demand for charity and non-profit services has increased while those giving to these services has declined dramatically. Kudos to those who still manage to set a little aside for those less fortunate.

Erin of Undefined Village will donate all proceeds (about 80% of purchase price) from her “Homeless” print to a non-profit animal shelter in an effort to help curb the overcrowding of these facilities.

Erin of Reul Iuil gives the proceeds from everything in her shop to various charities. Purchasing the baby blanket above benefits St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and the entire cost of the scarf below goes to Book Aid International. Erin says she has always enjoyed crafting for family and friends and she wanted to find a way to spread the goodwill.

Last but not least, in my non-letterpress etsy shop, a number of prints benefit Project Liberia. Bulleh Bablitch-Norkeh, a Liberian who moved to Wisconsin in her teens, began Project Liberia as a personal project to help her relatives and others living in a country torn apart by 14 years of civil war. Project Liberia is now a growing non-profit dedicated to enabling Liberians to improve their own lives and the lives of their families through a variety of projects including building a community center, beginning a micro-loan program and cleaning the litter of war from the streets.

Bablitch-Norkeh is currently on her third trip to Liberia, distributing clothing to orphanages, soccer equipment (a way to keep kids busy in a productive way and keep them out of trouble) and overseeing the final stages of the community center.

Silk Paintings

Instead of hanging that painting on your wall, why don’t you wear it around your neck? I love scarves, and these two artists are creating truly beautiful ones.

Angela of Muse Silk Paintings has a self-professed pattern obsession and loves the way the silk allows the ink to move between her resist lines. She has some really great info about her experiences with the craft on her blog. I love the fluid quantity of her work and how she allows the medium to do what it wants.

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Mary of True so in Love is a full time artist (see her other etsy shop) who recently branched out into painting silk. The lovely line quality shown here carries throughout her work. The name is a play on “trousseau” as a collaboration with a lingerie designer is in the works to create one-of-a-kind hand painted silk lingerie pieces.

Mary Ink

Abstract Stripe Scarf
Abstract Stripe Scarf

Screen printer extraordinaire Mary out of Nashville, Tenn. puts her mark on everything from tees to bags to glassware. I love her funky illustrations and the sheer variety in her shop — there’s something for everyone!

Silkscreened Votives
Silkscreened Votives