Kitschmas Guide 2024
A niche guide to gifts that aren't from Amazon
Well, well, well, another year draws to a close, and with it comes the mad rush to buy something, anything, for holiday gifts. Apparently, Substack shopping guides are a big deal, and I’m a fan of
. My list will not appeal to everyone, but since I’m often mouthing off about why we shouldn’t buy trash made by people forced into servitude by a certain retailer named after a famous river, here are some independent, artist-supporting, and sometimes local alternatives.For gifts shipped by USPS to arrive before Christmas, they must be postmarked by December 18th.
Let’s start with this Chinese Thermos-Shop Building Set from Chop Suey Club (Pre-Order). While you’re there, put yourself on the waitlist for this sold out set of paper plates and cups.
Next, PinYin Press. Choose from a thermos tea towel or chicken feet tea towel (I wish they’d bring back the finger counting one, I guess I’m really into sold out stuff!), an ornament of an overpacked trike, or other uniquely Chinese designs. Shipping is from China or the UK, so it will cost you if you’re in the US.
On a budget? How about Knotted Neon’s pattern for a crocheted pizza rat bag? Don’t buy this for me, I will not make it. But I do love it.
Originally, I was looking at these Xi’an paper mache zodiak animals from Wing on Wo (which I got to visit in person this year), but since they’re sold out, I found this much larger, much more expensive mask. Again, pay attention to the shipping. Search ebay, etsy, and FB marketplace for paper mache folk art, you will find unique things.
Something an alternate-universe of myself would like is Floret Flower seeds. I specify alt-verse since current-verse me doesn’t have a handle on growing anything outdoors right now, and also because these seeds aren’t currently for sale (expected in 2025). If you really like this idea for someone in your life, get a gift card or other heirloom seeds or bulbs. I’m emotional after looking through the dahlias.
I love picture books, and I sell them! You can buy vintage from me on Instagram, but I’m also really happy that modern publishers like Enchanted Lion exist. They publish new work and also reissue vintage titles. They also have a studio sale section that is very affordable. One of my favorites I read this year is The Forest. Also, I review picture books throughout the year here. Given “the times,” maybe go get a kid lit tattoo with your sibling or bestie. My choice would be Leo Lionni’s Frederick.
Aside from vintage, many books I covet are available from 50 Watts. They’ve also reissued some vintage children’s titles, but I bought this game for Jonas this year after he liked this graphic novel that I bought him a few years ago (art by Linnea Sterte in both cases). You’ll help support living artists, which leads me to two other recommendations.
First, Femme Prints by MC Carey. My personal favorites are the capybara and heart flail prints, but there are many in the shop that I think you’ll love. The beautiful Free Palestine print is currently sold out, but this moth star is available. I know I keep telling you about stuff that’s sold old, but artists really appreciate when you get on their mailing lists to be notified when your favorites are back in stock.
Something I’m suggesting to le husband for myself is a print by Julie Beloussow, either this one, or this one in which the model is a mutual artist friend of ours! Another thing I’m buying for my boys is screen printed sweatshirts from Fennec Design, a small business that I’ve purchased from before and who makes sure their clothing isn’t sourced from sweat-shops.
Other stuff I’ve actually bought for Jonas is this game which we saw on Instagram but I bought from a local brick & mortar game store. We also have a Box Lunch store (a chain) in Durham which I haven’t been to yet, but it seems like Hot Topic for animation nerds. Lots of Ghibli stuff, but I’ll try to get the Over the Garden Wall pajama pants. I hope it might also have some stocking stuffers for the boys. Which reminds me that if you’re near a McKay’s (TN and NC), they have loads of nerd stuff that my boys love and it’s all secondhand pricing. They might be getting gift cards from me.
The most romantic gift I can think of is a trip to The Fragrance Shop in Carrboro, NC. Luckily, they also work long distance. The website gives a good explanation of how it works, but since I’ve had the pleasure of being there in person, I’ll add that the staff is extremely knowledgeable and can not only replicate fragrances that are no longer available from their original brands (I wear a scent from 2005) but also help you build a fragrance that works with your unique body chemistry, including editing out fragrance components that don’t play well on your skin.
I hope you have a wonderful season chanting the Magnificat, and since we don’t get Peace on Earth, remember you can unsubscribe from businesses that pelt you with ads via email, which is almost the same thing.