A Fresh Spark for Beloved Scents

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One might say that the traditional gift of scented candles has seen a new spark.

Candle fragrances can set the mood for romance, invite calm, and transport us back to exotic travel destinations. How often does the Christmas Cookie scent bring back memories of Grandma’s kitchen? It’s no wonder candles are a favored gift to ourselves and others. While these flickering mood enhancers come in delightful varieties, there’s another way to strike someone’s fancy.

What was once an afterthought found at the bottom of a purse or lost in jacket pockets, artisan matches have arrived on the scene in colorful collections, clever packaging, beautifully illustrated boxes, and sassy styles. The new match sets are artful gifts in their own right and can elevate or add a touch of whimsey to your favorite aromatic, soy, or beeswax candle.

For your next occasion, complement a treasured candle scent with a unique match set to light up your gift-giving.

Refresh & Refill: Stylish, Sustainable Gifts

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The effort to blend style and sustainability is a journey. We know that you value the impact of giving beautiful, unique gifts, and, at the same time, you expect eco-friendly qualities. Where does a sustainable effort show up in our gifts and product design? Here’s a look at what environmentally friendly means behind-the-scenes, and the commitment it takes to deliver a stylish and sustainable gift experience.

There are two parts to an environmentally-friendly effort, the material of the gift itself and the packaging and shipping. The gift aspect is a more straightforward part of the process because we work in an artisan industry. Hand-picked wood, hand-woven materials, and artisan-made elements attract makers who want their pieces to be earth-friendly and enjoyed for generations. (We’ve learned a lot of good tips from artists.) Our original gift box fill was replaced with recycled paper years ago, which was an important step. Turns out it was just the tip of the iceberg. These days, we extend our eco-friendly preferences to how other partners and vendors package their goods. We’ve come a long way, and there’s more work to be done.

Eco-friendly should be tastefully designed. While technology and sustainable processes have improved, we still find great products that aren’t paired with attractive, sustainable packaging. This lackluster appearance doesn’t work inside a luxury gift box. Last year, we finally found gift wrapping in colorful recycled options (not just brown). It’s taken time for the industry to catch up to the design piece.

Effective and affordable wrap is essential. Our number one goal, and non-negotiable, remains that gifts arrive in beautiful condition. Corners and cups must be protected as we plan for boxes to be dropped or handled with less care in shipping than we prefer. We’ve improved our wrap and packaging materials and are transitioning to plant-based peanuts. And we finally found sustainable packing tape that sticks and fits our brand’s look and feel.

If you’re wondering if shipping is a real cost, this is your answer. This effort isn’t “free.” Packaging and handling preparation takes time, costs more, and requires quality products.

A reminder that your voice matters. The more you request sustainable, eco-friendly options, the more alternatives, better pricing, and stylish designs will be available to all of us.


Friend (Gift) Favorites for the Open House

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Updated 1.4.24

Remember that feeling when you first opened the door to your new place? Ah, the possibilities. Clean, open spaces, a blank slate to unleash the imagination. For some, it’s a bit daunting; for others, inspiring with design and décor is an exciting opportunity.

An open house invitation is your chance to give a unique piece to celebrate a new living space. How do you find that distinct piece they’ll love, one they don’t already have but wish they did? What would add warmth to their home or spice up a room? Your gift can be the one that inspires calm, elevates entertaining, or highlights their beautiful kitchen.

These artisan gift options are sure to be favorites at the Open House, placing you at the top of the list for their next celebration:

Natural artisan stands.
Thriving plants in cheerful pots are a welcome addition to living spaces. With or without a green thumb, people appreciate the color and calming effect of plants. What can you add to accent their beautiful blooms? Give their greens a place to shine atop an artisan stand handcrafted out of black walnut, white maple, and red oak wood. A stunning partner to lush greenery, an artisan stand is a gorgeous new home gift.

A cut above for the culinary kitchen.
Look for a unique slicing knife with a distinct handle design made of wood, stone, or forged metal. Add a handwoven towel in a beautiful pattern. Select a gift that’s as much an art piece as a functional tool.

Customization they’ll appreciate.
People love to receive thoughtful gifts designed solely with them in mind. Their name, an initial, or a special date engraved into the piece sends a genuine message of caring. Choose to engrave walnut wood coasters, a handcrafted cutting board, or a custom gift box as a warm welcome. These are the treasures that remain in families for years to come.

Textures and tastes.
Whether the homeowners are coffee drinkers, wine enthusiasts, or bourbon aficionados, a set of cups with a custom glaze or a distinct texture lets them celebrate their new space in elevated style. Textures are unique to the touch, invite you to look closer, and are a perfect excuse to ask for a refill.

Entertaining with ease.
With boxes to unpack and schedules to re-organize, moving encourages simple decisions around food and beverage. As new residents, they’re busy choosing color combinations, sorting, and directing furniture deliveries. And this is all happening between work and even kid’s schedules. The gift of a handcrafted cutting board offers an easy way to serve appetizers at happy hour and share snacks on game night - it also makes a gorgeous statement in the kitchen or on the patio.


Your Guide to Holiday Gift Ordering

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The arrival of crisp air swirling outside the studio means seasonal celebrations are on the horizon. How can it possibly be time, you ask? (I know, our bathing suits are barely dry.) You’re busy living your best life, so we want to make it easy for you to give your best gifts.

As fans of giving unique artisan gifts and seeing the impression they make, you know ordering ahead wins the day (and the gift recipients). Whether for holiday weddings, a warm welcome, or a heartfelt thank you, select your gifts and secure a ship date that delivers big smiles on the other end.

Need some inspiration? Here are two blog favorites that can help:

Are Your Client Gifts Saying What You Think? - Do you want to know more about our custom craftsmanship?

Simple Steps to Sending your Best Client Gifts - Need ideas and options around what to give?

Keep this Gift Guide bookmarked as you (and your team) plan ahead. You’ll be glad you did, and so will your clients, colleagues, and friends.

  1. Craftsmanship means attention to detail. The beauty of artisan gifts is that no two are the same. Even if the gift box or cutting board style is the same, each one is unique. Our wood is hand-picked and hand-finished, and the artisan pieces are handcrafted and hand-woven. These details take planning, skill, and time; the result is a distinctive, one-of-a-kind gift.

  2. Festive and flexible gift cards. Each gift includes the option to select an artist-designed gift card (no additional charge). Pick our unique “Joy” card to add your holiday message, or choose one of our colorful artisan-designed cards to add your seasonal message. If your order is not for a holiday, select a card at checkout and add the appropriate personal note or well wishes.

  3. Select now, ship later: Use our “Request a Due Date” section at checkout to indicate your preferred shipping timeframe. Don’t delay and risk missing the chance to send your favorite artisan gifts. Booking in advance means you select and pay for your gifts now and secure the time and inventory while available. If you request a specific week on your order, we’ll confirm your status via email.

  4. Skip the last-minute scrambling. Avoid late shipping charges and make sure your gifts arrive on time. December 8th is the deadline for Fed Ex ground economy shipping. (This means we need to have your unique gifts on our schedule in October or November.)

  5. “What else should we know?” This is the catch-all section of checkout, where you can tell us anything else that will help us create a memorable gift experience.

Our goal is to give you all the information you need in advance to help you plan, select and secure the artisan gifts you want, so we can all raise a glass to a relaxing holiday season.

There's Nothing Like Watching Their Faces Light Up

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We watched her smile, slowly turning the gift box around to admire it from every angle. When it turned to the front and she saw the engraving, she gasped with surprise and delight. There’s nothing like watching their faces light up when you give a memorable gift. We rarely get to see the reaction first-hand when a gift box is opened. It’s usually shipped to destinations far and wide or delivered for a reveal at a later time. We hear about the excitement in texts or phone calls (sometimes both!) from those who send the gifts. In this instance, we were fortunate to be there for the experience - and how fun! Do you get stuck deciding what to give that’s meaningful and unique? Do you wrestle with how to leave a lasting impression? If so, we’ve got some ideas and inspiration to help make your selection easy.

Personalization is what makes a gift unique; it’s the gorgeous wood grain, the artisan elements, and the craftsmanship that makes the gift recipient feel special. In the case of this gift box, the venue is perched high in the Catskill Mountains, surrounded by cabins and firepits and an incredible view. With that setting in mind, we selected long matches for their campfires and ceramic tumblers with an earthy glaze pattern that inspires thoughts of mountain peaks and walking paths. Tucked inside is a mini ceramic air plant pot with an artful design that reflects the distant mountains, and a candle fills the air with a woodsy aroma. Engraving is another way to personalize a gift. Imagine an inspirational quote, a favorite music lyric, or in this example, a logo etched in the wood for a finishing touch. This gift box is made from natural hardwoods (black walnut, and white maple) right down to the beveled handles. The entire design is with the customer in mind. While it may be easy to grab generic, off-the-shelf items, if the recipient doesn’t remember you (and never uses your gift), you’ve missed an opportunity. Or worse, you’ve made the wrong impression. A personalized gift sends the message that they’re important to you.

Is it a gift they’ll love each time they use it? That’s the goal of a memorable gift. Is it a handcrafted beauty, distinct in style? Is it reusable? Does it reflect the texture of natural materials? Consider these ideas, and light up someone’s day with your gifts. We encourage you to take a few moments to determine the impression you’d like to make. Then, we invite you to shop our Gift Box Collection, Specialty Series, and the Marketplace to make your memorable gift selection. It feels amazing to receive a gift like this, and it feels pretty darn good to give one too.

This is one of those personal moments.

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Certain moments in our lives invite us to take time off to be fully present with family and close friends, to reflect, and to experience joy. This week is one such occasion. In the coming days, we will be sharing the joy of our daughter’s wedding. This event has been years in the making with law school graduation, passing the bar, and the design of multiple Michelin star restaurants accomplished between these two amazing young women. As a content writer at heart, I can’t help but jot a few words about this moment. I expect the excitement, scenery, and design details (not to mention the dancing and after-party) will continue to inspire us upon our return.

Throughout the festivities, we’ll be using our beautiful, custom wood boxes (and more). We look forward to sharing a peek behind the scenes in the coming weeks. As you plan your milestone moments, we invite you to visit our Specialty Series, where you can select custom gift boxes, and other unique accents, for your big life occasions.

Taking the plunge, the last picture of their engagement photos. Photo @alexandraroberts

Crab Their Attention

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Where did we stash those beach towels, and has anyone seen the sun hats? We’ve never been so excited to purchase a tube of sunscreen. While vacation may be weeks away, it’s a welcome change to think of traveling, gathering, and staying someplace other than home. We are ready to set sail, and gifts that encourage a free spirit are riding a wave of popularity.

How do you inspire guests, colleagues, and clients to feel the wind at their back, share the excitement of exploring new destinations, or celebrate the thrill of charting a different course? To create the right gift, there’s more than one way to crab their attention. For those who find joy on the shorelines and calm with every lap of the waves, we can relate. There’s no need to go overboard in design; a simple reminder of the leisurely pace of the shorelines will do.

If the water’s edge is a favorite place to relax, anchor your gifts with a nautical flair. Choose colorful cups, handwoven towels in blue, or a vivid blend of red and white. Include the scent of an ocean breeze or the calm of a Sunday sunrise over the surf. Add a seashell or colorful trinket (we found these anchors at a little shop on the Eastern Shore) as a fun accent. For those who enjoy the Chesapeake, the taste of Old Bay seasoning in Mouth Party’s Chesapeake caramels is always a big hit. The unique flavor brings sweetness with a hint of spice in each bite. For a personal touch, tuck in your favorite crab dip recipe, or put crab cakes on the menu with a recipe printed on a kitchen towel. To finish, bright ribbons of yellow and white or regal blue complete the wrapping.

As you look ahead to welcoming summer guests, hosting team outings, and sending client thank you gifts, a nod to beloved destinations can make a big splash.

When the Creatures Start Stirring

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We took some creative liberties here and put a festive twist on seasonal songs, stories, and gift suggestions. With a twinkle of elfin magic and the strength of ten Grinches plus two, we dash away all your shopping worries and sprinkle gift ideas for you. We just snow you’re going to love it!

When the Creatures Start Stirring (Night Cap) I’ll Have a Blue Christmas (Patio Party) Frosty (Cabin Fever)

Deck the Halls with Details (Custom Cutting Boards) I’ll Be Home for Christmas (Doorstops) Dashing Through the Snow (Oh What Fun It Is To Ride)

I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas (Color Outside the Lines) Let It Flow, Let it Flow, Let it Flow (Midnight Rambler) Christmas Wine is Here (Let’s Unwind)

Match Their Passion to Make a Memorable Gift

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Updated 02.21.23

How do you create a gift experience that tells clients you know them as a person and as a customer? You’ve likely noted your client’s passions by the courses they take, the texts they send, the conferences they value, and even the trips they’ve booked. Whether they’re entering a hotel suite or a meeting room, imagine their delight when they experience a gift created just for them.

Here are a range of options to personalize gifts and create a memorable first impression:

Custom Engraving – A simple, yet beautiful way to personalize is through engraving. Is there a phrase, date, initials, or emblem of significance to them? For a long-lasting impact, hand-crafted cutting boards (and gift boxes) can be beautifully engraved as a genuine gift of craftsmanship. Unique lettering and font styles add to the personalization. This is a straightforward option, with a minimal time commitment, yet it still delivers a custom experience.

Blend a Gift Box – Combine a special element of your brand with an existing gift box. Select a distinct artisan gift box and blend elements together to deliver a more custom feel. For luxury hotels, it may be adding the taste of homemade jams, sauces, or aromatherapy with a hand-poured candle, into an existing gift box. For corporate gifts, it could be the preview of a product sample, a gift card, or unique local flavors to reflect your location. A touch of calligraphy with a personal message on the gift tag goes a long way. This option does require engagement and planning with us in the process to perfect the combination; however, blending creates a sense of craftsmanship and unique gifting without you having to find and coordinate the artisan elements (that’s what we do).

Match Their Passion - Is your client an explorer who likes to hit the trail or walk the beach? Do they enjoy a culinary experience in their kitchen? Perhaps they prefer a black-tie affair? Maybe she’s a whiskey taster, and a sip of bourbon in a cool ceramic cup is the way to go? Custom gift boxes beautifully demonstrate that you appreciate your clients as individuals first. Examples include adding postcards from the national parks, ceramic cups, forged metal slicers, a leather journal, or handwoven champagne towels. All are elements that match a passion. If you know the feeling you want to evoke, artisan gift boxes can deliver. This option works best with advance planning to allow us the appropriate time to select artisan elements to meet your goal. Time to exchange and confirm ideas is part of a successful custom process.

Take the time to give a gift that delights clients at the door. This may be the added touch that keeps them coming back for more.

How Memories of Main Street Create Meaningful Client Gifts

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I used to love going down to the Rock Box when I was a kid. It was a tiny store on a small town main street selling rocks of all sizes, shapes and colors. The owners knew me well because of my frequent visits and let me wander free, picking up all the rocks to feel the quartz edges and touch the cold, smooth surface of the colored stones. That experience left a lasting impression on me, a reminder of the joy that comes from connecting with beautiful natural elements.

Today, we’ve expanded on the wares of the little rock shop by working with artisan elements of all shapes, sizes and colors. The feel of woven fabrics, the look of natural wood grain, and the touch of ceramic textures, are a few of the different ways we like to evoke a memorable gift experience. Often, it’s about adding depth and dimension to a gift, the result of a subtle touch or detail to magnify the focal pieces.

Adding dimension to a moving target takes a careful eye, a consistent evaluation of the landscape, and old-fashioned practice. If you understand the broader context, and the art of creating a custom gift box, you can scout the options and identify pieces that complete your preferred look.

Here are two things we strive for in our selection process:

Enhancing with color – how can we add color in ways that enhance the style yet don’t overpower a gift box? Consider pieces that are made from natural, woven or milled fabrics, and bring a unique sense of touch. Fabrics can be light and airy, bulky, silky or rough, depending on the look you’re aiming for. Special thread styles and even fringe can be part of the mix! These pieces can amplify a gift theme, yet minimize the space required inside a gift box. By rolling, folding or tucking them into artisan pieces, they add flexibility too.

Variety in textures - Adding elements such as, wood, metal, fabric, or a special glaze can create a more interesting visual effect. Many times, textures can be layered, such as floral elements resting on wood grain, or glaze drips on ceramics. Perhaps a wool fabric, which brings a much different feel than silky linens, is in order. Mother Nature is also your friend, offering pine cones, evergreens and the delicious smell of eucalyptus. An eye-catching combination of these can go a long way in creating a compelling style.

In the end, the goal is to understand a client’s needs and the experience they want to create. We hope our artisan gift boxes transport people to a wonderful place, maybe a feeling of adventure or celebration? Or maybe to a favorite old shop on main street.