2020 Gift Guide

HELLO, FRIENDS

As we near the end of the calendar year, the season of gift giving is upon us. To many, this can bring unwanted stress emotionally and financially. Our goal for this mindful gift-guide is to help you enjoy the gift-giving process and minimize the stress that is associated with it by having these ideas at your fingertips.

What do we mean by mindful gift giving?

When we give gifts mindfully, we give from the heart. We think about what is meaningful to the receiver of the gift.

How do we want them to feel? Giftgiving is really an act of love! A true and thoughtful gesture that shows your special someone what they mean to you and how much you care about them.

But wait!

Gifts come in many forms and sometimes a heartfelt note means so much more, so share your favorite memory, a funny story or picture. No matter what you share, just make it personal!

Enjoy perusing our top favorite gifts from small local shops- we are thankful for them all and for you! We hope that this is guide helpful and remember that Small Business Saturday is on November 28th!

Happy mindful gift-giving!

Ashley, Terri, Ingrid, & Janine

BE INSPIRED

Art is inspiring and mindfulness is key for self-preservation. Consider this handmade gift that is equally beautiful and functional. Give the gift of staying grounded with one of these visual reminders.

Cortney Herron Cortney Herron is a Los Angelesbased artist and style enthusiast with a passion for muted colors, abstract shapes, quotes of positivity, and the Black female perspective through portraiture.

Shop the collection at www.cortneyherron.com

GREEN THUMB

Who doesn’t need all of the plants?!

Shop local pottery and the freshest greenhouse goodies at Tonkadale!

We are also patiently waiting for the day where we can enjoy their complimentary hot cocoa and popcorn again!

Tonkadale Tonkadale Greenhouse offers an extensive selection of plants and flowers, including annuals and perennials, herbs, vegetables, succulents, African violets and tropical plants. Their specialties include fairy gardens, container gardens, and custom designs for every season.

Feel the warmth at www.tonkadale.com

BOTTLES UP

Snag a special bourbon, gorgeous barware set or single-source chocolate from France 44 Wine & Spirits. They are also a great source of information if you need help or tips in finding something extra-special for the wine, beer and spirit lovers on your list!

France 44 Wine & Spirits For 60 years, France 44 has been family-owned and operated, offering a unique and extensive selection of wine, beer, spirits, and gourmet food in Minneapolis. Their friendly and knowledgeable staff are passionate about what they do and make it their mission to help you find something you’ll love!

Toast at www.france44.com

BETTER BODY GOODS

This store is my go-to for soap and lotion and everything is handmade in Buffalo, MN. Switching to bar soap is an easy sustainable switch from plastic pumps and these pretty designs always look and smell beautiful on a simple soap dish. Check out their Lavender Vanilla Lotion bar for a stocking stuffer that will prevent all winter dryness!

ModernRoots With locations in Wayzata, Stillwater and Buffalo, ModernRoot’s products are made with BEYOND Organic Principles and ingredients. And over 50% of the ingredients are also grown on the ModernRoots Farm, allowing close control on quality and handling.

Order online at www.modernroots.org

ART EVERY DAY

Art in every degree sums up the extensive variety of jewelry, pottery, photography, painting, sculpture and so much more featured at Gallery 360 in the Fulton neighborhood, Southwest Minneapolis. Peruse their site to see the most up-to-date list of local artists showcased at this intimate little gallery.

Gallery 360 While representing traditional art media, such as painting, photography and sculpture, Gallery 360 also honors a wide variety of fine craft, contemporary art jewelry and locally designed fashion. Stop by to see their window art displays that announce the latest exhibition and check out their 360 event listings for an update on the gallery's coming attractions.

Be inspired at www.gallery360mpls.com Ellen Thomson

A LITTLE FOR EVERYONE

Golden Rule seeks to support local artists and designers and promotes kindness and community, which is why it makes Janine’s top pick go-to for giftgiving!

Golden Rule Golden Rule has always been more than just a shop. They aim to promote kindness and community, placing a high value on art, creation, and the creator.

They value honesty and depth in all facets and endeavors and acknowledge both the tragedies of this life and the overwhelming beauty. They are acutely aware that sorrow and joy are sisters.

They believe that art and beauty are healing tools that can soothe pain and build bridges.

Order online at www.shopgoldenrule.com

GLOBAL MARKET

Golden Age Design peddles in midcentury furniture AND a wonderfully curated selection of goods for your home and kids. Don’t tell Ingrid’s daughter Violet, but Santa is giving her the wooden “Doctor Set”! ;) This Swedish Wooden Candle Holder is one of my favorite pieces and also available in a natural, white, or black lacquer.

Golden Age Design The Golden Age team is passionate about finding you the perfect piece.

Unique to the Twin Cities, they approach vintage in a way that honors the designer's original intent. Minimal and calm, the shop lets the furniture breathe and gives you a good sense of what it will look like in your space.

Find more at www.goldenagedesign.com

CREATE A MOOD

Make someone's aromatherapy dreams come true with moody scents to set the tone while easing the mind.

The Electric Fetus The Electric Fetus has been a gathering place for music heads and counterculturists in Minnesota since 1968. It began as a place to get turned on to something a little out of the ordinary, and that still holds true today.

Shop the collection at www.electricfetus.com

FOR THE TINY’S

Pip & Pal is perfect for the littles in your life! This rattle is a favorite and made from locally sourced wood and sealed with a coconut and beeswax blend.

Pip & Pal Owned by Gray Home + Lifestyle, the team at Pip & Pal are a mother daughter duo, striving to create beauty in your life. Through a classic, minimalistic aesthetic, they are creating a calming space for you to come and find all things necessary for your home, body, and skin. Their hope is to inspire through our carefully curated products, and that they can be used in this beautiful place we call life.

Find more at www.pipandpal.com

ALL THE SWEETS

St. Croix Chocolate Co. is an awardwinning chocolate company that will open your eyes to creative, complex chocolate flavors and always be a perfect gift! Pro tip: Snag a box to take home for yourself, too.

St. Croix Chocolate Co From seasonally-inspired bon bons to specialty sauces to sensational centerpieces for your holiday table, we know how to celebrate the moment with chocolate and delight in sharing our chocolates with you and our community.

Less than an hour from the Twin Cities, Marine is a bit of a secret that some folks would be just as happy to keep to themselves. But we think the village, with its Greek Revival buildings and scenic setting, is just too charming to overlook.

See more inspiration at www.stcroixchocolateco.com

RED, WHITE + BUBBLY

Have a wine connoisseur in your life that you’d like to impress? Head to the Vine Room in Hopkins for an assortment of quality wines focusing on small-mid sized producers, familyowned wineries, and wines made with sustainable farming and production methods. Also snag a pour of their rotating craft beers from nearby breweries!

The Vine Room The Vine Room was created to exalt the culture, human connection and story inside every bottle of wine.

Owned by a wife-husband duo, this Hopkins shop also touts sustainable wines, classes, private rooms and frequent tastings!

Find your next favorite bottle at www.vineroom.co

GIFT SELF-DISCOVERY

Take some time this winter to slow down and check in with yourself. What do you want and need professionally?

And where do you even start?! This workbook, you start with the workbook.

Meg Lewis An expert on personal style and career fulfillment, I’ve spoken to audiences around the world and taught dozens of workshops to small startups and large corporations. Meg has even written an interactive book and created a comedy video series on career fulfillment!

Snag the workbook online at www.meglewis.com

BOOK CLUB

If every present that Ingrid ever received for the rest of her life was either books, fabric, yarn, or free babysitting, she would be one happy camper! And if there ever was a year to do some more reading, 2020 is it.

Support your local bookstore, like Black Garnet Books, who has a lovely curated selection of reading for kids and adults alike.

Black Garnet Books "Named after a gem with healing properties, the bookstore is the brainchild of owner Dionne Sims, who was inspired by the Floyd protest to do something tangible for the community.

“I needed to be doing something where I’m hands-on in the community where I could see faces, make connections, and give back in a way that is long-term and sustainable,” Dionne Sims says.“ Dive into your next book at www.blackgarnetbooks.com

MASK UP

Well, let’s face it, they’re not going away! So, why not give your friends and family members a cute, locally made mask (and throw in a practical face mask chain along the way!)? Head over to Patina for a great selection of masks and specialty gifts for everyone on your list!

Patina First opened in South Minneapolis in 1993, Patina stores strive to be filled with a well curated selection of products that are constantly evolving, an art project in progress. Patina has now grown to multiple locations throughout the metro area.

All the patterns at www.patinastores.com

FEED YOUR SOUL

Sometimes a good, southern-inspired meal is all you need! Pick up a gift card to Soul Bowl so that your friends and family have a comforting (and spicy!) meal to look forward to! It is a soul food experience that is sure to warm your mind, body, and soul.

Soul Bowl Soul Bowl is soul food reimagined for the urban millennial by Chef Gerard Klass. By using unique flavors and modern techniques, he presents the soul food from his childhood in a flavorful, healthy, and eye-catching way. At the center of Soul Bowl is family. Community seating, lawn games, and Grandma's House Service create the togetherness that soul food is all about.

@wantwingz

Stay hungry at www.soulbowlmn.com @blaziankitchen

MINNESOTA NICE

You can easily get lost for hours at the General Store! A particular favorite is the Made in Minnesota section, filled with favorite local fare– clothing, wild rice, syrups and caramels.

The General Store The General Store of Minnetonka is a locally owned and operated family business that was started in 1984 who strives to provide customers with an incredible shopping experience of more than 15,000 square feet of an unparalleled selection of home dĂŠcor, special gifts and old time classics.

See all the goods at www.generalstoreofminnetonka.com

THE BEES KNEES

The Foundry is my favorite local store.

They sell goods that should last you forever and source the most delightful beeswax candles that are made on a 4th generation farm in MN. I still remember the first time I entered their shop and smelled the heaven that is the subtle aroma of beeswax candles.

These are an absolute delight on cold winter evenings!

The Foundry Home Goods The Foundry Home Goods is made of a bunch of humans (and a few sweet pups) dedicated to sourcing simple, useful, and beautiful objects for the home.

Be inspired at www.thefoundryhomegoods.com

WINTER SUN

Need a new “happy place”? Sunnyside Gardens is a local and lovely little gardening center that will brighten your day with impressive succulent selections, super creative container ideas, and Trill Home Décor- a beautifully curated lifestyle boutique.

Sunnyside Gardens Sunnyside Gardens has been helping to grow a healthy garden and landscape community in South Minneapolis since 1935. What started out as a small garden plot over 80 years ago has grown to become the home of Minnesota’s premier gardening and landscaping experts.

Soak it in at www.sunnyside-gardens.com

SMELL THE FLOWERS

Give the gift of getting crafty with a beautiful floral arrangement to show for it at the end! Consider buying a workshop for yourself and one for a special someone, or host a small social group for a safe and memorable experience at Ergo Floral!

View all upcoming workshops at https://ergofloral.com/workshops-1

Ergo Floral Ergo is a locally owned, full-service floral and plant store in the historic Cathedral Hill neighborhood of St. Paul that is stocked with beautiful inspiration and local maker gifts! Stop by to smell the flowers, watch them work, and grab a bite to eat at their sister cafĂŠ, The French Hen.

@wantwingz

Stay inspired at www.ergofloral.com @blaziankitchen

WITH LOVE

For a bakery that brings beauty and craft to everything they make, check out Amy’s Cupcake Shoppe in Hopkins.

Their cakes, cookies and treats make the perfect addition to holiday meals, while their macarons make the sweetest gift for anyone on your list! Make sure to peruse their Instagram for daily macaron flavors!

Amy’s Cupcake Shoppe Always made from scratch with only the best ingredients. Taste the difference when it’s made by hand with love!

Satisfy your sweet tooth at www.amyscupcakeshoppe.com

GLOW, BABY

The Face Foundrie is a Minnesotabased spa focused on curated skincare, with services and products that are accessible and approachable.

It’s a perfect place to gift a spa experience to!

Check out their Collagen Spritz- a favorite to help give a quick mood boost!

Face Foundrie Owner Michele Henry dreamed of a spa concept that acclimated to the busy lifestyle trends of current society.

A place where you have a unique and catered menu of services and a modernized way of booking same-day services. Michele wanted somewhere to help build people up because when you feel and look your best, you do your best.

Glow more at www.facefoundrie.com

HELLO, HAPPINESS

Looking to splurge and spice up someone’s home next summer with sustainably sourced flowers? ToxyFree offers 10, 12, or 14-week subscriptions for pickup or delivery. All flowers are sourced from 21 small flower farms throughout MN and WI and are free of chemical residues that are often found on imported flowers (which are typically what you find in stores).

ToxyFree ToxyFree is a blueprint for cultivating health and happiness by inputting impeccable ingredients to output enlightened enjoyment!

Order at www.shoptoxyfree.com

PLAY BALL(CAP)

Ace General Store is a communitydriven and heritage inspired men’s clothing and accessories. Current obsession is over this Excelsior High ballcap, where a percentage of the proceeds goes to the city of Excelsior Chamber of Commerce.

Ace General Store Ace General Store wants their shop to feel like home. Not a home full of things you can’t touch, but a home where all the things are up for grabs.

Where warmth envelops you. Where good conversation over hot coffee lives, connecting you with those who make the things you buy. A conduit for thoughtful connection.

For the guys in your life www.shopacegeneralstore.com

FIRED UP

For beautifully handcrafted ceramic pieces, Sandwich Ceramics is a local favorite that strives to promote meaningful interaction between people and the objects we use each day. Head to their site to see where you can purchase your next piece (including locations in this gift guide- Ergo, Ace General Store, Golden Age Design and Tonkadale)!

Sandwich Ceramics Sandwich Ceramics is a Minneapolis based studio designing and creating handmade functional ware with minimalist forms meant for everyday use. Pieces are made with locally produced stoneware clay and unique inhouse glazes.

Satisfy your sweet tooth at www.sandwichceramic.com

WRAP IT UP

To help save on cost, energy and resources, consider a more earthfriendly alternative to wrapping your gifts this holiday season. Search around your home, scope out your design library for scraps or head to your local thrift store to help find the following items: Fabric Ribbons & Twine Paper bags Ornaments Scarves Tea or kitchen towels Decorative brooches Vintage cards Old maps Jars and cookie tins Add a heartfelt note and a sprig of balsam and you’ll have a unique, beautifully handcrafted and eco-friendly gift to give!

DO MORE GOOD

The holidays can be overwhelmingespecially in 2020! If you are looking for local non-profits and charities to send more love to, or to honor a special friend or family, here’s our list of local favorites.

East Side Neighborhood Services Help East Side Neighborhood Services build pathways toward equity by disrupting social and economic barriers. www.esns.org Still Kickin Still Kickin started in 2015 when their founders teamed up to provide unrestricted financial grants to good people going through hard things.

Today, they work to build empathy, encouragement and economic relief for people in need. www.stillkickin.co the Playwrights' Center When you give to the Playwrights’ Center, you support the brave, talented playwrights who are creating new work for our times. www.pwcenter.org

Twin Cities Community Rebuilding Coalition This group stands together to create a stronger, more equitable, and more just community that is focused on rebuilding Minneapolis, in a way that recognizes Minnesota’s long history of racial injustice in property ownership, lending, and individual opportunity. www.tccrc.org Joy Collaborative Help to build unique environment for children with life-limiting medical conditions. www.joycollaborative.org Valley Outreach Donate supplies and food at Valley Outreach to help people move their lives forward through basic needs, services and personalized support. www.valleyoutreachmn.org

OH, HEY

Ashley Ochiagha is Atmosphere’s new A+D Industry Consultant and a creative entrepreneur who leads with empathy, vulnerability and strength.

At Atmosphere, her goal is to make the furniture process more convenient for designers so they can maximize their time creating meaningful spaces.

At Atmosphere, Terri Jackson is motivated by workplace insights and data-driven analytics to help her clients drive decisions in her Real Estate Consultant role. As a South Minneapolis girl at heart, she’s passionate about supporting the best local spots around the corner.

As Steelcase’s A+D Manager, Ingrid Youmans has a firm foundation in design and sales built upon her time at design firms and with Coalesse and Steelcase. Creativity, sustainability and new sewing patterns are her fuel as she juggles her life with her two kiddos (whom you may have seen in her fun Instagram stories talking about product!) in the Stillwater area.

Janine Petersen finds passion in assisting designers and architects find the perfect solutions for their projects.

Whether it be a sustainable textile, custom drapery or a graphic wallcovering, Designtex will find an answer for every need. As a western suburb lifer, Janine takes pride in raising her daughters here and shopping some of the same small businesses that have been around since she was little.