5 minute read

Present perfect

ALL CLEAR

Rainy days are no match for this stained glass ornament by New Brunswick artist Stéphanie Couturier, which lends a lovely pastel glow. Glass mobile, $75, lavieenverreglass.com.

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IN THE MIX

Stock their bar cart with handcrafted spirits and liqueurs from this small-batch Ontario distillery, including crowd-pleasers like amaretto and limoncello, and unique flavours like sugar maple liqueur. 3-pack liqueurs, $45, eloradistillingcompany.com.

HOT ONES

Take your host and hostess gifting game to the next level with a pair of linen oven mitts in a festive hue. Oven mitts, $42 each, confettimill.com.

GET IT TWISTED GARDEN VARIETY

This stylish duo’s curves are right on trend. Chandelier, $75, marieevedompierre.com. Beeswax candles, $26 per pair, etsy.com/shop/ MileEndSoapandCandle.

FINGER FOOD Know someone who dreams of living off the land? Get them started with sprouts and microgreens. Seed tins, $6 each, manoverde.ca.

LUSH LIFE

Pair with a hardy pothos for a great first-time plant-parent gift.

This adorable veggie set is hand-knitted in Montreal using landfill-bound wool scraps from the fashion industry. Knitted carrots, $22, ouistitine.com.

Made from kelp, a nutrient-rich algae harvested off the coast of British Columbia, this liquid plant food is guaranteed to turn even the least-experienced thumb green.

Growth booster, $29, kelpy.ca.

CALL OF THE WILD

SHAPE UP

Sculptural candles are having a moment, but this stunning fluted cube is unlike any other style we’ve seen. Candle, $24, etsy.com/ca/ shop/FormaStudios ByMaria.

Reconnect with nature from the comfort of home, thanks to this colourful 500-piece puzzle. Puzzle, $54, thebalticclub.com.

Wee sailors can customize their masts and more.

SEE THE LIGHT

With holiday scents like gingersnap and peppermint, these soy wax candles make great stocking stuffers. Candles, $21 each, sundaylightandlifestyle.com.

MAKING WAVES

Kids of all ages will love this build-your-own sailboat kit. Creative box, $44, desenfantillages.com.

TOTES AMAZING

Whoever you’re buying for, you can’t go wrong with a bag that will stand the test of time. Leather carryall, $274, cantintraditions.com.

SWEET SPOT

Based in Sudbury, Ont., pastry chef Tammy Maki makes stunning— and delicious!— hand-painted chocolate bars. Chocolate bar, $14, ravenrising.ca.

TAKE COVER

This cozy throw by Ojibwe designer Trisha Pitura features a pattern inspired by the Indigenous medicine wheel. Wool-blend blanket, $124, minitipi.ca.

GET FIZZY WITH IT

Bubbly is always a good idea, especially when it features juicy notes of berries and peach. Sparkling rosé, $19, saintlywine.com.

SHOW OF HANDS

Soften winter’s blow with chunky mittens hand-knitted in Innisfil, Ont. Mittens, $34, wheatfield knitwear.com.

MIXED BAG

At home or away, this expandable pouch makes it easy to corral all the essentials. Drawstring utility bag, $40, thebasic.ca.

CHANGE OF ART

Swap basic paints for a small-batch alternative made from Manitoulin honey, wildcrafted tree sap and high-quality pigments.

Paint palette, $70, beampaints.com.

HIDDEN GEM

A freshwater pearl nestled inside an organically shaped oval pendant gives this necklace an understated elegance.

Necklace, $220, cadettejewelry.com.

MAKE A POINT

This DIY kit contains everything needed to get crafty, including a foolproof preprinted pattern. Embroidery kit, $35, hipsterstitcher.square.site.

GAME NIGHT

Play après-dinner tic-tac-toe with an Instagram-worthy board. Wooden board game, $60, atelier-d.ca.

FLIGHT OF FANCY

This luxe merino wool mask-and-pillow set comes in a travel-friendly storage bag that clips on to carry-ons. Comfort set, $149, volprive.ca.

FESTIVE SPIRIT

Notes of orange, coffee and cocoa give this gin, brewed in Hamilton, Ont., extra holiday cheer. Flavoured gin, $49, collectiveartsbrewing.com.

TOP DRAWER

A leather case filled with pencil crayons makes a chic gift for the adult-colouring-book enthusiast in your life. Pencil rolls, $65 each, atelierchalet.com.

HIGH PROFILE

So cute it doubles as decor, this pipe was handmade, painted and glazed in Halifax. Ceramic pipe, $65, instagram.com/taylormade_xox.

BOSOM BUDDIES

Do your part to #FreeTheNipple with a boob-shaped stocking stuffer from Cold Gold in Victoria. Boob magnets, $11 each, coldgold.ca.

COME CLEAN

Poured in Gatineau, Que., these small-batch suds contain moisturizing ingredients like shea butter and olive oil. Soap, $9, lamarcotterie.com.

HEART AND SOLE

Buy a pair for everyone in your family, then put your feet up because the shopping is done! Slippers, $89, etsy.com/shop/ crochetmilie. $1 from each set sold supports mental health causes.

FULL STEAM AHEAD

Delight the tea lovers with a sampler of six delicious loose-leaf teas packaged in gold and silver tins. Need more convincing? Oprah is a fan. Tea set, $120, cupofte.ca.

5 virtual exp eriences to gift this season

Whether it’s an online sourdough bread-making class or a digital road-trip itinerary, these gifts can be enjoyed from the comfort of your loved ones’ homes (or cars)

Written by DOMINIQUE LAMBERTON

1.

Bluebunch Farm baking classes Savona, B.C. This farm bakery tucked in the Thompson River Valley specializes in organic, wild-yeastfermented sourdough baked goods and teaches its techniques in its popular virtual group classes. All ingredients (including sourdough starter!) are delivered in advance, and shipping is available across Canada. From $75, bluebunchfarm.com.

2.

Peak Paper Co. watercolour lessons Edmonton Perfect for the budding painter in your life, this package includes lifetime access to a 90-minute video lesson that teaches colour theory and basic brush strokes for beginners, plus a 36-colour paint palette, a watercolour florals workbook, a paintbrush and more. Kits can be shipped across Canada. $100, peakpaperco.com.

3.

Twig & Bloom floral workshops Saskatoon Take the gift of fresh blooms up a notch with a gift card redeemable for one of this elegant floral studio’s at-home live video workshops. Supplies are delivered locally (not including clippers and a vase) for your giftee to create their own seasonal arrangement while learning the fundamentals of floral design from the pros. From $90, twigandbloom.ca.

4.

Grape Witches wine tastings Toronto Gift cards from this natural wine shop can be put toward its biweekly virtual education hours, which feature sommelier- led deep dives into different wine-producing regions. There’s an option to “Just listen,” or those in Ontario can opt to receive three-ounce pouches or full bottles of the wines spotlighted during the session. From $15, grapewitches.com.

5.

Guess Where Trips surprise road trips Multiple locations Buckle up: With this curated itinerary service, sending your loved ones on a surprise one-day road trip is as simple as deciding whether you want the news to arrive in the mail or via their inbox. They can then choose one of the multiple available itineraries departing from eight cities across Canada and hit the road. $72, guesswheretrips.com.

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