As the last two months of the year roll over us, a lot of people are trying to hold onto a sense of normalcy in an increasingly stressful world. Stores have begun putting out decorations, speakers blare the yearly holly jolly music (whether you like it or not), and small businesses like our own artisans are going all out to promote their wares for the holiday rush.
But did we mention the stress? You’ve probably noticed the stress. That’s why we’ve decided to dedicate a gift guide to showcasing items that can be used for healthy, self-soothing activities.
Consider buying your loved ones gifts of comfort while supporting handmade indie sellers.
Promotion Spotlight: Artisan’s Choice Sale
Black Friday looms large, and independent artisan sellers are feeling the pressure to lower their income just to compete. Our Artisan’s Choice Sale is the place to find items that our artisans have chosen to place on sale at a discount, and is named as such to encourage them to choose prices that are appropriate for their needs. We want to highlight the ACS this holiday season and emphasize that a discount should never be mandatory for micro-businesses like ours—and on Artisans Cooperative, it never will be.
Browse the Artisan’s Choice Sale.
Table Of Contents
- “They Thought They Could Bury Us” Poster
- “Pasta Water for Designers” Printed Workbook
- Celestial Softcover Sketchbook
- Tall Curved Edge Bookmarks
- Crochet Bao Plushie
“They Thought They Could Bury Us” Poster
Handmade in Philadelphia, USA by Raffi Marhaba at The Beat In Between.
“They thought they could bury us. They didn’t know we were seeds.”
Sometimes comfort is as simple as decorating our living space with meaningful art. Remind yourself that you are always growing with this beautiful print by an artisan who strives to uplift marginalized identities and spark important conversations with their work.
“Pasta Water for Designers” Printed Workbook
Written in Chicago, USA by Mari Miller at Art is Craft is Design.
One way to ground yourself is to work with your hands. Take part in an act of creation. Many craft hobbyists would tell you that knitting, painting, or origami are soothing activities, and that holding something that you made in your hands can make you feel more capable of tackling life’s challenges.
This item is an environmentally conscious way to get your hands moving if you’re interested in sculpting and modeling. It’s a recipe book for DIY alternatives to plastic-based clays and foams, easily made from a variety of materials that you may already have on hand. It also includes compostable glue recipes, information on stencil printing, and more! See the listing’s description and embedded video for more details.
Celestial Softcover Sketchbook
Handmade in Indiana, USA by Saelie at Pug and Paper.
Journaling and doodling are famously good ways to calm your soul and/or unleash what’s writhing around inside. What better way to do that than in a handmade sketchbook crafted with star and moon motifs?
If you don’t like the celestial aesthetic, this seller offers a number of other sketchbook styles, too.
Tall Curved Edge Bookmarks
Handmade in Chicago, USA by Emaloes Thingys.
When grounding activities are too much to ask for, an escape into a well-written story can help.
One of many hand-sculpted variants, this tasseled bookmark has the potential to become a staple of anyone’s bedside table. Pair it with a book you know they’ll love.
Crochet Bao Plushie
Handmade in Connecticut, USA by Tiffany at Yarnshaper.
Traditionally, a bao is a ball of steamed dough filled with a delicious variety of foodstuffs. They aren’t supposed to have eyes!
These plushies were included in part for their adorable faces, but also because their size, shape, and material would make them good stress balls. At the end of the day, some of us just need something soft and cuddly in our hands.
To squeeze.
These would make a very nice gift for someone cute, for someone who collects plushies, or as a side dish to go with any of the above items.
Artisans Cooperative is a growing handmade marketplace for an inclusive network of online creatives: in short, a co-op alternative to Etsy. Check out more gift guides, or browse the marketplace directly, to find more handmade gems and support our artisans.