Here’s part two of our Uncommon Gifting Guide, hope you find treats for yourself and your loved ones this holiday season. Thank you for your kind messages about part one (“I want everything on your list” & “I want to live inside this list!”), please note, we do not have any affiliate links, but this time I have included some of my faves from our own online shop, there’s a lot to discover there besides the boxes, and this week, everybody gets 25% off on retail orders. And finally, a great idea for a gift that costs nothing: make your friend or family member a special playlist! Many years ago a wonderful author of mine gifted me a pendrive full of her favorite jazz albums, I still have all those songs on my iTunes. Simple, thoughtful and forever.
Christina Ricci’s Tarot Deck
The OG Wednesday Addams, Ms Christina Ricci herself, has brought out Cat Full of Spiders, a deluxe tarot deck with original illustrations inspired by her cinematic universe. Comes with a comprehensive guidebook to reading and suggestions on spreads, for dabblers, beginners and certified wizards alike.
Rivka’s Kids Box
Speaking of witches, I’ve waxed eloquent in these pages about Canadian-American writer Rivka Galchen, esp her 2021 novel Everyone Knows Your Mother Is a Witch.
Galchen has curated our children’s book box which has three extraordinary books that kids of all ages will treasure. They’re utterly unique, multiple award-winning stories—
Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls; The Casket of Time by Andri Snaer Magnason; and Telephone Tales by Gianni Rodari—that ought to be on every child’s bookshelves.
Folio Society
Initially published as a limited edition in 2023 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s First Folio this exquisite box set of the Bard’s plays is now available as a core edition. Featuring fabulous artwork by Neil Packer, a foreword by Dame Judi Dench and an introduction by Gregory Doran, this is a timeless gift and one that will surely be passed from one generation to the next.
Parks Project
This crew neck that is a mashup (celebrating) Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Californication album and the native wildlife of Yosemite.
This blanket from their Dr Seuss collab is on sale (up to 50% off on entire website, in fact), but there’s puzzles and outdoor gear like this hammock, too. I gifted a camping blanket that was a hit, so I can say with some confidence that this stuff is well built.
Vista Allegre x Beygumbano
This gorgeous set of four coffee cups designed by Eemaan Bano Rahman, better known by her alias Beygumbano, for the 200-year-old porcelain brand Vista Allegre. Just look at the saucers!
¡Felices Fiestas!
For the husband-wife team behind Bay Area based Kuali, salsa is life. More than just a condiment, it’s the heart of their table and heritage. An authentic gift and taste that will have you saying, “esto es México.”
2025
Did you know we stock the iconic Japanese stationery brand Midori on our website? “Midori” means green in Japanese and was chosen as the company name to represent the strength of a plant that spreads its green leaves in a field.
The 2025 Midori Hibino diary (planner?) is a new take on the daily diary, with enough space to write plans, notes, things that happened, and anything else that comes to mind. A great gift for nearly anyone, if you ask me. And while you’re at it, why not add these dozen Blackwing pencils; elegant, smooth graphite never goes out of style.
Becca Compton
Bestie got us a a pair of matching earrings from Becca Compton Jewels a couple years ago that are just right—a flash of metal that lights up and pulls together any ‘look’.
I am also partial to my friend’s labor of love, the jewelry label The Line: minimal, beautiful keepsakes in precious metals and gemstones, as well as Paris-based Bangla Begum whose Weird Words necklaces are on my forever wishlist!
I have just ordered a print for myself from Watermelon Editions, an online print sale fundraiser that a number of international artists have donated their works to. All prints are 8 x 10 inches and 80 GBP each, and will be sold in an open edition until 5 January. The above work is Swan Black by Polly Brown.
La la la la la la la la la la la…
This edition of outlandish, out-there ‘gifts’ is a return to the ultimate luxury: travel.
It’s a privilege to be able to visit parts of the country and world that are not places you grew up in, and an even bigger privilege if you can do it with loved ones in tow.
Imagine traveling aboard the legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, and doing it from the L’Observatoire, the sleeper carriage designed by artist JR.
If that’s not your thing, there’s always horse-riding through Kyrgyzstan with Countess Alexandra Tolstoy, literal descendant of the (literary) Tolstoy.
This the second of our gifting guides for the season, let us know what you liked or didn’t and what categories you would like us to include, and if you’re feeling generous, do share your favorites too.
until soon!
simar@theboxwalla.in
