Gift Guide for Creative Bosses

When I was young, I hated shopping. When my mom was able to drag me to the mall, I spent the majority of the time hiding the middle of racks in the department stores reading by flashlight (#BookNerd). In high school, I grew to love shopping but only at thrift stores. While shopping at the mall brought out all my insecurities (does anyone remember those horrible group dressing rooms at Loehmann’s? Seeing size four’s pull their thighs back in the mirror and talk about how fat they were demolished any tiny shred of self-esteem I’d managed to build up after the last mall trip), shopping at the thrift store made me feel cool, sizeless and clever as I hunted through racks for the perfect pair of old man dress pants to wear with my punk tee and slipped a baggy babydoll dress on over my clothes in a mirrorless dressing room to make sure it fit.

While I still occasionally venture to the thrift store to shop, like most people, I do most of my shopping online these days. And, as much as I love the experience of buying from a maker in-person at a craft fair, buying from an independent shop online is a close second. Over the past several months I’ve curated some of my favorite finds for creative bosses, makers and artists. I’m happy to say that over 90% of them are created by small businesses (many of which are vendors at our Patchwork Show: Modern Makers Festival or presenters/attendees at our Craftcation: Business & Makers Conference) so you can support independent makers while shopping in your pajamas and drinking tea or a hot toddy.

This first gift guide features finds for the creative boss in your life which includes:

-Classic wearables for busy business owners like a Zelma Rose statement necklace, our new line of tees and my all-time favorite/goes with everything/never needs ironing/super comfy/has a pocket skirt from Texture Clothing

-Business builders like our online workshops, consulting from Lucky Break Consulting or yours truly, a membership to Paper and Spark’s Accounting Accountability Club, a Not-So-Corporate Headshot session with Sarah Deragon of Portraits to the People and The Visionary Journal from Keep Chasing the Stars which provides a simple framework to help you transform your goals into actionable steps

-Things to help you take care of yourself like Marlee Grace’s book “How to Not Always be Working”, By Nieves Cloud of Protection spray (which happens to smell awesome), a pocket viewer to remind you that You are Magic!, Emily McDowell’s wearable fantasy stone to help you neutralize your inner critic

-Reminders that good design can change your mood and maybe even make you more productive (I don’t have statistics on this but I swear I get more done in a cute office) like my all-time favorite headphones from Sudio, a print from Sarah Golden or the most gorgeous coffee scoop to help you start your day in style from California Native Jewelry.

PLUS a ton more items to help you tell the creative business owner in your life (which could coincidentally be you) that you’re thinking of them.

Be sure to check out our Gift Guide for Artists & Makers.

-Nicole S.