give like a local
Words and curation by Sarah Wen & Lily Karsten
There’s so much joy in gifting. We love the whole process: slowing down, being thoughtful, exploring. We are particularly drawn to objects that tell a story and to local artists and creatives who are passionate about their products, process and purpose. Gifts that reflect a connection to place and community can add richness and meaning to giving. This ethos informs everything we do as curators of Moonlight Market at Bainbridge Island’s First Friday Art Walk, May through October. It’s also the spirit in which we fill the following pages with our favorite gift ideas from around Puget Sound.
Based on Lopez Island, Ship Supply brings classic maritime style to a selection of everyday goods. Everything on offer is sustainably made either in-house or through mindful manufacturing and partnerships. The Curtis Top ($220) is the maker’s adaptation of a classic Fisherman’s smock, made of U.S.-grown organic cotton, for all genders. Find online and at the Ship Supply shop on Lopez Island.
XyZ Cooperative works with Zapotec weavers in Oaxaca, Mexico, for the dyeing, spinning and weaving skills that they’ve passed down across generations, as well as the care they take in collecting plants for natural dyes. Their Cotton Towel ($76) serves as a tablecloth, throw or picnic blanket.
Kitsap County artist Jocelyn Koel paints her favorite places and enjoys capturing others’ happy places as well. Working in small-scale watercolor, Koel interprets iconic Seattle scenes like Mt. Rainier and the Washington State ferries. Gift an original work or commission a meaningful piece of your own (starting at $50), featuring a family home, a quiet beach, or even a cherished pet.
Influenced by her Scandinavian grandmother, Jodi Ericksen created Hygge Woven to share her original artwork, patterns and knitted goods handmade in Port Townsend from sustainable, consciously sourced yarn. The Fjord Hat ($75) features a timeless double brim, and the soft alpaca blend wears well over time.
Wild Hare Practical Goods is a carefully curated collection of quality home goods and versatile antiques. Owner Summer Maloy embraces the principles of sustainability, durability and functionality and offers one of the largest selections of natural brushes in Seattle. Find online and in Seattle at Lander Street Vintage.
Angelina Elise combines her joy of cooking and leatherworking to create functional kitchen goods for home cooks and professional chefs. Her Leather Skillet Handle ($25) launched Howdy!Handmade. Vegetable tanned, the skillet handles are available in three sizes to fit a variety of pans.
Flora Goods is a small-batch herbal apothecary and garden on Bainbridge Island, offering thoughtfully formulated, slow-crafted products, including cold-process soaps, hydrosols, herbal teas and body oils. Their collection of seasonal hydrosols ($15) is distilled by owner Karen Burke in a traditional copper alembic still from organic plants grown in her sunny, hillside garden. Use these aromatic, botanical mists for natural skin and hair care, aromatherapy and ritual practices. Find online and Willowtree Market on Bainbridge Island.
Seattle Candle Co. hand pours its candles in small batches at their studio in White Center. They use 100% soy wax, coconut oil, and cotton and paper wicks. They skip dyes, parabens and phthalates. Totally original scents, like Bonfire (woodsy and smoky in a nostalgic, beachy way) and Seattle Rain (refreshing with white florals), set them apart. The 8-oz. candles ($30) burn for approximately 80 hours and arrive gift-ready in a stylish box.
Guenevere Boheme, creator of Gibbous Moon Naturals, makes all her beauty products with organic ingredients from fair trade sources and uses plastic-free packaging. Boheme, who apprenticed under a clinical aromatherapist, has cracked the code on effective natural deodorant, bar shampoo and moisturizers. The formula for her All-In-One Beauty Balm ($10) is silky and moisturizing without being greasy. Find at Bay Hay and Feed and Willowtree Market on Bainbridge Island, or online.
Tomoko Suzuki, the artist behind Bosatsu Factory Art Studio, aims to deliver joy through her art. Her plump and full-of-life figures, which she calls “chubbies,” are the predominant icons in her work. She carefully hand sculpts and glazes each clay figure in her Seattle studio. There’s a pose and color for every personality, including this chubby figure “Flying” ($110). Find online and Bainbridge Island Museum of Art gift shop.
Backstreet Beat is a family-owned store, selling used books and vintage vinyl ($2-$200) on Bainbridge Island. Owner Raymond Gendreau curates quality, second-hand selections of fiction, poetry, art, science, philosophy and history. The vinyl collection spans classic rock, soul, blues, jazz and eclectic genres. You can call for a specific title, but we recommend spending time exploring the shelves and chatting with the knowledgeable staff at their tucked-away shop at 265 Winslow Way.
The owners of Slow Boat Fish Co, Ilsa Barret and Bjorn Ostenson, connected over their love of salmon and created a small-scale, direct source for sustainably harvested fish. The couple catch all of their salmon on a small, drift net fishing boat in the pristine waters of Southeast Alaska. The Wild Alaskan Smoked Salmon ($16) is a great gift or a delicious addition to a holiday party or brunch table. Find online (bulk orders) or at Bay Hay and Feed on Bainbridge Island.
Michele Bianchi is a multimedia artist on Bainbridge Island who’s endlessly inspired by nature. When working with metal, Bianchi aims to communicate her sense of awe for patterns found in nature. Tree bark is the inspiration for her Forest Collection earrings ($60-$70), handmade in brass. Find online and at Bainbridge Island Museum of Art gift shop.
Photos: Cameron Karsten