The Source: Treehouse Gift Guide 💝

Ask and you shall receive! Here comes plenty of viable and delightful giftables for you and yours (but mostly yours).

A few weeks ago, I haphazardly popped a little poll into the end of one of these missives—to gift guide or not? Seemed like a crowded category, but lo! Overwhelmingly, emphatically (surprising to me) you really, really, really said yes. And, so here we are. A couple of made-up categories of people, each with over a dozen gifts that I feel really excited about.

Housekeeping: This email is LONG and it probably won’t all show in your inbox. Here’s a link to the direct post to read on your browser (or heyyo, in the Substack app).

Let’s get to it, shall we?

1 | The soulful, penetrating eyes of this paper mache bear head will keep a watchful lookout from the nursery walls.

2 | Personally and predictably obsessed with this build-it-yourself toolbox kit from Stanley, Jr. (a kids’ line from the ubiquitous tool manufacturer).

3 | Make sure they are keeping up-to-date on what’s happening outside with this very, very sweet weather board.

4 | Kids and projects—both incredibly messy! This wee work smock from Duluth Trading Co. is up for it all and she’s good-looking, too.

5 | Encourage maximum zen and magic with these classic glitter wands.

6 | Experts in both bandanas and fun, Last Chance Textiles have this incredible offering: a cyanotype bandana kit. Form! Function!

7 | With this basket cable car kit, kids can transport toys, treasures, and even snacks from here to there.

8 | If Treehouse had a child mascot, it would most certainly be Pelle, industrious Swedish child making himself a tony blue suit from scratch.

9 | Teeny tiny kitchen tools! (Here’s a somewhat Investment Piece version of a similar idea.)

10 | A waxed canvas lunch bag, in many, many colors!

11 | A rope ladder for a treehouse or other purposes… Although, I would recommend the former.

12 | I love looking through classroom supply sites for simple and utilitarian toys (and kid-sized furniture)—this ride on / push-pull toy is good to look at and, because it was designed with the wear and tear of dozens of children in mind, should be pretty sturdy, too.

13 | Kids are good at finding and reminding about the wonder of it all (Southern New Englanders, please refrain from singing that last bit). To wit: RAINBOWS. A prism is always a solid gift.

14 | Similar to the Stanley, Jr. number above, German tool company Corvus has a line called Kids At Work. It can be a little tough to track down in the US, but here’s a good UK source for a wee and sweet tool belt!

15 | I love this little play mat with roads and trees and ponds for toys to zip around on, complete with car pouches at the bottom. Also a great idea for a DIY gift, if you’re inclined.

1 | Extra sharp carbon steel garden knife, wrapped in rattan and sheathed in leather. Sheesh!

2 | Grow a little windowsill greenery with these Japanese herb kits. You just unwrap the top and give it some sun and water—staples of Nippon cuisine grow right from the bag!

3 | I personally own no fewer than two of these wind chimes and gift them often. They’re not too noisy! A little subtle tone, every so often. And so pretty, to boot.

4 | A step-by-step guide to creating a full-blown garden oasis, including plans for a garden shed, swing, arbor, gazebo, and a lot more.

5 | This little kit of Camelia oil and whetstones of various grits will keep tools in tip-top shape. A nice gift for gardeners who already have All The Things.

6 | Protect dainty wrists from thorns and other irritants, and keep your sleeves clean with these garden cuffs. 🥹

7 | Soft, durable, naturally-dyed leather work gloves are a great upgrade for your loved one who’s frequently in the weeds.

8 | It’s bulb-forcing season! Pair a peacock-y amaryllis or too-cute paper whites with one of these handblown bulb vases.

9 | These bronze and wood Austrian garden tools are pretty fancy and the type of thing you’d probably have a hard time justifying buying for yourself. But, as a gift!

10 | Make sure your beloved naturalist actually has the facts to back it all up with this deck of tree facts.

11 | Arnold Grummer’s stocks all kinds of materials for paper-making, but I am particularly into this heavy-duty flower press.

12 | Blumehaus is a bookish magazine covering art and botanicals—and the intersection therein.

13 | Handmade apple baskets of myrtlewood and copper perfect for garden clippings, reaping what you’ve sewn, or anything else, really.

14 | Chocolate bars festooned with flowers!

15 | Similar, but more snuggly: A silk pillowcase festooned with flowers.

1 | Nice little (refillable) notebook for your putterer to sketch out and keep track of their next project.

2 | Give them the gift of a deep knowledge of tool-sharpening with this handy book. They may become insufferable, bless them.

3 | Keeping a pocket knife around at all times is probably the most useful thing I can think of—and this is a pretty sweet one: Japanese folding knife in brass and carbon steel.

4 | Oh we’re in it now, folks. Here is a Shaker utility stool kit with everything they’ll need to complete the project, including customizable tape color options (!).

5 | Help them turn watering into a one-trip task with these extra big watering cans from India.

6 | Nice, quick pocket-sized reference on all the most useful and basic of knots.

7 | If they’re into circuits and bloopy tunes, this gift is a good one: Build your own synthesizer kit.

8 | Fixers will really go for this fancy French embroidery floss for pulling holes back together. Or putting in a little decoration here and there.

9 | This box set of colored pencils from an over 100-year-old Japanese pencil maker is such a beautiful gift for those who not only plan their projects out, but make it into an art form in itself.

10 | A collaboration between Naoto Fukasawa and Jasper Morrison, Super Normal is an exploration of everyday objects—both those with known designers and those without.

11 | Here is a set of three gigantic safety pins, to do with whatever they want.

12 | Just a really nice-looking and sturdy toolbox made in Southern California.

13 | Jewelry designer Lisa Eisner created these drawer pull “nuggets” for Commune and I am very, very into them. They’re not cheap, but just a single well-placed one would really be something.

14 | Big collab energy! The Ecology Center paired up with All Species to create two botanical dye kits.

15 | Fold and go ruler!

1 | This swallow tree-topper really ties the whole thing together, doesn’t it?

2 | Something to elevate your sheets game (and make sure everyone knows whose pillow is whose)—embroidered oxford cloth pillowcases with their initials.

3 | Eat like the Nearings with this cookbook; then, I guess, take in some “pithy quotations”(?). Simple, vegetarian, from the garden, and mostly salads!

4 | French lavender sachets, ok?

5 | I’m personally deep in love with this wee donabe that makes a single meal portion.

6 | Handmade mushroom ornaments for the mycologist in your life.

7 | A vintage artichoke soup terrine and bowl set to say “I love and appreciate you… and soup.”

8 | Let them smell like they spent the day unwinding their demons through dance followed by soaking in a hot spring with naked strangers with these bath salts and massage oil from Esalen.

9 | Truly, nothing cozier than an alpaca balaclava.

10 | Loam’s “Supreme Being” tea has all the supportive things to get them from here to spring feeling supremely good.

11 | I have successfully given this butter dish and in so doing, kickstarted a healthy butter habit with its recipient! The gift that keeps on giving!

12 | BIG daily Japanese wall calendar!

13 | I just love these incense. What my house smells like (on a good day)!

14 | Jose Andres-approved paella spoon—would you trust anyone else?

15 | Speaking of trusting anyone else… As a long-time Sonoko Sakai fan, I am very pleased by her offering of pantry staples, including and maybe especially, this sesame butter cookie mix. (Sold out on her site, but available here.)

☮️

Folks! That’s all for this round! Next week, I’ll focus on being less expensive, do some stocking stuffer, and add in a few salves for yourself (this time of year is not for the faint of heart!). And then lets make cookies or something and forget about shopping, OK?