From The Team: Gifting Well

While the holiday season is about so much more than gifts, we're passionate about the art of gifting well, of gifting intentionally. We asked our team to share their thoughts on favorite gifts today and we loved what they've shared. From keepsakes reminiscent of favorite memories to handmade tokens of love and friendship, the best gifts are simply the kind that speak uniquely to the one receiving them. More heartfelt reflections on gifting from the team below:

Carol - Production Manager

What makes a great gift to you?

To me, a great gift is anything that is reminiscent of a fond memory, holds a special meaning, or one that simply comes as a complete surprise. No matter the size or shape, the greatest gifts are ones that sincerely say: “I thought of you.”

Best gift you ever received?

One of the best gifts I have ever received was one that was perfectly unexpected. Knowing that my absolute favorite animal is a pig, a sweet college friend gifted me a pair of pink pig slippers. Best of all, the product name of these slippers shown on the tag happened to be Carol...a cozy “just because” gift that shares the same name as mine.

One product you'd give from our line?

I would choose the Thought Jotter as the perfect gift to give - I love the idea of gifting a loved one something where they can write down all their hopes and dreams, thoughts, and ideas.


Angie - Warehouse Manager

What makes a great gift to you?

What makes a great gift  is the simple yet meaningful thought and gesture behind it. To me, a  gift does not need to be given as a type of reward or even for a celebration, but just because you thought of that person. The dollar value of the gift is priceless, especially when it is unexpected and you see how happy something so simple makes that another person.  

Best gift you ever received?

The best gift I received was a guitar from my parents when I was 13 or 14 years old. I had been asking for a black and white electric guitar for almost an entire year, but because of our finances at the time, I accepted that I was probably not going to get it immediately. Unexpectedly, my parents decided to buy the guitar for me as a combined Christmas and birthday gift! Growing up, music was always important to me, and knowing that my parents made this sacrifice for me still means so much to me to this day.

One product you'd give from our line?

I'd love to give The Everything Clutch in foliage. I've gifted this clutch to my mom and two sisters before, but I would absolutely give this product again. I love the simplicity yet necessity of this clutch. I know my sister loves it because I always see hers completely full and it's usually the last thing she grabs on her way out.

Sara - Studio & Accounts Manager

What makes a great gift to you?

To me, there have always been two types of great gifts: the ones that I would never buy for myself because I've deemed them just a bit too superfluous, and the ones that are so wonderfully meaningful, perhaps something handmade, or something that calls to a really treasured experience or memory.

Best gift you ever received?

One of the best gifts I've ever received was not for any particular occasion, but it was about a year or so after my Nana had passed away. She was the most talented seamstress and my Aunt Donna gifted me a vintage peanut can from the 1940s, where my Nana had kept her collection of buttons. It makes me smile to think about how many times she must have foraged through the can in the early hours of the morning, searching for the perfect button for a sweater for one of her children, or years later for a Halloween costume for her granddaughter.

One product you'd give from our line?

From our collection, I love gifting one of our Classic Home or Artist Series art prints.  Art represents such a thoughtful and personal message and my wish is that it would instill joy and affection in a friend whenever they pass by it in their home.  

Megan - Fulfillment Assistant

What makes a great gift to you?

Intentionality - when a gift is thought out, it shows how much the person you are receiving it from cares.

Best gift you ever received?

The best gift I ever received was a necklace from a loved one. I was given it four years ago and still wear it everyday.

One product you'd give from our line?

I think the Thought Jotters are such a personal gift. I love writing a note of encouragement on the beginning pages for a friend or family member to look back on!

Hyeyoon - Senior Graphic Designer

What makes a great gift to you?

Big or small, a great gift is something that has meaning and intention behind it, whether it's making dinner for a friend who's having a hard day or writing a card just to say that you care.

Best gift you ever received?

One of the best gifts I received was when I was in middle school. My friend made me a small bag for my 13th birthday. He used canvas and stitched a small illustration of the two of us using black thread and buttons for eyes. This meant so much more to me because he used his artistic gifts to make the most special bag. I still have it to this day!

One product you'd give from our line?

I would give the Camelia Extraordinary Agenda because it's undated and you can use it any time of the year! It's also the best feeling to start January with a fresh planner.

Pat - Creative Director

What makes a great gift to you?

I love gifts that are practical, but elevated. Things that I reach for because they're useful and beautiful, but perhaps not purchases I would immediately make for myself. A Laguiole cheese knife set, or a one-of-a-kind vase.

Best gift you ever received?

My husband gifted me a lovely cream bike with a camel-colored leather seat and handles. I have such fond memories of riding our bikes around in downtown LA when we lived there or taking them to SF and biking our way through the city. I haven't been able to ride much after having Charlotte, but seeing it always takes me back to wonderful places we've been and others to come.

One product you'd give from our line?

The Floral Line Drawings Desk Calendar. It's understated so it sits well in any place, and seeing a physical calendar marked by hand adds so much character and life to any space.

Sarah Anne - Junior Designer

What makes a great gift to you?

To me a special gift is one that is unique and thoughtful, one where the person who is giving the gift has really thought out who they are giving it to. It is not a generic gift that anyone can pick up at the store, but rather it is one that has been created and designed specifically for that person. A great gift could be as simple as the envelope you wait for every holiday in the mailbox from your special loved one, with a card that has been uniquely chosen for you, filled with cursive handwriting and a signature preceded by the words I love you.

Best gift you ever received?

The best gift I have ever received was a book from my sister as she was about to leave for college. She made a memory book of all the moments we had growing up, filled with pictures, letters and moments we had together. She shared older sister wisdom, personal words of affirmation, and funny inside jokes that only we would understand. It was so special because I knew she took a lot of time to dig through all our family photos to find the perfect moments from our childhood and really thought through the messages she wrote, knowing they would have a huge impact on me. It was something that I look back at often and will keep for the rest of my life!

One product you'd give from our line?

A product I would love to give from our line would be a combination of The Everything Clutch in foliage paired with the You've Been On My Mind Card. I would fill the clutch with personalized gifts unique to the one receiving it and a card with all the words of love for them!

Dot - CEO

What makes a great gift to you?

A great gift is something that makes someone feel known and cherished, uniquely loved. They show the recipient that the giver sees and hears them, whether it’s by remembering a passing comment about a new book on a must-read list or noticing that a loved one’s favorite shoes are looking a little worn.

Best gift you ever received?

One of the best gifts I ever received was from my sweet mom on my 25th birthday, the first one I spent away from my family after moving to New York. She sent a big care package filled a big cozy blanket, some warm clothing for the cold winter ahead, and 25 lbs of Fuyu persimmons because she knows how much I love them - all the way from California! The shipping cost must have been through the roof, but I felt her presence and love so strongly even though I was so far away.

One product you'd give from our line?

I love gifting our phone cases. They're such a fun accessory that we interact with every day and there's a pattern for everyone in our collection. 

Thank you for sharing, ladies! For more from the team, see here for the first post in our month-long Thoughts From The Team Series.