Holiday Gift Guide 2017: Adeline's Picks
December is upon us, which means that the holiday season—and the shopping rush that comes with it—is officially here! This year, skip the busy malls and lines and opt for unique, Canadian-made gifts from the Gardiner Shop that’ll be sure to make a lasting impression. To help you tackle some holiday shopping, we asked Adeline, Manager of the Gardiner Shop, for her top picks from the Shop.
Disc ornaments | Aitken & Hyde | $35
Thomas Aitken and Kate Hyde collaborate on ceramics that unite Thomas’s strong forms and Kate’s interest in colour and surface embellishment. Their collaborative work is designed to be both highly practical and visually intriguing—deck your tree with these whimsical ceramic ornaments, then use them as trinket plates once the holiday season is over!
Stoneware mug | Scott Barnim Pottery | $25 – $30
Known for his signature fish motif, Scott Barnim’s work is characterized by its bright, lyrical, and spontaneous qualities. His boldly patterned mugs are sure to stand out in the cupboard, and they’re big—perfect for the avid tea or coffee drinker in your life.
Wooden vase | Larry A. Cluchey | $50
Larry Cluchey is a self-taught woodturner who has been producing finely crafted works in Canadian hardwoods and hardwood burls since 1990. His elegant, one-of-a-kind wooden vases are a subtle way to bring a bit of nature into the home.
Marbled ring dish and nest bowls | The Otter Potter | $40 & $25
After falling in love with pottery following a drop in clay class at the Gardiner, Leora Israel started The Otter Potter, making handmade vases, mugs, earrings, and more out of porcelain, gold, and other durable types of clay. Her delicate speckled ring dishes are the perfect solution to both organizing and displaying jewelry.
Polar bears | Florence Chik-Lau | $60 – $85
Florence Chik-Lau captures the form, texture, character, and spirit of animals in her sculptures. All of her works are individually sculpted, and no two are exactly alike. These adorable polar bears are the perfect gift for the animal lover on your holiday list, and a great way to bring a little bit of Canadiana into your home!
Necklace with ruby stone and gold vermeil | Valentine Rouge | $339
Feminine to the core, designer Jenna Iannelli blends the drama and excitement of the Baroque with subtle undertones of today’s modern aesthetic. Each of her jewelry pieces is rendered from original molds and stamping from eras past, electroplated with 18k gold, and meticulously hand set with precious stones.
Mug | Michelle Mendlowitz | $40
The forms that Michelle Mendlowitz create are derived from landscapes and showcase elements borrowed from nature, architecture, and the human form. Her light, ethereal mugs are almost too pretty to drink out of—which makes them the perfect gift for the art-lover on your holiday list.
Glass vase | Carol Nesbitt | $115
Carol Nesbitt pays special attention to the surface texture and interior optics of her work, which embodies the fluidity of glass and the endless possibilities it possesses. The intricate, translucent leaf formations on her glass vases, available in a variety of colours, make them the perfect addition to any sunny windowsill.
Serving tray, dish, and spoon set | Iris Dorton | $65 – $125
Iris Dorton makes a full line of contemporary porcelain tableware in her studio and showroom in downtown Guelph, Ontario. This simple serving tray comes with the small dish and wooden spoon, and the fresh, neutral palette means that it is complementary to almost any decor, making it a perfect gift for anyone who loves entertaining.
Syrup bottle | Marianne Chenard | $50
Marianne Chenard’s artistic approach reflects her interest in Canadian history, its landscapes, its status as a Nordic country, and the associated clichés, themes that emerge as much in the forms she reinterprets as in the personal imagery she develops. This syrup bottle is a limited edition item exclusive to the Gardiner Shop, and sure to add charm to any dining table or fridge.
Flower pin | Julie Moon | $45
A 2012 finalist for the RBC Emerging Artist Peoples Choice Award, Julie Moon uses vivid colours and modern patterns to create pieces that are both decorative and functional, a style that recently landed her an artist collaboration with Anthropologie. These flower pins make the perfect stocking stuffer, and are available in all the provincial flowers.
Large bear and cub bowl | Lisa Creskey | $200
As a visual artist, Lisa Creskey’s drive has been storytelling from a personal point of departure or connection. This delicate, detailed bowl, which features a three-dimensional image of a bear and its cub, is the perfect gift for that one person on your holiday list who has everything.
Egg cup | Isabelle Huot | $28
Taking inspiration from materials found in the environment like seeds, flowers, pearls, shells, Isabelle Huot’s porcelain objects embody the delicate, organic elements of nature. Her porcelain egg holders are sure to elevate any breakfast or brunch!
Wooden bowl | Michael Sbrocca | $60 – $400
Michael Sbrocca is a self-taught woodturning artist whose instinct for recognizing and exposing the innate beauty of wood is clearly evident in every piece. His wooden bowls are mostly made with materials from the native woods of Ontario, and every piece celebrates the exquisite beauty of nature.
Teacup | Heidi McKenzie | $45
Heidi McKenzie’s shapes draw on two opposing ideas: linear curves and basic solid three-dimensional forms. The pastel hues on her adorable teacups are a great way to add colour and are perfect for sipping tea on a cold, winter day!
Shop these items and more at the Gardiner Shop, the place to go for artisan-made, one-of-a-kind items all year round. Remember, Gardiner Friends receive 20% off their purchase until the end of the year! Become a Gardiner Friend today to take advantage of this offer.