Friend (Gift) Favorites for the Open House

Updated 1.4.24

Remember that feeling when you first opened the door to your new place? Ah, the possibilities. Clean, open spaces, a blank slate to unleash the imagination. For some, it’s a bit daunting; for others, inspiring with design and décor is an exciting opportunity.

An open house invitation is your chance to give a unique piece to celebrate a new living space. How do you find that distinct piece they’ll love, one they don’t already have but wish they did? What would add warmth to their home or spice up a room? Your gift can be the one that inspires calm, elevates entertaining, or highlights their beautiful kitchen.

These artisan gift options are sure to be favorites at the Open House, placing you at the top of the list for their next celebration:

Natural artisan stands.
Thriving plants in cheerful pots are a welcome addition to living spaces. With or without a green thumb, people appreciate the color and calming effect of plants. What can you add to accent their beautiful blooms? Give their greens a place to shine atop an artisan stand handcrafted out of black walnut, white maple, and red oak wood. A stunning partner to lush greenery, an artisan stand is a gorgeous new home gift.

A cut above for the culinary kitchen.
Look for a unique slicing knife with a distinct handle design made of wood, stone, or forged metal. Add a handwoven towel in a beautiful pattern. Select a gift that’s as much an art piece as a functional tool.

Customization they’ll appreciate.
People love to receive thoughtful gifts designed solely with them in mind. Their name, an initial, or a special date engraved into the piece sends a genuine message of caring. Choose to engrave walnut wood coasters, a handcrafted cutting board, or a custom gift box as a warm welcome. These are the treasures that remain in families for years to come.

Textures and tastes.
Whether the homeowners are coffee drinkers, wine enthusiasts, or bourbon aficionados, a set of cups with a custom glaze or a distinct texture lets them celebrate their new space in elevated style. Textures are unique to the touch, invite you to look closer, and are a perfect excuse to ask for a refill.

Entertaining with ease.
With boxes to unpack and schedules to re-organize, moving encourages simple decisions around food and beverage. As new residents, they’re busy choosing color combinations, sorting, and directing furniture deliveries. And this is all happening between work and even kid’s schedules. The gift of a handcrafted cutting board offers an easy way to serve appetizers at happy hour and share snacks on game night - it also makes a gorgeous statement in the kitchen or on the patio.

Simple Steps to Sending Your Best Client Gifts

Updated: August 28, 2023

This is the second in a two-part blog series. The first post helps you define your intention and clarify the impression you want to make with your gifts. In this post, we share ideas and examples to help you achieve that impression.

When you decide to give artisan gifts that speak to value and quality, you have several memorable options. Are you celebrating long-term clients? Are you thanking colleagues for a valuable referral? Is your customer buying an exquisite property? Perhaps special guests are staying at your luxurious resort?

Regardless of your industry, here's a sample of different ideas and questions to make gift decisions easy and leave a lasting impression.

Memorable gifts come in various sizes and shapes; they don't have to be a specific size to leave a meaningful impression. For example, a popular piece we created is our custom doorstop. The doorstop idea is unique, and they are beautifully crafted and packaged. It is distinct for clients, and we receive a lot of positive feedback. And, what a great way to literally and figuratively open doors to conversation. Custom wood coasters or small cutting boards for the bar or kitchen are also excellent options.

A creative combination. Another option is a combination of elements. We recommend a group of three pieces that blend different textures. It could be a handcrafted wood coaster paired with a ceramic cup (cocktails), a tall, elegant glass (for celebrations), or a mug (casual conversation around the table), along with a stylish handwoven towel (kitchen or bar).

Passion and personality. A custom gift box is a meaningful way to highlight a client, colleague, or friend’s passions and share a story. A theme could be one of adventure, cooking, whiskey lovers, or simple elegance. Maybe a place or location has particular relevance? Is the mood you want to create about quietly sipping a beverage by the fire or a colorful conversation around the kitchen table? We typically have 4-6 pieces with unique textures inside a box, so there's room to be creative. Plus, you can add a personal note with our custom gift tags that are part of each gift box package.

A Bonus. You may want to go the extra step of engraving to make a gift more personalized. Cutting boards, wood coasters, and artisan gift boxes all have the potential to be engraved. An initial, the last name, date, logo, or a meaningful quote (that's short) can all work. Keep in mind that engraving adds time to the process, so allow space in your timeline.

Artisan is all about the feels. It's the feel of the wood, the beauty of the rich grain pattern, a ceramic cup with its kiln-fired glaze, and the touch of textures in handwoven materials. You're giving pieces of art that elevate work and play and last long after the wine and flowers are gone.

The Elegance of Engraving

Updated February 8, 2023

How many gifts have you received over the years where someone has taken the time to engrave them? I bet you can recall each one, whether it's jewelry or an artisan piece because it reminds you of a significant occasion. The engraving isn't a quick stop en route to an event or a last-minute online order, so you know they planned. The choice to personalize sends a message of care and consideration.

The decision of what to say and where you want to engrave it has become much more creative as personalized gifts have surged. We've added script and block lettering on serving boards as host gifts and names, initials, and dates on many wedding gift boxes. New homes are an exciting reason to celebrate. Farm and estate names make a lovely addition to custom gift boxes. Our hand-crafted doorstops are a favorite for move-in day. Meaningful words or mantras have also increased in popularity as people have become more expressive.

For your next special event, avoid falling prey to the last-minute scramble, and take the opportunity to give something that can be treasured through generations. Craftsmanship and personalization enhance each gift, from beverage coasters to handcrafted cutting boards or specialty gift boxes. Anniversaries, weddings, deal closings, partner collaborations, and client gifts are noteworthy occasions to raise the bar. Engraving offers a beautiful enhancement as guests admire the custom details.

The next time a milestone event appears on your calendar, take a moment to consider engraving and the chance to send a thoughtful message to friends, family, clients, and colleagues.

Now Boarding...How Cutting Boards Serve Up a First-Class Gift

Updated April 6, 2022

If you’re tired, dare we say “bored,” of traditional gifts, welcome a new friend to the neighborhood with a new look, and make it a block party! A chopping block kind of occasion.

The standard cutting board has a fresh, new gifting style, thanks to the finishes, wood, and tools now available. Even color combinations can vary depending on the wood, adding a deep, rich appearance that highlights the artisan appeal. Red oak, mahogany, and maple are a few of the woods we use but take your pick. 

If you want to add a personal touch, pair your cutting board with a unique accessory that matches a specific style or passion. 

If cooking is a favorite pastime, a veggie chopper (or cheese cutter), matched with a cutting board is a thoughtful option for crunch time decisions. 

For folks who love the taste of limes, we pair our handcrafted boards with an iron-forged slicing knife to keep it dicey. (Given our #ruggedstyle we like to use a strip of leather to tie pieces together.)

Small is mighty, despite what some may say. Having a compact cutting board handy for quick jobs like slicing lemons, onions or cherry tomatoes is perfect. It’s still big enough to be useful, yet small enough to tuck away. Custom edging can make a big difference too, creating a sleeker look.

In terms of maintenance, a splash of Howard Cutting Board Oil will do the trick every three to four months to keep it looking spectacular. Beautiful and easy! (Any of the cutting boards shown above can be added to our gift boxes using the Custom page form.) 

The good news is that custom tools and wood options have elevated the old idea of a cutting board. There’s no need to be a chip off the old block anymore.