Welcome to the Kitchenisms Holiday Gift Guide 2009, a week-long extravaganza of cool present ideas for the holiday season. Each day has a different theme, and I try to include both stocking stuffers and big-ticket items. You’ll find a mix of new finds and favourites from the archives here, all stuff I’d love to find under the tree on the 25th!

What do foodies really like? Nope, it’s not a trick question- the answer is food! While pretty art, vintage kitchen goodies, practical equipment and handmade treasures are wonderful, they each require that the receiver actually step into the kitchen to enjoy them. Why not do away with any hint of responsibility and give the gift of taste and luxury instead? Artisan chocolate, retro sweets and homemade foodie gifts make great stocking stuffers- read on for my favourite ideas.

Those in the UK will know of Hope and Greenwood, purveyor of adorably packaged retro sweets. They’ve got a great selection of Christmas goodies, of which I especially like the Turkish Delight Kilner Jar, British Truffle Selection, Jolly Big Coin and Toffee Snowballs:

For the design-centric chocolate lover, I like the London startup Curious Chocolate. With labels printed on graph paper and lettering inspired by vintage letterpresses, it looks as good as it tastes. Dark is classic, but I’d go for the Crystallized Ginger:

Not all edible gifts have to be sweet- last year I was lucky enough to find a spice kit from Epices de Cru in my stocking. This Montreal-based company sells spices from around the world, all of incredible quality. The Spices 101 is a no-brainer, but I’ve got my eye on the Thai and Indonesian Kit:

Foodzie is the Etsy of the foodie world; thanks to this site, small artisan producers have access to the global marketplace. Maybe it’s just because it’s movie night around here, but I think this 5-box Popcorn Sampler from San Francisco-based 479° Popcorn would make a great gift:

Jams, condiments and preserves are a classic gift, and Foodzie shop Quince and Apple has some beautiful looking ones. This Shallot Confit with Red Wine would be my pick:

If you’re the crafty-and-foodie type yourself, why not try something homemade? Martha Stewart is always a great source for gift ideas, for both recipes and packaging. I love the look of these Chewy Molasses Spice Cookies in a jar:

Welcome to the Kitchenisms Holiday Gift Guide 2009, a week-long extravaganza of cool present ideas for the holiday season. Each day has a different theme, and I try to include both stocking stuffers and big-ticket items. You’ll find a mix of new finds and favourites from the archives here, all stuff I’d love to find under the tree on the 25th!

The best gifts come from the heart, and handmade items, crafted with love and attention, sit at the top of this list. Of course, not everyone is crafty- and nor do they have to be. Thanks to sites like Etsy and Big Cartel, handmade no longer has to be homemade, and everyone can get in on the fun. Check out these extra-special pieces for the extra-special people on your shopping list.

I’ve mentioned Nikole Herriot’s lovely blog forty-sixth at grace before, as well as her shop herriot grace. The beautiful spoons, stands and dishes that Nikole and her father make and sell together are hand-carved from salvaged wood- definitely deserving of a place under the Christmas tree:

I discovered the Fine Little Shop (attached to the blog Fine Little Day) just the other day through Decor8. I love these charming little boards for cutting and serving sandwiches or cheese:

I like Etsy for pottery, and Jenny Blasen Pottery has some beautiful pieces in her shop. I was especially drawn to this pair of modern-looking Black and White Bowls:

I’ve been curious about these chunky hand-knit washcloths from Zummi for a while now. This set in Moss, Sand and Cedar look good for mopping up spills or drying dishes:

tinsnips‘ Dimple Cups are probably the most whimsical and charming espresso cups I’ve seen in a while- they remind me of fluffy clouds, or marshmallows! Perfect for a coffee or sake fan with a sense of humour:

I wish the Selvedge Drygoods shop had better photos, but they do have some lovely handmade goodies. The Ruth Cross and Linda Bloomfield Tea Set combines the skills of these two artists in the sweetest way- a teapot and mugs with hand-knit cozies! Perfect for snuggling up this winter:

Welcome to the Kitchenisms Holiday Gift Guide 2009, a week-long extravaganza of cool present ideas for the holiday season. Each day has a different theme, and I try to include both stocking stuffers and big-ticket items. You’ll find a mix of new finds and favourites from the archives here, all stuff I’d love to find under the tree on the 25th!

Wait! Don’t be put off by the boring title of today’s Guide. After all, kitchens are places to cook in, not to just look at. If you’ve got someone on your shopping list who really does love to cook, this post is for you. Inspired by this series at The Kitchn, I decided to choose ten practical-yet-stylish cooking necessities, based on the most-used and most-loved items in my own kitchen.

A Dutch Oven. When my Mum bought be my Chasseur Dutch oven, I didn’t think I’d use it that much. Boy, was I wrong! There are many brands and colours to choose from, but I particularly like the chic look of this granite Le Creuset version:

A Bread Box. It’s a bit of an indulgence, yes, but I love my retro Wesco bin. Stylish, roomy and hard-working, the red version is especially festive:

Chopping Boards. Mine are a bit of an unstylish mishmash, but I’ve always loved the space-saving style of Joseph Joseph‘s Index Chopping Boards:

Good Knives. To use on those chopping boards, you’re gonna need some knives. I don’t have many, but I know I like the German brand Henckels for a good price-to-quality ratio. This set of three is a good deal:

Mixing Bowls. Colourful plastic or lovely ceramic ones might be stylish, but metal mixing bowls have their place- they’re perfect for beating egg whites or melting chocolate. This set by Brabantia has useful measurements, too:

A Dough Whisk. I know what you’re thinking- what?! But I was lucky enough to receive this dough whisk from King Arthur Flour last year, and it quickly became my most used utensil. A must for bakers:

Bakeware. I’ve heard that my favourite Tefal by Jamie Oliver silicone bakeware has been discontinued, but luckily it can still be found online. I’ve got some pieces in my shop, like this 12-cup muffin pan:

Cleaning Supplies. Cleaning isn’t fun, but it can be stylish. Found through this post on The Kitchn, I’ve fallen for these bamboo cleaning supplies from Full Circle Home:

Tea Towels. Well, every kitchen needs some, and they might as well do their job. I like the traditional style of this red and white pair from Linen Me on Etsy:

Digital Scales. Once you start baking by weight, you won’t go back to silly cups and tablespoons. My Salter scale has served me well, but I wouldn’t mind an upgrade to this chic black one:

Welcome to the Kitchenisms Holiday Gift Guide 2009, a week-long extravaganza of cool present ideas for the holiday season. Each day has a different theme, and I try to include both stocking stuffers and big-ticket items. You’ll find a mix of new finds and favourites from the archives here, all stuff I’d love to find under the tree on the 25th!

Ahh, vintage. My most popular tag and one of my favourite looks- for fashion, decor, you name it. While vintage shopping for the holidays might seem akin to “re-gifting”, there’s no rule that presents have to be new, is there? Something pre-owned and pre-loved is often the best bet, particularly for stylish foodies. Here are my favourite picks for the vintage-loving-bunch on your shopping list.

Anyone’s first stop for affordable vintage should be Etsy. I think this set of 5 Cream Vera Napkin Rings from High Street Market would make a great gift:

I love the retro colour of this Pyrex Old Orchard Mixing Bowl from MarianneClare’s Vintage Kitchen:

Old kitchen scales make a great decorative touch in the kitchen (I’ve got one myself). Betty’s Kitschen has a nice Vintage Hanson Scale, and it’s also functional:

As any home baker knows, certain items only get better with age. Why not choose one of these Vintage Rolling Pins from Re-found Objects:

From the same source, this retro French Glass Butter Dish has been on my personal “want” list or years:

Since the signage trend shows no signs of abating, this Metal Pantry Sign would fit right in in a stylish kitchen:

I’ve featured the UK-based Pedlars here before, but their vintage section is so good it deserves another look at this time of year. These 1930′s and 1940′s Seltzer Bottles are gorgeous, and what a great way to beautify your kitchen:

The Wine Cooler/Holder is a good example of re-purposed vintage; it’s been made from one of those old bottles:

The American Three Potato Four shop is also a great source for vintage home and decor items. One of my favourites is this Therm Ware Carafe, in great condition and still with its original top:

These vintage-inspired Ceramic Ruled Pitchers are particularly cute, and would work for milk or cream, or even as vases:

I also really like these General Store Fruit & Veg Can Blanks, which would make great retro storage for baking supplies:

Welcome to the Kitchenisms Holiday Gift Guide 2009, a week-long extravaganza of cool present ideas for the holiday season. Each day has a different theme, and I try to include both stocking stuffers and big-ticket items. You’ll find a mix of new finds and favourites from the archives here, all stuff I’d love to find under the tree on the 25th!

Happy Monday, everyone! Today kicks off my first annual Holiday Gift Guide, so without further ado, I’ll introduce today’s theme: Art! Regular readers will know that I’m a big fan of art in the kitchen (or any room for that matter), and if it’s foodie-themed, all the better. Read on for my top present picks for the food-and-art-lover in your life.

As we all know, Etsy is a great source for art. I’ve featured some work from LuckyBluebird before, but there’s a lot here for foodies. I love her Birds in the Kitchen series, especially in this gorgeous sage green:

While it’s not strictly kitchen-themed, I’m digging the colours in her Love Life print, too. The background is sort of tablecloth-like, anyway:

Maybe you can’t spring for a custrom retro-modern kitchen (yet), but you can probably manage this adorable Kitchen illustration by el tenderete, complete with stylish pendant lights and a Smeg fridge:

If you’re looking to splash out on some fine art, look no further than juliebcreative. I love her acrylic-on-canvas still life MidWest Memory, of a vintage Mason jar:

I love the prints sold by the London-based Keep Calm Gallery, and their “for the kitchen“ collection has some great stuff. I like this Wake Up & Smell the Coffee print, with its retro typographic charm:

I completely agree with the message contained in the famous Tea Revives You print, here in an extra-large size:

Completely different in style but utterly original, Gavin Harrison’s Food for Thought print was inspired by 1930′s/1940′s recipe books: