Liz Schaffer, Holiday Gift Guide
Founder & Creative Director, Lodestars Anthology
Liz Schaffer, is the founder and creative director of Lodestars Anthology, an independent magazine-meets-journal that, since 2014, has explored a single country every issue. So far, they’ve created magazines devoted to England, Scotland, Australia, Italy, Sweden, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, France, India, Portugal, Switzerland and Mexico - Greece and Wales are next on the list.
We are so thrilled to share this wonderful wish list curated by Liz of Lodestars Anthology - filled with fantastic gift ideas for anyone who adores exploring the world with all their senses.
Left: Holly Farrier ‘The Nature Collection 12’; Right Laura Reid ‘Yin and Yang’
Photographs can be such a personal gift - they capture a destination steeped in meaning, honour shared memories and remind you of journeys past (or can get you in the mood for future adventures). Many of our Lodestars contributors sell limited edition prints - or offer custom beauties. Annapurna Mellor and Holly Farrier celebrate the natural world, Tom Bunning focuses on the details and Laura Reid makes you want to dive into Australia waters.
Magazines
I may be a little biased in suggesting this, but if you stumble upon a magazine that inspires you, it can be a glorious thing to share. Quite a few independent titles offer both single issues (if you fall in love with just one destination or theme) or bundles if you want to share as much wanderlust as possible.
Titles I adore include: Faire (of course), Galah (perfect for Aussie readers), Rucksack, Ambrosia, Fare, Table and Yolo.
Gin
Throughout my travels I’ve come across countless distillers with a story - and plenty of character to boot. They’ve often set up somewhere with history and offer tipples that capture a destination’s essence by utilising unique local botanicals. For me, Archie Rose will always remind me of Australia’s bounty, while Silver Circle Distillery’s Wye Valley Gin (and damson negroni when it’s in season) is an ode to Wales.
I found this boutique perfume brand while wandering through Mexico City’s Polanco. Shaped by the flora of the Americas (while their collections are inspired by Mexican botany, they use the term Americas because plants don't tend to respect national borders), they only produce five delicious scents in glass bottles you want to keep forever. Xinú's showroom is a thing of beauty. Surrounded by a rooftop garden, the perfumes are arranged on an immense wooden table, framed by botanics and sensory guides that highlight the wealth and allure of the American continent.
$ 3,500.00 MXN
Founded by Nuno Henriques in 2010, Toino Abel is a community-oriented reed basketry label dedicated to tradition, nature, ingenuity and handiwork. Nuno was not only keen to revive his family business, but to preserve part of Portugal’s artistic past, with the craft of basketry dating back to the 12th century. Toino Abel bags are timeless, fun and divine - the work of a passionate, multi-generation team.
There is something particularly romantic about sleeping under the English stars, for this is a country made for camping, a place where it’s remarkably easy to swap cosmopolitan madness for space, simple pleasures and silence. But the experience becomes all the more splendid when your feet no longer touch the ground. This is possible with Tentsile, a London-based company that offers a range on tensioned tents you can suspend from trees - nature-friendly treehouse architecture with style.
Experiences
Now that roaming the world is once again tempting, it’s wonderful to be able to share local knowledge. Time with an experienced, dedicated guide can give you an ‘in’ to a city, help you feel at home, and allow you to understand a location’s history and traditions - and find some fabulous fare along the way. While there are some brilliant country-specific guides (Delectable Destinations is you’re looking for something extravagant and Greekality if you want to fall in love with Athens), larger company’s like Withlocals have a network of wonderful guides and a host of diverse experiences.
Another vibrant splash of Australiana comes courtesy of Bonnie and Neil, a Melbourne textile studio dedicated to patterns, colour and screen printing. All their wares, from cushions and vases, are inspired by the Australian landscape. There are birds, locals plants like hakea and flowering wattle and a charming range of native animals. Everything feels equal parts playful, elegant and divine.