Holiday Shopping Guide 2016
by Lynne Rostochil
Round one of the holidays, Thanksgiving, is over and it’s time to start shopping in earnest for the perfect gift for the Mod lover(s) in your life … and maybe even a little bauble for yourself, too! Here are some ideas you might want to consider:
1. Splurge on tile art
One of my very favorite Etsy sellers is Jenn Ski Art, creator of the Mid-Century Modern Patterns coloring book that has had mod lovers breaking out their old boxes of Crayola crayons and reliving childhood coloring fun for a couple of years now. This holiday season, Jenn has expanded her shop to include some pretty fabulous geometric art tiles that are incredibly fun and very atomic. She also sells t-shirts, cards, and textiles in her signature mod style — fun stuff! You can check out her goodies on Etsy at Jenn Ski Art.
2. Feast on a new cookbook
Who doesn’t love a good cookbook for the holidays? This year, my pick is the reprint of Salvador Dali’s Les Diners de Gala, which is packed full of crazy recipes and even crazier art by the master himself. I don’t know if I’ll ever try one of Dali’s outlandish recipes, but I will surely treasure the cookbook forever. Bon appetite!
3. Liven up your space
Add color, texture, and pattern to your space with one of these fun, hand crafted pillows. You can find them, along with all kinds of expertly curated decorative items, at Bella Vici at 1 NE 2nd St., #103 in the Deep Deuce area.
4. Pick up a must-have
Yes, the holiday season is the time to check items off of the “I’ve always wanted” list, and any true MCM lover without a bullet planter would certainly love having one of these brightly colored beauties that are for sale at Perch’d, located at 14 NW 9th Street in Automobile Alley.
5. Encourage a little travel
There’s nothing I love more than a good MCM travel guide, and I’ve got a bunch of them. My latest addition is this gem by Sam Lubell, which provides information about 250 MCM homes and buildings along the West Coast. Some are buildings we all know and love, but the author also profiles many that are off the beaten path. The book includes handy maps, DIY tours, and lovely photography, along with recommendations of places to stay and eat. It’s good stuff!
6. Inspire the genealogist in your life
If you have a friend or family member who loves genealogy, you can’t find a more perfect gift than a mod family tree from My Tree & Me. There are several motifs to choose from, all of which would look great on any MCM lover’s wall.
7. Bestow a trinket
Jewelry always makes a girl happy, so why not get her a pair of artist Erin Merryweather’s beautifully crafted, one-of-a-kind pair of earrings? Erin’s creations are oh-so mod and fun and you can find them on her website and at these locally owned shops: Rosegold, Betsy King Shoes, [HIVE] at Untitled, and DNA Galleries.
8. Become an architect (if you aren’t already one)
For the wannabe architect in your life, why not splurge on the Lego Architecture Studio? With over 1,200 pieces and an idea guide to get you started, this set promises hours of creative fun for all.
9. Create a little holiday cheer
There’s nothing that says “I love the holidays” more than a cheerful ornament, and there’s no better place than Art Fusion Studio, located at 1218 N. Western, to find unique glass pieces that are perfect for displaying all year long.
10. Give the gift of OK mod
For the first time, the Mod Squad has an entry in the holiday guide with a deck of collectible playing cards! Each poker-sized card features a different MCM building in Oklahoma and you can use the cards for playing games (duh), for learning more about our state’s magnificent MCM architectural heritage, and for mapping out places to visit on your road trips throughout the state. As if that weren’t enough, the uber talented Matt Goad designed the art for the card backs, and it’s some pretty amazing stuff! These unique cards make the perfect affordable gift or a great stocking stuffer for the architecture lover in your life.
Decks are $17.00 each with tax and all proceeds will go to fund future Okie Mod Squad events, including the Oklahoma Modernism Weekend. Supplies are limited, so pick up a pack — or two or three — at RetrOKC, Perch’d, or ReModernOK beginning this Saturday. You can also order them online through Paypal — our account is okiemodsquad@gmail.com. If you want your cards shipped, there is an additional $2 fee and be sure to provide a good address. Cards will be shipped the next business day after payment is received.
… and to wrap up all of your goodies,
you need some great holiday paper like the pattern above by Clint Stone. Once again this year, Wrap Up Homelessness is offering papers by local artists and all proceeds will support the Curbside Chronicle. So, support a great cause and get some nifty wrapping paper all at once! You can find the paper at Blue Seven, A Date with Iris, Collected Thread, OKCMOA, and other local retailers (for a complete list of retailers, check out the Wrap Up Homelessness website above).