Harvard Squared Roundup

Local artisans specializing in bespoke holiday treasures

Courtesy of followthehoney.com

Photograph courtesy of rebekahbrooks.com

Photograph courtesy of Herd Nerd Spice

What to get for the gourmet girlfriend, the hard-to-please host, the spouse who already has everything? This season, it’s simple: Enhance your gift-giving game with personalized, custom gifts from talented artisans, crafters, and indie shops right here in Boston.

Warm your favorite heat-lover’s heart with personalized spice packages created by Herd Nerd. Order a flavored salt or spice tin–Jennifer Wood is known for her paprika-laced, smoky blends–which comes with a recipe card, gift bag, and customized holiday gift tag. Or splurge on a custom spice tin with your own special holiday message. www.herdnerdspice.com. Craving something sweeter? Mount Auburn physician Nicole Grady launched baking company Sweet Mazie’s after a breast cancer diagnosis, when she realized the importance of pursuing true passions. Now, she delights in creating custom confections for her loyal fans, such as Harry Potter and Game of Thrones cakes. Order custom nut-free cookies and cakes, stenciled with your favorite logos, or opt for themed decorated cookies in flavors such as chocolate brownie and raspberry. Grady specializes in floral designs–so skip the bouquet this year and go for a nibble instead. www.sweetmazies.com

Looking to make a permanent statement? Turn your lineage into wall art with a hand-drawn family tree from graphic designer Karen Yi, founder of Almost Sunday designs. She’ll create and hand-letter each branch in your preferred palette, suitable for framing. www.karenyicreative.com

Meanwhile, acclaimed Boston-based jeweler Lux Bond & Green gives heirloom baubles new life, from state-shaped golden cufflinks to sparkling pear-shaped diamonds. Take Grandma’s favorite ring for a face-lift or transform family gemstones to create something fresh and modern. www.lbgreen.com. For a more antique, ethereal look, visit Rebekah Brooks’s charming Brattle Street shop for a custom reimagining of a family favorite. rebekahbrooks.com.

Heading to a soiree? Fort Point ceramicist Jill Rosenwald is beloved for her big, bold prints–polka-dotted mugs, glam gold-streaked vases. One specialty? Party-perfect accent trays. Customize your gift in more than 100 bright colors and patterns, and monogram them with your recipient’s favorite destination (Charlestown and Nantucket are recent favorites). Add a name or date at the bottom, gratis. www.jillrosenwald.com

And the culinary wizards at Harvard Square’s favorite artisan grocery, Salt & Olive, hand-select next-level gourmet goodie boxes sourced from around the world. Snap up a Cocktail Lovers Gift Set with rim accessories drawn from their lovingly sourced line of salts: hickory smoked sea salt, Bloody Mary blend sea salt, crunchy lemon flake sea salt, and Martha’s Vineyard sea salt, complete with a stainless steel grinder. Or let their warm staff help you choose a customized flavor combination. www.saltandolive.com

For something even sweeter, buzz down the road to Follow the Honey for a custom raw-honey gift box stuffed with a curated assortment of beeswax candles, honey chocolates, and more, all with a sweet personalized message for your beloved. www.followthehoney.com

Finally, order a party-perfect outfit for yourself from Luke Aaron, Boston’s designer of the moment. He specializes in dramatic, bespoke custom couture, with a passion for classic 1950s silhouettes and geometric designs that will make a statement long after the season has ended. www.lukeaaron.co

Read more articles by Kara Baskin
Related topics

You might also like

This Connecticut Mine Was Once a Prison

The underground Old New-Gate Prison quickly became “a school for crime.”

Harvard Film Archive Spotlights Japanese Director Mikio Naruse

A retrospective of the filmmaker’s works, from Floating Clouds to Flowing

CiderDays Festival Celebrates All Things Apple

Visiting small-batch cideries and orchards in Massachusetts

Most popular

How MAGA Went Mainstream at Harvard

Trump, TikTok, and the pandemic are reshaping Gen Z politics.

Is the Constitution Broken?

Harvard legal scholars debate the state of our founding national document.

Two Years of Doxxing at Harvard

What happens when students are publicly named and shamed for their views?

Explore More From Current Issue

Brandon Terry, wearing a blue suit, standing before The Embrace, a large bronze sculpture of intertwined arms in Boston Common.

A New Narrative of Civil Rights

Political philosopher Brandon Terry’s vision of racial progress

Illustration of scientists injecting large syringe with mitochondria into human heart.

Do Mitochondria Hold the Power to Heal?

From Alzheimer’s to cancer, this tiny organelle might expand treatment options. 

Will Makris in blue checkered suit and red patterned tie standing outdoors by stone column.

A New HAA President at a Tumultuous Time

A career in higher ed inspired Will Makris to give back.