Norton Holiday Gift Guide
by Kristen Cahill, Director of Retail Operations, Norton Museum of Art
Looking for a last-minute holiday gift that is distinctively unique? Look no further than The Store at the Norton! Though the deadline for ground shipping past, there’s just enough time to shop in the Store –for one-of-a-kind, artful gifts.
From handmade items like Georgia O’Keeffe-inspired painted scarves and ocean-inspired jewelry to fun stocking stuffers such as beaded ornaments and artist inspired card decks, find the perfect gifts for everyone on your holiday shopping list.
As the Store’s Manager, I have the pleasure of knowing our inventory really well and put together this list for you of recommendations, must-haves, and festive favorites.
Recycled Tin Can Objects
This is one item on our list that belongs in every auto enthusiast's stocking this year. To make these, recycled tin cans are rounded up by the villagers from a small town in Madagascar, cut into parts, and re-assembled into these one-of-a-kind collectible objects. Many Museum Store customers have already begun a collection.
Along with the bi-plane (3”) and scooter (4”), we have featured here, and the Store also carries tin can jeeps, VW bugs, and VW buses.
-$12.00 each
Bud Vases — ‘Little Gems’
What is unique about glass artist Gary Bodker’s ‘Little Gems’ is that each work is organically formed, evoking a fluidity and appearance of glass that is still frozen in its molten state. My favorite quality of these vases is how they illuminate color under light. Although the vases are lightweight, each glasswork is very strong and durable. They’re perfect as bud vases or, as I prefer, simply clustered together on a table or shelf. The Store carries a wide range of Bodker’s hand-crafted glassware.
-$28.00 each
Desktop Ball Stabile
Designed and hand-crafted by a group of talented artists from Napa, California-based Modmobiles, this stabile is the perfect desktop gift for the mid-century lover! The coolest part is that it can sit on a desk or hang as a mobile! Regardless of how it’s displayed, precision is evident in the quality and craftsmanship.
-$55.00
Hand-Beaded Ornaments
There is nothing better than buying a beautiful gift that connects to the sentiment of human compassion. [SA1] Each of these intricately, hand-beaded ornaments have been crafted by Guatemala’s indigenous T’zutujil Mayans. Kristen Van Zandt, the owner of KVZ Designs, creates the designs for her collection of ornaments, while the skilled Maya artisans conduct the beadwork, utilizing a trade skill that has been handed down for thousands of years. KVZ Designs’ sales help fund Pueblo a Pueblo, a non-profit that strives to improve the health, education, and economic security of these vulnerable indigenous families.
- $25.00
More information: puebloapueblo.org
Mondi Earrings
This line is for those who want to stand out and make a statement! With a passion for jewelry and an equally strong belief in environmental causes, the mother and daughter team of Zass Designs uses recycled materials to create their unique jewelry collection. Like the Mondi Earrings featured, much of their design aesthetic uses striking colors, geometric shapes and are oversized.
- $70.00
Alpha Shapes
There are ordinary blocks, and then there are Alpha Shapes. These blocks are perfect for the toddler on your list: using the colorful, shaped blocks, kids ages three and older can learn the alphabet and first words through interactive play. They also develop a new way of seeing beauty in the shape of letters. The alphabet becomes an art form!
- $30.00
Happy Holidays!
-Kristen
