2021 Holiday Gift Guide

Staring at a long list of gifts to shop for? We get it. Here are a few of our favorite things, crowd-sourced from the flock and sure to fight the supply chain blues. All of these gift ideas come from local Houston businesses and can be purchased in person, so you don’t have to stress about shipping.

1. Meal Kits from Pondicheri
   Price: $7+
   How to shop: Purchase in-store at Pondicheri (2800 Kirby Dr.) or at Pondishop.com
   These beautifully packaged kits contain all the ingredients and fresh spices you’ll need to make some of Pondi’s most beloved dishes like turmeric rice and yellow dal. They’re great for combining with the house-made masalas, sauces and snack mixes also available in-store.
   
   
2. Local Art Prints from Forth and Nomad
   Price: $18+
   How to shop: Purchase in-store at Forth and Nomad (731 Yale St.) or online
   Forth and Nomad stocks a robust selection of art prints by local artists, ranging from $18-$30. While you’re browsing, you can also grab a latte from their coffee bar or sign yourself and a friend up for their candle-making workshops.
   
   
3. Something Vintage from MAW Supply
   Price: $35+
   How to shop: Visit their Etsy store
   This vintage & sustainable clothing store is owned by husband and wife team Norman and Rachelle Clark. Their Etsy store is filled with unique, stylish pieces and graphic tees.
   
   
4. Atlas of the Heart by Dr. Brené Brown at Brazos Bookstore
   Price: $30
   How to shop: Call ahead to make sure they’ve got copies in-store (2421 Bissonnet) or buy online
   You didn’t think we’d make a holiday gift guide without including Houston’s very own favorite social psychologist and researcher, Dr. Brené Brown, did you? Good. Her newest release, Atlas of the Heart, is available at Brazos Bookstore and several other local book stores. Emotion mapping is the gift that keeps on giving!
   
   
5. Ceramics from All The Feels
   Price: $14 - $300
   How to shop: Visit All the Feels at 3229 Milam St. or online
   All The Feels is a local “small shop for the senses” carrying unique and locally-sourced eclectic items from home decor to jewelry to apothecary luxuries. But their ceramics collection is really where they shine. Pick up a handmade vase or coffee mug for your Aunt and something cozy and good-smelling for you. You deserve it.
   
   
6. Lebanese Olive Oil from Craft Pita
   Price: $22
   How to shop: Visit the restaurant or shop online Locally-owned Craft Pita is offering a beautiful selection of olive oil, spice blends and sauces in their recently-launched online shop. You can of course pick this up in-store (along with a fresh fattoush salad for lunch), but if you prefer to shop online, they are shipping nationwide.
   
   
7. A Potted Calathea from The Flora Culture
   Price: $24+ (plant) $18+ (planter)
   How to shop: The Flora Culture has two locations: Galleria (3100 Chimney Rock) and CityCentre (7900 Town and Country), or you can shop online
   For all the plant moms and dads in your life, The Flora Culture is an oasis of vibrant, tropical indoor plant magic. Not only are their plants stunning and specially curated for home decor styling, the family-owned shop’s staff will kindly pot your plants for you with their in-house mixed soils and give you all the tips and tricks you need for at-home care. If the new plant babies aren’t doing so well at home, your gift recipient can message them on instagram for free advice.
   
   
8. A Bath Bomb-Making Kit from Love and Make
   Price: $50
   How to shop: 2516 Times Blvd. or online
   Bath bombs are always a crowd-pleaser gift, but how about custom bombs you or your gift recipient(s) can make at home? These kits come with all the supplies to make 5-6 bath bombs, plus a video tutorial. You can select colors and fragrance options at checkout for a bespoke bath experience everyone will need after the stress of the holidays.
   
   
9. Pre-Order Texas Moon Vinyl from Khruangbin and Leon Bridges
   Price: $25
   How to shop: https://shop.khruangbin.com/collections/frontpage/products/texas-moon-with-leon-bridges-ep-pre-order
   Okay—this one’s not a quick pick-up in person gift, and you’ll have to wrap a print-out of the receipt because it doesn’t drop until February. But it has us drooling and writing frantic letters to Santa, so we had to include it.
   
   Local favorite music artists Khuangbhin and Leon Bridges are dropping their new collab album Texas Moon soon, and you can snag a pre-order for this gorgeous purple vinyl copy from their website now. If you want to add on a closer experience for those die hard Khruangbin fans, tickets are still available for their New Year’s Eve show at 713 Music Hall, located in POST HTX.
   
   
10. Fine Art Giclée Prints on Etsy
    Price: $50+
    How to shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/nilizaali
    Did you know our team does more than bring powerful brand strategies to life during business hours? Our very own flock member, Account Manager Niliza Ali creates vibrant acrylic landcape works on Canvas and produces high quality prints from her paintings. You can find these on her Etsy store.

We hope we’ve been able to warm your gift-giving hearts with these local (and some women and minority-owned) goodies. When in doubt, just remember the four ways to shop: shop small, shop Black, shop local and shop responsibly. Happy gifting and Happy Holidays from all of us at Black Sheep. See you in the New Year.