shop your own shelves: secondhand gifts are the best

November flew by in a blur, and now December has arrived in a burst of frosty colors here in Portland.

December is also an interesting month for me. As I wrap up the year–literally wrap up orders, and figuratively wrap up ideas and projects–I’m already a few steps into new projects for 2025. It feels like closure and new beginnings all at the same time.

If you’re thinking of Carrot Condo for winter-season gifts, the USPS sent me this reminder that your package should ship by (or a touch before) December 18 to arrive by Christmas, if that’s your holiday.

Also this month, Carrot Condo is featured in Portland State University’s Gift Guide! I feel quite honored! The online guide is nicely designed and easy to navigate. You can shop by category, or even curated themes. I’m listed with a really cool group of artisans, and the guide has already resulted in some purchases and fun messages from PSU alumni.

And just in case all the holiday shopping hubbub overwhelms you and you want nothing to do with getting even more stuff, you can take comfort in my Corningware card. I drew the first version of this a few years ago when I was craving all new bake ware. That desire motivated me to draw my baking dishes–stains and all–and in that process, I began to not only appreciate them again, but appreciate them more and for different reasons.

They stack neatly in my cupboard, for example, and they make me think of my mom and maternal grandmother. I also learned interesting things about my dishes, like if the label is spelled as one word “Corningware” or two words “Corning Ware,” it helps tell you the age and value of the dish.

If you’re practicing a less “consumer-y” gift season, consider shops like Kitchen Culture that sell used dishware–or even shop from your own shelves. Give the secondhand gift along with this card telling the dish’s story, and it’s likely to be appreciated even more than something new.

I mean, what host/hostess would not want a handed-down-dish that comes with a story they can share at their next gathering? “Oh, this dish? It’s the one my great aunt dropped on the floor and splattered mayonnaise on top of my grandma’s head…just minutes before a wedding! Hahahaha…” (This may, or may not, be loosely based on a true story.)

Used, new, or no stuff at all–I hope December treats you well with many moments of comfort and time to reflect before the new year comes barging in with all its suggestions of resolutions and change.

Thank you, as always, for following along!

–TRISTA