Okay, confession: I start thinking about Christmas gifts somewhere around mid-October and I refuse to apologize for it. There's a note on my phone. It has subheadings.
This year feels extra special because it's our first holiday season in Porto. We shot this guide in our new city with a real tree, an alarming amount of red ribbon, and a few friends who were extremely good sports about eating muffins on cue. (Hard job, but someone had to do it!)
Everything below is something we design and make ourselves, out of Portuguese cork from artisans I've worked with for about ten years and solid hardwood that will outlast every roll of wrapping paper you buy this year.
I picked three things for each person on your list. Grab a coffee (or a mulled wine, no judgment), find your people, and let's get you done early so you can actually enjoy December.
For the friend who always hosts
You know her. Her house is the default. There are always snacks, there's always a candle going, and somehow the napkins match. This one's for her.
- Mini Mesa Tray, $185. I'm a little obsessed with this one. Solid maple on three round little feet, so it's a cake stand, a cheese board, or a tiny sculpture when it's empty. In the shoot it held ornaments in cupcake liners and I have zero regrets.
- The Large Cork Bowl, $180 (or the Extra Large, $280). Our biggest cork bowls ever, turned from solid Portuguese cork. Fill it with clementines and you have a centerpiece. Fill it with gifts and you skip the wrapping. These are a small pre-order batch, so if you want one, don't wait.
- Big Bread Board, $150. Walnut and maple, big enough for a whole loaf, the butter, and the cheese someone brought. Tuck in a little bottle of our Cutting Board Oil ($5.99) and it becomes a whole thoughtful situation.
For the cozy homebody
Her ideal Saturday is a blanket, a book, and absolutely no plans. Give her things that make staying in feel like an event.
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- Anni Striped Cork Candle Holders, from $60. Natural and charcoal cork, banded like your favorite holiday sweater, in Short ($60), Medium ($65) and Tall ($80). Light one and the whole room gets that 5pm-in-December glow. Buy all three. Trust me.
- Anni Checkered Cork Vase, $350. The big-swing gift. A checkerboard of natural and charcoal cork that looks like art on a shelf, with or without flowers. For the person you really, really love.
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Pink Marbled Cork Tall Footed Bowl, $230. Marbled cork on a pale maple foot. Ornaments in it now, lemons in it come March. There are only a few left, so consider this your sign.
For the flower person
She buys herself flowers on a random Tuesday. She is correct. A bud vase is the easiest way to make a room feel considered: one stem, one branch, done.
- Josef Painted Vase in Cobalt Blue or Sage Green, $75. Hand-turned maple, painted in colors that pop against winter greenery. The blue with one big white bloom is a whole mood.
- Maple Double Bud Vase, $60. Two soft stacked curves, left unfinished so the maple stays pale and creamy. Add a sprig of winter berries and it's instantly festive.
- Marais Vase, from $150. Solid hardwood meets colored glass. Half sculpture, half vase, and the piece people always pick up and ask about.
For the one who needs a hobby (and to put her phone down)
We all have this person. Sometimes we are this person. Give her an afternoon with busy hands and a quiet brain.
- Japanese Beginner Spoon Carving Kit, $105. Our bestseller and the gift I recommend most. Japanese tools, a hardwood blank, and instructions written for total beginners. By New Year's she'll be stirring her coffee with a spoon she made.
- Toyo Tool Box Y350, $60. The classic Japanese steel toolbox in the most cheerful coral. Put a kit inside, tie a ribbon around it, and skip the wrapping paper entirely.
- Humpback Whale Utility Knife, $70. A hand-forged little whale from Japan. For whittling, sharpening pencils, opening mail, and being delighted every single time.
Stocking stuffers under $50
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The little things are honestly my favorite part.
- Spoon Carving Blanks, from $10. Basswood, cherry or walnut. A sweet add-on for anyone who already carves.
- Carve: A Simple Guide to Whittling, $16. My pocket-sized book with a dozen projects. It fits in a stocking perfectly, which is not a coincidence.
- Mini Toyo Tool Box, $38. The tiny version. For pencils, paper clips, or a very small secret stash of chocolate.
Still stuck?
- Online Spoon Carving Workshop, $45. Learn from home, with me.
- Spoon Carving Workshop at the MAD House in Porto, $65. For anyone visiting Portugal.
- MAD Gift Card, from $75. Delivered by email, so it works up to the last minute.
That's the list! Thank you, truly, for shopping small and for keeping a little studio in Porto and California going through a very big year. If you want it under the tree, order by Dec. 14, 2026. And if you miss it, the gift card has your back.
Now go put the kettle on. You've earned it.
Warmly,
Melanie