Author: Helen Bradley
Holiday Gift Guide 2024!
The holidays are the most wonderful time of the year — to support local artists and creators!
Check out our list of treasures that will be sure to make your friends and family sparkle with joy this season (unless their hearts are made of coal) and that will save you from big box stores (because you deserve better!).
Katie Scarlett
2025 calendars, prints, and accessories with vibrant colors and interesting perspectives [shop!]
Primal Soup Designs
prints, posters, and things inspired by sounds and feelings [shop!]
alaina ewin's stuff!
stickers, prints, totes, and more about women, romance, dessert, and more [shop!]
Andyrogyny Shop
queer and sometimes spooky prints and other artsy treasures [shop!]
The World of Zelda Flanagan
prints, postcards, and stickers that spark curiosity and joy [shop!]
S POGAS ART
heartfelt greeting cards, beautiful stationery goods, and unique gifts [shop!]
Cat Schmitz
comfort objects for grown ups that lead to courageous decision making [shop!]
Shop Small Y’all | 2024 Holiday Shopping Guide
The season is truly upon us now and if you celebrate the holidays with gifts, think about supporting small business this year instead of corporate giants. We swear they are more fun and they are also a huge part of what makes our city so great. Here are just a few of our favorite places:
Thunderbird Salvage | Salvaged Goods and Gifts
Circle Thrift | Vintage and Thrifted Goods
Minnow Lane | Babies and Children Gifts
Omoi | Stationary
Harriett’s Bookshop | Books
The Head and The Hand | Books
Philadelphia Record Exchange | Records
Made and Maker | Clothing
Ham and Bone | Pet Supplies and Gifts
Jinxed | Home Goods and Gifts
Repo Records | Records
Great Circles | Records
Drats | Clothing
Runehammer | Hobbies and Games
Vestige | Clothing
Proper Good | Gift Shop
Ritual | Metaphysical Supplies
Uncle Ron’s Candle Co. | Stuff to Burn
And don’t forget to check out our Holiday Event and Market Guide, too!
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art by Uncle Ron's Candle Co. -
art by Thunderbird Salvage -
art by Runnehammer -
art by The Head and The Hand -
art by Jinxed
Holiday Event and Market Guide
There are so many ways to support independent artists and vendors during the holidays, so skip the big box stores with us and give back to your community this season.
Here is a list of just some of the holiday events and markets that we are looking forward to before the end of the year!
Yamz World’s “Changing Moth” Series
You’ve seen Yamz World, created by Brayan Montes-Terrazas, featured on our site before (and you likely will again). We are constantly amazed at his ability to create art that symbolizes the most beautiful parts of our lives.
Yamz’s “Changing Moth” series is a symbol of the vulnerability and power of growth and change — in gorgeous colors and patterns.
Find the print and the bookmark (both of which we had the honor of printing) on his online shop and follow Yamz World on Instagram.
Posters:
- Ink: CMYK
- Paper: 100lb Gloss Text
Bookmarks:
- Ink: CMYK
- Paper: 130lb Gloss Cover with Matte Cover on Both Sides
acorviart’s wondrous creatures
Today, in honor of spooky season, we’re highlighting the work of Alicia, aka acorviart, an illustrator/designer who runs an online art and merch store.
Does she create cuddly, adorable things? Absolutely.
But this week calls for her newest prints, featuring the creatures who are wondrous and menacing (in all the right ways).
Check them all out on her site and on Instagram.Â
- Ink: CMYK
- Paper: 120lb Smooth Uncoated Cover
Trans Greeting Cards by Andy Passchier
Andy Passchier is an illustrator from The Netherlands, currently living in the USA.Â
In their work, Andy focuses on inclusivity, positivity and LGBTQIA+ advocacy.Â
We recently got to print these cards — which are symbolically and literally gorgeous — celebrating diversity, individuality, and joy.Â
Andy is also a master of surface design and children’s products and gift packaging. Check out everything they do, including their incredible “Gender Identity for Kids” project on Instagram or on their site.
- Ink: CMYK
- Paper: 120lb Smooth Uncoated Cover
It’s Calendar Time!
Calendars make people remember you every single day of the year. And not in a creepy way, in a helpful, space to keep track of all your important dates kind of way.
Scroll through below to see some of our favorite calendar projects over the years.
You’ll see wire-bound retro-inspired beauties from Circa 78 Designs; the raddest grid-based planners from Bonk; and the brilliant Phully Rooted local organics almanac.
Circa 78 Designs
Ink: CMYK
Paper: Insides on 70lb Smooth Text, Cover on 100lb Uncoated Cover (100% Recycled)
Binding: Wire
bonk
Ink: CMYK
Paper: Insides on 70lb Natural White Smooth Text, Cover on 70lb Natural White Smooth Cover
Binding: Wire
Phully Rooted
Ink: CMYK
Paper: 100lb Enviro Cover
Binding: Wire
Order your calendars here.
Meet Modern Misfits
Aubrey Loftus, the mastermind behind Modern Misfits, is a self-taught designer and a lover of all things sparkly, soft, and striking.
All their creations are made by hand in South Philadelphia from locally sourced, recycled, or vintage materials.
We love the colors and design across their latest set of prints — business cards, postcards, posters — and we of course could never resist a skillfully placed farfalle.
Check them out at their site or on Instagram to learn more about their joy-inducing products.
Posters:
- Ink: CMYK
- Paper: 100lb Smooth Uncoated Cover
Postcards:
- Ink: CMYK
- Paper: 120lb Smooth Uncoated Cover
Business Cards:
- Ink: CMYK
- Paper: 120lb Smooth Uncoated Cover
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art by Modern Misfits/Aubrey Loftus -
art by Modern Misfits/Aubrey Loftus -
art by Modern Misfits/Aubrey Loftus -
art by Modern Misfits/Aubrey Loftus
Fall Arts Fest Guide
The second we start feeling that slight chill in the night air, we look forward to all the cool things fall brings to Philly.
Check out some of the events over the next few months!
9/6 – 10/5 Made In Philadelphia at Dilworth Park
9/20 – 9/22 Making Time at Fort Mifflin
10/17 – 27 Philadelphia Film Festival
9/5 – 9/29 Philadelphia Fringe Festival
9/20 – 9/22 xponential music festival (xpn fest) on Camden Waterfront
10/19 – 20, 10 26-27 Philadelphia Open Studio Tours
The East Kensington Mini Zine Fest
We’re having a mini-zine fest!
Small fest, not small zines . . . well, some zines may be small, but not all.
First Friday, September 6th
6-9pm At OG Pizza on Frankford Ave
It’s going to be a relatively small show.
Probably like 10 artists, so act fast if you want in!
BYO table, spots are $25.
Bands curated by Victor Vieira-Branco @vvb___
Help from Who Pressed Press @whopressdpress
Brought to you by East Kensington Arts Committee @eastkensingtonneighbors
WEIRDO Fest @weirdooddfest
Fireball Printing @fireballprints
OG Pizza @o_g_pizza
Email creepymozzarella@weirdo.pizza if you want to be in this — there are a few spots left!
