A wise diva once said, “If shopping doesn’t make you happy then you’re in the wrong shop.” That’s the spirit we’re channeling in this year’s gift guide. Once you’re in the right shop, you’re bound to find something to make you happy! Not only will you get your holiday shopping done, you’ll support independent, socially conscious businesses, meet cool people and have a lot of fun along the way.

Here are our picks for the best happy-making shopping, in person (by foot) and online (by mouse click).

BY FOOT

M. Flynn, Boston - Modern Heirlooms

Visiting M. Flynn’s jewelry shop in the South End of Boston is like having a private tea party, but with diamonds instead of tea. The shopping experience is as intimate as stolen time in a warm fairy house while outside wind whips through the woods. Ring the bell and one of the expert staff will welcome you in, encourage you to browse and take out whatever you’d like to see.

There is so much to see it’s hard to choose, but the love lockets from designer Marie Lichtenberg are a must. Made in France and inspired by the Martinican jewelry given to her by her mother, Lichtenberg’s pieces resemble amulets with magical powers. They vary in size and color and message. All are designed to be worn on interchangeable silk cords or gold chains - the better to match your mood.

We’re also obsessed with the Hotlips Rings at M. Flynn, which come in Classic Red, Nude, Bubblegum Pink, and Black Cherry. MWAH!

Hotlips ring in Classic Red on index finger. At M. Flynn, Boston.

Patch NYC, Boston - Forever Favorites

PATCH NYC is more than a brand, its a special lens through which to better experience life. With time, things improve - patina only adds to an object’s beauty. So, an antique frame elevates a contemporary etching. A thrift shop etagere enhances a collection of hand-crafted boxes. 19th century Indian beads inspire the design of a new necklace. And so on and so forth.

Don Carney, “Quail,” india ink on heavy weight kraft paper and framed by the artist. PATCH NYC and Don Carney Art.

In their shop in the courtyard of 46 Waltham Street in Boston, owners Don Carney and John Ross layer old and new in a signature style that has spawned collaborations with iconic brands including Monoprix, Astier de Villate, Hermes and Target. It smells good, it feels good, it is a place you arrive at and don’t want to leave. Occasionally they have Prosecco waiting.

After you’ve perused their curated selection of housewares, art, jewelry, scarves and curiosities, check out the impressive collection of vases and boxes by legendary master ceramicist Waylande Gregory.

Also take your time choosing from their eclectic selection of imported glass holiday ornaments, featuring everything from champagne on ice to feather-headed flightless birds to take out boxes and braces smiles.

Seed to Stem, Worcester - Wild Biophilia

Upon entering Seed to Stem you may wonder if you’ve stumbled into a natural history museum or a botanical garden. Lucky us, it’s an actual store. Let your eyes roam, take it all in, accept that you feel like a character in an ethereal fantasy novel. Your innate relationship to the natural world will guide you. The genius of mother nature’s artistry is on full display: fossils, plants, terrariums, crystals, taxidermy, shells, branches, bones, etc.

The untamed glory that is Seed to Stem, Worcester. Shop for plants, books, home decor, and more.

The International Living Future Institute defines biophilic design as “the practice of connecting people and nature within our built environments and communities." Scientifically proven to improve health, productivity and well-being, nature’s gifts can be the best gifts for people in need of centering and calm.

We recommend: crystals, houseplants, terrariums, coffee table books on natural phenomenon and the mink scull planter for $35. But mostly we recommend, no - we insist, you go in person.

Nomad, Nantucket - Organic Glamour

Nomad sells housewares, clothing, furniture, art and lighting, but really the store is all about texture, aesthetic abandon and rejoicing in treasures from around the world. Everything in the carefully designed store on Center Street in downtown Nantucket feels as though it has been left out in the elements to fade, soften, improve; to deepen in luxury and significance. Owner Amanda Tanner hails from New Zealand where she regularly shops for her nature-inspired wares. Additionally her nomadic sourcing takes her to Sweden, Italy, Belgium and Australia.

She sources many things from France, but our favorite is the French candle line Mad Et Len. The scents are euphoric. The presentation is sophisticated and lasting. Each candle is sold in a forged black iron vessel created by a blacksmith friend of the owners, a husband and wife team.

French candle line Mad et Len at Nomad, Nantucket.

BY MOUSE CLICK

Eu2Be - Spoiled Skin

Self care takes commitment, just ask Charla Jones, the founder of award winning skin care line Eu2Be. She scours the globe to find ancient ingredients that heal and nourish modern skin and combines them in ways that major skincare companies could never afford to. A champion of ritual, she encourages people to pay attention to their bodies and give themselves time for serious skin care on her blog.

All of Eu2Be’s products are loaded with hydration, antioxidants and vitamins, delivered via powerful carrier oils from ingredients like sunflower seed, sweet almond, castor seed, beeswax, broccoli seed, balsam copaiba and avocado. And Eu2Be has such a devoted following that it was voted Best of Boston - Clean Skincare 2023 by Boston Magazine.

The Keepsake Gift Set is a special holiday bundle formulated to optimize skin barrier health. Included in the set are: Keepsake Body Cream, a deeply nourishing “soufflé” which delivers supremely supple skin and Trove Replenishing Oil a blend of 14 exquisite biomimetic carrier oils formulated to restore, condition, and protect skin and hair.

The Special Offer: A $140 value, now just $124

Lindsey Adelman Studio - Seeing Stars

When a light fixture is a true work of art, illumination will define a space. Design renegade Lindsey Adelman has been disrupting and reimagining the world of lighting design since she opened her Manhattan studio in 2006. Working with a team of glass blowers, metalworkers and electricians, she pushes the boundaries between lighting, jewelry, sculpture, symphony and rock-n-roll.

Lindsey Adelman, BB.07.45 Branching Bubble Chandelier, 80″ x 29″ x 22″H, Hand-blown glass, machined brass. Est. $25,000

Her collections have become iconic - especially Branching Bubbles and Cherry Bomb Fringe. Don’t be fooled by the endless fakes made by companies attempting to capitalize on Adelman’s success. The real ones aren’t cheap, but important art never is.

LaLAB is Adelman’s vehicle for unfettered experimentation and creative freedom. She writes, “Exploring the liminal tension between what’s there and what’s not, the idea is to reach a quantum realm of potential, bringing the concept of illumination to an unexplored plane. LaLAB is a place of surprise and discovery, with pieces that may be one-off, limited edition or private commission.”

From Adelman’s LaLAB: “Rock Light 02,” 2023. Pyrite, machined brass with brushed brass finish, hand-blown white fade glass, khaki cloth cord. 7 x 11 x 9 inches.

Silkstone Designs - Wrapped with Love

Boston-based jewelry maker Gitika Marathay creates collectible, stackable bracelets by adopting the weaving technique used to make Nantucket baskets. When I saw her wrist piled with bracelets capped in gold ends, I had to learn more. Around a brass cuff base, she wraps a stave (basically an inner layer) of ivory, jet, reed or scrimshawed wood, and around that she carefully weaves the cane. End caps punctuate the look and can be gold, silver, wood or acrylic, depending on the bracelet style. She explains that she is always experimenting with new materials, sometimes using fabric instead of wood as an inner stave, and sometimes weaving gold wire in with the cane. She makes both classic and unusual woven patterns and even has a Nantucket-themed series in the works.

For purchase information, details on materials and sizing, direct message @silkstonestyle on Instagram.

Buena Onda Games - Having Fun while Doing Good

One of my resolutions for the year ahead is to take things (and myself) less seriously. I’m talking about a mindset overhaul with more joy, love and laughter as the goal. Enough with the negativity bias. That means, among other things (like turning off news notifications), more PLAY. As stated in a study by the National Institute of Health, “To be playful is a state where many adult humans would like to be and where most children should be. Indeed, play is almost synonymous with a happy childhood…”

Enter Buena Onda, or good vibes in Spanish. Buena Onda Games works with Mayan artisans in Guatemala to make all kinds of toys for all kinds of games. With a deep commitment to Fair Trade, green and globally sustainable business practices, their moto is “Play for Good!”

We recommend the soft flying discs called MayaFlyas, which come in a ton of sizes and styles and can be tossed in the house without breaking anything. They are suitable for all ages and come in a colorful range of patterns.