Buy Gifts From Real People
A VORTEX Holiday Gift Guide
MOST PHOTOS NABBED FROM THE INTERNET. WANT SOMETHING REMOVED? EMAIL US.Welcome to the first installment of our holiday shopping guide, where we highlight twelve gift-worthy finds each week leading up to Christmas. Whether you’re hunting for the perfect something or just want to support creatives close to home, we’re keeping it local, independent, and inspired.
Some of these picks are tucked into shops around the valley, others are sold directly by the people who make them — online or off. The throughline? Every gift in this guide comes with a story, a connection, and a bit of that Ojai magic.
Check back each week for a fresh dozen.
WEEK TWO
a. Midlife Renewal Lab with Christopher Noxon + Rebecca Odes. Mega Gallery. $200. b. Summer Art Camp for Adults with Sally England. Mega Gallery. $350. c. Paint T-Shirts with Joel Fox + Jennifer Jordan Day. Mega Gallery. $50. d. Learn Letterpress with Norman Clayton. Mega Gallery. $200. e. Ojai-Fi with Mikael Jorgensen. Mega Gallery. $25. f. Make Baskets with Carol Shaw Sutton. Mega Gallery. $250 g. Mystery Date with Cassandra C. Jones + Joel Fox. Mega Gallery. $200. h. The Wild Table: Dinner with Modernfolk. Mega Gallery.$250. i. Adventure Singing with Rebecca Comeford. Mega Gallery. $80.
j. Barista Training with Pinhole Coffee for Two. Online Auction for Ojai Music Festival. As of Dec. 11, bid is at $100 (auction ends Dec. 15). k. Express Energy Unlock. The Soma Psychic. $55. l. Beato Chocolate Tasting for Four. Online Auction for Ojai Music Festival. As of Dec. 11, bid is at $225 (auction ends Dec. 15).
WEEK ONE
a. “Woman Feeds Her Monsters,” print by artist Susan Stinsmuehlen-Amend. Via Vita Art Center. $250. b. Sushi dishes by ceramacist Sandra Torres. Via Shaller Gallery. $65 each. c. Handmade mugs by various artists. IRL @ Shop Summer Camp. Various prices. d. Coffee Connection gift certificate. Online or in-store. Any value. e. Flower delivery from Hollyflora. Starting at $250. f. Ojai Rancho Inn beach towels. Shelter Social Club. $88 each.
g. "A Day on the Space Station: A Cruelty-Free Cookbook with Joke Pairings" by Mrs. Tasty herself, Casey Dobbins. Field Trip Publishing. $15. h. Ojai Cranky Face caps by Chris Wilson. Available in-store at Bart’s Books. ~$40 i. “Alaskan Reflections: Yellow Clouds,” print by artist Pam Grau. $100. j. Stationery, cards, and stuff. Available in-store at Noted. Various prices. k. “Ojai Nº 3 (Fall),” print by photographer Liz Fish. $99. l. Gift set from Bogue Soap. $18.50
