Celebrate the day of love — and our local loves — with gifts of coffee, tech, nature and more.
Seattle is in love — with the things it does as well or better than anybody else: Coffee. Nature. Books. Rain. Technology.
Seattleites love all of these things and, chances are, you do, too. So this Valentine’s Day, pick up locally inspired gifts that spread the love Seattle-style.
Coffee
Coffee is the nectar of the gods in the Pacific Northwest. Keep her fuel of choice close to her heart with 141 Atelier’s Sterling Silver Coffee Bean Necklace ($45 at etsy.com/shop/141ATELIER), featuring a silver pendant the exact size and shape of a real coffee bean.
Perk up the coffee table with “Coffee Gives Me Superpowers: An Illustrated Book about the Most Awesome Beverage on Earth” ($10 at Kinokuniya, International District, and booksellers). Its fun, coffee-centric illustrations were created by Seattleite Ryoko Iwata, who runs the website I Love Coffee (en.ilove
coffee.jp). Graphics include “Your Brain on Beer vs. Coffee” and the helpful flow chart “Should You Put Coffee in Your Face Right Now?”
Add to their pin collection with Night Owl Paper Goods’ Coffee Lover Gold Cloisonné Enamel Pin ($9–$10 at Alki Mail & Dispatch, West Seattle, and nightowlpapergoods.com), featuring a happy, smiling cup of joe.
Jump-start the morning with Raepublic’s Seattle Coffee Body Scrub ($8 at etsy.com/shop/Raepublic), made in Port Orchard from organic cane sugar, organic coconut oil and — of course — coffee.
Really show your love with W&P Design’s Pour Over Press ($75–$79 at E. Smith Mercantile, Pioneer Square, and wandpdesign.com), a 3-in-1 coffee brewer that makes drip, French press and cold-brew coffee, and includes an elegant ceramic pour-over dripper. Pair it with a bag of Storyville’s Prologue Blend Coffee ($12 at Storyville coffee shops), a bold blend roasted in Seattle.
The outdoors
Open your heart to your favorite nature-lover with the unique Love Grows Here Terrarium ($85 at uncommongoods.com). The moss-filled glass apothecary jar includes a miniature hiker (chose male or female, with a variety of skin tones) holding a sign that says, “I love you.” (DIY option: Pick up a terrarium at The Palm Room in Ballard and add a tiny figure from Archie McPhee in Wallingford.)
Inspire sweet dreams of Northwest mountain ranges with a set of Oh, Little Rabbit Mountain Pillowcases ($28 for two at ohlittlerabbit.com), hand-printed in Willamette Valley, Ore. They’re soft on skin and gentle on the earth, made with nontoxic, water-based inks on natural cotton.
Pick up a pair of oversized blue enamel Sparrow & Bloom Camping Mugs ($16 each at etsy.com/shop/sparrowbloom), out of Mill Creek, to toast your next camping trip. Sayings include “campfires and cuddles” and “coffee and adventures.”
Lit life
Give your prince Out of Print’s The Little Prince Tee ($28 at outofprintclothing.com), featuring the 1943 first-edition cover of Antoine De Saint Exupery’s enduring story. As a bonus, your purchase sends a book to a community in need.
Keep her looking smart with fingerless Storiarts Writing Gloves ($26 at storiarts.com), made in Portland from soft cotton jersey knit and printed with text from classics like “Pride and Prejudice,” “Anne of Green Gables” and Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven.”
Surprise your favorite bibliophile with an Altered Decadence Book Purse ($112–$119 at etsy.com/shop/AlteredDecadence), handmade in Kennewick from upcycled leather-bound vintage tomes such as “The Vampire Chronicles,” “Arabian Nights” and “Star Wars.” Each bag has faux leather shoulder straps, a metal snap closure and an elastic interior pocket.
Rain
He won’t have to worry about getting caught in the rain with the Freeman Junction Parka ($365 at Freeman, Capitol Hill), a handsome update to the Seattle company’s classic jacket. Waterproof on the outside and lined with soft plaid flannel on the inside, it has an adjustable hood and flannel-lined pockets to keep his hands warm and dry.
Lavish your Valentine with House of Matriarch High Perfumery’s Orca Perfume ($120–$330 at matriarch.biz), a complex elixir that combines the crisp, moody scent of rain and woods with salty Pacific Ocean air. The 100 percent natural amber artisan perfume is crafted in Seattle with genuine ambergris and natural honey.
She can always use another pair of boots, and Clooka’s Classic Mid Lottie Dot Rain Boots ($70 at shop.chookaboot.com) are sure to make a splash. The Washington company’s rubber outsoles are covered in a festive polka dot print, while a fabric lining and removable insole make them comfy and cozy.
Technology
The locally designed Brenthaven Collins Vertical Messenger Bag ($70 at Brenthaven, Capitol Hill, and the Microsoft Store) was specifically made for the Microsoft Surface Pro 4, but there’s nothing surface about its good looks and innovative design. The ultra-slim bag, in a crisp indigo chambray with brown vegan-leather trim and metal accents, includes pockets for the Surface Pen and Surface Mouse, and a soft cotton lining to protect your device.
Add Alexa to any room of the house with the Amazon Echo Dot ($50 at amazon.com). The second-generation, hands-free device connects to speakers via Bluetooth and responds to your voice to play music, control smart home devices, read the news, set alarms and more.
Impress the techie in your life with the Hydra SmartBottle ($60 at thinkgeek.com), a high-tech water bottle with clever features they’ll actually use. The cap contains a Bluetooth speaker, hands-free speakerphone and FM radio receiver, while the body has a carabiner, bottle opener, hidden storage space, three-color LED lights and a USB charger to keep it going at the office, on a bike ride or on the trail. Almost incidentally, it also holds 20 ounces of water.