This mother-daughter duo have a knack for picking meaningful presents that help their loved ones slow down and get comfy—without sacrificing style.
In The Etsy Edit Gift Guides, we’ve tapped some of our favorite tastemakers to share their top present picks for a magical holiday season.
Mother-daughter lifestyle bloggers Lynne and Tristan Knowlton both reside in the countryside of western Ontario, where the snow is deep and the winter is long. Their holiday traditions are inspired by the stunning wilderness that surrounds them—they even cut their Christmas tree from the family backyard. As for picking presents to go under the tree? Each year, the design-loving duo (who post snapshots of their extra-hygge interiors under the shared handle @lynneknowlton) begin their search by simply listening.
Shop Lynne and Tristan’s gift guide
“We pay close attention to the needs of the people we love, and take secret notes on our phones when someone mentions something they might be missing,” Lynne explains. “For us, holidays are about taking the time to make the people around us feel loved and cared for,” Tristan adds. From precious porcelain ornaments to rolling pins patterned after cozy knits, read on to browse Lynne and Tristan’s favorite gift ideas for cultivating warm, inviting spaces.
A classic stoneware mug
“These lovely hand-thrown mugs are a timeless addition to anyone’s collection,” Tristan says. Glazed to a high-gloss finish in cream or white, the versatile cups complement a wide range of kitchen aesthetics—and make the perfect vessel for coffee (or hot chocolate!) in bed on chilly mornings.
Adorable embossed rolling pins
“These rolling pins combine our dual loves of knitting and sugar cookies,” says Tristan of the mini beech wood rollers embossed with two clever stitch-inspired patterns that transfer effortlessly into dough. Snap up a pair for the craft-happy baker in your life—and cross your fingers they give you a taste test to say thanks.
A scented soy wax candle
Clean-burning and long-lasting, a luxurious soy wax candle infused with essential oils is the thoughtful gift that keeps on giving. “We’re smitten with the look of a candle in porcelain stoneware,” says Lynne of this cocoa-scented winter staple.
A timeless set of ornaments
This gift-worthy collection of winter-white porcelain ornaments is designed to look like it was passed down for generations—and now, it can be. “I love that they’re vintage-inspired,” Lynne says of the charming carousels, cottages, and trains included in the set. “They’re all about nostalgia—what a way to bring back childhood memories.”
A streamlined serving board
Striking and practical, a natural wood serving tray lends a warm, rustic touch to any holiday snack spread. “They’re great for charcuterie, cookies, or even a display of candles,” Lynne says—and a foolproof present pick, to boot. “There’s no such thing as having too many cutting boards!”
Twinkle lights: appropriate year-round, or just for the holidays?
Absolutely year round! We put them everywhere: in trees all over the property, in the fields, and even around the pool. Inside, we love arranging them in vases or big bowls to add softness to every room.
What’s your favorite holiday food of all time?
We have a strange go-to casserole dish of turnips, carrots and Velveeta cheese all mixed together. We don’t eat turnips or Velveeta cheese any other time of the year but we sure love it during the holidays.
What’s your favorite holiday song of all time?
“White Christmas” by Elvis Presley.
Finish the sentence. ‘Tis the season for...
...appreciating the moments together, big or small. This year has been tough, so let's celebrate and love on our family and friends even more this season.
Photographs courtesy of @lynneknowlton.
