Ideas for thoughtful arts & letters gifts from Young W’s winter 2023/24 assortment.
the analog lifestyle kit – chapter 1
C$50.00
For the person who has never ever used a fountain pen, who misses the era of mixtapes or anyone born after 1999.
An exploration kit, a unique type of product created by Young W. This edition is suitable for anyone wanting to live a more analog life, but is unsure where to start.
YW Scented Candle – Sturm und Drang
C$25.00
For German literature fans looking for a warm and cozy scent to inspire them while writing wistful poetry.
A literary-inspired, scented organic soy wax candle made in Ontario, Canada.
Untitled – art object by Morris Wazney
C$20.00
For the person who likes sculpture in theory but has no space for sculptures in their home, whose bookshelf somehow can still hold additional books, and who welcomes the thrill of surprises.
A book sculpture consisting of a random book and a book cover featuring a hand-stenciled fictitious book title.
Ecolinguistics by Arran Stibbe
C$64.00
For the person who believes that how we speak about nature matters in solving the climate crisis and for anyone with a linguistics undergrad.
A book that highlights the stories that underpin unequal and unsustainable societies and that searches for inspirational forms of language that can help rebuild a kinder, more ecological world.
305 Lost Buildings of Canada by Raymond Biesinger and Alex Bozikovic
C$24.00
For the person who is still sad when they walk by Bathurst and Bloor in Toronto because they miss Honest Ed’s, for the architectural historian in your family or for the friend who always likes to go on historical walking tours while travelling.
An illustrated book about iconic lost buildings all across Canada.
Junie by Chelene Knight
C$24.00
For the reader who gravitates towards Canadian historical fiction, your BC friend looking for stories by local writers or the person who loves exploring a city’s history through literature.
A riveting story about a mother-daughter relationship in the 1930s in Vancouver’s former Hogan’s Alley, a thriving Black and immigrant neighbourhood located in the city’s East End. The book has been long-listed for the Carol Shields Prize for Fiction, Canada Reads 2024 and is a Vancouver Book Award winner.
Toronto Coffee Shop Print V1 – SnaptureThis
C$15.00
For the coffee lover whose favourite café is pictured here or the person who would love to play Toronto coffee shop bingo.
A 8 x 10″ poster featuring illustrated coffee cups from various Toronto cafés. Multiple versions plus Hamilton and Vancouver editions available.
Talk Soon by Erik Kessels and Thomas Sauvin
C$55.00
For lovers of vernacular photography, people who like whimsical artists’ books or for those who would pounce at the chance to buy a box of random photos at a flea market.
A unique tearaway postcards book featuring eclectic, uncaptioned photographs. The book is the result of a correspondence between two artists during the tumultuous days of spring 2020.
Another Way to Split Water by Alycia Pirmohamed
C$22.00
For the person who is always looking for fresh new voices in poetry or the avid poetry reader who is intrigued by poetry that mixes Canadian-inspired nature imagery with Muslim influences.
A debut poetry collection by a Canadian-born poet based in Scotland. Pirmohamed’s poetry employs figurations of the natural world to reflect on themes of language, distance, migration, belonging, faith, grief, and intimacy.
Wolkenhimmel Bundle
C$175.00
For the person who likes to colour-match the ink to their notecards and those with very little to say, but who want their messages to look as dramatic as possible.
A letter writing set consisting of two mini note card sets with deckled edges from Original Crown Mill (in grey and blue), a Transparent Tinted Light Blue Fountain Pen Prera iro-ai from Pilot and a three-bottle ink set (15 ml each) from iroshizuku with fountain pen ink in various shades of blue. Also available in pink and grey.
Future Possible: An Art History of Newfoundland and Labrador by Mireille Eagan
C$60.00
For the friend who is passionate about NL contemporary art, the art history lover with absolutely no connection to the province who likes getting to know art from all the corners of the world and the St. John’s local who wishes they could have attended this exhibit when it was on a few years ago.
The first major book about art history in Newfoundland and Labrador, featuring historical works and works of contemporary NL artists. This book is also the exhibition catalog for an exhibition of the same name held at The Rooms in St. John’s in 2018 and 2019.
Purple Rain – poetic object by Kyle Flemmer
C$10.00
For the person collecting poetry broadsides who is ready to branch out into more unusual poetic objects, for anyone obsessed with folliness and the colour purple and poetry lovers who have a hard time resisting limited editions, especially if they involve flower petals.
A limited edition poetic object published by The Blasted Tree consisting of a deep purple petal and accompanying text in a numbered, purple envelope. One of 100.
Any Night of the Week – Book & 3 Poster Bundle
C$86.95
For the Toronto hobby historian, the indie music fan, the friend with the large vinyl collection and the couple who met at a jazz concert way back when.
A book about Toronto’s music history, Any Night of the Week – A D.I.Y. History of Toronto Music, 1957-2001, by Jonny Dovercourt and three accompanying 24 x 14″ map posters showcasing music venues featured in the book, designed by Daniel Rotsztein.
Make Ink: A Forager’s Guide to Natural Inkmaking by Jason Logan
C$45.00
For the person who likes to go mushroom picking, who has loved their chemistry lab as a kid or the calligrapher with a passion for baking bread.
A beautiful how-to book about making your own ink from found materials.
Telegram Stationery Set A7 – Baby Blue – L.A. Paper Lover
C$24.00
For the person who is known for their handwritten letters, loves reading historical romance novels and wishes telegrams would make a comeback.
A letter writing set consisting of three baby blue envelopes and 12 white sheets of writing paper, each with gold foil accents. Also available in turquoise and purple.
Analog Starter Pack: Two
C$64.00
For the person who likes starting a new planner at any point during the year and who needs a bit of a nudge to go analog.
A Notebook Open Date in black from Flexbook, a Houndstooth Black Retro Pop Fountain Pen MR3 Metropolitan from Pilot, and three packs of Pilot fountain pen ink cartridges in different colours (black, blue and red).
Houndstooth Black Retro Pop Fountain Pen MR3 Metropolitan – Pilot
C$34.00
For the person who likes dressing in classic chic and needs the desk accessories to match.
A black fountain pen from Pilot with a fine nib and a black & white houndstooth pattern on the barrel.
Write Moves by Nancy Pagh
C$47.00
For the aspiring writer or beginner creative writing student who wants to make substantial progress on their writing in 2024 and who needs a writing guide that is rigorous, well-structured and enjoyable to use.
A creative writing guide and anthology with a focus on poetry, short story, and short creative nonfiction essay, featuring many example texts for inspiration.
The Sketchbook Timeless Blue – Ferris Wheel Press
C$32.00
For the artist, designer or writer working mostly in dry mediums, for the creative mind that needs a large blank space as their canvas or for those rare people who are not afraid to use even their prettiest notebooks for sketches.
A large and hefty hardcover sketchbook with a blue patterned cover and 240 blank pages of blank FSC-certified paper, 160 g/m2.
Bonus recommendation:
YW Furoshiki Fabric Gift Wrap – Pine & Coral
C$48.00
For those looking for an environmentally friendly way to wrap their presents in style.
A reusable cotton gift wrap as an alternative to wrapping paper. Made in Japan. 27.6 x 27.6″. Fits most medium-size books and boxes. Comes with a historical gift register card and care instructions.
Come back next holiday season! Our second annual winter gift guide will be published on November 1st, 2024.