As you travel this summer, you may find yourself staying with friends or family that you have already thanked prodigiously. Should you also arrive with or leave a gift? According to etiquette expert and socialite Emily Post, while gifts are “always appreciated, it doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive; simply consider the nature of the occasion and local custom when making your choice… If you have a few extra minutes to wrap it, even if you only use tissue or a decorative bag, it adds to the gesture.”
Some people subscribe to a never-arrive-empty-handed doctrine, some choose by occasion, while others, in an era of minimalism, deem house gifts frivolous. (In that case we hope you show gratitude by buying a meal or two.) Ultimately, thoughtfulness matters. Use common sense, consider your host’s unique nature and always reach beyond the ordinary.
SWEDISH DISH CLOTHS FROM SWALLOWFIELD
Fast-drying and reusable, the Garden Patchwork collection of multi-purpose Swedish dish cloths is made from a blend of 70% biodegradable cellulose and 30% all-natural cotton. 8-inches by 7-inches.
$6.50 each 104 Main Street, Northwest Harbor or swallowfieldshop.com
CHOCOLATES FOR WINE PAIRING FROM RAGGED COAST CHOCOLATES
Complement your host’s buttery chardonnay or peppery sangiovese with these chocolates created to bring out the best of all flavors.
Starting at $12 at 869 Main Street, Westbrook or raggedcoastchocolates.com
HAND FORGED BOTTLE OPENER BY BLACKDOG IRONWORKS
Individually crafted in Endfield, this five-and-a-quarter inch opener is made from solid steel with a lasting powder coat finish.
Starting at $19.99, online only at blackdogironworks.com
DESK ART CALENDAR BY ALAN CLAUDE
Vintage poster-style art of New England life is made into twelve images that fit in a 7-inch by 5-inch standard frame that can be changed monthly. This is a great repeat gift for an annual event, no matter the time of year.
$19.50, frame not included, at Alan Claude Gallery, 165 Water St., Gardiner or alanclaude.com
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SOAP DISH SET FROM MAINE ISLAND SOAP
After the soap is gone, a dish made from repurposed wood and a two-sided nail brush remains to host another. Take your pick of a place or soap scent named after a Maine town your host would appreciate.
$16 at 366 Surry Road, Ellsworth or maineislandsoap.com
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