GIFT GUIDE
CURATED BY EMILIA ILKE
A Holiday State of Mind
This year, we wanted to create a holiday gift guide curated together with people who inspire us — voices and creatives whose way of living, making and celebrating bring something warm into the season. We invited artist @emiliailke, known for her playful collage work and soft, earthy palette, to share her thoughts on gifting, winter traditions and the small rituals that shape this time of year. She’s curated a personal gift guide with her favourite Pelle Vävare pieces for the season.
She welcomed us into her world, where we talk about the traditions she keeps alive, the slower rhythm of winter and her way of approaching the season — offering inspiration and ideas for the holiday season.
What’s your approach to gifting this season?
Less is more when it comes to things. I tend to gravitate toward books and experiences — gifts that inspire or create memories. And if I do buy something new, I always choose good-quality pieces that are made to last.
How do you discover the right gift for each person in your life?
I usually start thinking about gifts already in October. I pay attention to the small things my family mentions in passing — little wishes or everyday needs. I prefer buying second-hand whenever I can, and if I do buy something new, I make sure it’s something they’ll use often, ideally every day.
Do you have a favorite gift you love to bring a host?
I love bringing art books. I choose something that inspires me and that I’d like to share.
Can you share a place that instantly puts you in the holiday spirit?
Sitting in front of a fireplace, preferably with snow falling outside. That’s all I need.
Holiday Gift Guide
By Emilia Ilke
What are your go-to ways to ease into the holiday spirit — a scent, a ritual, a soundtrack?
Making our own beeswax candles, watching the Christmas calendar with the children, and painting my nails red while listening to Karl-Bertil Jonssons jul by Arne Domnerus.
Any tips — big or small — that help make the season feel special?
Beautiful wrapping paper with second-hand ribbon, reading and listening to Christmas stories, baking with the kids (even though it’s mostly chaotic), and keeping small rituals alive — like decorating with the same ornaments year after year.
What music is playing in your home throughout December?
English Christmas carols, jazz — Ella Fitzgerald, for example — and a mix of classic Swedish Christmas songs for the kids.
Are there any holiday traditions you’re especially looking forward to?
I’ve finally reached the age (or maybe the wisdom!) where I understand that you can create your own traditions as an adult. Christmas used to feel stressful—gifts, food planning, deciding where to be and when. Now it’s more about my own preferences, which I’m still figuring out, and what I want to pass on to my kids. Making things a little extra special for them is what brings me joy. I also love visiting small Christmas markets with handcrafted items.
How do you like to welcome and host during the holidays — what helps you create a warm and easy atmosphere?
A glass of pét-nat, lots of candles, and a snack tray go a long way. But most important is letting go of perfection and actually relaxing with your guests. A stressed host is never enjoyable for anyone involved, so I try to keep things easy and focus on the company.
How does your home shift during the season — in texture, color, or interior details?
My only true must is the Christmas pig—a hand-painted wooden pig with three candleholders on its back that I found at a flea market 20 years ago. I’m guessing it was made by a child in the ’50s, and it comes out every year. Otherwise, I’ve always decorated very minimally for Christmas: more candles, some hyacinths or amaryllis, and maybe a paper star in a window. A true “less is more” mentality. I’ve never been a big fan of the traditional deep greens, so I usually keep things calm and simple.
But this year, I’m really into making and painting my own ornaments and decorations… which I will absolutely be forcing my family to put up. And of course some of the ornaments the kids have made over the years.
What does “home comfort” mean to you at this time of year — in spirit, feeling, or ritual?
For me, it’s about slowing down — working a little less if possible, taking care of myself, and not getting swept up in the hysterical Christmas shopping chaos in town. Creating comfort at home is really about choosing calm over pressure.
Do you have a go-to recipe you love to make during the holidays?
Polish pierogi with sauerkraut, barszcz (beetroot soup), and sernik — Polish cheesecake. All the dishes my grandmother and mother used to make when I was growing up.