gift ideas for rock nerds and nature lovers

geology art, books, handmade nature inspired jewelry, and more!

I have been planning out this (my second ever!) newsletter for weeks - slowly compiling my list of makers and items that I love and think you will too. I’ve tried to make it a nice mix of different types and styles - all will make wonderful gifts for those in your life that enjoy the outdoors and our wonderful planet. 🌎

So without further adieu, here are some gift recommendations for you to shower your friends and family with this holiday season! And, if you aren’t able to grab them in time for the holidays, keep this as a guide for year round gifting! ✨

🖼️Art

I follow so many incredible artists on social media and in real life, and if I included them all this newsletter would be endless. I managed to pick out a few that I think you’d love, and that would be perfect for gifts.

Olivia Dee (@oliviadeeeee)

Olivia makes the most gorgeous geology-inspired acrylic paintings, and she sells her originals as well as prints. She also makes ornaments, which I personally love to give and receive as gifts, and vases! 😍 Her work is a perfect way to have the intricate patterns and vibrant colors of nature in your home.

Rocks on Paper (@rocksonpaper)

Vojta is a Scotland based science artist who makes stunning, intricate paintings of different rocks from around the world. I recommend checking out his page and his website to see all his work for yourself, and I especially recommend his A Year With Rocks 2024 calendar. It’s set up so that the 12 months of the year are scaled to the timeline of the Earth and each month of the calendar represents 12,568,306 days in the planet’s history, with different milestones in the planet’s history based on that scale. 🤯 The best part is: each month has its own print of a different rock sample, and when I’m done with each month I’m going to frame its print and hang it up somewhere in my house. 🤩 A quick note: right now it does say ‘sold out’ but will be restocked very soon!

SciArtBro (@sciartbro)

Brandi is a talented science artist who makes a bunch of awesome hand drawn art - I loooove these thin section stickers, as well as this geology tool kit sticker pack. Check out her Etsy shop for more! Who wouldn’t want their own set of geology themed stickers?! 🪨🥾⚒️

The Art of Soil (@theartofsoil)

Karen Vaughan is a soil scientist and artist who makes watercolors from soil pigments. I have a set of these and love them - the colors are beautiful and it’s so cool knowing I’m painting with different soil types from her home state of Wyoming. ⛰️

Lizzy Gass (@lizzygass)

This year for my birthday my boyfriend gifted me a few prints by Lizzy and I love admiring them displayed next to my plants and rocks. 🪴

I love the dioramas she makes with different layers of hand painted scenes, and this whimsical collection where she paints a shelf for different types of people and their interests: archaeologist, biologist, botanist, chemist, adventurer, park ranger, and more (I’ve gotta bug her to make a geologist’s shelf…😏) Whether you’re shopping for someone who loves rocks, plants, mushrooms, or something else, you’ll find something unique for them made by Lizzy. 🌱🍄🌋🌊

Vintage or Antique Art

I love going to antique and vintage shops in my area to hunt for art. You can find old (sometimes geologic or topographic) maps, vintage post cards (usually $1-2 each), botanical drawings or other science art, and so much more. It’s so rewarding leafing through old things and picking something out specifically for your loved one. You can get a map, photo, print, or postcard of a place that’s special to them and put it in a frame (possibly also secondhand) and there you have it - a thoughtful, personalized gift! 🎁

A couple of vintage post card frames I put together last year as gifts

💎Jewelry

Caitlin Lightfoot Jewelry (@lightfoot_woods)

My friend Caitlin is from my area of upstate New York and she makes the most incredible jewelry using foraged stone and recycled silver. I have a pair of her earrings made from rounded shale pebbles found along the shores of the Hudson River, and it’s one of my favorite pieces of jewelry I own. I love always having a piece of my home with me when I wear them, especially knowing that the stones were once mud on an ocean floor about 500 million years ago…🌊 I actually did a little bit of geology writing for her website a while back, check it out!

Right now, the main way you can buy Caitlin’s pieces is by sending her a DM on Instagram or sending her an email at caitlinlightfoot@gmail.com. She is currently working on a website for online ordering, but for holiday gifts I recommend sending her a direct message.

Mi Raíz Jewelry (@miraizjewelry)

Angell is an incredibly talented jewelry designer/silversmith who makes high quality handmade jewelry pieces using sterling silver and natural gemstones.

“At Mi Raíz Jewelry, we draw inspiration from my complex life experiences of growing up Latin-American. Our work showcases a harmonious blend of tradition and modernity, resulting in unique and timeless designs. Each piece is crafted by hand, with the intention of outlasting fleeting trends and becoming a cherished heirloom for generations to come.”

I especially love this rutilated quartz necklace and this opal mixed metal band.

Scott James Jewelry (@scottjamesjewelry)

Scott makes gorgeous jewelry inspired by nature, and one thing I love about his work is how he uses natural textures, like these sandstone earrings and this sandstone ring. Also, this topography necklace of the Grand Canyon, these mountain and wave stud earrings, and this alpine necklace are all on my personal wishlist. 🤓

“Being physically active in the mountains, deserts, and any water he can find is another passion of his.  He has melded his two loves into jewelry that speaks to many and he feels honored that his pieces can act as reminders of a special place, moment or loved one.”

Chaparral Jewelry: Topography in Metal (@chaparraljewelry)

Metalsmith and jeweler Alissa Bailey spent two years working as a Park Ranger at Yosemite National Park before she dove into jewelry making full time, and her work shines with her inspiration from that experience. Her Instagram profile popped up on my feed one day and I actually gasped…and followed her immediately.

“The Topographic Collection is a direct reflection of her time spent living and working among Yosemite’s awe inspiring peaks, majestic rivers, and towering Sequoias.”

It’s unbelievable how much detail there is in her jewelry, like this Yosemite Valley ring and this Mt. Rainier ring. 🏔️ Take a peek at her online shop here.

📚Books

I think books are the perfect gift, especially for any nature nerd. I love going to my local independent bookstore when I want to buy a book new, but a lot of the time I buy books secondhand at library book sales, secondhand bookshops, or antique/vintage/thrift stores. Most of the time the books are in great condition and barely even look used at all, and buying secondhand is always a great option sustainability wise (and great for your wallet). If you go to a library book sale, the proceeds will most likely benefit your local library, which is a huge plus.

Here are a few books I love:

• Timefulness: How Thinking Like a Geologist Can Help Save the World by Marcia Bjornerud

• Roadside Geology books: There’s one for every state, and they are perfect for geologists and non-geologists alike, with accessible writing, diagrams, and photos. Some are newer versions than others, but all of them are awesome!

• The Book of Unconformities: Speculations on Lost Time by Hugh Raffles: This one isn’t pure geology, but more of a mix between geology, memoir, and anthropology. I learned a lot when I read this and my copy is covered with notes and tabs.

• Aerial Geology by Mary Caperton Morton , Our Natural World Heritage by Christopher Woods (and anything else by Timber Press)

🏕️Some more recommendations

• This Gneiss Guy tote from Olivia Rafferty, who also has a super fun newsletter you should totally subscribe to ! Buying this tote bag directly supports her musical work 🎶

• This candle from Parks Project - they just sent me this as a gift and it smells SO GOOD. They also sent me this incredibly cozy fleece and this National Parks sweat suit and I’ve been living in both. I am now officially ready for cozy girl winter ❄️

• These boots from SeaVees (or anything else from them, honestly). I recently worked with SeaVees on a partnership and I have been wearing their shoes nonstop since then. They’re so comfy, look good with every outfit, feel so high quality, and are made ethically and sustainably. The Dirtbag Darling boots were designed in partnership with Johnie Gall, who was actually the photographer and interviewer for this article (she’s wonderful). Use code BECKY20 for 20% off your first purchase!

• Anything from Toad&Co! (affiliate link) I am a part of their ambassador program and probably have at least one piece of their clothing in my outfit every day. Everything is so well made, comfy, and stylish - and I love Toad&Co’s committment to sustainability in their pieces. You really can’t go wrong with gifting a cozy sweater or fleece during the holiday season. 🌬️

• Solmate Socks: I was gifted a pair of these 3-4 years ago for Christmas and I’ve been their #1 fan ever since. I now have at least 4 pairs and the first pair is still in immaculate shape. They’re so cozy and I feel like my outfit isn’t complete without a pair of them (I’m actually wearing a pair as I type this).

✏️ Join me in the comments!

Please answer any/all questions in the comments, or just add your own thoughts.

1. What’s the best gift you’ve ever received (geology/nature related or not)?

2. What’s your favorite gift you’ve ever given to someone?

3. Do you enjoy being completely surprised with gifts or do you prefer to give your loved ones ideas/a wishlist for them to pick from?

4. Do you prefer material/practical gifts…or experiences/non tangible gifts?

5. Tell me about some holiday traditions you have - personally, with your partner, friends, family, etc.? Are you starting any new traditions this year?