Skip shopping and shipping: Your guide to last-minute, KC-made gifts you can still get in stores
December 17, 2024 | Tommy Felts
Forget naughty and nice: one Kansas City-pieced business has a puzzling present for each person on Santa’s “weird and mellow” list.
Locals can still find them on KC-area store shelves — while they last.
Stefanie and Tim Ekeren, Kansas City Puzzle Company, Birdie Puzzles
Birdie — a sister company to Stefanie and Tim Ekeren’s popular Kansas City Puzzle Company — packs each eye-catching box with Earth friendly, frame-worthy art. Every puzzle is manufactured in the U.S. using thick chip board, 100-percent recycled materials, soy-based non-toxic inks and biodegradable plastic packaging.
“As we’ve grown and started branching out into new designs that weren’t KC-oriented, we learned that only KC wanted Kansas City stuff, and the rest of the world didn’t like the name Kansas City Puzzle Company,” Tim Ekeren said, with a laugh. “So we split the company into two; Kansas City Puzzle Company only offers KC designs and Birdie Puzzles (a subtle nod to the Nelson Shuttlecocks) does all the weirdo art and other city map puzzles that we love and can grow beyond KC with.”
Click here to see the latest puzzles from Kansas City Puzzle Company and Birdie Puzzles.
Click here to see where the puzzles are sold in stores.
The sold-out “Mama Told Me” puzzle design by Emily M. Reay; photo courtesy of Birdie
This holiday season, designs by UK artist and illustrator Emily M. Reay have proven to be trippy Birdie best-sellers at Made in KC locations. “Mama Told Me” and “Party Down” have lead the way for puzzle enthusiasts snatching up the colorful some-assembly-required art pieces.
“We actually just sold out of ‘Mama Told Me’ today, but it’s been our breakout hit nationally,” Ekeren said Tuesday afternoon. “Really anything by her is universally loved because she’s so amazingly weird and wonderful.”
Click here to follow Emily M. Reay and her work on Instagram.
“Working with and carrying Birdie/KC Puzzle Co. has been fantastic,” said Keith Bradley, co-owner of Made in KC. “We’ve been working with them for about two years now and their puzzles filled a void in our store that our customers were looking for.”
“Not only that, but they are high quality, well designed puzzles that elevate local goods across the board,” he continued. “Birdie Puzzles have become a top selling product and gift right out of the gate.”
Birdie’s new range of puzzles extend beyond the original KC-focus, as Ekeren noted, offering illustrations from a team of artists, including Mario Zucca, who is well-known for his popular Kansas City illustrated map — first released in 2017 as a print, then a puzzle. (Zucco’s work with the City Series also depicts a number of other cities, like Philadelphia, Portland, Detroit and Chicago, among others, in puzzle form.)
“The KC map continues to be our biggest hit, but this year people have been loving the collaboration we did with McLain’s Bakery, the retro Matchbooks puzzle,” said Ekeren. “We’re also seeing people buy some Birdie puzzles, notably ‘Road Trip’ by local artist Josh Cotter and ‘Lawn Art’ (which is actually a puzzle of the Nelson-Atkins Museum) by local artist Cooper Malin. It’s been cool!”
The “Lawn Art” puzzle design by Cooper Malin; photo courtesy of Birdie
With “Lawn Art,” Lawrence artist and firefighter Malin adds to the Birdie mix with his poppy, 1,000-piece ode to Kansas City. The surreal piece reflects the concept of letting the art out of the Nelson Atkins Museum for a picnic.
Tapping into a team of independent artists like Reay, Zucca and Malin gives Kansas City’s “humble jigsaw puzzle company” a deeper catalog of illustrations from which to box their latest releases, the business said.
Keep reading for more can’t miss gift options featuring products by Kansas City makers — all of which can still be found on store shelves across the metro, even after online shopping delivery deadlines have passed.
Plus click here to check out more holiday gift ideas for Kansas City sports fans.
The “Moonlight” puzzle from Birdie puzzles at Made in KC’s Country Club Plaza location; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
KC Puzzle Company + Birdie puzzles – $35
There’s nothing better to brighten family bonding on a long winter’s night like a puzzle.
Find at: Made In KC, multiple locations
Someday Sunday body cream and lip repair gift sets at The Porter House KC 811 Retail Incubator; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
Someday Sunday body cream and lip repair gift sets – $55/$25
Self care knows no season, but the skin can always use some extra love in the winter, especially with all-natural and vegan products.
Find at: The Porter House KC 811 Retail Incubator, 811 E. 31st St., Kansas City
Kansas City Runs on Coffee shirt from Associated Humanity at Made in KC’s Country Club Plaza location; photo by Tommy Felts, Startland News
Associated Humanity Kansas City Runs on Coffee long sleeve shirt – $45
Help the coffee lover in your life celebrate coffee culture in KC with this shirt and raise money to support local underserved students.
Find at: Made In KC, Cafe Ca Phe, Blip Roasters, and Rochester Roasting and Brewing Company
Phone and money holder Poptarts from artist Natalia Link at the FUERZA Retail Space within the Chicano Center for the Arts; photo by Tommy Felts, Startland News
Luna.mia_kcmo Phone and money holder Poptarts – $10-$20
Soft and fuzzy creations by Natalia Link can protect some of your most valuable personal items this holiday season and beyond.
Find at: FUERZA Retail Space at Chicano Center for the Arts, 2203 Lexington Ave. Kansas City, Missouri
Festive Absorb-lumen towels at Shop Local KC; photo by Tommy Felts, Startland News
Absorb-lumen KC kitchen towels – $27
These highly absorbent towels — made of recycled materials — are a perfect hostess gift. Plus for every two towels that are bought, one is donated.
Find at: Made In KC and Shop Local KC, multiple locations
Paulina Otero earrings and hair accessories at 12th Street Post; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News
Paulina Otero earrings and hair accessories – $25-$60
These “playful accessories that will make you stand out” are perfect for the person who can’t get enough color in their life.
Find at: 12th Street Post, 1501 W. 12th St., Kansas City, and the Hallmark Christmas Experience, Crown Center
Greeting cards from CRWND Illustrations at The Porter House KC 811 Retail Incubator; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
CRWND Illustrations holiday and greeting cards – $10
These hand-crafted cards are perfect to show that you really did put some thought and care into that gift card.
Find at: The Porter House KC 811 Retail Incubator, 811 E. 31st St., Kansas City
Untamed Supply charcoal incense cones at 12th Street Post; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News
Untamed Supply charcoal incense cones – $15
Coal in their stocking never smelled this good with various scents including whiskey smoke, northern lights, and absinthe.
Find at: 12th Street Post, 1501 W. 12th St., Kansas City
Ornithology ornaments for sale at Made in KC’s Country Club Plaza location; photo by Tommy Felts, Startland News
KC Jazz Bird ornament – $49.95
These ornaments/sculptures are perfect for the Kansas City and jazz lover in your life.
Find at: Made In KC, multiple locations
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