by Rachel Smith
15 November 2013
Whew, feels like Christmas is just around the corner! I’m a sucker for a good gift guide, so I’ve put together a collection of gift ideas for the creative people in your life – or, for yourself. After all, who says present buying should be all about other people?
ExLibrisJournal Posters
Printed on a page torn from a vintage book, these smallish posters look fab framed and hung on the wall. There are heaps of options but I couldn’t go past I Love Big Books And I Cannot Lie and for romantic Austen fans, I Am Half Agony, Half Hope. Under $10, from Etsy.
Totes
Perfect for carting your iPad to your favourite cafe! Bookshelf Bandit tote with its distinctive Clockwork Orange cover is $17.99 and the D.H.Lawrence tote, $19.99, are two of many you’ll find at cool online store ModCloth.
Scrabble Tile Fridge Magnet Set
Oh boy. Scrabble on the fridge? Hours of fun right there for any wordsmith. $32 from The Spring Shop.
Bamboo Calculator
Who doesn’t need a nifty number cruncher when invoice time rolls around? These sustainable, solar-powered calculators are a gadget I’d love on my desk. $29, from Navy Crockett.
Brass Peacock Letter Opener
I know, not exactly a budget option, but a very nice little present if anyone wants to splurge on something you’re guaranteed to use every day in your home office. $98, from Jonathan Adler.
MacBook Air Leather Sleeve
Also in the gorgeous-but-exey basket, but I can’t be the only one out there who’s a total sucker for simple, beautiful leathergoods to protect your gadgets. This hand-stitched cover is for 13-inch Macbooks. $190, from Notemaker.
Macbook ‘Book’ Cover
Getting one of these cases has been my obsession ever since I got my laptop, and the online Apple store finally has them in stock. A case that makes your MacBook look like it’s an old antique book on your shelf – what’s not to love? Also makes it easy to protect your gear against knocks. $89.95, from Apple.
Book On A Poster
Know an author with a book coming out and want to give them a gift that’s truly special? Why not a one-of-a-kind custom AO-sized poster featuring the author’s entire book – a truly unique piece of art to hang on the wall. You’ll need to supply the manuscript of the book in a Word format and the cover art you’d like (or a picture of your choosing). Special offer for Rachel’s List members: Book Poster print (not including frame) is $199, from Justine Ramsay.
Whale Bookends
These beautiful sand-casted iron bookends in the shape of a whale would make a splash (sorry) on any bookshelves, no? $68 from Anthropologie.
Gear Muffs
Somehow, I know transcribing wouldn’t be nearly as painful if I could do it in a pair of blue, crocheted ear muffs. Or rather, gear muffs. These vintage muffs are handmade by artist Traci Medeiros-Bagan. $38, from Uncommon Goods.
Book Safe
It looks like a book, but it’s actually a hollowed-out book safe in which to keep cash, USBs of all the manuscripts you hope no one will ever read, and… well, whatever you want. Everyone needs a book safe. $15.99, from Fab.
Secret Storage Book Bin
And, if the Book Safe just hasn’t got enough space for your valuables, why not a huge but still secret book bin that sits on your shelf? Yes please. $63.69, from Etsy.
Pencil Book Mark
Stick this steel pencil in your book and you’ll never lose track of your page again. $8.50, from Anthropologie.
Message Pencils
I got heavily stuck into the message pencil phenomenon sweeping through Etsy last year. There are so many to choose from, whether you’re a fan of cult movie catchphrases, karate moves or sweet sayings for your significant other. Between $5-10 per set, from this Etsy store and this one.
Funny Flask
Gimmicky, I know, but it’ll surely be a welcome addition to the stocking of any wannabe Hemmingway. $21.96, from Etsy.
Mr Tea Infuser
Being a massive tea drinker I’ve already had to rein in my desire to buy every infuser around. But how could anyone resist Mr Tea? You just pop tea leaves in his pants, perch him inside your cup and voila, the perfect cuppa. $14.95, from Hart and Heim.
The Storymatic
Use it as a game for the family or to cure a bout of writer’s block. $34.20, from Uncommon Goods.
Origrami
Got a loved one addicted to Instagram? Origrami is a husband and wife team who are making sure all those beautiful shots you take don’t fall into the Instagram black hole. They create beautiful hard copy photos of Instagram snaps. Just log in, choose 24 prints, select a theme for the back of the prints and they post them to you in a cute photo folder. $24, from Origrami.
Bookplate Stamp
Who has time to write their name in ALL their books? But if you had a beautiful, custom-made stamp with your name on it – well, that’s an excuse to get stamping right there. A stocking stuffer any book nerd would love. $38.70, from Etsy.
Monthly Planners
Sometimes you just crave simplicity and being able to see, at-a-glance, what your month holds. Enter these planners in three convenient sizes, from $8 at Poketo. (I also dig Poketo’s Stick Up Weekly Calendar, $10.
Dammit Doll
Stop punching the desk when things go awry and beat up on your Dammit Doll instead. Or, use it as a voodoo doll and stick pins in it while pretending it’s that person who never, ever pays you on time. Lots of different styles to choose from, and just $14.95, from Paper Source.
Writer’s Block
A keepsake for any writer that doubles as a paperweight! Win-win. $27.50, from Etsy.
Grammar Grumble Mugs
Got a loved one who’s a stickler for grammar and is sick of explaining the difference between ‘there’, ‘they’re’ and ‘their’? Or ‘two’, ‘to’ and ‘too’? These mugs are just the thing. $13.67, from The Literary Gift Company.
These are great! Bit worried about what it says about me that I like the Dammit Doll best… 😉
I need a Dammit Doll so badly…
Oooh I’m loving this gift guide! Thanks so much for including the calcy. They’re pretty darn cool. x
Yup, on my want list for sure.
You are a gem Rachel. Not only do you help us find jobs but also face up to the dreaded Xmas list by digging up great gift sites for us to browse…Also, I’m very intrigued by Leah’s reference to a calcy – clearly I’m behind the times and I don’t want to miss a good gift idea, so what is a calcy?
Thanks Leonie! I am completely addicted to putting gift guides together… never got to do enough when I was inhouse on magazine so I’m making up for it now 🙂
Calcy = calculator! And I *want* that bamboo one.
Yeah Justine Ramsay’s amazing book prints. Best present I EVER got.
Very good pressie for an author, I agree 🙂
Wow, my sub-editor friend will love that grammar mug. Thanks for the ideas!
Pleasure – there are heaps of different ones, too!